Anybody have any good or bad experiences with VW Jettas?  Service, reliability,
good/bad dealer stories?  I got a ride in one and was pleased.  I've been
happy with my Escort, but eventually it too will die.  Take note, brian dunkle.

24 responses total.

Actually, I am very surprized at the position brian is taking, he has turned
very realistic lately.  He doesn't need any appraisal or approval from me,
but I wanted to express my impression, since I expressed it in the past when
I was not so impressed by his ways.

As for jettas, it was somewhat popular with Germans at some point.  It was
more popular with the foreign workers in Germany however, since it was a
notch better than Golf (rabbit) sizewise. It provided more of a family car
than Golf did, at about the same operating cost.

Are you going to buy new or used?  I would think that you would overpay in
either case, car dealers tend to sell them expensive.  For the same money,
you should be able to get a good Honda or Toyota, nothing fancy but reliable
and cost efficient.

Geez.

I'm trying to be as realistic I can, but some people can still tell I'm
a simulation.

I didn't get that one as usual.

What did you do Brian?  First they think your not real and now they think
your realistic!

He isn't.  He is a figment of his own imagination.  :)

Re: Jettas.  I know this German guy who swears by VWs.  He does, however,
dislike the local dealership -- the one down State St.

Yeah, I've heard rumblings that they're vampires down there.

So, did you have a special reason for Jettas?

Personal preference, strictly.  They look different than the rest of the
pack these days and don't have that certain "japanese" look that most
small cars are developing these days.  Can't put my finger on it, exactly,
but there is a certain "look" to japanese-inspired cars.  Not necessarily
bad, just the same.

Yes.  It's gotten so that I usually have to look at the nameplate
in order to tell what make the car is.

It might be just the optimized aerodynamic structure, reducing the air resis-
tance, saving fuel.

On the other hand, jetta's ancestor was a square car.  It was rounded more
and more, but it still resembles the original models.

Supposedly, the Cd numbers on the Jetta are pretty good despite the squarish
look.  That's OK, I think...it sets the car apart from the super-aero look
that is now becoming commonplace and B O R I N G!  It's pretty bad when
you have trouble distiguishing from brands.

I don't like it either, when all cars look the same.

The Cd numbers are very hard to bring down as it gets lower.  Their impact
is by the power of 2 I think (don't remember exactly if it was 2 or 4).
So, you can have different designs, if you don't try the get very low
with the Cd.  In earlier history of good Cd cars, there was a problem with
the sensitivity to side winds.  Cars with very good Cd numbers were more
influenced by side winds than no so good Cd cars.

I have driven a Jetta only in driver education and rented once.  My impression
was that it was quite good in acceleration, handling, and comfort, especially
the one I rented.  It would keep up with the smaller Mercedes models,
it would easily go 160/170 Kmh when it wasn't too steep.

Did you get this impression in driver education?

Nope, later.

So, I take it, the Jetta was much quicker than a garden-variety Escort LX?
Was that the Jetta GTI, or the Wolfsburg Edition?  I don't want theinsurance
of the GTI, but the Wolfsburg looks real nice inside.

I don't think it was the GTI, if there is one now (there wasn't any for Jetta
back then).  I am sure it was made in Wolfsburg ;) but I really don't remember
anymore, since it was a rental car.  I would suspect that it wasn't with
the smallest engine you can get on it.  A trip I usually made in 6 hours
was done in 3.5 hours (adhering to the speed limits).

Was it a time machine too? Or just such a pleasure to drive that you lost
track of time?  Was that "usual" trip made on horseback?  How exactly do
you account for that 2.5 hour difference?
/

The difference is in the average speed you obtain.  It sure felt like a time
machine gaining hours.  Also, making a stop becomes unnecessary, this helps
with the average too.  I am comparing to the Rabbit Diesel I had, I would
not exceed 100-120 Kmh max by choice, since it strains the engine too much,
and the gas mileage goes down the drain (Also very loud inside, so you had
to take breaks to get your senses back).  With the Jetta, I had pretty much
a brick on the pedal.  There are quite long passages that are steep, the
Jetta would go there at least 40-50 Kmh faster than the rabbit diesel.  The
average with the diesel must have been about 70-80 KmH, and with the Jetta
it must have been about 130-140 KmH.  I don't think anyone could drive that
route with the same car much faster, as the average was quite high (and I
wonder if I didn't go 20 KmH over the limit sometimes.) Of course, you may
beat it with a Porsche or Corvette, but that is a whole different class.
(so is Jetta vs Rabbit diesel for that matter)

Most routes on German Autobahns don't have a speed limit, and the leftmost
lanes are usually free for passing if the traffic isn't too heavy on multiple
lane Autobahns.  Even if you have to slow down until someone passes a truck,
the Jetta would be quickly up to speed in a short while.  (You need good
brakes! and Jetta did just fine.)  It is a peculiar feeling when you are
going about 170 KmH, and someone zips by passing you say at about 220 KmH.
I bet those were better time machines ;)

I don't drive myself but there are some things I can tell you about the jetta. 
 I come from a farming community and many of the farmers I know own jettas ,
presumably because they are tough and won't break down too often.   One
annoying thing abou about volkswagen in general is that they put very little
equipment in their cars given the price they charge for them.   Here the Jetta
isn't exactely the car you would associate with quick motorway cruising -0 its
more like a reliable slow lump.   It certainly is distinctive - even moreso
than a Ford so I would suggest getting the Jetta.

I've had mine 2.5 years, and I like it a lot.

I have a question...Do they make 2 door VW Jettas?

Nope.  You want < 4 doors, you gotta buy a Beetle or a Golf.

Or an Audi TT, which I think is also on the same platform.

Or a GTI.  Which I guess is the same thing as a Golf.

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