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Comments
Speaking of the new VR6, I wanna try one for the heck of it. Maybe that will give me something to do this coming weekend..
i have to at least try, right???
I've heard the 6 speed still doesn't lower the engine drone at 85 though. Do you know, Justin?
Wife will love it. I'm still keeping my MDX..
I'll just steal hers once in a while when I need a speed fix.
Does anyone know when VW fixed the wiring harnesses for the Monsoon? I was following a thread over at VWVortex and with all the dash rattle stuff, I'm *real* leary about pulling the radio out. I figure if I disturb ANYTHING I'll end up with a rattle.
that is the ONE thing about the Miata that i never liked. highway cruising. but, maybe real life owners don't drive them on the highway as fast as we do our Jettas? maybe having a Miata means relaxing and enjoying the drive, until you get to a racetrack?
i will let you know my impressions, though they might not let me post them here in the Jetta forum.
Wife will love it. I'm still keeping my MDX..
I'll just steal hers once in a while when I need a speed fix.
Does anyone know when VW fixed the wiring harnesses for the Monsoon? I was following a thread over at VWVortex and with all the dash rattle stuff, I'm *real* leary about pulling the radio out. I figure if I disturb ANYTHING I'll end up with a rattle.
My Jetta's not exactly quiet either though. Especially at 90+. I played follow-the-leader with a girl in an IS300 last weekend going to LA. We made it 120 miles in one hour and fifteen minutes. It was one of those days where I loved my turbo.
Miatas are built for that SD sunm in my opinion. the other crappy thing about the Miata is that you can't get heated seats.
One of the best train rides I have ever taken was the basic Amtrak from LA to SD. Very pretty.
the Miata would be PERFECT for those hills just outside of La Jolla. but the Jetta is fun there, as well, for sure!
Miata, motorcycle, jeep. Just wondering here. I have a friend who used to always wear earplugs when riding his motorcycle. Not so much for the motor noise, but for the wind. Anyone else here do that? I was considering it for the Jeep on the highway.
I have been researching the Jetta, Passat and A4 with looking to purchase in the near future. I really like the GLI (the 17" wheels look great) with the leather, sunroof and monsoon. However for the money I could get a Passat GLS similarly equiped (but with 1.8T) but with puny looking 15" wheels. As far as the Audi goes I would probably have to buy used to get the same equipment level.
I am single and would probably own for 1.5 - 2.5 years. I have gone through a career change and probably will have more money to spend in a couple of years. Recently I have owned trucks and SUV's but the best vehicle I ever owned was a '94 Acura Integra GSR. I'm a little older now and looking for more sport sedan than pocket rocket, but as one can tell I like 'drivers cars'. I drove a 5sp Passet in Ireland last summer and really liked it, have as of yet to try Jetta or A4.
looking for other opinions as to which way I should probably go.
IMHO the Passat is the best VW overall value. Minus the V6 power of the top o line Jetta, you get a similarly priced Passat that you can actually fit adults other than the front row, a nicer pass-through trunk to fits lots of stuff, slightly nicer interior features (usable cupholers, AC glove box, rear sunshade, a bigger center console, silver accented speedo readouts, etc). The Jetta is very nice (my girlfriend just got one) , but if you want more practical "utility" with your driving experience, the Passat is a best overall choice.
The Audi IMO is over priced compared to the VW Jetta and Passat, largely identical, with some different styling that I personally dont care for. If driving performance is hands-down #1 top priority, go with the V6 Jetta ....
17", 224/45 r17. There's the larger contact patch, and its corresponding thinner sidewalls, thus less deflection (a little better turn-in feel), and possibly more road noise and bumps.
If you go onto http://www.vw.com, you can access the driver's gear catalog for to the available OEM wheels for the Passat and its prices.
Another useful source is http://www.tirerack.com
Of course there's suspension upgrades if you want to take that route.
HO
Get a price?
This is NOT the way things should be and it will be fixed as soon as they can figure it out.
Meanwhile, I share your frustration, believe me!
Thanks,
Carrie
It would be the Cold Weather package.
I have been told by one VW dealership that it would work fine, and by another that you have to go to 16 inches to clear the larger calipers.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Does the Sport Luxury Package come with larger calipers that require at least a 16" wheel?
The car in question is a 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8T w/Sport Luxury package.
i don't know about that. with the extra 20 ponies you'll get a heavier engine (which hinders handling) that's noisier and less refined than the turbo. maybe the new VR6s (i had the 174hp one) are a different story, but i feel the turbo kicks the VR6 butt.
justin: CR likes both VW and Honda, but they just LOVE Toyota (which makes me want to lose my cookies).
But Sport Luxury package gets the springs and 17" rims for the most part.
15" rims are fine.
Check the wheel & tire classifieds on VWVortex. You should be able to find someone near you and get the 15" wheels for relatively cheap. You'll pay an arm and a leg to get a new set from the dealer.
Jetta: Great engine choices, only one that has the Diesel TDI, so if that is an option, it becomes your only option. Jetta has great styling and is the least expensive of the group, but is also the only one of the three NOT made in Germany. Engineering plays a large part in the quality of the car, but for peace of mind, a Mexican built car doesn't measure up. Have read a fair number of posts around the TH that seem to indicate that Jettas have a viable lemon-factor.
Audi A4: not much bigger in size than the Jetta. For the extra money you get a few more bells and whistles, and a different dealership to deal with. Sometimes that is good, sometimes that is bad. Might get faster, better service with an Audi dealer, just based on units sold alone. Worth noting: I have read a number of posts on the A4 page about some quality control issues as well. I guess I would think hard about the ownership experience. Audi is a little more luxury themed, while VW is a little more "youthful fun" themed. Does that even make sense?
VW Passat: For a little less than the Audi, you can get the Passat, German built, featuring the same engines, and plenty of fun. Passats are tuned towards more of a GT cruiser style of driving than the sporty A4, but not so much that you would confuse it for a Buick. The car is classy, very nice inside, and seems to hold up well over time. For my money, this is perhaps the best model for a man who has to haul the family once in a while but still wants a responsive car with European style and handling characteristics.
On Quality: All three are superbly designed and engineered. Showing few flaws. The German-made / Mexican-made factor may not be as big of a deal in reality as it is emotionally for me. I just know this, Mexico doesn't have a top quality car manufacturer of its own...perhaps that is for a reason? I do know that when VW originally started manufacturing Jettas and the old Foxes in Brazil and Mexico, quality slipped. Just my personal bias on that...
On performance: the Jetta might be a touch softer than the A4 for all-out performance, but in trade you get more performance for your dollar. Both hold their resale values nicely, so the cost of ownership won't be significantly higher for the A4, maybe $2500 over 3 years. The Passat is the worst of the three on the performance scale, but highest on luxury content per dollar. Only you know just what you want out of the car, so the choice comes down to comprimise any way you choose.
On looks: they are all good looking cars. So no big drop offs to consider.
Conclusion: crap shoot, you don't exactly lose no matter which one you choose (oh no, that rhymed), me, I would be hard pressed not to choose the Passat, being the middle of the road player with plenty of power, plenty of luxury, and saving a few dollars on the monthly payments. But the TDI engine interests me greatly, so the Jetta or Golf may win out in the end if I go VW with my next car.
Personally, I am waiting to see the upcoming 2004 BMW 1-series. If they deliver on their rumors, the car will slot in right in the middle of this whole mess and muck things up completely.
Who doesn't love a little parity when it comes to great cars?
I was just wondering if anyone else's mirrors whistle on their car. Thanks.
1. How was it "fixed"?
2. Why was the right mirror not "fixed"?
The A4 has a real suspension though. And its sports package does make a difference.
>> Both hold their resale values nicely, so the cost of ownership won't be significantly higher for the A4, maybe $2500 over 3 years.<<
Um, the A4's warranty comes with free scheduled maintenance, so actually the Jetta/Passat will end up costing you money for upkeep while the A4's only extra costs are gas and insurance.
no mirror whistle here. you have BIONIC ears, don't you?
Venus:
someone else said that CR likes VW now too. they did that before, and changed their mind a year later. they change their ratings based on some disgruntled VW consumers writing letters with different names and addresses. that is why i can't put much faith in those type of mags. one the one hand, they love to drive the VW, but they recommend Toyota. it is all based on what this very skewed data. watch, next year, the CR won't recommend the Jetta because Paul/Vocus wrote in about rattles, and because BlueGuy says the car is unsafe because it handles like a mini-Buick, haha.
Please don't invoke my name and then make things up. I've commented on the base/sport Jetta's bland handling but I never called the car unsafe.
And as far as the mirrors, I guess I do have bionic ears.
I don't know what they did to fix it. If I did, I would attempt it myself, because I really don't feel like taking the car back AGAIN to the shop.
So he came back later and said my car was worth $17,500 right now, with 16,800 miles on it (a loss of 29.1% from MSRP). That's not too bad a loss, considering I bought it 7 months ago and put alot of mileage on it. (MSRP was $24,675.) By comparison, my 2001 Protege lost 38% of its value in about the same time and mileage (8 months and 20K). And YES, I still have my white 1.8T, I did not trade (he must have thought I was crazy!).
I just thought you all would like to know that the Jetta is pretty good at holding its resale value.
my god! i don't even know what to say. you really misread that. i guess that is the thing about email/internet instead of really talking, face to face. you automatically think i am being hateful. lighten up, was a JOKE. i can't believe i actually had to tell you that. did you not see the "HAHA and
how about this:
i won't ever bring up your name again. i won't post anything that pertains to you, or to you. but, you have to remember that when i post messages to people other than you, you need to not address me directly, since i wasn't directing the post to you, and since you weren't brought up in the post.
lets agree to just pretend the other doesn't exist.
peace! sheesh.......
VOCUS:
didn't i tell you that a long time ago? you aren't driving a new Saab after all. your car will do fine with resale, especially if you keep in for about 18 months!
The dealer said I could sell it privately for about $3000 more than he offered me ($21K probably). I have the cash to pay off the difference if I sell it privately, but right now I don't wanna do that.
The surveys are done by CR subscribers. Maybe there're enough VW consumers disgruntle enough to order multiple subscriptions, have legitimate but different addresses to receive the magazines and surveys, and spend time to fill out and mail them in. What's with VW attracting potentially disgruntle consumers? vocus dosen't count (though he's already cost VW a sale or two). He's loving his Jetta again. OTOH, his current desire to mod the dash could mean a new car on the horizon.
vocus,
You have no idea what they did? What's happened to the excellent VW dealer customer service? When you picked up the car (multiple times), they gave you a service order that should've stated what they did. When they called you and said the car was ready, wasn't it their job to explain to you what they'd done?
Do you really believe that you can sell the car privately for $24K?
Could some of you welcome a new participant and address the questions here: zalaly Jul 11, 2002 1:13pm?
Thanks.
Pat
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