Author Topic: '05 Jetta TDI Wagon (Read 5246 times)

onearmed · « **Reply #20 on:** March 03, 2005, 12:25:09 am »

I was at the dealership and they were taking 2500 off the 05 Jettas without dealing and it has 1.9 financing which is a really good deal FYI.

Shnak · « **Reply #21 on:** March 03, 2005, 07:52:07 am »

Wow! That's an excellent starting point for negociations!! Once you think they are done lowering the price, start asking them to tint the windows, bug deflector, floor mats, etc. I HIGHLY encourage you have the windows tinted, makes a huge difference in direct sunlight.

What colors are you considering?

wannatdi · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2005, 11:35:27 am »

Sounds like there are some real automotive / VW/ TDI experts who visit this site....so please excuse my neophyte ingorance...I popped in via a google search....

I have had my eye on a Jetta TDI for quite some time, but my trusty '98 Altima (the older smaller body style), just kept going with no troubles. But you can be sure everytime a TDI passed me on the road I'd look longingly at the badge ....

Sorry for being longwinded, but at least with this you will know where I come from...

My main attraction to VW Jetta TDI is :
- it is European, ....I've always had japanese (dependable); other than one brief stint with a used Passat Wagon ('90 ??), which had some electrical problems and was smoking from the engine area wildly on day

...I quickly traded it in for a new Subaru...B U T I loved the firm steady feel of the Passat when it was running well....

- my idea that if I fill up weekly now for about $50/ tank ($200/mth), if I get double the mileage w/ TDI, I can apply the $100 savings towards the car, so should I spend $350 on a new Altima or $450 on new Jetta.....

My driving needs :

- we live in Montreal, which is cold and damp in winter
- I do about 24,000Kms a yr
- 85% of the time I do not have the whole family...we use the van to transport the brood. -

- Usually it is a short drive (5 mins) to drop them off at school, followed by my commute to work
- my daily drive is 70Kms round trip office to home. I park indoors at both ends of this drive - so generally I will not have ice cold starts after long periods outside.
- In the middle of the day, I have occasional appointments which take me out of the underground parking, around town, and these may last about 2-3 hours max.....

- otherwise I short hop to some local suburbia sports activity with 1 or two of the kids.

I have a couple concerns and would love to get some feedback :

- I have 3 growing boys, who up until now have had no problems and not complained about leg room....but they do grow up...they are now 12, 10, 8....my fear is they will soon turn into gangly teeneagers and I envision arms and legs hanging out the window or me driving with my chest against the steering wheel, so the kid behind me is not smelling his kneecaps the whole drive!!

- I dropped by a dealership last night and they had the new 2006 Jetta and they said it is about size of the current Passat, in terms of rear passenger room

- I also had never considered the Passat - based on past experience and idea that it was very expensive...but with the new model coming out this fall, they are more "negotiable" on the old ones....so is the current old Passat something to consider or shy away from...and is the new Passat worth waiting for or will price (can you say Phaeton) make it a no go....

- either way it will be a lease, and if the lease period is close to the warranty period, other than hi/lo nuisance and inconvenience , I may not by hugely out of pocket if the vehicle(s) are more prone to problem than my to date experience with Japanese...

Love some feedback !!!

Shnak · « **Reply #23 on:** March 18, 2005, 01:18:46 pm »

Welcome to the site Warren.

The rear seats legroom depends a lot on on tall the driver is... If you're say, around 5'8" or less, I'd say that the Jetta offers good enough space for 12 years old kids... But don't force them in there for very long trips...

You'll be leasing so you don't have to worry about reliability... so really, the only question mark is the space for rear passengers... Go to a VW dealership with yours buys and try it out. Go for a test drive, and I pretty much garantee you that you'll leave the dealership with a contract signed! That's what happened with me!

wannatdi · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2005, 06:47:36 pm »

It's me (Warren) again.

By the way, I was not a registered user when I composed my essay above. So after it became obvious I had to register before being able to post, I copied my post, registered, and then realized the thread I was originally planning to add to was actually an old one which people might not be looking at, so I pasted my post onto this thread after registering, which is not the reliability / TDI one.....

In any case rear-legroom wise..I am 6 foot tall, so....might be a concern in the 2005 and earlier Jetta

?

inco · « **Reply #25 on:** March 19, 2005, 05:42:59 am »

Take a long hard look at the Passat and perhaps consider the wagon (Variant in VW speak). You might just find a TDI wagon and that would be my choice.

I really like the Passat (03) and while I have the V6, it was a diesel that I would love to have. My commute is 265 km round trip.

I had the Jetta before the Passat and loved it too, but the issue of rear passenger space behind me (6'2") was a problem.

The new Jetta is much roomier, but since there such great deals to be had on the current Passat's I would look long and hard at them. My 02

Accordingly · « **Reply #26 on:** March 19, 2005, 01:36:36 pm »

Is there a TDI 4-Motion in the works at all? That would be an immediate hit, with me anyway.

wannatdi · « **Reply #27 on:** March 22, 2005, 05:13:06 pm »

4-Motion is some sort of a 4 wheel drive I assume....? Again, from the VW reliability/breakdown standpoint, is it risky to have yet more technology stacked into the car?...

