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Comments
Even more annoying, for the Sport Suspension Kit, essentially Eibach lowering springs, VW wants 240 for the parts and the best price I've found from a dealer is $350 installation, which is 5 hours of install time at $70 an hour. What kind of monkey takes 5 hours to install 4 springs? Aftermarket guys around town all quoted $100-150 for the install and put the time at 1-2 hours.
VW's rip off techniques are getting tiresome.
One last thing, the blasted BBS wheels on my WE seem to leak air from the tire. Today marks the third time since my purchase on June 9th that I had to add more air to the always deflating tires.
And to those that are "name calling" and accusing of faces and asses interacting in a manner that discerns similarity...GET A LIFE>>>>>The only time we should look down on someone is when we are about to pick them up!
You didn't buy the cheapo alternatives to the VW (Civic, Sentra, Altima, Corolla), so why are you being cheap with caring for the car?
I am experiencing excessive windnoise in my new 2001 VW Jetta VR6. Is this just my car? Any suggestions. Would be extremely grateful if you could email me at jacob_j_john@hotmail.com.
As a side note, if I rubbed you the wrong way, I don't really care.
We're all in the same boat -- or car as it is in this case -- and we're all here to help each other, so if we find someone doing something contrary to their owner's manual or getting bad advice from their dealer that we know BY FACT to be wrong, then how about let's help them out constructively and not beat them to death with the steering wheel of their own car.
If lspangler is indeed damaging their car by using 87 octane, then point it out with a direct page number in his manual so they can see it in black and white, and not with a huge blast of flame-wars.
So, with that being said: In booklet 3.3, page #5 it states that the fuel requirements for the 1.8T are: Premium Unleaded.
There are no other options. And an engine that does require the higher octane of premium (91 octane) could definitely be seriously damaged by using the lower rated regular unleaded (87 octane) fuel.
As a sidenote (and as most of you know), the 1.8T is the only engine that requires premium. The 2.0 and the VR6 run just fine on regular.
If you do not use premium the engine will experience preignition and detonation. Also known as knocking and pinging.
For those who don't understand preignition and detonation, I'll explain. In preignition, the fuel ignites prematurely during the compressiong stroek and the piston must fight the pressure created while it continues the compression stroke. Preignition means there's also inadequate pressure left to perform a true power stroke and force the piston back down. This causes power loss, and more importantly, raises cylinder temperatures. If this happens too often bad things can happen to your engine.
So if you are too cheap to buy premium then 1.8T or VR6 is the wrong engine for you. Better stick to a 2.0 or TDI.
Stated by VW for the VR6 "Premium recommended for maximum performance".
What reason other than being too cheap would you put regular unleaded gasoline into the VR6 or 1.8T? Generally people who spend the $20K and up for a Jetta VR6 should be able to afford premium, and it is typically available at almost all gas stations.
What Flame War?
As for the manual, to be honest, I never bother as 99% of the darn things are packed with inane details: "To unlock the doors, press the key..."
INKY
First question........Has anyone purchased an extended warranty for their Jetta? If so, what company did you go with? Have you used it yet? If so, did it work out ok?
Second question......This is for 1.8T owners.
What octane fuel do you use? The reason I ask is I am beginning to think that the problems with my Jetta are fuel related, the highest octane I can buy is 90.
Third question.......Also for the 1.8T owners. Have any of you used an octane boost? Did it help?
Thanks
Sheesh.
Check www.vwvortex.com for more info on different experiences with chipping.
Jason
- sport suspension standard
- GTI seats in a different fabric
- Wolfsburg badging
- lower price vs a regular 1.8T with the same options
I personally would wait for the 2002 unless you really want the GTI seats
$18.8 is a great price for the WE, as they are clearing the shelves for the 2002's that are being shipped to them now.
VW usually creates the WE versions to clear out old stock. They add a few surface bells and whistles and re-badge it to re-new interest before major changes. It's their way to clear out old stock and parts they really don't need for the next build and, of course, to generate a butt-load of money ;-)
The car acts strange, if I get after it from a stoplight it will either shudder or stall, even though I am pressing on the gas while letting the clutch out. At first I thought it was me, then I started to pay attention to how I drove and its not me, its the car.
