2009 Jetta TDI test drive
 

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.

Meh VWs are cheap compared mercedes in many areas so I would never buy a VW. I would rather spend more money on a car thats built much better.

That's why they're $20,000 cars instead of $50,000 cars new. What do you expect?

Go ahead and buy it. You could do alot worse.

Front wheel drive is the work of Satan.

I may try and test drive the one at our local dealer too......I am curious to how it drives......though I'd probably never buy one. (I don't want a VW)

There's nothing wrong with front-wheel drive for most drivers, myself included. Unless you're really pushing the car, you will never notice the difference.

The latest TDI is undoubtedly more powerful than the wimpy 100 HP model in mine, but it still probably lacks the power to make RWD helpful or even nice to have.

My biggest complaint is the ride quality. The car handles so nicely that you don't notice it until you get into the right-hand seat, but from there it's hard to read my newspaper in the morning.

They really changed the power delivery on the CR engines. Unlike my ole 99.5 there's no big lump of torque at 2000 RPM. Actually drove a lot like the 2.0 gas motor. Was nice and quick tho.

-Jason

Side comment to FI's
 

That would make Audi (VW's older half brother) the devil.
Remember almost everybody learned all they know about FWD from Audi.
(AND they are accursed and paying the price in the marketplace)

Simple test:

Pick Up the W124 ,15Ft. or so,drop it on it's roof ,with you strapped into the
driver's seat.Car messed up ...you're not.

Then...

Pick up the Jetta, 15 Ft. or so ,drop it on it's roof ...with you strapped into the
driver's seat. Where shall we hold your funeral?

I dunno about that. Search for crash tests on the A5 Jetta/Golf platform. They fare very well....

I thought that I heard that they are comming out with a diesel rabbit. Is this true? I would probably buy one if it was less then 15,000 grand new. Typicaly the rabbit doesn't have all the bells and wistles as the jetta. I dont care much for navigation systems and all that electronic crap. The rabbit sounds like a more affordable route for me.....if they offerd a diesel.
-Stephen

That does make it tempting. Also know that everything will work on the VW (or be fixed under warranty) while something on the MB will inevitably break leaving you or your mechanic to fix it. The only thing you have to worry about is depreciation but these cars seems to hold their values quite well. As least as well as a new MB.

Scott

I'd be confident to do that in my 1991 Jetta, let alone my 1999.5. Now a 90s GM? No thanks.

The IIHS recoded fewer deaths per car with the A2 Jetta then the Volvo 240!

-J

Of course it's built at a lower price point than a MB, but at $22,000 you could buy one, keep it for the length of the waranty, trade it in for a new one and still not pay what you would for a MB diesel. VW has excelent quality rankings on their diesels.

After just changing the wiring harness in my MB for over $500, I don't want to hear about their superior designs. I don't know of many american V8 that have timing chain strech problems like MB's do.

As far as FWD, I live in the northeast, we have snow, MB does not offer a diesel sedan with 4matic. FWD has an advantage in foul weather. An Audi A4 with a diesel and Quatro would be nice.

American car v8 timing chains stretch too....

As for the wiring harness, that is a known issue with that chassis.

If you put a gun to my head I wouldn't buy a VW.

I'd gladly pay $30k more for a CDI if I had to have a new car. Or $20k for a used one.

Can't really compare the two though, different markets.