Jetta MY12 and MY12.5 differences?

[PhiLep]

I went looking for a Jetta today and got offered a MY12.5 for $31K (absolute lowest price) while another dealership offered me a MY12 (2011) for $27K with free window tinting and mats, he assured me that there is no difference between the MY12 and the MY12.5 other than the production date.

Is this true and is there anything wrong with MY12?
I heard a lot of 2011 models were recalled due to some sort of fault with the exhaust system?

[ziggyboy]

I went looking for a Jetta today and got offered a MY12.5 for $31K (absolute lowest price) while another dealership offered me a MY12 (2011) for $27K with free window tinting and mats, he assured me that there is no difference between the MY12 and the MY12.5 other than the production date.

Is this true and is there anything wrong with MY12?
I heard a lot of 2011 models were recalled due to some sort of fault with the exhaust system?
Not that I'm aware of, and there are also no differences between MY11 and MY12.. but what's this recall you speak of? I've got an MY11

[PhiLep]

This is just what I've seen..

VW recalls 2011 Jettas because honking the horn turns them off - Guyism (http://guyism.com/tech/gadgets/volkswagon-2011-jetta-recall-honking-horn-turns-car-off.html)

Volkswagen Jetta recall issued for 2011 models (http://www.torquenews.com/106/volkswagen-jetta-recall-issued-2011-models)

2011-2012 VW Jetta models recalled over.... excessively long exhaust?! (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/12/2011-2012-vw-jetta-models-recalled-over-excessively-long-exh/)

[ziggyboy]

Oh those are American Jettas and not "Euro spec" Jettas like what we have here.

Those cars are totally different from ours. Suspension, engines, electronics, configuration are completely different. Our Jettas are more like what you would find in Europe. AFAIK the US and Canada are the only markets where the Jettas are "special". Also, their electronics are from the Polo, ours is from the Golf :) The closest they've got to the Euro spec is the GLI.

See here:
http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2010/10/28/2011-Euro-Spec-VW-Jetta-Unveiled-7701483/
http://www.worldcarfans.com/110102629217/vw-jetta-european-spec-introduced

That means comparing MY11 American to MY11 Euro is totally irrelevant. They look the same from the outside but under the hood it's like a Polo-Golf hybrid of some sort. But one thing that the American spec's got which I like: push button engine start.

They've also got a "dumber" computer with limited MFD:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/07/12J69811-1.jpg

Our Euro spec's got the Full MFD as you would see in a Golf:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/07/4a4620439390069c-1.jpg

Oh and I almost forgot. Regarding the article you posted, the horns for the American spec is completely different to ours. We use the same dual horns as in the Golf, whereas the American spec does not. This is why they have these mods to swap their horns for the Euro ones: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5588902-DIY-Factory-Dual-Horn-Swap

My advice is to actually not look at American Jetta articles as much. It's almost like looking at a totally different VW car.

More pics....

American steering wheel:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/07/2011volkswagenjettasteeringwheel-1.jpg

Euro wheel:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

[PhiLep]

That clears up so many things! Thanks for that!

Do you know where the euro spec Jettas (aus) are manufactured?
I've heard Mexico but then I've also heard South Korea and even Germany..

Also, the model I ordered doesn't come with fog lights. I asked the dealer about putting in fog lights and he told me since it's an ex-demo it would have to be done aftermarket and he quoted me $1400. I didn't take him up on the offer as I've seen fog lights available for the Jetta on eBay going for $100-$150..

Would these foglights on eBay fit both the US version and Euro Spec or only one or the other?
and would it be easy to integrate them myself?

Sorry to bombard you with questions, you seem to know a lot about Jettas however :P

[ziggyboy]

That's ok. I'm happy to help.

Yes the American and Euro fog lights are identical, just make sure you don't get the fog lights for the Jetta GLI. You will still need to buy a Euro headlight switch unless you want to wire the fogs to some other setting... like switch it on when your parkers/headlights are on.

American headlight switch (note there is no "parker light" setting):
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/07/ocarbon1988-1.jpg

Euro headlight switch:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/07/CHROMEHEADLIGHTSWITCHCONTROLFITFORVWGOLF-1.jpg

Last but not least I think you may need to code this into your car, so better find a VW specialist there in VIC to do it.

Both American and Euro spec Jettas are manufactured in Mexico. None of the MK6's should be manufactured elsewhere... but there may be exceptions. Not sure.