VW Jetta: Who owns/regularly drives one?

FreaqyFrequency · #1 07-12-2009, 09:40 PM

I passed my driver's test today, so my parents and I are looking for a new car, and the Jetta caught my attention. Though I'm going to test drive it, I want a few opinions from anyone with experience with it.

#1 - Gear. How much will it fit?
#2 - Sound system. Is it decent?
#3 - Fit and feel. I'm a fairly big kid (6'3" 1/2 and still growing), it is of great value for me to be comfortable in a vehicle I'm driving. Also, how does it feel, both when accelerating and maintaining a consistent speed?
#4 - MPG. In your experience, is it decent, both for highway and around town?

Thanks in advance.

MadMan118 · #2 07-12-2009, 09:42 PM

Meh, get a Toyota, it will run forever.

FreaqyFrequency · #3 07-12-2009, 09:42 PM

Not my question, dude.

NJL · #4 07-12-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

#4 - MPG. In your experience, is it decent, both for highway and around town?

all i can say for this one is, read: Jetta TDI

FreaqyFrequency · #5 07-12-2009, 09:57 PM

Hmm, the TDI does look interesting, and Diesel engines are immensely more efficient and require fewer tune-ups for certain...however, there's a $4000 price increase, along with however much diesel fluctuates over the price of gas within the years I'll be driving it. Thanks for the tip, though.

MadMan118 · #6 07-12-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Not my question, dude.

Yeah I know but I just cant help myself, I myself don't like VW's but each to their own.

Hawaii Islander · #7 07-12-2009, 10:28 PM

I test drove several Jettas a few years back. They were roomy inside and comfortable. The 4 cylinder really needed the manual transmission to compensate for power. I wouldn't have bought an automatic transmission model. The clutch was touchy. It engaged/disengaged over a very short distance. The car also felt very light (tin can feel to it), especially the doors, hood and trunk. They may be built more solid nowadays though.

Cargo room was tricky. For shopping bags its roomy, Large items such as bass amps and even bass guitar cases could be problematic.Thats because the trunk was narrow from rear to front and deep. The rear seat(s) could fold forward to allow longer items such as hocky sticks, skis, etc, but thick or wide items probably would not fit.

iamlowsound · #8 07-12-2009, 10:31 PM

The rabbit has more cargo space, if you are set on a VW and want room. When I had my golf, I didn't have any problem fitting my 2x10 cab, 4 space rack, two basses, an electric guitar, my buddies acoustic guitar and his amp. All with comfortable room for the both of us. It is all in how you pack.

lowsound

12bass · #9 07-12-2009, 10:32 PM

TDI is very fuel efficient..... though the Golf/Rabbit may be better for carrying gear because it has a hatch. With the seats down, I can carry a lot in my GTI.

FreaqyFrequency · #10 07-12-2009, 10:40 PM

Thanks for the input, guys.

How about room in the back seat? I don't plan to have too many passengers, this needs to transport me and maybe a friend/bandmate to gigs and college, for now, while still having room in the seat for a bass (vertically positioned?) and a cab/rack.

iamlowsound · #11 07-12-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Thanks for the input, guys.

How about room in the back seat? I don't plan to have too many passengers, this needs to transport me and maybe a friend/bandmate to gigs and college, for now, while still having room in the seat for a bass (vertically positioned?) and a cab/rack.

The back seat of my golf had plenty of room. Not as much as some, but more than a sunfire.

lowsound

allexcosta · #12 07-12-2009, 11:21 PM

#1 - Gear. How much will it fit?

Not much. Golf has more space as with any hatchback.

#2 - Sound system. Is it decent?

Stock? Average...

#3 - Fit and feel. I'm a fairly big kid (6'3" 1/2 and still growing), it is of great value for me to be comfortable in a vehicle I'm driving. Also, how does it feel, both when accelerating and maintaining a consistent speed?

Hmmmm... If really "still growing" you might have trouble soon. Also, don't expect the person behind you to be comfortable. Performance is good, very sporty, very tight.

#4 - MPG. In your experience, is it decent, both for highway and around town?

Yeah, very fair...

alfredpunkjazz · #13 07-12-2009, 11:23 PM

I have actually used a golf to carry my 8x10 cab... Plus a lot of other stuff.

Hawaii Islander · #14 07-12-2009, 11:33 PM

If carrying gear is a priority, a hatchback model should be considered over a 4-door sedan. My Renault LeCar was tiny but it could carry a lot of gear with the rear seats folded down, primarily because of the square opening of the hatch and cargo compartment. Same thing with my Scion xB.

ThatGermanDude · #15 07-12-2009, 11:53 PM

VWs are usually very well built. The TDI is a great engine and the fuel savings would probably make up for the slightly higher price of diesel. We once had a 90 hp engine in an Audi A4 and it had no problems going 100-110 mph on the Autobahn.

seanm · #16 07-13-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaii Islander

If carrying gear is a priority, a hatchback model should be considered over a 4-door sedan. My Renault LeCar was tiny but it could carry a lot of gear with the rear seats folded down, primarily because of the square opening of the hatch and cargo compartment. Same thing with my Scion xB.

OT but, you had a Le Car? How long did it last?

MakiSupaStar · #17 07-13-2009, 12:27 AM

I've had several jettas from 2001 to present. Currently I'm driving a 2009 2.5 wagon. As far as driving experience goes I like the a lot. They are a very nimble, good handling car. The smaller engine models might require a stick shift. I found that the 1.8 or I guess it's the 2.0 litre turbo engine seems a little busy for the amount of juice it's puting out. While I've owned sedans and wagons the wagons are obviously best for hauling gear. I think with the seats folded down you'd be ok with the sedan. Gas mileage is not all that impressive. 22-27 mpgs. My favorite wagon was the 2003 vr6 jetta wagon for sure. That car just plain boogied.

While my opinion of jettas and Volkswagen in general is pretty high, I must say that I've only ever had a car for a year before trading in. The stereo on all cars has been great

Hawaii Islander · #18 07-13-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

OT but, you had a Le Car? How long did it last?

Until my kid brother totalled it! (about 2 years)

Joe Nerve · #19 07-13-2009, 12:46 AM

My girl was going to get a jetta about 6 months ago. Forgot what year the car was, but we researched it extensively(not too hard to do these days) and about 90% of them all kinds of problems and very unhappy owners.

FreaqyFrequency · #20 07-13-2009, 12:47 AM

Wow, never imagined I'd get such specific answers. Huge thanks to allexcosta, Daren and Hawaii Islander. I'll be checking out the hatchback VWs for sure, though manual is, frankly, a priority over convenience for cargo space. I couldn't see myself owning an automatic, as I've always been distracted by not having to do the clutchwork when I was driving mom's van and the driver's ed car.