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Volkswagen Jetta 2006+

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  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    Start with GLI 1.8T Styles (MSRP: $24,685 - $25,660)...from there you can add another $2000 in options.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Got it - I glanced right over the GLI in search of GLX which doesn't exist.

    But in any case a Jetta at $26K doesn't represent a good value to me no matter the current pricing status. I wouldn't consider the current GLI at the pricing either.
  • cdstrawcdstraw Member Posts: 12
    I just came back from attending the debut of the new 06(05.5) Jetta at Russell VW in Ellicott City, MD. A nice little affair. Picked up a promotional T-shirt and some more brochures and a DVD about the new 06 Jetta. I really liked the DVD presentation.

    Anyway, I was particularly looking for a TDI with manual. According to management it will be several months before TDI's or manuals are available. I have read in these newsgroups and in Car and Driver (I believe) that May 05 is projected as the availability date. Anyone out there talk to their local VW dealer and have any different dates? I plan on going to the debut at another dealer tomorrow and see what they have to say. VW is advertising TDI with manual on the website for the new 06 Jetta.
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    May-June is what I've heard from the dealers here in the Portland Oregon area, when you ask about TDI availability. I think that is a reliable estimate.
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    The dealer should be able to tell you what they have coming in and the expected arrival date. We are planning on getting the Value Edition, which I had also read was coming in June. When I talked to the salesman about it he looked at a print out of what they have coming. This showed the date each car was expected. He even told me when and how many in the color we want are coming. In addition he said if we order one rather than taking one that he has coming, it would be about 100 days to get it.
  • 600kgolfgt600kgolfgt Member Posts: 690
    Yesterday while my 2003 Wolfsburg Jetta was getting an oil change, I decided to check out the new Jetta in the showroom (one of 5 already at the dealer). I had a pre-conceived notion that the Jetta would be more Corolla-like in its styling. But I was pleasantly surprised - this car definitely looks German. Any resemblance between this Jetta and the Corolla (save for the rear lights) is purely coincidental.

    The Jetta had its usual attention to detail - especially in the interior ergonomics department. The controls for the stereo and the Air Conditioning/Heating systems were repositioned so the driver can have easier access to them. The Value Edition had the dual zone climate controls, power seats, satellite radio, leather interior, etc. The back seats have more legroom than my current Jetta. The sticker price was in the 25K range. A 2005 passat TDI was right next to the 2006 Jetta, and judging from the side by side comparison, the Jetta is nearly the size of the current Passat.

    The 2.0T (when it arrives) should make this one sweet ride....
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    The 2.0T (when it arrives) should make this one sweet ride....

    Especially with DSG and a chip…
  • 600kgolfgt600kgolfgt Member Posts: 690
    also add a stainless-steel high flow cat and exhaust and a dual-intercooler kit....:-)
  • jrct9454jrct9454 Member Posts: 2,363
    ....add a partridge in a pear tree.

    We could always add a V8 and 20" wheels, as well as neon lights underneath and nitrous injection...or hope that rationality prevails, I guess...
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    Now you’re being silly :) …a 3.6L VR6 would do, if you’re into the displacement thing.

    I’d prefer the chip; always more power there with just a little tweaking (my CPU is over-clocked 45% :) )
  • 600kgolfgt600kgolfgt Member Posts: 690
    I'm into sleeper cars - no extraneous "bling" (I hate that word) like neon, spinning wheels, nitrous injection, and all that other nonsense - I'm just interested in improving the Jetta's operational efficiency..
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I am being told base (value ed.) invoice is $17,050, this is for model with MSRP $17,900. Anyone else getting the same or different information?
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    to check out this car today, and came away with the general impression that it is a nice car, but is definitely overpriced. I don't buy cars without alloy wheels, which can't be added to the "Value Edition" car, but only to the "regular" model and only as part of a $2000 package that includes the moonroof (package 1)?? So the minimum sticker on a car equipped the way I would like is $23K???? And the gas mileage has actually DECREASED from the previous model?

    It is apples to oranges, I know, but for that sticker I could have a Camry or Accord V-6 with most of those options, almost the same gas mileage, WAY more power, and more space. And the Jetta weighs the same as the 4-cyl versions of those cars, and WAY more than any other compact sedan out there.

    My local dealer told me it would be "next year" before they had any manual shift Jettas, even when I made it perfectly clear there was no way I would be buying one with the Tiptronic.

