[teflon80]

I am in process of negotiating an 05 passat gls FWD auto sedan. Local dealer has located a white with anthracite leatherette within 400 miles. He's offering 22,377 -534 credit for esp/cold pckg. = 21,843
I am confident I can get this for 21,377...

or

another local dealership has an 04 passat gls FWD auto sedan. this is white with anthracite VELOUR however. list is 25,180.. he offered me 20,800 out the gate... I'm thinking I can get this for 18~19k this has around 100 miles on it.

decisions decisions... I really dont like the fact that the 04 has velour. is this a big deal? Can anyone tell me if it would look goofy, if down the road I changed the seats to leather? Is there velour inserts in the doorframe/handles? What is the big diff between 04 and 05?

 

[V-Dub Duluth]

I'm no expert, but changing the seats to leather AND adding the cold weather package has got to be expensive. If I were you, I'd spring for the newer model with the leather and call it good. My 02 has black leather with the cold package and I LOVE it. Heated seats and mirrors in the winters kick ass.

Get the 05...

 

[morecowbell]

Does the '04 have the winter package? if not, then if you can get the 05 down to around 21.3k like you think, you're basically getting leather AND the winter package for another 500 bucks. I'd go for that for sure. The heated seats and mirrors (and heated washer fluid!) are definitely worth having if you live anywhere north of the Mason/Dixon line.

 

[teflon80]

both do NOT have cold weather package or ESP... tough decision. they're basically the same car. 04 just doesn't have leatherette...

 

[V-Dub Duluth]

Where are you located?

 

[teflon80]

ny

 

[V-Dub Duluth]

Well the only bit of advice that I can offer is that leather seats are cold in the winter unless they have some sort of heating. Keep that in mind.

 

[veedubyo]

Leather seats (leatherette) will burn your skin on a hot day like today. Heated seats will not cure that.

Velour is actually very good for any type of weather except when it gets very wet (from leaving the windows open and a sudden thundershower comes).

The really bad thing about Velour is its a really big pain to clean it but since you are getting anthracite color, should'nt be too bad.

With that said. Go for the 05. Its a better deal unless you can get the 04 for $18k or less

 

[teflon80]

ok. my local dealer won't get the car for me. they say it would be too expensive for them. My options are the 04. or going to get the car myself.

does anyone know how much the manufacturers give to dealerships to clear out these 04's?

i heard the rule of thumb is 7000 under msrp = a good deal.
which would put me at $18,180

I'm goin to test drive it today. and offer 18k. we'll see what happens

 

[grommit]

I've seen $6K under invoice, but not offering any VW financing. So if you get that or better, I think you are doing well.

I would rather get the velour option. Leatherette = modern vinyl. I prefer cloth seats because they feel better in extreme temps, plus they grip your body better in turns.

Good luck. Did you get the car?

 

[teflon80]

no... the salesperson stated the best he could do was 20,300. He asked me what I thought a fair price was. I told him he had to go below 19. he said he couldn't. so i left. I didn't like the velour anyways. no volume controls on steering wheels, and they were 15 inch rims. I'd rather shoot for 21,377 on an 05. or wait for july incentives to come out. with new 06's coming in aug I think the incentives might be nice in July. any thoughts on that?

 

[grommit]

$20,300 is a good price overall, but considering the new Passats are coming out, you will probably see better.

The longer you wait, the cheaper the price will be, but the lower the choices. So a trade off. You'll have to make the call on that one. I'd look around at other dealers, or have the dealer search for what you want.

From what I recall, the GLS does not have volume controls on the steering wheel. You'll need to buy the GLX, which lists a few thousand higher.

 

[V-Dub Duluth]

My GLS with Monsoon has steering wheel volume/seek controls.

 

[grommit]

My 2003 GLS does not. I feel ripped off.

Actually, I saw that VW started making some non-standard VW's this past year. Supposedly you could not get a 2005 GLS 4 Motion Standard Variant with cloth, but I saw one at the dealer this past Spring.

I think they just wanted to use up parts.

Do you have a 2005?

 

[V-Dub Duluth]

2002 1.8T GLS. Kinda weird you don't have em....do you have Monsoon?

 

[grommit]

Yes, I have Monsoon. Did you get the leather package? I have the cloth seats, also they are not power adjustable.

 

[1.8Tttturbo]

i have an 04 gls w/o steering wheel controls. i'm pretty sure you need to either have a glx or gls w/ leather to get the controls.

 

[KahluaAPX]

$20,300 is a good price overall, but considering the new Passats are coming out, you will probably see better.

The longer you wait, the cheaper the price will be, but the lower the choices. So a trade off. You'll have to make the call on that one. I'd look around at other dealers, or have the dealer search for what you want.

From what I recall, the GLS does not have volume controls on the steering wheel. You'll need to buy the GLX, which lists a few thousand higher.

I own an 04 GLS w/ leather and it has the radio controls on the wheel. I believe it might be part of the leather package.
P.S. Im currently schooling in Tallahassee and in the winter I love them heated seats. I believe u would agree if u were to get them. Especially that far north.

 

[teflon80]

wat about gls with leatherette?
now that you mention it.. i don't remember seeing volume controls when I test drove it.

 

[SMOKEATR]

My GLS with Monsoon has steering wheel volume/seek controls.

Mine does too.
Leather wrapped steering wheel with volume/cruise controls on the wheel. It's a GLS.