I want a TDI, but fear of getting WAY to friendly with my service manager, and then the apparent attitude that I read about of VW service !!!

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2005, 05:27:11 pm »

Accordingly, 4MOTION TDi has been on sale in Europe for years. Just not here, and it's not likely to come for awhile.

WannaTDI - depends on your dealership. You can have good ones. Generally, the Jetta Wagon I would suspect is more reliable than the sedan. Likewise, I would love a Passat Wagon TDi even more! Too bad they're only in Tiptronic automatic.

Anywho, just ask people you see with them, really. I'll be buying another. VWoA isn't at all good to deal with, but beyond one time I haven't had to, and I think things are starting to change. You run the risk of a lemon and issues with any car. With Volkswagens, I'd say the issues were largely electical in nature (this has been improved greatly) or small defects that affect an entire series of cars (such as issues with the 1.8T engine which involved all Golf, Beetles, Jettas, Passats, A4's, TT's with that engine). Would I say they're the most reliable? No. But I definitely value the design and enjoy driving them more and if you don't mind a niggle here and there it's a wonderfully great car to own. Good resale too. I wouldn't recommend Volkswagen's to everyone but of a certain type of buyer that appreciates the car then sure, I say go for it.

eddy4 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 22, 2005, 05:52:29 pm »

Bought an 03 TDI Wagen and drove it non stop for 14 months. The car was great for commuting and long hauls,(florida-ontario), the car was great for two adults and two small people but it was a push to get two adults in the back for any length of time.
Problems were two blown tires, and electrical problems ,eg,radio , switchgear failure.

The car was SUPER but the dealer and VWoA were absoloutly the WORST to deal with.

The dealer experience will put me off VW for some time.

Overall fun to drive (5spd) bags of torque and 1000km per tank plus.

wannatdi · « **Reply #30 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:35:54 pm »

4-Motion is some sort of a 4 wheel drive I assume....? Again, from the VW reliability/breakdown standpoint, is it risky to have yet more technology stacked into the car?...

I want a TDI, but fear of getting WAY to friendly with my service manager, and then the apparent attitude that I read about of VW service !!!

wannatdi · « **Reply #31 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:38:13 pm »

Whoops...re-posted my last ...too many windows open...

Accordingly · « **Reply #32 on:** March 22, 2005, 06:39:54 pm »

"4-Motion is some sort of a 4 wheel drive I assume....?" Yes, and from what I understand - SirA will correct me - it's straight out of the A4. As such, it's tried and true.

Too bad the TDI 4-Motion is stuck overseas. With the increased popularity of AWD wagons along with VW's popular diesel (40% of Jettas sold as TDI's, no?), you'd think it would have made it over by now.

rpmrob · « **Reply #33 on:** March 23, 2005, 11:24:56 am »

TDI is a wonderful engine. Too bad it's encased in a crappy box.

Don't do it. VW has quality issues to work out.

My 2 cents (CAN) worth as a former 2003 TDI Wagon.

Accordingly · « **Reply #34 on:** March 23, 2005, 06:51:40 pm »

You used to be a car!? Like, you're some sort of transformer...how cool is that, Mr. Megatron!

Serniter · « **Reply #35 on:** March 24, 2005, 12:50:25 am »

Yeah, too cool. Wish I was a coupe now. By the way, what issues put you off VW Rob?

fotw · « **Reply #36 on:** March 24, 2005, 02:41:58 pm »

I used to own a 1994 Jetta Diesel 5spd. I sold it to a friend last year, with ~440,000Km on it. Its still running great.

I replaced it with a 2004 Jetta TDi 5spd. Love it. As previously mentioned, there is a huge difference between the older diesels ('94 was pre TDi) and the 2004 TDi's.

Both cars were/are very reliable and never let me down (knock on wood). I commute more than 1200 Km/Wk so a reliable car is essential. I am, however, very religious, about maintenance. Just because its easier to remember, I change the oil every 10,000Km in the summer and 15,000Km in the winter (that's more than what the dealer recommends).

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 24, 2005, 02:50:49 pm »

I would change the reverse! More in Winter than Summer, since the oil doesn't get up to temp as easily etc.

But I do it every 16K because I guess it's the schedule and I'm lazy and don't like spending extra fundage.

Me loves mine too :-)

But alas, not for everyone... which is fine with me.

fotw · « **Reply #38 on:** March 24, 2005, 03:30:29 pm »

VW said that I could go longer between servicing in winter because the A/C isn't being used which results in less work for the engine.

fotw · « **Reply #39 on:** March 24, 2005, 03:32:59 pm »

P.S. My drive to/from work is over an hour each way. Unlike most cars driven in the city, mine gets properly warmed up (which may be another reason that I experience fewer problems than some others).