    To me the car does look very Corolla (front and rear), but in a better way. It is going to bear a very obvious resemblance to the new Passat when that arrives later this year, judging by the pictures. I did very much like the interior - Corolla has nothing on it in there!

    My dealer made sure I spent some quality time with a promotional poster they had that compared the Value Edition to the Civic EX. First of all, the poster was wrong about the EX, which has standard security and other stuff that the poster listed as optional. In addition, the Civic has stuff like alloys standard that you can't even get on the Value Edition. And despite ALL that, the Civic is still more than $1000 cheaper! There is nothing like misleading or even false advertising to leave a bit of a sour taste in one's mouth....

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    I drove the new Jetta Saturday. They did a great job in the redesign. The car is much bigger than the last model, feels tighter, and is way more quiet. The new 2.5L engine is nice and smooth. However, there were a couple of dissapointments. First, my local dealer had at least 10 cars and they were all automatics. I thought VW was looking for drivers? And what's up with the vinyl seats? Yeah, I know it looks sort of like leather and they call it "leatherette", but it's still vinyl whatever they call it. I thought we ditched vinyl seats back in the 80s. This is either a great example of a marketing scam, or proof that American car buyers are just dumb, or both.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    the Value Edition, however, you can still get cloth seats. It does stink that VW is going to delay the availability of the manual so long. And too bad the GLI isn't ready at launch either.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    I finally had a chance to look around on the VW dealer's lot. While this new Jetta is expensive, they do offer a lot. After sitting and reading about the all the various features you're put in mind of a more expensive car, imo. The shape is like that Toyota, but the detailing (minus the tailights) is all German. Looks like a baby Phaeton in darker colors. The GLI version should be one hot item. Now bring on the Passat! As long as the dealers aren't trying to stick to list, these should move pretty well.

    M
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    What was the quality of the "vinyl" like?

    Would you say it was similar to a 3series "leatherette"?...or more towards an old chevy pickup?
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    the leatherette is much more toward the quality of the material of the same name in the BMW. There is no "old Chevy pickup" edge to this stuff - it is nicely put together. They also have a very nice leather package if you want to spring for a couple thou more $$.

    merc: the laugh is the CEO of the VW group is quoted as saying he wants people to see that the new Jetta is bringing the "value" back to VW! It's a nice package, but I still say the price is on the high side.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    "the laugh is the CEO of the VW group is quoted as saying he wants people to see that the new Jetta is bringing the "value" back to VW! It's a nice package, but I still say the price is on the high side."

    I agree, I saw 26K and went "what the hell", but I remember the previous Jetta GLX costs that much too, but it had a V6. Its up to dealers to make deals and not try stick to list price at all cost in order to make this work. At this rate the GLI model will be like 27-28K, simply too much money in the minds of most U.S. consumers for a car of the Jetta's size. If they add a V6 model down the line and you know they will, it will push 30K!

    M
  • chrisducatichrisducati Member Posts: 394
    GASP... Sticker shock... I laughed at the dealer I was at. The sales man just looked at me. also here are a few of my opinions, not that anyone cares. First it has lost its sporty flair. Looks like a boring family car now. I think the vinyl looks actually better that the leather. Someone screwed up by putting chrysler leather in the Jetta I looked at. Tan pleated leather in a Jetta? the grain was way to smooth for my taste. AND, whats up with that wood look plastic? Did they get a good deal down at the Korean Plastic tree forest of something? Just my 1.25 cents.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    According to the Road Show Crew at the dog and pony I went to last week, manuals are about 4-6 weeks away.
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    "I don't buy cars without alloy wheels, which can't be added to the 'Value Edition' car"

    If you don't want the package, you can just buy the value edition or the 2.5 and get some alloy wheels to replace the steel ones. Wheels are easy to change.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    yes, and it is more trouble than I would care to go to. Not to mention I like the look of the stock 16" alloy for the new Jetta.

    Here's the thing in all of this - SOME comparison has to be made to other car companies. VW is not the only company whose dealers discount off of list, so you might as well compare stickers even though they are not the real-world sale prices. And the fact remains that a $23K Jetta is a good $6K more than a Civic EX, Cobalt LS, or Corolla S/LE, and even more like $8K over comparably equipped Foci or Elantras (for instance). Or, going the other way, it is only $4K less than the Acura TSX with more power and options, or how about the Volvo S40 or the Saab 9-3? The later two are both fairly luxurious entry-lux models around the Jetta's size that start around $25-27K. None of these are perfectly exact comparisons, but there is a larger point that I think is valid - the new Jetta is one of the WORST value propositions among all the compact cars on the market.

