http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/los_angeles_2005/0501_volkswagen_jetta/


While this isnt MB related, seems some of you guys are also VW fans. What the heck did VW do to the Jetta!?!?!?! The exterior styling says they re-badged a Toyota Corolla! (Which are GREAT cars, but a far cry in the styling dept. from the previous gen. Jetta in attractiveness.)

One of the many attributes that really stood out to me for the outgoing jetta was its unique european flair of styling. Sporty- with huge wheel arches, short front and rear overhangs, sharp almost meanacing looking headlights, clean crisp lines, and an over-all high level of european teutonic carachter in design... wrapped into a compact well tailored package that looked more premium than economy.

The new Jetta is the complete opposite in my eyes, with its pronounced overhangs, sharp rakish C pillar rear window shape, and overall dull styling. Seems like theres lots of "dead-space" in body panels... lots of surface space with no apparent detail or interesting shapes. The headlights and grille work on Audis and the new Golf that wont be here for another year, but they dont sit well with me on thhe new Jetta- they seem too sporting and styled, whhile the rest of the car looks bland and un-inspired. The zesty look of the old Jetta is missing!

Hmmmmmmm

Ive read many articles that claim VW is trying to boost sales with the new car. The out-going Jetta is already VW's best selling car in the U.S., and the new one obviously looks radically different in carachter- wonder if that will bring them more sales as they expect. Im doubtful. In fact many automobile reviewers and journalists agree that its not clear wether the new car will bring in the same buyers that made the out-going model so popular. Only time car tell. Until then Im going to hope that they at least improved the build quality. Ive always liked the Jetta, esp the 2005 GLI. And despite the Jettas track record, im finding it even more appealing to jump for the 05 GLI when the time comes seeing as how the new model has failed to enliven my senses.

I will miss you, you fussy problem plauged beauty of a beast!

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

I agree; while the front definitely says VW, the back SCREAMS Toyota. I guess they are trying to get into the mainstream as far as sales numbers go. In the US at least, plain and boring sells while unique and exciting languishes on the salesroom floor. Luckily, I am not the average American. I love unique vehicles.

__________________
1978 450SEL (Pearl white, bamboo interior, 97k)
1959 Impala (2 dr. Hardtop, red, white int., 283 V8, 45k)
2003 Tiburon GT V6 (Ultra Sports Pkg. 3, red, blk int., 13k)

*sigh*

This figures somehow...I've actually been thinking about getting a TDI in a couple of years, but if they're going to be that ugly...

Also, I didn't see any mention of the Jetta wagon...are they discontinuing that?

The germans are now copying the japanese. Say it ain't so

Ive also been wondering if a wagon variant will be sold. If so, it could quite possibly make the car look a tad better, or it could make it worse.

Im crossing my fingers that the up-coming Jetta will be a sales flop, and VW will go back to thhe drawing board and return to the table with a better looking design. Ahhh a wishful thinker I am.

The first thing that struck me as werid and ugly on the new jetta was the distance between the wheels from the side. they look too close, and the front and rear overhangs are too long. Blech.

If I could, id move the rear wheels back some inches, reduce the vertical of the c-pillar portion of the rear doors, sharpen the car by adding a sharper bend in the doors half-way down from the bottom of the windows, reduce the curvature of the headlights, re-design the tailights and angle at which the trunk slopes towards the rear bumper, and make larger wheels standard. Looks like the car in the picture has 15 or possibly 16inchers, which look far to small for the proportions and bulbousness of the car. 17's would fill thhe wheel wells bettter.

I dunno, im no car designer, but whats being offered isnt exactly what a jetta should look like.

More pictures at link below. Looking at the car from the side also brings to note that the trunk looks like its out-weighing thhe rest of the car. This is Insanity, im so bummed!

http://www.vw.com/newModels.htm

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu