Topic: CD Article: 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

[JSCC]

I don 't get all the fuss over vw diesel

TDI is rated at 54 mpg hwy

cost about 30 grand

compare to toyota corolla

rated at 53 mpg hwy

cost about 20 grand

reliabilty for corolla excellent and much lower maintenance cost than vw TDI

corolla also has better acceleration than the 1.9 tdi

Wrong comparison to start with.
The MKV Jetta is comparable to the Camry not the Corolla.

[Benhaze]

a 12-way power driver's seat with three-position Memory is optional

Not an option you'd ever see on a domestic vehicle... Anymore than 6-way would have been cost reduced long time ago.

[soj]

Wrong comparison to start with.
The MKV Jetta is comparable to the Camry not the Corolla.

I would disagree, if anything the MK V is a bit of an orphan.  The MK I thru III competed directly with the Corolla.  It was with the advent of the MK IV that VW tried a different marketing approach, i.e.: buy a Golf/Jetta and you're kind of getting a baby Audi; with some success it might be said.  There obviously was a market for dolled-up compacts.  With the MK V, VW seems to want to take that trend even further as it's grown the MK V substantially, sadly mostly in the weight department (quite the porker @ 3200 lbs).

Currently it all comes down to how the Jetta is optioned out, at the lower end it really competes with Civic EX and CSX Touring.  At the upper end with the Turbo it's closer to the TSX, but size wise it doesn't compete with the new Camry at all.  Once the new Corolla comes out, the dynamics will change again.

In truth the MK V Jetta kind of created a bit of a niche for itself as the only newer VW with the TDI engine.  I think once the supply of TDI's dries up, sales will plummet.  With a gas engine the MK V Golf, oops I meant the Wabbit, is a far better value if only for the fact it's made in Germany.     

[Julie]

If I go back to my pre-car fanatic days,

When I saw the Jetta, I never thought it competed with the Camry, I thought it was something between the Corolla and Camry.

[Loudpedal]

If I go back to my pre-car fanatic days,

When I saw the Jetta, I never thought it competed with the Camry, I thought it was something between the Corolla and Camry.

I think your perception is indeed reality. 

[AVToller]

If I go back to my pre-car fanatic days,

When I saw the Jetta, I never thought it competed with the Camry, I thought it was something between the Corolla and Camry.

I think your perception is indeed reality. 

 

[JSCC]

Nah, VW will use the City Jetta to fight the Civic/Corolla/Mazda3.

Jetta V vs Accord/Camry/Mazda6.
It's true the size of the Jetta V is not inline with the mid-size Japanese cars in North America, but neither is the engineering.

The Jetta V competes against Euro Accord/Avensis, which I rate as higher grade than the N/A Accord/Camry.
Yeah, yeah this is North America not Europe, blah blah blah.... 

I have the impression that the N/A market just tends to lean towards "bigger size for lower price".
I aim for quality not quantity.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I think Jetta competes for buyers who think Camry/Altima are too large and unnecessary. Such other cars vying for similar buyers might be the CSX, S40, G6, TSX, Legacy, 9-3 (a bit more upscale), and maybe to some extent the Fusion, Mazda6, and Accord. The Passat 2.0T goes after Camry intenders as well as the Accord (it's sort larger but not huge to me), S60/V70, 6 Wagon, Legacy GT/Outback, Aura, Azera, Maxima crowd IMO.

IMO new Jetta is priced a good $1,000 too high. City Jetta a bit too low. The gap between them, and Rabbit-new Jetta too large. 

[jww]

When we were looking for a new car early this year, we cross-shopped the Jetta with mid-size cars (Accord, Sonata, etc.) and one compact car (CSX). IMHO, the Jetta easily competes with cars that are larger from Japan and creams the domestic competitors. Now, I must admit that this was before the Aura was available - which would have thrown an interesting alternative into the mix.

Notwithstanding, I thought then, and still think now, that the Jetta TDI or 2.5l are an attractive vehicle. I may well have ended up with one in our garage had the Bytek VW in Ottawa been motivated to sell me one. And that's even with the bad press and scares across the web on VW reliability. The Jetta is easliy the best driving car I have driven in this price range, and with that legendary humongous trunk, it's a good a cargo packable vehicle as any of the competition is. Rear seat room is very good for 2, but cramped for 3. My favourite bit is how well the manual transmission on the TDI shifted. Nice and short, clean throws. It didn't have the jumpy feeling you sometimes get with a standard shifter. We didn't try the DSG or auto-slush box so I can't comment on them.

[airbalancer]

I remember about 10 years ago, Camry , Accord and Jetta were the same size.
Now a Civic is the same size or bigger then a Jetta.

[nowcar]

 I would agree that it is kind of lost size-wise. For most people who are not obsessed with the engineering, aside from "can i afford this?" the next question is "do I/my family fit in this thing?". For a lot of people, this is a major concern and excludes cars no matter how good they are. A family of 4 is probably not going to buy a jetta or TSX even if they can afford them.

