I got my Jetta TDI for $500 over dealer invoice.

Probably go for a premium now days.

Mike

On 8/25/04 8:32 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:

> Yes, new cars cost money. You are looking at a premium for the New
> Beetle and for the TDI. The Golf or Jetta will cost less. Personally, I
> would go a bit more and get the German built Passat. Here in New York we
> can't get the TDI due to emissions. If you are not partial to a VW,
> consider a Hyundai Elantra. We can get them here for ~$14k loaded and
> they do 32 mpg. You can buy a lot of gas for $8k. They also have the 10
> year 100k warranty.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Jeremy Speer
> Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 10:02 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Beetle TDI test drive (almost no vanagon content)
>
> Folks,
>
> So my wife and i took a 2004 TDI beetle for a test drive yesterday.
> There's a big move looming for us that will almost certainly involve
> commuting, so i'm in the market for a good high fuel milage car, hence
> the TDI test drive. Yes, i've driven a first-gen Prius and i'm
> interested, but there's a full year wait list and the level of
> technology in that car is daunting... it's not something you want to
> drive to Alaska just yet.
>
> The last time i drove a VW diesel it was in college in '82... a
> friend's Rabbit L diesel. Great car, ran and ran and ran on one tank,
> plus it had this nifty James Bond smokescreen effect if you needed to
> confuse a bad guy during a getaway. Well, the new turbo diesels are a
> whole new animal. It does have turbo lag (maybe it's a diesel thing),
> but wind it up a bit and it's got scoot. The car is quite the amalgam:
> engine's made in Poland, transmission (manual 5) is from Argentina,
> balance is assembled in Mexico from parts made all over the place. In
> contrast the Passat is nearly 100% German.
>
> 2004 Beetle GLS TDI (non convertible, no leather), out-the-door price:
> $22,413. I'm sorry, but that seems like an awful lot of money. Granted
> it's less than half what the Touaregs are going for (50 to 54,000), but
> i'm still choking. I'm not getting any dealer installed options... so
> is there wiggle room on that price? Am i now supposed to haggle?
>
> I paid $10,000 for my Westy... and i've probably put $3500 into it
> since.... but i can LIVE in my Westy.
>
> Do i simply need to "get over it, new cars cost money."
>
> Used TDI beetles are very hard to find, suggesting they last and people
> keep them. Jetta wagon TDI's are scarce here in Minnesota.
>
> Anybody care to share some wisdom?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -jspeer
> '89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"
> '00 Victory Sport Cruiser <-- for sale!
>
>