Jeramie Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 And I cant believe I said that either.... I drive 110 MI round trip daily. I need something good on gas, easy to drive, etc. I found a 2007 VW Passat in NW Arkansas with 27k miles on it a few years back and loved the way it drove. After talking, doing the paperwork to get it across state lines, etc... it was mine. Loaded, sunroof, black leather, premium radio, etc. I got the car for $3800 under NADA sales value. The car has the 2.0T engine (200 HP). I average about 72 - 75 MPH on the way to the office. The car would still get 30-31 MPG. so I was happy until at 40k miles it just died going down the highway and wouldn’t start. We got it home and I started doing research. The AC compressor went out, tripped the system, etc. A new AC system was $2400.00. I opted to drive all fall and worry about it this year. Later a little motor in the dash (Fresh air motor) went out. There’s another $200.00. Time to change the brake pads on the rear... but wait! Electric parking brake. You need a program and cable to change the brake pads, another $250.00 for the cable. I took the car to a VW shop in Tulsa in hopes of chipping away at the mounting list. They offered to change the pads for $56. I was thrilled. They put the car on VAGcom (the program) and opened the motors on the calipers. In the process they ruined a caliper ($560 from VW). He then just unplugged the system without exiting so it FREAKED the system out.... Now I cant work on it even with my program and cable I ordered. Frustrated I left the car sitting in my drive for about 3.5 months trying to figure out what to do. Finally I ordered a used brake caliper and motor at a salvage, $75.00. I needed to reset the system so I could work on the brakes so I called the actual VW in Tulsa. They told me for $210.00 or less they could have the car back on the road. I didn’t believe them but I took the chance and dropped it off. I told them the history of the car and how much I now despised VW. They pulled it in and called a few days later to tell me the brake system was 100% and ready to go. They also fixed 3-recalls and then offered to fix the AC. I told them I couldn’t afford it and would be back in a few months. They told me they would cut me an excellent deal. I got the quote.... All labor and parts were going to run About $1600 for the AC. That was still better but more than I have laying around to shell out. I told them thanks but no. The guy called me back and told me they would change all rates to shop rates to be sure I was happy. Ergo, my brakes went from $210 to $90. The same could be done with the AC. Total cost would be $1500.00 or less. I wasn’t happy with spending $1500 on a car that now has $74k miles but I have to do something so I told them to do it. Sure enough about a week later, system reset, brakes 100%, three recalls including a fuel pressure switch, oil gaskets and change, new AC Compressor/ dryer/ and condenser. Total, $1,493.25. Yep, I’m happy and driving the car everywhere. I typically do 100% of my own car repairs but this thing is impossible. Honestly I would have been better off with another car but VW in Tulsa bailed me out as far as I’m concerned. It’s rare anymore that you can say that about any car company..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 Some of the labor rates these days for auto repair are completely ridiculous, most foreign are even beyond that. Cool they cut you some slack Jeramie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenjackson Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 good deal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 I feel your pain bro. My wife got a BMW about three years ago and all I can say is if you own one and don't have wads of cash laying around you better have time to spend on forums and be willing to read a lot lol. But I know you already know that, and just like you ran into, you hit a wall these days esp with software issues where you just can't go any further and have to bite the bullet. We're still on the original battery with this car and when I replace it I'll have to take it in to get the thing registered with the new battery so the charging program will adjust for a new battery. It never ends! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 This thing pays off in about 1.5 years.. it will then end for me... Im going to a small suv (Ford, Toyota, or Honda). That will be the end of buying things I know nothing about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 That will be the end of buying things I know nothing about. Good luck Jeramie making it til you get something else. My oldest daughter; the same one who wants to be a game warden, the same one that is intellectually gifted with a pretty high iq, same one that wants to give up about $5000 a year in state scholarship money to go to a school just across the state line into KY, wants to get a vw bug.:bang: Kids just don't like to listen to parents though, guess she is smarter than us. Told her a chevy or even many others we can work on, don't count on dad fixing one of these newer german vehicles if she can ever save up enough to buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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