QuailAllStar (Mike)

How Lauren, my Passat 3BG, Came To Be

It all started a while back in 1999 when my mom was in the market for a new car she was looking at the B5 Passat and I fell in love with the car. At the time I was 19 and had a new Jeep Cherokee that I loved, but there was always space in my heart for a Dub baby! My mom ended up purchasing the Honda Accord LX.

Lets fast forward all the way to Thanksgiving of 2001. I began getting ideas of a new car and could not stop thinking about it. I was fed up with my Jeep and the lack of space and the amount of gas it chugged. I got the idea of buying a new car but its funny because I had forgotten about the Passat and wanted the new A4 1.8T. I was trying to convince my mother and father to help out their loving son with getting "cool wheels". I had money saved up and I had just started my new job at WSVN Ch 7. My mom went for it and said ahh why the hell not, you deserve a new ride (plus she still wanted a Passat...hehe). On the other hand I sat down with my father and had a man-to-man talk, didn't help one ounce.

I was so bummed out that I took matters into my own hands and started the car hunt on my own so determined to buy the car. It lasted until January 8th 2002. I must have visited all the Volkswagen dealerships in Miami but I had one left to check out. It was Gunther Volkswagen and its 60 miles N of Miami. I did most inquires over the phone. I was looking at a Ink Blue, Indigo Blue or Black 2002 Passat GLS 1.8T with, Triptronic, Monsoon, Homelink, Cold Weather and maybe Tan Leather. I was lucky to land in the hands of one of the sweetest and best saleswomen I have ever dealt with so far. We talked some numbers over the phone (which is odd, most dealers don't do this) and she was trying to convince me to drive up with my parents. I told her my father didn't agree with me needing a new car. She said put him on the phone. LOL I guess it worked she talked to him for about 20 min and told him everything I had tried speaking to him about the car. She convinced my dad to go and "ONLY LOOK" at the new Passat. Nothing about buying me one, but hey its better than flat out NO! The next day January 9th, 2002, we loaded up the Jeep and the parents and me drove up that night racing to beat the dealer closing time at 9pm. We arrived at the dealer 20min to 9pm, and everyone was so eager to help out and even go for a test drive, etc. I convinced my father to test drive a Passat and see for himself what a great car it was.

We took a walk out to the lot (mind you its like 39F and that's cold for Miami) and my dad said hey that's a sharp looking car Michael. Finally we drove one and my dad was falling for it said reminds him of his BMW. I picked out an Indigo Blue Passat but it had gray cloth and not tan. I'm not to fond of dark interiors (am now!) and the saleswomen was telling me how hard it was to get my hands on an Ink Blue Passat. So I went for my second choice Indigo Blue with tan interior. Gunther did not have that configuration in stock with cloth interior. I was willing to order one even if it took 1 month to arrive. Knowing what I wanted we went inside to haggle for a good price. My father was already agreeing with me that I should get this car and he said what the hell keep your money. I'll buy you the car, add the leather and get the GLX if you want. No thanks I said, I want the "4-banger TURBO no wood please" but I'll agree with tan leather. So the order was placed and all was great! Michael was a happy camper, and so was mom. The car would take at the most 7 days to locate in the US. Luckily the car was shipped to FL in 1 day. January 11th at 8am I got that call from Darlene YOUR CAR IS HERE Mikey! Went the following day and picked her up and right there off the bat I said she looks like a Lauren. That's the story of Lauren.

Mods

Thanks to everyone for the fun, ideas and help with all the mods and also to B5one and to My big brother B Dizzle Fizzle!

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