    The one thing that stands out in its favor is that the optional automatic is now Tiptronic, and has six speeds. That IS exceptional in the class.

    BTW, on ALL those cars above, if alloys (as an example) aren't standard, I can order them as a stand-alone option. Same with a moonroof, stability and traction control, etc.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    Or, going the other way, it is only $4K less than the Acura TSX

    Or...you could argue with another 4K on the Jetta you would have the 2.0T and DSG with comparable equipment to a TSX.

    This way it would be equally equipped (Jetta drive train being superior in my books) and have a competitive price.

    After all, this is not the next “miracle” car, they are in a very competitive market and the other manufactures are no slouches.

    It may not be the best car with the lowest price, but may be the best car with the highest price (I have high hopes for the 2.0T).

    Or not…
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I agree it is silly not to offer the alloys as stand alone option.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Oh, I don't disagree with you there - the more you equip a Jetta, the better the deal becomes relative to other entry-lux cars on the market. Where it DOESN'T compete well is with other non-premium compacts. For the $18K base car ($19K with the automatic) to have wheel covers, cloth seats, and fairly slow performance (over 9 seconds to 60 mph) is a bit slouchy, given the excellent competition (the Mazda3 leaping out as the best of the class and the most direct competition). The same price in the MZ3 would get you alloys, moonroof, HID headlamps, and way more performance. Another grand would get you NAV too.

    And I should add a footnote here: consider Audi. Arguably a nicer car than a Jetta is the A4, which will sell for the same price as the Jetta GLI with the same engine. There is more cachet associated with the Audi name, I think, not to mention a more sumptuous interior. And I haven't done the exact comparison, but there might be more equipment at that price too. And don't get me started on the A3, which will have the GLI engine and cost LESS than that Jetta.

    Are U.S. consumers ready for VW to be an entry-lux brand? I don't think so, and I don't think anyone thinks of them that way right now, except possibly VW USA executives, judging by this latest offering.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    Yes, the base model does seem to be slightly more expensive than others, such as (Accord, Camry, Nissan).

    A couple years ago when I purchased my “base” Accord and compared it to a base Passat, the Passat base was a couple grand more. The Accord didn’t come with ESP, or rear disks (yes drums), or side airbags, or pretensioners in the back, and a number of other items.

    This made the overall “base” less for the Accord, but I cringe when I see a Passat driving by thinking “that could have been me”…heh.

    For the “high end” I see it competing with S40, TSX, 9-3 (lower trims) - for imports.

    A3…YES, a Sportback; or a Jetta Wagon would do nicely.
  • avenger1avenger1 Member Posts: 90
    When will people realize that it's REAL wood in the Jetta (in all VW documentation regarding the Jetta).

    Just because they made in look better than most luxury cars, doesn't mean it's fake.

    Per VW themselves..."Genuine "Tamo" Ash wood trim"

    Sheesh!
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    heh...

    It's the wood, that makes it good...

    sorry :)
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    "Yes, the base model does seem to be slightly more expensive than others, such as (Accord, Camry, Nissan)."

    Don't kid yourself, this car is nowhere near as big as those others. The cars in the same class (not including premium brands) with the Jetta are the Corolla, Civic, Sentra, Focus, Cobalt, Neon, Elantra, and Spectra. Not to mention the Impreza (AWD - not a straight across comparison), the Lancer, and of course the Mazda3 I already mentioned. All are thousands and thousands less in price. None have as nice an interior or as high an equipment level, except the Mazda3, but (almost) all are faster.

    BTW, in the class of cars you mentioned (Camry, Accord, etc) VW has the Passat, which is again way more money than its competitors, and a very nice package overall, if somewhat less powerful than its peers.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • avenger1avenger1 Member Posts: 90
    The Jetta has moved up in size and is now comparable to the b5.5 passat. The b6 passat has also moved up in size. The old comparisons no longer apply...the Jetta and new passat are "in-between" several competitors in terms of size.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    I would like to believe you, but I sat in the back seat of the new Jetta specifically to see what the space is like, and it is tight. It is no more than the back of the Corolla or Mazda3 (have tried both) and is actually less than the Matrix I used to have, if that is relevant. Plus there is no way you could seat five in the Jetta due to the middle spot being a fold-down console in all but the Value Edition, which is flat and uncomfortable to sit against. OTOH, you can put five in the back of the Corolla and MZ3, although I wouldn't want to be the middle passenger for a long highway drive or anything.

