As many of you know, my Santa Fe has not been the most reliable of cars which has been disappointing to say the least given that the one that came before never once faulted me. Long story short, the car listed for just under $30,000 when I got it last fall (paid $27,997 OTD) and it now has 15,000 miles on it and though I'd like to keep it, I have a feeling that it's a ticking time bomb just waiting to fail on me again. I have no emotional attachment to it and could easily walk away, never to see it again and not shed a tear. The car is showroom condition; no scratches or swirls and the interior even smells new so KBB says it's still worth $25,600 private party but I think I can probably get $26,000 for it.

I was just entertaining the idea until tonight when a friend and I went lot browsing after dinner and I stumbled upon a brand new Jetta TDI in Tempest Blue with the black interior and a manual transmission. Honestly, this is the car that the SF beat when I was looking for a new car last year and I'm sorely tempted to give it a shot. It has everything I want; Bluetooth, heated seats, manual transmission, power sunroof and it's a diesel. Oh, and the color is totally too. I've always liked dark blue.

If I can get $25,500 (private party sale) for the SF and even manage to pay sticker for the Jetta, I'll walk away from the demon car with $1,400 in my pocket and go twice as far on a gallon of fuel.

Should I do it?


Sorry about the picture quality.

 

The trunk is plenty spacious enough to carry all your detailing gear, no? Not sure if you're still doing that.

A lot of people think the new Jetta looks vanilla and I agree, BUT it looks good. Much better than a current-gen Accord, which is vanilla and not so great looking. 6MT and TDI.... you can't go wrong!

I know the feeling too well.... when a car lets you down, you never get that same magic as when you just got it.

 

Why not?

 

go for it-

 

Yea.

 

Do it! You're getting rid of a problem child, getting a brand new car, saving $ on gas, and pocketing money for mods!

 

If you can get what you need for your SF, and you really like the Jetta....then life is too short to deny yourself. Just do it.

 

Don't tell SSFTSX... he'll think he has won.

 

Yes, do it...you seem much more interested in the Jetta than the Santa Fe. Not much of a financial penalty, so no loss there.

 

do it do it. You would actually save money on this. Money on gas, get the difference of cash in pocket, and resale value of that TDI is probably going to be MUCH MUCH better. TDI doesn't lose it's value, at least where I am from.

 

Awesome...thanks guys. I'm going to test drive it either today or tomorrow and see how I like it then we'll proceed from there.

There's a three page thread about the troubles I had with my car and the little coward troll never once said a word to me in there.

 

Seems like a no brainer to me. Post pix when you get it!

 

Dew it, of course.

 

I'd get rid of the SF too. Once that little thought of any possible future issues gets stuck in your head, it stays.

I still have no idea if i want a fun car to play with or replace my rl.......

 

TDI....no brainer....do it!!!!

 

How you going to get more than KBB says its worth?

Typically todays market is well below KBB value. Doesnt hurt to try though!

 

i say do it

 

makes sense to get it, but personally i couldnt live with that bland styling most of the time, i put form over function. but thats just me.

 

Do IT!!! Other than I would ask is a 4 door golf TDI out of the question since it looks better?

 

do it. i think about that car daily. even as i build my civic

 

Just saw a listing somewhere of cars to avoid, and the Jetta was on there. Don't know if that was the TDI version or not. Doesn't matter though as I think the problems it listed didn't have anything to do with the drive train.

 

The new GLI will probably be my next car

 

dew it!

 

If you're getting rid of the Santa Fe for reliability reasons, I'd recommend you do some research on the Jetta. I'm not sure what the reliability is now, but everyone I've known with a Jetta has had problems with it (some minor / some major). Not saying that that would be the case, but check it out first.

btw, that blue is nice.

 

Go for it

 

I'm going to go against the grain Andrew, and recommend that you don't do it. I may be wrong, but the amount you hope to sell you SF for might be somewhat optimistic. With the incentives and prices offered by manufacturers offered nowadays (Hyundai included), a less than year old vehicle often makes for a hard sell.

If it were me, I would continue to drive the SF. You've already taking the depreciation on it, and buying a new car at this time will force you take another hit. You're assuming that the value of the new car is the same as your SF, and this simply isn't the case when once you drive the VW off the lot. Drive the SF, enjoy it, and get some value out of it. After a few years, then make the move.

Of course, I'm looking at this economically and not emotionally, but it's still how I prefer to look at it.

 

Go for it if you don't need the extra utility of an suv. tdi = great mpg & fun!

I'm in love with the CC

 

I have a Jetta and have had no issues through 45k miles (2.5L). My mom has a Jetta 2.5L with 15k miles and no issues yet.

That said, I don't know if you drove the MKV Jetta TDI and are assuming the MKVI is going to be better but I'd drive that first as it's a whole different car.

If you really did want to get rid of the Santa Fe, maybe you could find a used MKV Jetta TDI instead ... It'll have all the gizmos you want and will likely be cheaper.

 

You know the complaints you hear about the jetta tdi having been cheapened out like crazy.
A golf tdi will solve that problem

Also since you did have a santa fe, amount of space might be an issue for you. Why not wait for the passat tdi??

 

I must confess I'm thinking about the Elantra, too. Going to test drive that in the morning.

Chances are good that I won't wind up doing anything. My dad does the same thing...sees a car he likes, drives it, says he'll buy it and then doesn't. I am turning into him.

 

i would definitely sell. shoot, i would sell the sante fe even if i still liked it! 28k bought, 26k sold, 15,000 miles worth of use.

that said, im not sure about the jetta. but get rid of that damn sante fe.

 

If you are really dissatisfied with the Hyundai, sell it. Keep it any longer and it will lose more value. However, I would think twice about the Jetta TDI given the HPFP issues with the earlier years. Not sure whether they fixed the problem for new ones.

http://www.tdi-issues.com/hpfp-cases-tac68/

 

I'm not a huge fan of the current Jetta in terms of looks, but if you like it and think it would be a better alternative to your Sante Fe, go for it!

 

Well I just found out that I got the job at the Honda dealer I applied to last week so I'm now for sure going to hold on to my car for the winter at least. In the meantime, I'm going to save up for the difference on the car I really want...a Mirabeau Blue Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track.

 

Gen. Coupe owner at a Honda dealership?

 

 

Salesman?

 

All those discussing vw reliability should look for their diesel model reliability. Vw diesels are out of this world and come only second to mb diesels.

 

Congratulations!! Sales consultant?

 

Don't know if they'd know what to do with 300 horsepower, rear wheel drive, a 6-speed manual and two doors.



Service greeter.

From what I'm reading, the main offenses currently facing VW are electrical and material qualities rather than mechanical faults.