Next door to a store my wife was shopping at was a VW dealer, and right in front was the new Jetta TDI with green leafy decals and an invitation to come in and drive it, so I did. Wow, it had the DSG transmission, it was quick, quiet, and comfortable. It comes loaded with the only real options being the sunroof and the DSG, and navagation. The best part, $21990. If they can get people in it to drive it, they could sell a bunch of them. The interior looked almost like the last generation Audi A4, same driver information center and computer digital readouts. I would have to try the 6 speed but this could make me dump the benz. It also is so clean it does not need the urea injection that MB's need for CA and northeast emisions. The sticker said 40mpg highway but the salesman said that the car is better on the road, I checked a TDI site and some owners are already getting close to 48 with the DSG. My plan was to update to a 98-99 E300, but they are selling for $15000 with 100,000 miles. For a few thousand more you can have 3 years free service, 4 year warrantry on the car and 5 year warranty on the powertrain. I dont think you can beat it, I just wonder what Audi, Honda, BMW and the others will have comming next year. A new BMW 1 series with a diesel would be a winnner. Unfortunately I dont think MB wants to compete in the lower priced diesel market.

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Karl B
95 E300 D
2006 Mazdaspeed 6
2001 GMC Yukon XL
1997 Contour SVT
Mazda RX-7 SCCA race car