From: eliot@lanmola.engr.washington.edu (eliot)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Corrado SLC or 325is?
Date: 16 Oct 92 06:38:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: engr.Oct16.060008.20949
Distribution: usa
Organization: clearer than blir

In article <1992Oct16.052826.25729@pony.Ingres.COM> sgove@Ingres.COM (Stu Gove, Global Channels -- x2870) writes:

>>i think
>>that in the corrado, one is getting a $30K performance car for a $10K
>>discount.  check out corrado vr6 prices in europe.  about 20,000#
>>sterling in the UK.

Somebody sent me email challenging me on the above, saying that all
cars in europe are expensive.  that was not the point i was making.
here are the raw numbers, judge for yourself.  in the uk, a 325i goes
for between 21 and 23K; the corrado vr6 just a tad under 20, according
to CAR.  now tell me the american market is not getting a great deal.

>Geez, anymore of this thread and I'm going to have a serious case of 
>buyers' remorse, having just bought a 325is last weekend.  :-)

oh please.  anybody would be happy with a 325i.

>- I saw the JD Power report that listed VW as one of the three *worst* 
>automobile makes in terms of customer satisfaction.  (Of course, the SLC 
>may go a long way towards improving this.)

i don't really want to get into this too much; if quality control
matters more than anything else, then you'll know who to consult and
what to buy...  no flame intended, but i'm getting a little tired of
"well, this car is great but so and so that i knew had problems with
another model of the same make, so now i'm hell bent against the whole
company."  everybody has a horror story on every make of car; every
car that's been burned to the ground by JDP and CR has 100% satisfied
owners.  i say let's get on with it.  there are people (like me) who
would be willing to devote a little more attention and money to a car
just for the driving pleasure that it provides.  if you are not
willing to do it, then you know what your alternatives are.

>- My last girlfriend owned a Jetta that had given her nothing but 
>trouble.  In fact, they had to replace the entire engine after just 
>3,000 miles due to various problems.

see above.  i am not convinced that bmw has better quality control
standards than vw, btw.  in fact, the same CAR magazine article
mentioned that their golf vr6 had better fit and finish than the 325i.
they also ran a scoop editorial on bmw's disastrous quality control on
early 325i's.  we can go on quoting this report and that to no end, i
say let's give it a rest right now.

>But what really turned me off was that the dealer had the audicity to 
>add about a 10% markup to the sticker price, which brought the asking 
>price to around $26K and change.  Excuse me, but I don't deal with 
>places that choose this type of tactic, especially during this economy.  

i don't see what the problem is.  if you know what the car is worth,
offer it.  supply and demand.  why should dealers heavily discount a
limited availability, highly desirable car?  autoweek readers all paid
around the 20 to 21K mark for the car.  

>but if it is truly "low volume and limited availability" expect 
>more dealers to try and take advantage of all the great reviews.

see above.

>On the other hand, I had a great experience with my BMW dealer.  The 
>sales rep was very courteous and professional, he cut me a great deal 
>along with excellent financing (hell, they beat my credit union!). 

they must be hurting for sales, now that vw has cut into their flesh.  :-)
supply and demand.  nah, i think they are hurt more by the
japanese makes than they are by vw.  i doubt if very many bmw owners
ever go back to vw, because vw is generally perceived to be
downmarket.  but i always root for the upstart underdog in any
contest.  :-)

>I may be wrong, but I have serious doubts 
>that VW dealers would be able to match this level of service.

your experience with dealers is useful in recommending which dealer is
good and *not* which car is good.  my vw dealer gives me leftover
factory paid fluids routinely because i have a good relationship with
them.  they go all out to get me to pay nothing for any non warranty
item.  there is no end to all the special favors and breaks that i
have gotten because of my good relationship.  does that mean everybody
should buy a vw now?  not in the least.

>Well, this is just my 2 cents worth.  Decide what's important to you and 
>choose the car that meets that criteria.  I'm happy with my black 
>beauty!

i'm happy for you too.


eliot