Jetta TDI - First Impressions

[vectorskink]

Hi again

The wife and I took a Jetta TDi with DSG for a test drive today. Checked the car out thoroughly and is a little bit smaller than our Camry - especially in the back seat. With the front passenger seat back as far as it would go, sitting in the back, I couldn't put my knees directly in front of me and had to straddle the front seat. We do a bit of travelling fairly often and put our esky in between the front and back seats....won't be able to do this in this car.
Boot is HUGE! A tiny bit bigger than our Camry. Build quality is FAR superior! Incredibly solid and well built - very impressive! My wife thought the interior is a bit plain and old fashioned, but I love it. I love the clean minimalistic styling. The cabin feels a little cramped but that seems to be because of the airbags that are everywhere! Seats were firm but comfortable. The whole interior had a real quality feel and look about it. We then took it for a test drive.....
WOW, the torque is incredible!!! It was like driving a V8! The steering and handling were superb - the best I've ever experienced. The ride was a bit too firm and bumpy for my liking but definately not over the top.
I was thoroughly impressed with this car. We are thinking about whether or not we could exist with less space in the cabin....there was a Passat next to the Jetta - looked about the same size as our Camry but I'm sure it's a bit more expensive!
cheers

[GoLfMan]

glad you liked it!
I believe that the Passat Sedan Diesel is $5g's more expensive and the Wagon $7g's more expensive :)
Hope to hear that you buy a VW!

[and133]

Gday first time here, I own a v5 golf sport 2.0 FSi... for three months now and had to recently replace the rear wheel bearing in my car, under warranty of course, and they gave me a Jetta diesel to borrow for the night. I considered buying the diesel and drove the citroen c4 and peugeot 307 in 2.0L diesel models and hated the noise and general slow take off that happens. I took the Jetta and drove quite a long distance and found that i hated the loud noise, compared with the petrol one i drive, its so so loud. The six speed auto was fantastic but the fuel economy was about 9.5l/100km.. I am a bit leadfooted.. and Im getting 8.7l/100km in my 2.0 petrol. I blame that to the auto vs manual.. But I dont see myself buying a diesel anytime soon, the Jetta was a much better drive than the peugeot of the citroen but i would not buy a diesel. I had to laugh when me and my mate had to help someone push their polo off pennant hills road (main road, six lanes kinda main) because they had decided to try to run their diesel on unleaded they got at least a k away fromt he servo. No doubt that would cost a fortune... if u could do anything to that engine... but yeah i had a holden astra before and i liked the euro drive and the firm suspension and fantastic 6 speed box.. the golf sports wider tyres and heaps orsm suspension, sticks to the road so so well. love the car.

[vectorskink]

All you Jetta drivers out there!

The local VW dealerships just made a followup call and I mentioned how the ride was a bit stiff and the road noise a bit intrusive.
He said that when they 'loosen up' a bit as they lose their newness, it won't be so bad.
Is this true? Or just sales bull?

[Jettinabout]

Have 11000 k on mine now ..he's right.

[neo25x5]

i can definitely confirm that once the jetta has some k's against it, you will find that the ride is much more refined. mine is a FSI 2.0 July 06 plate with just on 17k kms. still really enjoying this car.

[phaeton]

Great reviews guys :) & Welcome here ;)

I love the Jetta its great seeing them selling so well, VW deserve the success :D