    Also, the front seats feel no wider than my RSX, and there is less space in the driver's footwell of the Jetta than in my car.

    I know the new Jetta is some seven inches longer or whatever, but it doesn't show in seat space, so maybe the trunk is a lot bigger or something.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    I actually saw on the street today, looks good to me. Yes it does have a shape like that Japanese car, but the detailing is all VW. Looked like a baby Phaeton to me more than a Corolla.

    M
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Good luck trying to actually find a Value Edition.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Yeah, it's high quality vinyl, but it's still vinyl. Looks like leather though, so American buyers will be dumb enough to buy it. Yes, it's more like the BMW 3 series leatherette than an old Chevy pickup. The 3 series leatherette is listed as standard but rarely found in actual cars on dealer lots. On the Jetta it will be on most units as the 2.5L model will probably be the volume leader.
    If you want to see the right way to do non-leather seats, check out the cloth/T-Tec material on the Volvo S40 and V50. Really nice.
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    I really like the leatherette in the 3 series, although it doesn’t have the smell of leather (a big point).

    Volvo, it would be hard to get the cloth if their leather is of the same quality found in other Volvos. I think the leather in Volvos is the best found anywhere, especially the optional leather upgrade (gets pricey). A few years ago I was driving a C70 with the upgraded leather (some extra supple soft kind) and it was truly amazing.

    Anyway sounds like I’d probably be one of the people sold on the leatherette; unless they bundle leather with a package I wanted (such as a sports package)
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I don' buy your comparisons "Corolla, Civic, Sentra, Focus, Cobalt, Neon, Elantra, and Spectra" are not the Jettas competition, IMO. There is more to a car than a few dimensions.

    We can talk about another simplistic number...Why does the Jetta weigh about 600-800 pounds or so more than most of those cars...is that just useless dead weight? or does it relate to the car being more solidly built? or safer? or having more stuff on it?

    If you want to buy a Corolla, Civic, Sentra, Focus, Cobalt, Neon, Elantra, and Spectra...that's fine. As potential buyers of Jetta V we did not look at any of those. The other cars my wife considered were Jaguar X-type, Volvo S40, Saab 9-3, Audi A-4...oh and the Passat. And we did not choose the Jetta just because it was the cheapest of those.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    OK, I get you. So you are one of the people that feel that VW IS an entry-lux contender. I appreciate your point of view, even if I disagree. I would rather have a Corolla. The Jetta's extra content would be worth maybe a grand to me, and if I were going to spend an extra grand on content, I would get a Mazda3 which has the same content, is still way cheaper than the Jetta, and also has much better performance. I don't believe Jetta is any safer than Corolla for the extra weight, but we can wait for the NHTSA tests later in the year to tell us that story. In the meantime, I will get a whopping 50% better fuel efficiency in town in the Corolla, as well as getting to 60 mph more than a second faster, while we wait on the crash test results. :-P

    BTW, on the subject of entry-lux cars, what made you choose the Jetta over the S40?

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Are you serious that you would rather have a Corolla over a VW Jetta? Have you been in and driven these 2 cars? Even if you compare the previous model year Jetta it blows away the corolla on many levels......i.e - saftey equip, standard equip, style (subjective), driving experience, etc etc....

    My brother drives a 2003 Corolla and, while it's nice, it did not even compare to my '02 Jetta GL.

    I guess for me I place allot of value of driving experience and you can't even put Corolla and driving experience in the same sentance. No comparison.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    now I must BEG to HEARTILY disagree with you there, but different strokes for different folks.

    The Jetta that is just being replaced is quite possibly the most uninspired driving experience I have ever had. It hates to rev, it can't pull itself out of its own way, it hates to turn. And that is with the manual, I can't even IMAGINE trying to drive the auto version.

    The Corolla is far from being a sport sedan, I agree with you there, but if the context for comparison is the current/old Jetta, then the Corolal is the sport sedan of the two. And it is moderately fast in straight aways - it is speedier than most cars in its class in that respect. It just doesn't much like to turn either. It has a busier ride than the Jetta, but everything else about the Jetta is worse.

