Blog / Miami Volkswagen Dealer

Driving to College

2019-volkswagen-arteon-se-4motion-102-1560203646
You have recently graduated high school and now you are ready to go to college. Whether you are in-state or out-of-state, get ready to go on the best road trip of your life. But first, you’ll need a car. Here, you’ll find tips on buying and leasing. Buying
  • Establish a Budget
Start by asking yourself what you can afford. This will let you know which cars you can buy and which ones to save for when you graduate college and get a full-time job. If you can afford to buy it upfront, then go for it! If you can’t, financing is an option. If you do choose to finance, calculate how much you can spend a month on car payments. In this case, it’s best if you don’t spend more than 10% of your monthly gross income on payments.
  • Identify and Prioritize Your Wants
What do you want most in a car? Do you want a good looking car? An economical car? A sedan? An SUV? A truck? Make sure you know the answers to those questions, otherwise you might end up with a car that you didn’t want in the first place.
  • Test Drive
This is one of the most important steps. Test drive all of the options to make the perfect selection. New cars are usually in good conditions. Old cars, however, may not be, so make sure you run the car through a professional mechanic. Sure, it may cost money, but it could save you in the long run. Leasing Many drivers are aware of how car leases work, but they don’t know that by using just a few tips, they can end up saving a lot of money. Here are four leasing strategies you may not have realized existed:
  • Extend Your Lease Month-to-Month
Just because your lease is about to expire, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to decide whether to buy the car immediately or whether you should find a new one. Many dealerships will let you extend the lease on a month-to-month basis if you’re still unsure if you want to keep the car or not. This gives you extra time to do further research on vehicles currently on the market and to decide if you want to purchase the car you’re leasing.
  • Sign a Single-Payment Lease
If you have an influx of cash and prefer to lease instead of finance, you should inquire about signing a single-payment lease. A single-payment lease, also known as a single-pay or pre-pay lease, is similar to a standard lease, the only difference is that instead of having monthly payments, the entire amount is paid at the beginning of the lease. This will help you avoid the burden of having to pay a set amount each month you’ll also probably get a lower interest rate.
  • Gap Insurance
According to the Insurance Information Institute, gap insurance is “the difference between what a vehicle is currently worth and the amount you actually owe on it.” In the event that you get into an accident, gap insurance would cover you for this difference between market value and the amount you own on the vehicle. It’s a good idea to get gap insurance when leasing since you generally pay less on a monthly basis and you could otherwise end up owning thousands of dollars if your car is totaled early in the lease.
  • Make a Bigger Down Payment
When leasing, you’re paying the difference between the price of the vehicle and the value at the end of the contract, making a bigger down payment is the way to go. For example, if you’re considering buying a vehicle worth $25,000 and make a down payment of $2,500, you’re paying 10% of what you owe if you finance. However, if the residual value of the car is $12,500, paying that same amount for the down payment, means that you’ve paid 20% of what you owe, which could mean a lower monthly rate. If you’re thinking of buying or leasing a car, call 305-928-8612 or visit our website to learn more about what models we have available. We hope you have a safe drive to school!
Posted in:

Related Posts

Drivers side view of a black 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI S

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R: Performance Hatchback Showdown

Two of the sportiest models at Doral Volkswagen are the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI and the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R. Both of these compact, sport-tuned hatchbacks are ideal for unleashing your inner speedster, particularly if you live in the city or suburbs where a smaller vehicle comes in handy. Check out the performance specs and other key features of each model to decide which sporty VW hot hatch is right for you. The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R: Performance Hatchback Showdown at Doral Volkswagen Each VW hatchback is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor, a seven-speed automatic transmission, sport suspension, and progressive steering. The progressive steering system reduces steering input at lower speeds for more precision and increases the steering ratio at higher speeds for more stability. Where the two models differ in terms of performance comes down to mechanical features. The Golf GTI has a limited front slip differential, vented front and rear brake rotors, and selectable drive modes. The Golf R has Adaptive Chassis Control, an XDS Cross Differential System, and a signature R-Performance 4MOTION AWD system with built-in torque vectoring to master the road with optimized traction in all weather conditions. more Exterior Features The Golf GTI has 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, while the Golf R is optimized for sporty performance with 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires. Each model has an Adaptive Front Lighting System, automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, and Dynamic Cornering Lights to illuminate curbs as the vehicle turns corners. A front grille with a light bar and illuminated VW logo is also standard. The power-folding and power-adjustable side mirrors have position memory, heated glass, puddle lights, and an auto-tilt feature on the passenger's side mirror to maximize your view of the road. Features like rain-detecting windshield wipers are standard on both models, while the Golf R adds a power panoramic sunroof and Poor Weather Lights to the standard equipment package. Interior Features While each model has VW's sophisticated Climatronic Touch automatic climate control system, the GTI has a single-zone system, and the R comes with a three-zone system for customized climate settings for all riders. Heated front row seats are standard for the Golf GTI, while the Golf R adds heated second-row outboard seats for rear rider comfort. Both models have a 60/40 folding rear seat with a pass-through space. Both models are outfitted with a 12.9-inch Discover Pro infotainment system with HD radio, integrated navigation, and App-Connect connectivity to integrate your preferred entertainment apps on the central touchscreen. Each model also has a 10.25-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro for a customized digital gauge cluster. The VW Golf models are fun to drive with turbocharged powertrains, sport-tuned mechanical features, and standard equipment packages that prioritize comfort and convenience. Book a test drive for your favorite model at Doral Volkswagen in Doral, FL.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas in doral florida

