So I think I found a replacement for the Stratus, and I am scaring myself with the choice.
I made a lowball offer for a 100k mi 2005 VW Jetta GLI 1.8t Tiptronic in Black Magic with a spotless interior, a spare set of snows mounted on steel wheels, a full maintenance history including synthetic oil service at the dealership I work at as well as recent brakes and timing belt.
According to my Credit Union the car has a value ranging from 10k-13K, I can buy the car, put a set of 18" tires on it and pay off the $3500.00 balance on the Stratus and still be less than 80% of the value of the new vehicle.
It looks an awful lot like this:
I am waiting for the nice lady from Lake Trust to give me a go-ahead.
HAHAHA! "..join us!...join us!.."
So, you wanna dump a dodge and get a VW? And you work at the VW place? Are you SURE you're not doing one of those "Out of the frying pan and into the fire" kind of things? Just sayin'. Did the Germans stop the environmentally friendly electrical insulation by 2005, or will the harness self descruct in a couple more years?
Wow... I have a soft spot for Mk4 GLi's... 
Dr. Hess wrote:
So, you wanna dump a dodge and get a VW? And you work at the VW place? Are you SURE you're not doing one of those "Out of the frying pan and into the fire" kind of things? Just sayin'. Did the Germans stop the environmentally friendly electrical insulation by 2005, or will the harness self descruct in a couple more years?
God no. I dont WANT to dump a Dodge, I HAVE to figure out a way to afford a multiple thousand dollar repair on a Dodge that I owe multiple thousands of dollars on. I loved my Stratus right up until it did this crap.
As far as frying pan and fire, at least I will have a shop full of greedy mofos waiting to repair my harnesses. The Dodge dealer didn't want my money!
On the plus side I get time to FIX the Dodge and sell it now, whereas I am bumming rides 20 miles at a pop right now.
That's what it was in for when I made the offer!
Buy four ignition coils to drive around with.
Looks sweet. I hope the rep for German (or at least VW) reliability is wrong. I do likes the way they look and drive though.
Paul_VR6 wrote:
Buy four ignition coils to drive around with.
It just had the recall and I have a stash of "broken ones"
How is any repair on a Stratus "multiple thousands?"
Really?
For the record, I LOVE my 01 TDI Golf. I may regret that statement, but it's a solid feeling, nice driving car that happens to get 55mpg.
Really. The Primary wiring harness is $1103.00 the engine will need to come out as well as the dash in order to do the job. The section of harness that is smoked runs from the fuse box to the glove box through the drivers side of the firewall.
I CAN do the labor myself as soon as I (1) build a garage (2) have the time (3) can afford it. Until then I need to either (4) pay someone to repair it and (5) make the 20 mile trek into work every day without being late so I can pay off the repair with every paycheck I get for the next twenty weeks. (BTW that is exactly how my mind works, scary huh?)
John Brown wrote:
I am bumming rides 20 miles at a pop right now.
Just get a bicycle and ride to and from work. The first week will really suck but soon you will start to feel great.
I can do 20 miles on my bicycle.. and yes, the first week is the hardest
Kia_racer wrote:
John Brown wrote:
I am bumming rides 20 miles at a pop right now.
Just get a bicycle and ride to and from work. The first week will really suck but soon you will start to feel great.
Hard picking up the kids on the way home.
Plus a bike will cost me as much as the GLI after the first heart attack.
BTW what class can I autocross my Schwinn in?
I will lose in GStock with a GLI but I WILL look good doing it ;)
John Brown wrote:
BTW what class can I autocross my Schwinn in?
I will lose in GStock with a GLI but I WILL look good doing it ;)
Not that anyone could tell or care with your helmet on.
M030
HalfDork
5/10/10 8:12 p.m.
DrBoost wrote:
Looks sweet. I hope the rep for German (or at least VW) reliability is wrong.
It's not. I grew up in a family of "VW people" including my dad, who was a VW mechanic for several decades. Post-1992 Volkswagens are every bit as bad as they are made out to be. My wife drives a 2002 VW Cabrio that is extremely well maintained, yet constantly broken. But we sure do love they way they look and drive 
Wow. Good looking car. Compared to the Stratus, you'll notice that it drives well and has a nice interior. ;)
I hate to be a buzzkill, but..
Seriously though If your that strapped for cash that you have a loan on a stratus and can't drop 1,000 on a repair bill without living paycheck to paycheck and have kids to pick up, you really probably shouldn't buy a German car. Especially one with a loan.
I'd look for a 3-5K same mileage Focus, Civic, Corolla, Etc. It sucks to drive an appliance (I drive a 06 Vibe that I traded a GTI in on), but it cost 1/3-1/2 as much, and shouldn't cost you as much on the back side.
nocones wrote:
I hate to be a buzzkill, but..
Seriously though If your that strapped for cash that you have a loan on a stratus and can't drop 1,000 on a repair bill without living paycheck to paycheck and have kids to pick up, you really probably shouldn't buy a German car. Especially one with a loan.
I'd look for a 3-5K same mileage Focus, Civic, Corolla, Etc. It sucks to drive an appliance (I drive a 06 Vibe that I traded a GTI in on), but it cost 1/3-1/2 as much, and shouldn't cost you as much on the back side.
Point taken, the difference being the fact that you can't get a $7500.00 loan on a $4000.00 100k mile Focus and have 100% of it's maintenance recorded on your work terminal meanwhile paying off the American Lawn Art currently costing you the same amount as the $7500.00 loan will.
Believe me I would be much happier with a running driving Dodge Stratus for $500.00 in repairs. But there is no way it will happen for less than what I can afford. I can, however, afford to bury the Dodge inside the loan and take my time to fix the Dodge after I am back on the road.
