CD Article: 2007 Volkswagen City Golf & Jetta

[Mr. Meow]

Is worth the $37,150, You could get a BMW for that. That what I would like to know?

The city Jetta even though its the older model looks a bargin, you could almost buy 2 city jetta for the 37 grand.
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[sirAQUAMAN64]

New to forum. By the way great forum!

Quick question, I'm thinking or buying a City Golf or Jetta. Do u think the dealer will move a bit on price?
And what range: $500-$2000 ?
Thanks in advance

Definitely not $2,000, that's for sure. I would say under $1,000 too, more like maybe $600 tops if you're lucky. I don't know what invoice is but I can't see them having much margin, and I also can't see them having much difficulty moving City Jettas in particular, at least for the time being.

Base City Golf has all of $900 margin, whether manual or auto. Completely loaded $1,350.
Base City Jetta has $1,100 margin. Loaded $1,440.

Consider MSRP the bargain and don't expect much dealer discounting.

[JettaAdmirer]

Unlike City Golf, City Jetta is made in Germany!  German made and assembled for $16,000 is a really good bargain.

[JSCC]

Unlike City Golf, City Jetta is made in Germany!  German made and assembled for $16,000 is a really good bargain.

[Lotus Land]

I'm picking up my new City Jetta tomorrow. Fully loaded and under $25k is, in my opinion, one heck of a bargain. And the timing is right. This will be my 3rd Jetta and I was ready for a change over a year ago, but couldn't bring myself to even consider the new Jetta. I absolutely hate the model, the interior, everything about it. It looks like a Corolla on steroids.

Funny thing is, I was told by more than one source that this is one of the reasons why VW decided to resurrect  the 2005 Jetta as the 2007 City. They claim that VW tried to expand their usual costumer base by designing something closer to a Japanese body style in order to attract potential buyers who would normally go for a Honda or Toyota, but it backfired. But by doing so, they lost their core costumer base (costumers like myself) who would by a VW because it looked different than anything out there. Interestingly enough, a friend of mine who works in the biz said that even a fair amount of the VW sales people do not care for the new model either. Add to that the fact that many felt that with the new Jetta, VW had priced itself out of the niche market they once had a large share of.

Rumor has it that the 2008 Jetta will shed its Toyota like look in 2008 and will be similar in body style to the VW EOS.

By the way, traded in my 1990 Jetta GL with 233k km for the City Jetta.

[Julie]

I'm picking up my new City Jetta tomorrow. Fully loaded and under $25k is, in my opinion, one heck of a bargain. And the timing is right. This will be my 3rd Jetta and I was ready for a change over a year ago, but couldn't bring myself to even consider the new Jetta. I absolutely hate the model, the interior, everything about it. It looks like a Corolla on steroids.

Funny thing is, I was told by more than one source that this is one of the reasons why VW decided to resurrect  the 2005 Jetta as the 2007 City. They claim that VW tried to expand their usual costumer base by designing something closer to a Japanese body style in order to attract potential buyers who would normally go for a Honda or Toyota, but it backfired. But by doing so, they lost their core costumer base (costumers like myself) who would by a VW because it looked different than anything out there. Interestingly enough, a friend of mine who works in the biz said that even a fair amount of the VW sales people do not care for the new model either. Add to that the fact that many felt that with the new Jetta, VW had priced itself out of the niche market they once had a large share of.

Rumor has it that the 2008 Jetta will shed its Toyota like look in 2008 and will be similar in body style to the VW EOS.

By the way, traded in my 1990 Jetta GL with 233k km for the City Jetta.

Interesting.

Congratulations by the way on your new City Jetta!! You need to start a thread in Show and Shine or send your pics to our Administrator, Wing, so that he can post them in Readers Rides 

I'm one of those Toyota or Honda people. And I do prefer the look of the new Jetta. But as much as that made it more appealing to me (not to mention their other characteristics, like handling, torque, etc.), all those good characteristics were not enough for me to short-list it because of the reliability concerns I had heard about.

Price is a strong motivator I believe, even without great reliability.

[soj]

By the way, traded in my 1990 Jetta GL with 233k km for the City Jetta.

Too bad, it's a better car; bigger back seat, bigger trunk, better fuel economy, faster, cheaper to repair.  Sadly they don't last forever but I'm sure you'll enjoy your new one anyway.

[macsupra76]

New to forum. By the way great forum!

Quick question, I'm thinking or buying a City Golf or Jetta. Do u think the dealer will move a bit on price?
And what range: $500-$2000 ?
Thanks in advance

Definitely not $2,000, that's for sure. I would say under $1,000 too, more like maybe $600 tops if you're lucky. I don't know what invoice is but I can't see them having much margin, and I also can't see them having much difficulty moving City Jettas in particular, at least for the time being.

Base City Golf has all of $900 margin, whether manual or auto. Completely loaded $1,350.
Base City Jetta has $1,100 margin. Loaded $1,440.

Consider MSRP the bargain and don't expect much dealer discounting.

Thanks for the reply Sir!
Really helpful, I'm going in this weekend to talk to a VW  dealer.
Is the dealer more willing to add in items to a sale? like a ski rack or dog gate? rather then hassle with the price.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Thanks for the reply Sir!
Really helpful, I'm going in this weekend to talk to a VW  dealer.
Is the dealer more willing to add in items to a sale? like a ski rack or dog gate? rather then hassle with the price.

Can always try. If nothing else, ask for dealer cost on accessories or ask for oil change coupons or something.