Experience Space and Comfort with the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

With three spacious rows of seating and a selection of comfort amenities, the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is an ideal pick for your next family car. This capable full-size SUV has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs, which is enough muscle to flat-tow recreational vehicles or a medium-sized boat on your next family adventure. See how the Atlas is perfect for your family's active lifestyle today. more The VW Atlas is outfitted with an efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged motor that delivers 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with selectable drive modes to augment the output of the powertrain to refine vehicle handling and performance. The SEL model enhances traction with a 4MOTION AWD system. The maximum cargo space in this three-row SUV is 96.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Atlas has a seven-passenger seating capacity with a cargo volume of 20.6 cubic feet when all seats are in place. The 60/40 split-folding second row and 50/50 split-folding third row enable customizable seating and cargo configuration when you need extra space for large gear. Tech Features The Atlas comes with a 12-inch central touchscreen that supports streaming through HD radio, as well as AM and FM stations. The central touchscreen is compatible with App-Connect so you can sync your smartphone to the infotainment unit to access your preferred music streaming, podcast, and navigation apps. On upper models, the infotainment screen has an integrated navigation system. This model is outfitted with VW's signature Digital Cockpit Pro, an immersive digital cluster behind the steering wheel that outlines all of your vehicle stats. The Digital Cockpit Pro is fully customizable with different layouts and gauges so you can pick and choose the information you see. Driver Assistance Features This VW comes with a standard Adaptive Cruise Control system, which works by maintaining a pre-set following distance from the vehicle ahead as traffic speeds up and slows down. Like traditional cruise control, this advanced system improves your fuel economy by eliminating aggressive speeding and braking that burns through gas more quickly. One key driver-assistance system is Front Assist, which bundles Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking. This system can monitor the road ahead for pedestrians and bicyclists, and then engage the hard brakes when a frontal collision is detected. Light Assist is also standard, which controls the high-beam headlights by sensing when to turn them on or off based on the surrounding traffic conditions. The VW Atlas is an ideal vehicle for all of your family outings, whether you're on your way to an amusement park or taking a trip to the beach. Get in touch with Doral Volkswagen in Doral, FL to learn about financing options.

2025 volkswagen id.buzz in doral florida

Introducing the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz: Iconic Design Reimagined

Of all the notable cars Volkswagen has produced, few have captured the attention quite like the Microbus. Launched as the second model after the Beetle, it began as a 25-hp people hauler, only to grow into an icon of the 1960s cultural movement. Today, its latest iteration, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz, channels the same style and spirit, this time to lead a very different movement: the electrification revolution. more How Does It Look? More like a feeling than a vehicle. Just like the original, the new Bus isn't about blending in. Volkswagen has actually borrowed a lot of the design cues that made the first one iconic: the friendly face, the short overhangs and long wheelbase for maximum space inside, and the signature sliding doors, which are now powered for your convenience. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Bus without the tasteful, uplifting paint jobs. Three single-tone options are available, but if you want to bring the fun to life, choose from these two-tone combinations: Candy White top with Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Blue Charcoal, Mahi Green, Metro Silver, Cabana Blue, or Indium Grey. Or, go for a Metro Silver top with Cherry Red below. What's the Interior Like? The ID.Buzz is all about carrying people and stuff, so expect plenty of space. To fulfill its people-hauling duties, the vehicle comes with three rows of seats with space comfy enough to accommodate seven riders. A pair of captain's chairs is available, but they drop the seating capacity to six. Even at the base level, the ID.Buzz is well-appointed. Standard features include heated and ventilated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. Every ID.Buzz comes with a Buzz Box, a removable, customizable center console with all kinds of handy features. On top, there's flexible storage and two cool dividers that pull double-duty as a bottle opener and ice scraper. Underneath, there's a 1.4-liter compartment for small essentials like water bottles and a 5.0-liter for bigger stuff like laptops and tablets. How Much Range Does It Get? The ID.Buzz comes with a 91-kWh battery pack as standard. Volkswagen says rear-wheel drive models will give you up to 234 miles of range per charge. All-wheel drive variants, on the other hand, manage 231 miles. According to VW, the ID.Buzz can charge from 0 to 80% in as little as 30 minutes when connected to a fast charger. In real terms, that means you can pop into a service station, grab a coffee, and by the time you're back, you've added around 80 miles of range in just ten minutes. To test-drive the 2025 ID.Buzz, contact Doral Volkswagen in Doral, FL.