    Now the new Jetta feels peppy enough around town because the new 2.5 is torque-rich. But it is still a darn slow car. Handling, however, is much improved over the old model.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    I respect your opinion......but I don't think you are referencing the 1.8t Jetta or the VR6.
    I hope you would agree that these 2 variations are much better performers that the Corolla...granted they are more $$$, but they will whoop the Corolla all day.

    I am guessing both of those cost MANY thousands more than a Corolla so they are being left on the sidelines. So, the proper comparison between the Corolla will be made against the base 2.0 Jetta. I still feel, after driving both cars, that the driving dynamics of the Jetta surpass the Corolla. But, I will agree to disagree. I am NOT saying the Corolla is not a nice car, it's just very uninspiring to ME. Now that I think about it....the styling of the Corolla may play a huge part in my opinion.....you can't tell me the stying works for you as well.....can you?

    As for reliability...there's no debate!!
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    well, no, I wasn't referencing the 1.8T or the VR6, because I thought we were talking about the base version. Certainly, by the time we are talking the VR6, which hasn't been around for a while now, we are talking about a car that is just about TWICE the price of the Corolla, and I would expect such a car to whoop the Corolla, eh?! :-)

    The 1.8T is nice but has enormous turbo lag and still has the handling problem. But wait, this is the '06 Jetta thread!

    For '06 ('05.5) the Jetta's handling is much improved, although falls short of sporty in my book, mainly due to weight. The new 2.0T that is coming later is said by VW to have much less turbo lag than the old 1.8, and for their sake let us hope that is true.

    As for looks, Corolla is not my favorite, no. Mazda3 is. Jetta has followed a lot of Corolla cues, and it is not the only one. A lot of the small sedans are starting to have this "egg" shape these days, in an attempt to make a short narrow sedan have a high seating position, with the high roof that entails. VW has softened that effect a bit by elongating the ends of the car, especially the hood, which is a debatable approach to the problem as far as looks go, IMO. I love the imposing front end of the new Jetta, designed to mimic the new Passat coming later. It is the new Jetta's best angle. But it looks a little unnaturally long at the same time. I wonder if there will be problems with scraping that long nose on driveways and stuff.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    I, too, love the looks of the Mazda3. I have not personally driven or even been in one, but it really looks like a nice car. Also, the reviews have been great.

    I look forward to driving a new Jetta as well. I just hope VW can get the quality thing down. Though the 2 VW's I have owned have been reliable (knock on wood). I see you drive a RSX....Nice car as well!!!!
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Yup, love that little RSX, but I am NOT a huge fan of it having only two doors, with my current needs.

    Drove the Mazda3s stick shift before I bought the RSX, and it came within a whisker of being my choice instead of the Acura. It is a fabulous car let down by a totally crappy dealer network, and apparently an "issue" or two if you believe the posters at Edmunds. Weak A/C is one of them, and I would hate that.

    The salesman I saw on the weekend was very very persuasive on the phone, and as a result I went back and test drove an automatic Jetta 2.5, now finally prepped for test drives. It is a very composed drive, quiet over bad pavement and not leaning much in corners. You can't miss a sense of driving a heavy car though. It stops just short of "ponderous", I would call it "heavily fluid". It is a very different ride from our much-discussed Corolla. The Tiptronic is great, but there is still no way I would consider anything but a manual, which I made clear to the salesman. There is lots of get up and go around town, but on an uphill freeway ramp with the A/C blowing, the engine began to run out of steam around 45 or 50 mph. This is once again an engine that doesn't like to rev a whole ton. Passing on the freeway, especially on uphills, is something you plan ahead for a little bit if traffic in the next lane is going a lot faster.

    Of course, I bet it would be better with the manual. :-) (the eternal cry of the stick-shift addicted!)

    I am bummed that VW has delayed the intro of the manual-equipped cars, and that it is still only a 5-speed when many companies are now going to six.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • mariner7mariner7 Member Posts: 509
    VW has said Jetta's new competition is Camry and Accord. Passat V6's competition is obviously TL, Avalon and Maxima. I think it's a smart move and will be successful.

    VW probably is going to vacate the Corolla class for now. Makes sense, given VW's limited volume in US, more profits can be made in the upper segments.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    no offense, but VW can say what it likes. No-one shopping an Accord or a Camry will even glance at the much smaller Jetta. I say this knowing personally a couple of different folks that have bought CamCords in the last year. Those are family cars. Such a buyer WILL look to the 4-cylinder turbo Passat, however, which is roughly the same size or slightly smaller than the Honda and Toyota. (and might even be slightly bigger than that pair when the '06 comes along?)

