2006 Volkswagen Jetta Package 2 from North America - Comments

When I picked the car up, the power seat memory system was not programmed correctly. Nothing was actually wrong, it just was not set up prior to delivery. Otherwise, the car has been great.

I really enjoy this car, it has good power and mileage. I've heard a couple people say their mileage with the 5 cylinder isn't great, but I average 25-26 mpg-US (~9.5 L/100 km) around town and 30-32 mpg-US (7.6 L/100 km) on the expressway. Handling is excellent, the electric power steering gives just the right amount of assist. The ride is firm, but controlled, the interior is comfortable, and the car is quiet.

Features abound in my car, from the dual zone automatic climate control, to the trip computer. The quality of the materials is first rate. It has numerous "easter eggs" such as the wipers adjusting themselves every few trips at shut off to reduce wear.

I was initially surprised at the cost of servicing due to the requirement of synthetic oil. However, a careful investigation reveals there is no significant difference, as the recommended oil change interval is 10,000 miles (16,000 km) instead of the standard 3,000 (5,000 km). Comparing the price of $90 and $30 for the standard versus synthetic oil respectively, it's a wash.

Overall, I really enjoy the car and hope to keep it for many more years.

Please do not be fooled by the manual for your jetta that says you can go 5 to 10 thousand between oil changes. Even with synthetic oil you can hardly go past 4000 miles. Oil gets dirty no matter what. Your engine will gum up and and sludge will cease up your engine. Synthetic oil has smaller molecules that can get into places that natural oil can't, but it doesn't really last much longer. Being the life blood of your vehicle, it is essential to change it out more often than 5,000 much less 10,000 miles. Ask any respectable mechanic about this and when he or she stops laughing at you they will say the same thing.

Hello there, I'm the original poster and I thought I would check in to update folks on things.

First regarding the previous comment on oil changes, I would have to partially disagree with the comment made. Oil that looks "dirty" isn't necessarily bad at all. That is a common refrain from mechanics who appreciate the lucrative business of doing oil changes. There is absolutely no way to determine the condition of oil just by looking at its appearance.

I went 10,000 miles (16,000 km) on my oil between the 20k and 30k services. To see what was going on in the engine, I had a sample of the old oil collected and sent it off to a laboratory for a Used Oil Analysis. The results came back showing that the oil's additive was almost completely gone, telling me that the 10k interval is probably about right for the kind of driving I do (mixed city/highway). There were no signs of wear (as would be evidences by metals or particles in the oil) and only very minor fuel dilution (well below the level of concern).

My car burns approximately 0.5 quarts/liters of oil per 10k miles/16k km. I did not add any oil between the changes, which tells me that if I had topped off the oil, I would have been more than fine in terms of the oil additive not wearing out. For those reading this site who aren't familiar with cars in general, keep in mind that EVERY car burns oil, even if it is a very small amount. Also, while my car may be able to go 10,000 miles between changes (using synthetic oil of course), a car driven in a hot climate and/or lots of stop and go traffic would very likely need oil changes at a more frequent interval. If you want to know how your car is doing, just have a Used Oil Analysis performed (costs approximately US$20-30) plus postage.

Regarding the car in general, it continues to be dependable and fun to drive, and I have now passed 31,000 miles (49,000 km). The only repair I have needed is the replacement of the remote control key battery. Nothing else has been needed except regular maintenance. Fuel economy has improved further, and I now get ~27 mpg (US) (8.7 L/100 km) in mixed driving and up to 34 mpg (US) (6.9 L/100 km) on the expressway.