Comments: 1-15, 16-30
Nothing has gone wrong with the car at all.
The car is the picture of dependability.
I maintain my car, I put premium gas in it, and I change the oil regularly according to the VW maintenance schedule.
The car is AWESOME. Every time I get to wake up and drive in it, I get a grin on my face.
The lag-free response from the award-winning VW/Audi 2.0T motor is phenomenal. There is torque in any gear, and the engine is smooth and responsive.
The slick-shifting six-speed manual is crisp and much improved over previous VW shifters.
The handling is great, right out of the box, and will handle even better with aftermarket suspension modifications.
The styling of the GLI looks much better than the regular new Jetta. The honeycomb front grille and the blacked out section of the bumper look smart, and the red-stripe is a throwback to the first GTIs/GLIs.
Plaid seats = awesome.
Everyone loves this car, but no one more than I. I have owned many Volkswagens, but this one is by far my favorite. If VW gets their reliability up to par with this new round of models (and all signs point to yes) then there is no comparison with a Honda/Toyota in terms of value, fun, and driving feel.
Go VW!
Sorry, but your comment sounds like you are a VW car salesman more than a comment made by the owner. I agree that in terms of value, this car is definitely good. For the same price, you won't get the same class Japanese car. VW's interior are neat and tidy. It uses good materials for its interior. It's a good value, but for long term, Japanese cars are more reliable. It's proven. How many times have you seen 1985 Jetta on the street compared with 1985 Hondas or Toyotas?
The fact talks.
I owned 2005 Jetta. So far, it found exterior design errors and noisy start-up. The costs? Going back and forth to the service department of the dealer where I got the car. I didn't need to pay for the service. But the time & the gas that I spent while waiting for them to fix the error? a lot. That's the inconvenience that I am talking about.
How many old style Beetles are still around???
There isn't a Toyota on the road as old as one of them!
Also if you see a 1985 Toyota it will be just part of a car as rust will have consumed the rest. How many rusted out beetles have you ever seen? I just bought a 2006 Jetta TDI and would not trade it for a Mercedes Benz. I drive about 2200 miles a month and spend less than $150.00 per month in fuel. I can prove it with my bank statements.
I'm an old Beetle fan (& Beatle too1) but I must say, living in New England, I've seen plenty of rusted out Beetles. Lower panels & floor boards go first. But Beetle loyalists
keep their VW's going by replacing them. In my opinion VW's
are nice little cars.
I've owned ten of them since 1972.
A car will only run to twice its design life if very well cared for, regardless of who makes it.
Interesting comment regarding "twice design life". What is the design life of US manufactured cars as compared with European and Asain? My life experience indicates that all cars (same year, make and model) are not created equal. Particularly Japanese manufacturers have this theory not only on paper, but on the production line and it involves a "no maintenance" philosophy. If you baby a European car, and don't mind spending money for parts and maintenance, it can last 20 years and 400k. US cars will last about 15 years with reasonably good care and 200k.Japanese cars will last 10 to 15 years without care and run 150k?
This is from the original poster - I now have almost 26,000 miles on the car, and have not had a lick of problems. It still runs great. To the person who said I sounded like a salesman - maybe I do - but I just really like my car, and I try to convey that.
The new GLI/GTI models are highly lauded by many magazines - drive one, and you'll see why.
I think you should also think that Japanese cars used to be only for driving purposes, not being so passionate about the cars they make. Nowadays they have improved on this lack of emotion in their cars and styling (I won’t mention reliability here because everyone knows that in this areas Japanese cars are simply awesome). But still... there’s something about VW that really gets me!
I'm an Aussie and a new Jetta owner. To the original poster of this topic, I'm with you. This latest offering by VW is the best car I've ever bought (and no I'm NOT A VW SALESPERSON!!). It drives like a $AUD70,000 + car, goes like a bullet and looks way more than the $AUD40000 price I paid for it. A trip to the car-wash these days is met with curious (and impressed) stares from other motorists.
To anyone considering purchasing the Jetta (I'm assuming that in essence the spec of the car is not that much different from the US spec), I'm yet to fault this car. For the price the Jetta has virtually every current safety feature incorporated. I can honestly say that I am infatuated with my new Jetta and it's now my new love of life (sorry wife + kids!).
I bought a Jetta TDI last week. It is a wonderful car to drive. I am big (6'3 - 240) and am more comfortable than in my wife's '04 Accord EX. The features on the TDI are far superior to the Honda, the ride and power are similar, and the mileage is 40% better, all at about the same price. The only downside is a smaller back seat.
We'll see how it holds up, but with no TDI's in the US for '07, I could always drive it to California and sell it for more than I bought it for.
This is from the original poster - I'm now at 35,5XX miles, and no problems!
I have a 2006 Jetta and I love it. I have owned both Japanese and American cars. There is not a car I have owned or driven that inspires as much loyalty or love like the VW's. Japanese cars are great, but they do not inspire that kind of affection from owners or envy from other drivers that see them on the road. The VW ALWAYS turns heads. I have been asked more questions and received more compliments on my Jetta then all other cars I have owned, which includes, Mustangs and Accords.
I'm thinking of buying a VW Jetta, but the origin of manufacture is a hesitation for me. I'm buying a German brand, but not a German made car.
Can anyone comment on the build/assembly quality of VW Mexico? Are all Jetta in the US made in Mexico?
All VW Jettas for ANY country now are built in Mexico. Don't let the fact that the car is put together in Mexico fool you; the parts and design are still the same.
Honestly, any perceived differences are in your head. I know people who have had Mexican built Volkswagens and had no problems, and I know people who have had German built Volkswagens and had issues with them.
Don't worry - buy a Jetta, they're great!
Just cause the VWs are now made in Mexico does not mean that they do not pay the same amount of attention to detail as they would if there were still being made in Germany if anything I would say pay more attention to detail. Ask anyone you know that ones a VW 90% of them will say they are complete happy with their VW.