Would be awesome if you found another one in a dealer few blocks from them.. better price and pass by to gloat...  hate db dealers..  I hope I can find a durango from a user on a forum im on..

Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on March 06, 2012, 06:11:32 AM
but, but, but.... you can'd do this with a sedan!!!




unpacked and assembled:



It's only expensive if you decide to buy original VW parts. Sites like germanautoparts.com are really helpful.

I've had a fair amount of things to fix on my '94 Golf. But it's so much easier than working on most Japanese cars (lot more space in the engine bay).

Case in point: putting in a new front engine mount on my golf required moving the power steering hose.
The same thing on my friend's Accord required (emptying and) moving the radiator and related bits, and even then it was a tight fit...  

That's what the Avalanche is for!

Quick question.  Why does VW say no roof racks on the Passat Sedan?  How about a trailer hitch?

 VW doesn't have one but Thule makes on i think

I read somewhere that a roof rack isn't recommended on the sedan. 

I saw a Passat tdi wagon today......had diplomat plates.  I gave her the thumbs up!  Wish they were available here in the U S of A.

Quote from: rgramjet on March 06, 2012, 01:24:25 PM
Tracking down a Passat.....closest one that the Mrs likes is in freakin Jersey! 

I bought my VW in Manchester, NH and the dealer had to send runners down to southwestern CT to get it for me.

If they want to sell the car to you, it'll be without the pinstripes and door guards, and they'll send someone to get it from Jersey.

My local dealer can't get one until late April for some reason.

Salesman was very nice and we wanted to give him first shot.  I told him we are ready to do this. 

He did a local search and couldn't find one.  We did our own search and 3 popped up within 200 miles.  When I let him know we found 3, he said, "if you can find one, buy it". 

I was very surprised by his response.

Quote from: rgramjet on March 06, 2012, 07:24:34 PM
My local dealer can't get one until late April for some reason.

Salesman was very nice and we wanted to give him first shot.  I told him we are ready to do this. 

He did a local search and couldn't find one.  We did our own search and 3 popped up within 200 miles.  When I let him know we found 3, he said, "if you can find one, buy it". 

I was very surprised by his response.

It's possible they don't have a diesel mechanic on staff... 

alternatively, the TDIs sell so well that dealers don't want to give them up.

Did you call any of the VA dealers?

Roof Rack for the 2012 Passat:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5433907-Roof-Rack/page2&s=c3cf8e1e6dfddca70861952c9c4c0438

So Yakima and Thule are making them.

Manual says no roof racks, will cause roof damage.

Passat scored the highest in the "roof crush test"

Some dealers are installing the aftermarket racks.

No clue what the deal is.

I did.  There was one at Stohlmans in Vienna that was sold a couple days before and one in Staunton VA that was the wrong color. 

We have a deposit don the one in PA, not Jersey........man that dealer installed rhetoric leaves a bad taste in my mouth......paying msrp is painful enough!

So instead of a roof rack, I'm thinking trailer hitch with a folding hitch rack and hitch mounted bike rack. 

The trunk is surprisingly big so everyday stuff should stow nicely.

Quote from: rgramjet on March 06, 2012, 07:24:34 PM
My local dealer can't get one until late April for some reason.

Salesman was very nice and we wanted to give him first shot.  I told him we are ready to do this. 

He did a local search and couldn't find one.  We did our own search and 3 popped up within 200 miles.  When I let him know we found 3, he said, "if you can find one, buy it". 

I was very surprised by his response.

we had a dealer try to do a transfer for us (TDI sportwagen), and when he called the other dealership that had one, they told him "no!"  

I think he was pretty embarrased, as we were sitting in his office when it happend. Felt bad for the guy. I think the other dealership was marking them up, and knew they were going to get more money than if they transfered the car. Kinda douche-y thing for them to do.

Quote from: ducatiz on March 06, 2012, 12:31:29 PM
VW has tried to play catchup with Toyota, esp in the US.  That means they are appealing to people who think a car is essentially a kitchen appliance (hence, the Camry's success) and care more about price and efficiency than styling and performance.  When the new Jetta came out, my first reaction was that it looked like a Camry.

Hyundai and Kia have tried a dual route -- building performance (i.e. Genesis) and interesting looks.  I prefer Kia's less angular approach (i.e. Kia Optima vs Hyundai Sonata) but they have the same engines for the most part.

I love the looks of the new Optima, but couldn't convince the wife. She still thinks of the Kias of 10 years ago...and I don't know that I blame her. I mean, they were crap....cheap...but crap.

Quote from: rgramjet on March 07, 2012, 06:31:11 AM
So instead of a roof rack, I'm thinking trailer hitch with a folding hitch rack and hitch mounted bike rack. 

The trunk is surprisingly big so everyday stuff should stow nicely.

we put a rack on the rabbit and the jetta...never have had an issue

Quote from: Le Pirate on March 07, 2012, 06:41:58 AMI love the looks of the new Optima, but couldn't convince the wife. She still thinks of the Kias of 10 years ago...and I don't know that I blame her. I mean, they were crap....cheap...but crap.

Take her to test drive one.  They are exceptional.  Our dealer gave us a "money back guarantee" for our Sorento for 6 months.  That was a huge leap of faith for them, and he said he's not had a single one returned.

Quote
we put a rack on the rabbit and the jetta...never have had an issue

The 2012 passat doesn't have the pillar holes that the older models do.  My '05 Golf has them but the 2012 Passat doesn't  No idea why. 

My guess is that the roof is fine for one of the aftermarket racks.  The roof crush test puts over 20k lbs of weight on the car.

VW extended warranty strategy? 

I have a general idea of what it will cost.  I read about a dealer in Alabama that sells them for $100 over cost.  Plan is to go in with a quote from Alabama and see if PA will match it. 

I also read that if I buy it before driving the car off the lot, there's no tax.

Quote from: rgramjet on March 07, 2012, 09:15:57 AM
VW extended warranty strategy? 

I have a general idea of what it will cost.  I read about a dealer in Alabama that sells them for $100 over cost.  Plan is to go in with a quote from Alabama and see if PA will match it. 

I also read that if I buy it before driving the car off the lot, there's no tax.

Yes, there is no tax but when you go to register it at the DMV in MD, the sales form will say no sales tax paid and they happily will charge you sales tax.

Dealership is handling the tax and tag transfer.  I was referring to tax on the warranty itself.