VW ridiculous parts pricing of late.
I went to a VW dealer last week to get a replacement antenna mast for my 97 B4 Passat, cause I’m getting embarrased to drive the car with the antenna spring already exposed and the rubber sleeve peeling and flaking away.
The guy behind the counter punched it up into his computer and told me, “”I got it, but you’re not going to like what the price is. I thought to myself, it can’t be that bad, after all it’s just the mast and not the amplified base. It’s only a rubber covered fiberglass rod with some wire wound up it’s legnth. So he goes “”$53.00!”" He didn’t look suprised when I said “”That’s ridiculous!”" I then proceeded to ask how much would a replacement interior rear view mirror cost for my car cause my mirror recently decided to fall apart and fall off it’s ball joint while I was driving. He looks it up and goes “”$135.00….before tax!”" Before I could comment again, he goes “”Yeah…Volkswagen has been crazy about their parts pricing lately.”" I priced some parts about a year ago, and I swear, they were close to just half of what these latest quotes were. It’s just another hit on Volkswagen customers that keeps them from driving or enjoying their cars.
I went straight to the Honda dealer next door and bought myself an antenna mast for an S2000, which costs just $28.00 OTD!, (Thank you Honda!) Looks better and gets better reception than the Fu@bahhh rat tail antenna mast that Volkswagen uses. The rearview mirror is a bigger problem. I looked through the internet for an aftermarket alternative. What’s silly is, for around the same 135 bucks that Volkswagen wants for their stone age looking, chintzy peice of junk mirror, I could get a much better mirror with map lights and auto dimming features and doesn’t look like it came from a Trabant. At around 98 bucks I could get a simpler one with just auto dimming!
I guess they want us all to pay for all those brake light switches, control arms, coolant bottles, ignition switches, sludged up 1.8s, rear brake discs, window regulators, oil coolers, seat heaters, water pumps, interior heater cores, cracked fog lamp lenses and ignition coils that they had to eat these last few years, by charging these premiums on their cheapest of parts!
Post edited 04/26/05 8:21 PM by Beck
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297 Said,
April 26, 2005 @ 6:37 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – Beck, no idea why VW is upping the price, but you could have grabbed it for $17.66 + s/h here, I found it by specifying 1997 VW Passats, then keyword “”antenna”". The mast is $17.66, but it lists the VW price as $53, which is really, really weird.
I can’t find a part number for your mirror… and Impex has recently traded their thoroughly functional website for a pretty one that doesn’t work, so….
Beck Said,
April 26, 2005 @ 8:18 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – Thanks for looking it up Paul, but I’m OK with the S2000 antenna (Which I recommend others to get if they need a new mast cause it works very well and looks pretty nice IMO.)
I’ll keep trying to find the mirror anyway for a cheaper price. I also rather not try and put in something that is not “”plug and play”".
If I really can’t find it, then I’ll have to do a project install with a non OEM aftermarket mirror. I’m in contact with a salvage yard in Sacramento already and they are looking at their B4 stock for me.
peterd1965 Said,
April 28, 2005 @ 10:52 am
You have all heard my mudflap story – Mud flaps those cheap little pieces of plastic that sell at AutoZone for $20 per pair at most?
Certain VW parts dealers want about $100 granted it’s for all four.
Same dealer wanted $250 to install.
Another wanted $80 to install and half the price for the flaps.
VWVictim Said,
April 30, 2005 @ 11:57 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – Beck
VWoA lost 1.6 Billion Dollars last year. Sales have gone down for three years in a row and are well on their way to a fourth year. The dealers have had to deal with a massive quality problem and their sales have gone down the tubes. The dealers are desperate. VWoA is desperate. These are not good times for VW.
Post edited 04/30/05 11:58 PM by VWVictim
milkshake1026 Said,
May 1, 2005 @ 8:34 am
Beck – Hey Beck why don’t you get a life. It’s pretty sad that all you do is complain about your car. You even go as far as complaining on the internet to complete strangers. Here is some advice, why don’t you start acting like an adult, sell your car while it is still descent, buy a car that meets your needs, and stop complaining!
297 Said,
May 1, 2005 @ 9:40 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – I was wondering when the trolls would come back.
Chombi Said,
May 1, 2005 @ 12:31 pm
It didn’t look good today in my neighborhood VW dealership – Just today, What could be a perfect car shopping Saturday, I passed by my neighborhood Volkswagen dealership to try and pick up some Volkwagen cloth braided vacuum hose. The salespeople were just all standing around twidling their fingers. I only saw one couple sitting at a table talking to a salesman. Otherwise the outside lot and the rest of the dealership floor was totally empty of car shoppers.
The new Jetta was there, in the middle of the showroom, no one looking at it.
The ridiculous $27,000+ sticker price must also be keeping buyers away. Granted it was loaded, A Jetta is still a Jetta. People will most likely demand a more sensible price for it.
I wonder what will happen when the new Passat which could be priced towards $35,000 dollars, comes out. later this year.
Post edited 05/01/05 1:27 PM by Chombi
milkshake1026 Said,
May 7, 2005 @ 12:26 pm
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – look whos talking
297 Said,
May 7, 2005 @ 12:38 pm
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – You should take a closer look yourself.
V-dubber Said,
May 9, 2005 @ 10:08 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – I know you are, but what am I?
lol
297 Said,
May 9, 2005 @ 11:37 am
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – Heh.
formerAuditech Said,
May 9, 2005 @ 12:32 pm
VW ridiculous parts pricing of late. – hey milk……the vortex is to the right.
you aren’t going to save anyone here, we all see the light. and i am here to help shed it…..VW’s suck, as do Audi’s……now move along.