Last night saw a silver City Golf with the Enterprise sticker plastered on the rear booting it 145km/h 401W in Scarborough.

[jww]

Thanks for the reply Sir!
Really helpful, I'm going in this weekend to talk to a VW  dealer.
Is the dealer more willing to add in items to a sale? like a ski rack or dog gate? rather then hassle with the price.

Even though the City is an 'old/new' car, I expect that you will not see much of any discount either in MSRP or after-market/OEM product. Commoditized products are exactly that - volume sellers that are directed at a very specific segment of the market.

[Accordingly]

They claim that VW tried to expand their usual costumer base by designing something closer to a Japanese body style in order to attract potential buyers who would normally go for a Honda or Toyota, but it backfired. But by doing so, they lost their core costumer base (costumers like myself) who would by a VW because it looked different than anything out there.

I didn't realize that VW was targetting such a distinct niche: the costumers. Perhaps they have a certain appeal for those in the arts. Hmmm.  

[bizzy928]

Chassis design is not the issue, a 97 type IV chassis is still superior to 95% of what Korea produces and 60 - 70% of what comes out of Japan especially when pushed well beyond NA limits.  On the engine front it's a different matter, there VW slides to the bottom half is not quartile.

And where are you getting these statistics from? If they are "made up" then they are of no relevance.

[macsupra76]

Maybe some of the City owners can answer this?
There seems to be no centre armrest in the City's ?!

[soj]

Chassis design is not the issue, a 97 type IV chassis is still superior to 95% of what Korea produces and 60 - 70% of what comes out of Japan especially when pushed well beyond NA limits.  On the engine front it's a different matter, there VW slides to the bottom half is not quartile.

And where are you getting these statistics from? If they are "made up" then they are of no relevance.

Statistics; who says these are statistics bizzy.  Quite obviously this is my subjective opinion based on personal experience, one to which I'm entitled just as you are entitled to disagree.  Having since then test driven even more late model cars in the compact category, I'd say I was being kind.  My sense now is that the Mk IV chassis is still better than anything coming out Korea in that same class and better than 85% of what's coming out of Japan but then that's just my opinion!  On the engine front, I stand by my previous views.

Perhaps now is also a good time to query whomever wants to comment as to the purpose of this forum (Articles/Reviews).  I would presume that it is to initiate - stimulate a discourse on articles and reviews, pro or con.  If on the other hand the intent is that this forum be a mutual admiration society, please inform me now and I'll quietly disappear.   

[Lotus Land]

Maybe some of the City owners can answer this?
There seems to be no centre armrest in the City's ?!

You are correct. No centre armrest.

[siwash]

I'd consider a City Golf too, but I am still concerned about reliability issues... I owned a 93 Golf and it had lots of problems.. tons of electrical problmes.. almost had a fire going once...smoking dash board!

has VW improved reliability? if not, what the point of spending even 16K on a car like that when u can buy a Yaris for about the same, with far better fuel ecn

[macsupra76]

I dont know anything about reliability stats. But after building the model since 1999, you would think VW has all the problems worked out.

[PJungnitsch]

I was considering them too, but double checking the reliability things didn't seem to be improving much throughout the model run. Add to that the shaky reputation Brazilian-built autos seem to have, and I'd rather wait and see.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I was considering them too, but double checking the reliability things didn't seem to be improving much throughout the model run. Add to that the shaky reputation Brazilian-built autos seem to have, and I'd rather wait and see.

Why do they have '97 on the right?

Golf isn't a big seller in the US so I'd like to see the '05 and '06 info on the Jetta. Can you share?

[Lotus Land]

Well, I just picked-up my Jetta City Friday. It has less than 500km on it, but so far it seems like a well built car with no rattles or strange noises and everything is working properly. I've read some of the comments regarding the Gold City and it's less than stellar reputation as a Brazilian built car. While that may be true, I truly believe that the Jetta will prove to be a more reliable car than the Golf since it is built in Mexico. I don't know how long the Golf has been built in Brazil, but the Jetta has been around Mexico since 1990, when VW moved the plant from the U.S. to south of the border. As a matter of fact, VW was able to price it close to $2,0000 less than the previous year's model because of that move.

As for the Jetta/Golf City program, stories and rumors are flying around as to why VW did this and I don't think that anyone not involved with VW directly has the real answer. But in my opinion, this is a gutsy move by VW and may very well help them reclaim a segment of the market that they were losing.
Like others on this board, I truly feel for the VW owners who bought the same car for $8 - $12k more just 2 years ago and it may very well hurt the resale value of their vehicles, especially if it's a 2.0 L. gas engine.

On the other hand, the City Jetta/Golf program will enable a lot of people to purchase a reliable and fun car with all the trimmings without having to take out a second mortgage on the house. In my opinion, a fully loaded City Jetta, manual transmission, for about $24k, taxes and all duties and surcharges included, is one good deal and that is what really clinched it for me.

What I am worried about is how this will affect the sales of the new Jetta. I think VW has outsmarted themselves with the City Jetta's low MSRP and a very successful marketing/publicity campaign. There were 5 customers looking at new Jettas/Golf/Eos at the dealership the day I picked up my car. 2 of them came over to comment on how good my "used" Jetta looked. When I told them that it was a 2007 City Jetta, they looked at it and saw the badging on the trunk lid and immediately remembered the television commercials and the prices. At least one of them was now considering taking a serious look at it. If more and more potential new Jetta buyers react in the same way, I'm not sure how the MK V will do. It's almost reminiscent of the "new Coke" vs. "classic Coke" era.