- New VR6 24V with 201 hp and 5-speed automatic transmission (first car in its segment to offer this feature) with Tiptronic® will replace current 12V VR6 by mid model year
- Manual transmission (6-speed) will be available later in the year for the VR6 24V
- Accentuated dual chrome exhaust on 24V VR6 models
- 1.8T engine increased from 150hp to 180hp
- 5-speed automatic transmission (first car in its segment to offer this feature) with Tiptronic® available on 1.8T
- Premium CD/cassette radio for GLS and GLX
- New Color (Reflex Silver will replace Silver Arrow)
- Trunk escape handle
- Cruise control indicator light
- On/Off switch for self dimming mirror
A WE should be had for under $20K with moonroof, cold weather package, and Monsoon.
As for 2002 pricing, I am not sure what's going on with that. Maybe someone else could chime in here...
-Jim
I test drove a silver GLS 1.8T, with monsoon, and the 5 speed tiptronic. I can definitely say that if I go with the Jetta I will be getting the tiptronic. Damn it was fun to drive, although there is some turbo lag. At one point I came to a dead stop and waited for the merging lane to clear and punched the pedal. After a second or two I was about to let my foot up and do it again when Scotty finally delivered the warp power I asked for. When the turbo kicks in your gone! Now the delay may not be as great as it seemed to me due to time dilation. I just know it was not instantaneous between punching the pedal and taking off.
-Jim
INKY
on Thursday posted a $200 Base Price Increase and Tiptronic
has always been $1075 vs. $875 for the normal 4 Speed
Your getting bad information WE availablity here is the scoop: Back in the day the WE's were in fact limited editions that usually featured new options or subtle cosmetic changes soon to be available on next years model. The WE of today is just an option package available for the Jetta (check the website they will confirm this) with no definite expiration date. My advice, wait for next model years improvements and upgrades, the WE option package will still be avialable (it's a money maker).
I do like many aspects of the car. The engine's fun, though the 5th gear is poorly designed and after 1400 miles I must admit I'm longing for more power. The styling and fit and finish are pretty darn nice too. The ride's comfy, except for the seats lack quality support on long drives.
My only real beefs with the WE:
So far pretty bad gas mileage even on long distance trips I'm only getting 25 mpg averaging a rather tepid 80 mph.
The suspension's just too darn spongy on the WE. I have to turn off the traction control to even get some semblance of fun out of the car in corners. Even with that basic adjustment, the body roll is too severe for a car supposedly equipped with a sport suspension. I've located a local guy who will install the Eibach sport springs for $300 including parts ($400 savings over the rip-off artists at VW dealerships), so perhaps the lowering and stiffening will quell the Jetta WE's serious weeble-wobble cornering.
Otherwise, it's been a fun car. Just not living up to my expectations. I drove my old 91 Stanza to work today and was amazed at how much better it corners than my Jetta WE.
www.blue-guy.com, driven by a different point of view.
Even without the WE package or the sport suspension the Jetta 1.8T pulls .83 g or roadholding and the 91 Stanza was listed at .77 g roadholding, you tell me which is better.
In what aspect is the 5th gear "poorly designed"?
All I can say is "If the Jetta WE is not meeting your expectations then what would, and if 80 MPH is tepid then what speed is scalding, 150 MPH?".
I think your review is misleading (IMHO).
I've commented to others about the 25 mpg at a steady 80 and they're aghast at how poor that is. With my old car I get over 30 mpg doing a steady 80 mph and that's a far bigger 2.4L inline 4 with 150,000 miles on it. My sister's 3.0L V6 Tribute cruising at 80 nets her 25 mpg too and the Tribute is akin to driving a brick into the wind.
Legality? The official limit around here on the freeway is 65mph. If one does 65, one must be in the slow lane and even then horns will blare. 75 is moving with traffic; 80-90 on I-5 is pretty realistic between San Diego and LA.