[Radshark]

I don 't get all the fuss over vw diesel

TDI is rated at 54 mpg hwy

cost about 30 grand

compare to toyota corolla

rated at 53 mpg hwy

cost about 20 grand

reliabilty for corolla excellent and much lower maintenance cost than vw TDI

corolla also has better acceleration than the 1.9 tdi

Absolutely ... calculate the fuel savings if you drove each car 300k.  There is no way you would save $10k.  While I agree we should be looking at fuel efficient cars, there seems to be some irrational valuation on fuel efficiency at times.

for a rule of thumb: lets say the difference in fuel economy is 1litre/100km:  assuming $1/litre for gas then the additional fuel cost would be 300,000/100 x $1 = $3000.  so - if a car is 1litre/100km higher than one can expect to pay an additional $3k in fuel over the life of the car.

I've also heard that diesels smell too ... not the engine per se but the fuel that gets on your shoes and later onto the carpet after filling up the car.  Is there a diesel owner out there who can confirm this?

R.

[Arctic_White]

I don 't get all the fuss over vw diesel

TDI is rated at 54 mpg hwy

cost about 30 grand

compare to toyota corolla

rated at 53 mpg hwy

cost about 20 grand

reliabilty for corolla excellent and much lower maintenance cost than vw TDI

corolla also has better acceleration than the 1.9 tdi

Absolutely ... calculate the fuel savings if you drove each car 300k.  There is no way you would save $10k.  While I agree we should be looking at fuel efficient cars, there seems to be some irrational valuation on fuel efficiency at times.

for a rule of thumb: lets say the difference in fuel economy is 1litre/100km:  assuming $1/litre for gas then the additional fuel cost would be 300,000/100 x $1 = $3000.  so - if a car is 1litre/100km higher than one can expect to pay an additional $3k in fuel over the life of the car.

I've also heard that diesels smell too ... not the engine per se but the fuel that gets on your shoes and later onto the carpet after filling up the car.  Is there a diesel owner out there who can confirm this?

R.

Most definitely.

One thing that turns me off from VW is their super ultra high maintenance costs.

Some of the services costs over $500!   

[JSCC]

$500 is not that high compared to Audi/MB/BMW.

No, of course a VW is not at the same level of any of the above, but neither is Honda/Toyota/Nissan.

As I have said many times before VW's most direct competitor in "North America" is Acura.
It is pretty obvious when you compare the market share (~2%) and price range of the products.
VW has no intentions to become a leading player (~10%+) in the North American market, at least at this moment.

Can any Acura owners verify how much does Acura charge for service/oil changes?

[Loudpedal]

I aim for quality not quantity.

So how is it that you find yourself peddling VW's? 

[tpl]

Diesel fuel stinks. Eats leather shoes.  Dissolves rubber shoe soles.  Is difficult to get out of any fabric.

It is horrible stuff    but diesel engines are still cool.    At the relatively few diesel pumps I pass in TO, most of them at "we serve"   I have seen self serve diesel in Guelph.

[Accordingly]

I noticed, while in Germany, that people use gloves while filling up...presumably diesel. Of course, this could simply be a German thing...perhaps they have specially designed, diesel-resistant, Sproket gloves available at their auto dealer. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

It is horrible stuff    but diesel engines are still cool.    At the relatively few diesel pumps I pass in TO, most of them at "we serve"   I have seen self serve diesel in Guelph.

I prefer pumping my own fuel (don't ask me why), so I hated coming across diesel stations that were We Serve exclusive for diesel. The local Sunoco is like that, so I use another Sunoco.

Yes, in Europe they have the gloves.

[JSCC]

I aim for quality not quantity.

So how is it that you find yourself peddling VW's? 

Extremely high quality!
Tiny gaps between panels!
Galvanized panels!
Soft touch materials, minimal use of hard plastic.
Heavy metal in the doors.
High safety ratings!
....
The list goes on.

Reliability??? 
When you put the latest technology (mechanical/electrical) the chance of failure is always higher.
Do you want the latest technology, or old done and proven stuff?

Why do some people need fridges that have TVs and can remind the user that eggs are running out? But some just need a metal box that keeps things cold.

There is no such thing as the absolute best car, but a "good" saleperson should always be able to sway a customer in a certain direction.   
Are you following me, already? 

[Julie]

There is no such thing as the absolute best car, but a "good" saleperson should always be able to sway a customer in a certain direction.   

I agree with that. My Acura salesman was like an Acura expert, not a pushy salesman. I got the info I wanted, and never felt he exaggerated or pushed. This is what I want. The info I am looking for so I can make my choice.

Not like that awful Toyota salesman who told me BS about the Corolla that I knew was wrong. (ie. antilock brakes are just a gadget, no improved safety. Side airbags can't make the Corolla any safer - check Consumer Reports.)

Duh........ dude, I do check Consumer Reports.... You think I'm an idiot? Corolla rated poor for side impact without side air bags (which are available in the US)

And if antilock brakes are just a gadget, why the heck do you include them on your Camry as standard?

EDIT: Seriously, is it because I'm a female that I get this BS said to me?? Sometimes I really wonder....