2011 Volkswagen Jetta: First Look

[fnkngrv]

http://www.vw.com/upcomingcars/2011jetta/en/us/

So, since so many peeps were cheering about the new Ford Fiesta I thought that I might toss the new Jetta in there. It is supposed to outclass the Corolla and have a starting price point of only 16k. That is the same price that I paid for my 07 S back when they first launched (15,910 for my S before Tax, Title, and Delivery Fee). It doesn't look like they cut many corners either to get to 16k.

Quoted from DigitalTrends.com:

The Volkswagen Jetta gets a more refined look for 2011 including technology like Bluetooth and push button start.

As if Toyota didn’t have enough to worry about, the Germans decided it was high time to build an affordable Jetta. The new Jetta, believe it or not, starts at $16,000 and if you’re in the market for a Corolla you’re probably now thinking twice about your potential purchase. We had a chance to whip the car around some twisty roads in beautiful Northern California, and we’ve got to say its a mighty impressive car. And don’t think VW went completely downmarket, they’ve made available the latest bleeding edge technology like push button start, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as a very impressive amount of trunk space and rear leg room. Bottom line, we think the 2011 Jetta is the car to beat. Available in showrooms this Fall.




let the fun begin...

[darkmoon87]

Originally Posted by PK198105

repairs will cost an arm and a leg. and reliabilty of VW is not the same as Toyota. Ill stick with Yotas

if you are considering a lease, this will be a great alternative to corolla.

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by PK198105

repairs will cost an arm and a leg. and reliabilty of VW is not the same as Toyota. Ill stick with Yotas

Oh, I agree to a point. If you can manage to get a Jetta though that is built in Germany then you will be doing much better. It is kind of like with Toyota. Nothing for nothing, but I would not buy a Toyota built in the States. I am very patriotic, but sorry, we just don't do it as well as they do on the island.

[Kal-El]

The one pictured will be closer to $23K than $16K.

I've never really considered the Jetta competition for the Corolla and Civic but rather its own niche . VW always went the premium small car route and is always considerably more costly. Especially to fix and maintain. And they require a LOT of fixing. I don't care it they have better driving feel, I'd never deal with the headache of a German car.

[fnkngrv]

Yeah, well that was like with my S...so many said that I overpaid for my car, but it all added up with what I received and I have yet to have anyone that has a Yaris not say they wished they had gotten all the options that I did. The only thing my car didn't come with for options was the fogs.

You know they always show one of their flagship versions of a car model for marketing purposes...that is the nature of the beast...hell even Toyota does it with their Camry and Corolla. I think the only model they have advertised without showing the flagship of the model is the Yaris...I guess I am just feeling like playing devil's advocate today.

[KCALB SIRAY]

I love the look of it.

[tomato]

A little off topic here, but I am located about 10 minutes walking distance from where this shot was taken.
this is the Bay Bridge, the one that's falling apart and one of those where the wind blows my Yaris all over the place on a regular basis ;)



sorry for the OT, guys

[jamal1984]

Great car for lease, not to own.

[nemelek]

If I was car shopping, I would look at the diesel version.

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by nemelek

If I was car shopping, I would look at the diesel version.

I would have to agree with you. And because of being diesel, you won't see it for less than $23k I'd bet.

But on the flip side, VW's are the only reasonably affordable diesels available here in the US. The only other options are either Audi (which is actually VW's "Lexus" version), or BMW. Unless you want a truck with a diesel, then you've got plenty of options... But not for cars... Wish the US would learn that diesel is better than gas and allow more options to come here... Like the diesel Yarii that they have in Europe.

[marcus]

prefer the sonata...

[SilverBack]

Doesn't look a whole lot different than the current Jetta, except for a Scirocco-based front-end. Could've worked on the overall design just a little more IMO

[Darb]

I still miss Mk. IV styling.

[vwtech]

the car is a step down for vw solid beam rear axle and rear drum brakes are not impressing me at all. they also got away from the electric rack because they said it was too exspensive our 12k yarises have them!!!!. I am glad I got my jetta it is very nice on road trips being able to go 600 miles on a tank and the ride is so much nicer than the yaris and it has WAY more power. vw has toyota beat on styling but toyota wins in the reliability department.

[chrisj]

Sorry, but I still remember the Beetle and Rabbit I owned years and years ago...neither of which had any heat. I would never buy another VW, no matter the style or cost. It's a mental block thing with me. I hate Nissans for a variety of reasons too.

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by chrisj

Sorry, but I still remember the Beetle and Rabbit I owned years and years ago...neither of which had any heat. I would never buy another VW, no matter the style or cost. It's a mental block thing with me. I hate Nissans for a variety of reasons too.

my mother had a highlander with a bad sludge problem and she never missed an oil change but that didnt stop me from buying the yaris. Ever car line has problems they all break weather anyone on this board wants to believe it or not thats why all of them even toyota have service bays even though people on this forum think that their toyota will never break.

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by vwtech

my mother had a highlander with a bad sludge problem and she never missed an oil change but that didnt stop me from buying the yaris. Ever car line has problems they all break weather anyone on this board wants to believe it or not thats why all of them even toyota have service bays even though people on this forum think that their toyota will never break.

Oh, I've had a Toyota that broke...hard. I had...yes...wait for it...a Mark II station wagon that the Devil himself must have designed and built. Up until that time I never had a car with that many problems.

I owned a 1979 Corolla that I drove to work and back for 6 years (50 mile round trip). This was in 1990-1996 and the car just looked olddddd (if you remember that lovely design). I wasn't sold on Toyota's until I had the good luck with that one. I started driving it and within a month the speedo broke at 123,000 miles. I then drove it another 6 years, then sold it to my brother in law who drove it another few years. So, I was sold on Toyota then.

I've had just about every brand of car made in America plus a few foreign models like a few MGB's, and I have had trouble out of all of them for one reason or another. I beat the hell out of that Corolla and it just wouldn't die. I added a quart of oil to it when the oil light came on (yes I did) and that was the extent of its oil changes. I was the roughest of rough on the car and did no regular service or maintenance.

We owned an Avalon that was fortunately a color that always looked clean whether you washed it or not, because we had that car 9 years and I think it may have been washed twice. God washed our vehicles. We did scheduled oil changes on it, but that was about it. I just expect to get into any car I have, start it up, and take off. I'm not a mechanic and I don't like to fiddle with cars at all. I like them for what they do. Get me from Point A to Point B and back to Point A. That's it.

Now we have a black Yaris, that requires washing regularly unless you want it to look like pure shit. I don't mind it so much. At least the f*cker is small enough not to take a whole weekend to clean it up. I have not always had the best of luck with vehicles, but I have better luck with Toyotas at least partially due to my disregard for them. They are kind to me even if I haven't always returned the favor.

My hatred of particular brands comes from personal experiences and driving them for years putting up with their BS. I never put up with crap from my Toyotas starting in 1990. Now, that Mark II was a piece of crap for sure, but I got a new respect for Toyota after driving the hell out of that Corolla for years and years. Matter of fact, the last car I bought brand new was a 1999 Corolla and I have a special place in my heart for that model, obviously.

So, I treat cars like crap and never expect them to break, that's true. I know they will, but at least the Toyotas I have owned have given me lots of time to save up for future repairs. Which is more than I can say for lots of other brands I have owned.

[09box]

The base motor for the base Jetta is going to be the good ole 2.0 iron block. A 115 hp/123 lb ft of tq motor pushing around a 3k pound car is a little much for me. I've driven the 2.5 powered car and that was a little bit of a turd too..