The roadholding index for the Stanza is based on the puny stock tires. I use wider rubber on it and I know for a fact that cornering say at 35 I don't hear a squeal or experience body roll in my old car the way I do with the WE. It's quite distressing to realize in the twisties I could trounce my new car with a 10 year old sedan. Especially if the new one has that annoying traction control on.
The 5th gear ratio keeps the RPMs far too high on WE. At 80 the car's turning nearly 4000 RPM. That's unacceptable. More realistically, if 5th is really a cruising gear I'd expect nearer to 3000-3200 rpms at freeway speeds (75-80). Remember this car is German, thus it should have ratios matching autobahn speeds, not the US' paternalistic speed limits.
I looked for a car for over a year. I drove just about every vehicle under 35k and the Jetta offers the most bang for my buck. Its interior gives some level of luxury. It exhibits great fit and finish. The exterior is pleasant. The safety levels exceed most makes. And the 1.8T gives some fun around town performance. When I found a car offering great performance, say the WRX, its exterior and interior, plus build quality, were always below my desires. Even Lexus' esteemed IS felt numb and lifeless (partly due to the atrocious automatic on that thing). The Jetta was the "just-right" fit for someone like me looking for a car under 35k or a lease payment under $450 a month.
Still the WE, for my needs requires the lowering kit. And eventually I will have to chip it too. The engine can be fun but it's still not matching the kind of power I want. Just a matter of time.
Reading all the negative statements you make shocks me that you even own one. Just an observance and I was just questioning what exactly you like about the car you slam so often. My guess is your glass is always half-empty.
I really don't mean this as a flame. I am just surprised that you own a Jetta as your positive list is extremely short while the majority of us are out here just having a blast with ours.
ALSO...Is the W>E suspension hardware/spring ratings/shocks etc. different than the the GLS other than 16" wheels @ 55 wide vs. 17 wheels @ 45 wide.
That said, I'm shocked at how many faults I've found with the car too. Over the course of the next few months I'll take steps to alter the things i dislike about the car...namely the suspension and power delivery.
Baltic, my old car with 14's pulls better through corners than the BBS 16's on the WE. Additionally, I wouldn't blame the tires for the car's severe dipping. Lastly, I weighed waiting for the 2002's with the sport suspension with 17 inchers but decided against 17's as they require yearly changing at 400-500 a pop. The benefits of 17's, from my experience driving with them on a Jetta and on other cars do not, IMO, out-weigh the major drawbacks. 10-15k on a set of tires is unacceptable. And also on the Jetta I'd have to change the rims if I had the 17's as VW's current rims are not to my liking. So that's another 1000-1500 expense.
-Jim
http://www.jettaownersclub.org
Are their engine RPMs the same at the same speed
(say 80 MPH) with the same gear (say 5th)? I've read posts saying that for the Jetta 1.8T, the engine is running at about 4000 RPM at 80 MPH. This seems a little too high. Is it good to the engine at such high RPM for normal cruising? Is the engine noise loud and annoying? How about Passat and Audi with the same engine? I seem to remember someone mentioned in the Passat column that the Passat engine is not running that fast.
Could someone verify? And if true, why?
BTW, I am a VW fan and have been reading the VW colunms for about a year and find them very interesting and helpful. I owned a 89 Jetta GL
for 7 years till July 2000, its handling and performance were among the best compared with all other cars I've driven. (Its engine ran at 3200 RPM at 80 MPH.) I gave it away because its fuel pumps were broken, and bought an 2000 Honda Accord EX in August 2000. What a mistake! I found the Accord extremely boring. Its seat was very uncomfortable - it cannot be adjusted upright, and it's not firm enough. I am going to sell the Honda car this month (take a big loss!) and plan to buy a new car. The Jetta 1.8T is on top of my list. However after reading the posts I am concerned with the engine speed of the 1.8T.
Thanks in advance if someone could address my concerns.
oh yeah, my 1999 VW Golf Wolfsburg is 3800 RPM around 80 mph. noisy. Dont get a 2.0 if you are worried about sound. Also, do get, the "sound proofing" for underneath the hood. About $60.
I know you asked about the 1.8T...just food for thought.