Am I crazy for considering one of these?

"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
07/23/2017 at 22:23 • Filed to: None

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I happened to be looking at cars.com one day, specifically at new cars in a ridiculously low range when I found a surprising number of Jettas. Most of them are $5-6.5k below MSRP. I’m used to seeing cars with stupidly low prices because they have a mix of unattainable rebates thrown in, but there are a few different VW dealers offering these Jettas rather than one sketchy dealer. I’m assuming the whole dieselgate thing has pushed the prices down.

I’m finding myself seriously considering one. My Optima has been a decent car, but it has even less personality than a Camry. I’m also disappointed with the MPGs, and noticing that I miss having a manual gearbox more than I thought I would. These Jettas all have nearly the same equipment level that I have, and a couple interesting colors too.

So, are these a bad idea? I’ve only had two VWs before, and both were very old and I didn’t have them for long (one for only two months). What do you think?

DISCUSSION (14)

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > fhrblig
07/23/2017 at 22:31

That’s cheap, really I don’t see the downside here, warranty, new car, and judging by cars.com plenty to choose from.

Birddog > fhrblig
07/23/2017 at 22:39

I like them and I don’t. They’re jist so generic looking.

Run away. Run like your arse is on fire and your head’s about to catch. There is no use for mediocrity.

AM3R, lost another burner > fhrblig
07/23/2017 at 22:44

Drive one first, see if you’d like it. Around me, GTI’s are selling for like $5k off MSRP.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > fhrblig
07/23/2017 at 22:56

They aren’t great. They’ll break down. They’re boring. Unmemorable. Cheap on the inside, though still decent.

But. It’s cheaper than a Mirage. If I was in the new car market, I’d buy one (caveat: i currently own a 2016 Golf, so I understand the VW conundrum).

E92M3 > fhrblig
07/23/2017 at 23:15

They have a lease special right now for $89 a month/$3000 due at signing (at least in my area). That’s what I would do, then you can give it back after 36 months. Otherwise, you’ll have to give it away if you finance it, and are ready to move on.

fhrblig > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/24/2017 at 00:01

That’s what I have now, though, so I think it’d be ok. At least these are forgettable, boring cars with a halfway-decent manual. Plus I expect it would get better mileage.

fhrblig > E92M3
07/24/2017 at 00:01

Lease wouldn’t work for me because of the miles I drive, unfortunately.

fhrblig > Birddog
07/24/2017 at 00:03

Sure there is, a long boring commute. I’m already used to mediocrity, albeit good-looking mediocrity.

E92M3 > fhrblig
07/24/2017 at 00:21

Tough call then. I would say you need to be committed to owning the car for 5-7 years. Will be hard to sell, and you’ll be killed on trade-in. It’s not THAT expensive in the first place, but by year 3 it probably won’t be worth more than $4-5k.

Birddog > fhrblig
07/24/2017 at 00:35

It is a handsome machine. I’ll give you that.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > fhrblig
07/24/2017 at 02:14

It won’t be terrible to drive, but the VW turbo engines have a reliability problem. ALl of them do. All of them have, and will continue to have it for a while. From the old 1.8t, to the 2.0t, and I bet this 1.4t will somehow find a way to go thermonuclear just 5 miles outside of the powertrian warranty.

But that being said, it’s a good ride while it lasts. I’d just be very willing to part with it not long after the warranty is up.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > fhrblig
07/24/2017 at 07:48

Just keep in mind these really are the Americanized Jettas. The manual might be crisp but I really don’t think it’ll feel like much of an upgrade coming from a newer Kia.

fhrblig > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
07/24/2017 at 15:22

I’m thinking more about the fact that I’m going to be out of warranty soon and the GDi issues are a little concerning.

Plus if I kept this Jetta for 5 years like I did with the last new car I bought, I should be ok. I can live with it not being an upgrade, it would pretty much be a lateral move.

fhrblig > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/24/2017 at 15:24

Yeah, that would be the plan. I know next to nothing about these turbo 1.4 VW engines, that’s the only part that scares me.