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    1. The new Jetta is larger than the last incarnation.
    2. IMO, the new Jetta easily outclasses the current Corolla.
    3. The next Passat wil be move upscale, probably in both size and luxury.
  • micwebmicweb Member Posts: 1,617
    I have a Golf IV, 2004, and this is a size that has been around for a long time, but it is also a little small for current American traffic with larger vehicles. Plus all of us are bigger now, and, European and Japanese sized cars make less sense.

    On the other hand, Camry's and Accords still look too big to me, from the standpoint of having a 'tossable' fun car. The new Jetta seems a nice incremental increase. It is now 3300 pounds, up an amazing 500 pounds over the last generation, but gets similar gas mileage. It should be safer (the 3300-3500 pound category is what IIHS and others recommend for "safe" family sedns) and now weighs about the same as CamCords.

    I don't understand why everyone is being so hypercritical here. Just try driving one - the engine is smooth and strong, the ergonomics typical VW good, and the 6 speed transmission (auto) is a dream). It cruises at 80 mph below 2,500 rpm, much better than the rather busy 4,000 rpm on my stick shift Golf.

    Soon there will be Value Packages. Every car comes with ABS and side curtain, so you can buy a safe car at a good price. What's wrong with that? To get ABS and side curtain airbags on CamCords, you have to buy a more heavily equipped car, or else its the only one on the lot and its hard to make a good deal....
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    Regarding my wife's choice of the S40 vs. Jetta,

    Ride and handling of both were fine with her. I thought the T-tech interior wa a little to odd...I'd rather have normal cloth/velour. My wife was okay with the t-tech, she kind of liked it. I don't like vinyl, but I would take Jetta's with the seat heaters over the Volvo T-tech if I had to choose.

    If you like leather (we do not) the Volvo leather seemed crappy compared to the Jetta. The volvo leather was stiff and slick. Jetta's was nice and flexible and soft. I don't like leather but I would find the Jettas acceptable, not so for the Volvo.

    The Volvo trunk access is a joke, you can basically only shoot stuff in horizontally...the opening is too small. I think the S40 should be a hatchback.

    Despite the numbers supposedly being pretty similar, the Jetta felt much roomier to us. Back seat space behind me was much better in the Jetta. The trunk is much larger in the Jetta also. The height adjustable seats that are standard in Jetta are a big advantage to us.

    My wife was not happy with the seat height in S40. Adjustable height for driver requires an $1800 option package that had nothing else we would want. This package did not even give the front passenger a height adjustable seat.

    Price is not even close for what we want. We were offered base Volvo with automatic and DTSC for $23,000 which was $1750 below invoice. Jetta Value with auto and ESP (which is what we will be ordering soon) at MSRP is about $3100 less than the S40 selling price that we believe we would have gotten. We could even get the Jetta 2.5 for about $1500 less than the Volvo.

    I am expecting Jetta to be as good as Volvo on safety. VW Passat and Jetta have been among safest cars in their repective classes based on IIHS driver death rate report that just came out.

    The base volvo s40 has a very similar 5 cyl engine to the base Jetta. However, the Jetta has a 6 speed autonmatic vs. only 5 for the volvo.

    S40 is a very nice, but pricey, car and I do like the looks of it more than the Jetta V (for my wife, however, the looks of them were a toss-up).

    Based on quotes for extended warranty from my credit union, Jetta is expected to be a bit cheaper on repairs. Volvo might save a couple hundred on maintenance the first few years, because I think that is free.
  • avemanaveman Member Posts: 122
    I am having a hard time believibg that you can't add alloy wheels to a value edition car. It was stated that a stability control system is an option. With antilock systems being sensitive to wheel weight and maybe diameter, I would want to go with wheels from the dealer. I hope VW knows that some people will only be shopping the value editon. If they want to send those potential sales elsewhere, that is up to them. one of my pet peeves, is companies doing stupip things to base model cars. One stupid thing that comes to mind is no height adjustable seats in a base model. The Jetta does not suffer from that.Car makers must get real. If you can get alloy wheels on a Kia Rio, you should have that option on a Jetta. My question is, are we sure they are not available. Car salespeople are often misinformed or just plain lying.
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