2011 Volkswagen Jetta: First Look

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by 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.

VW has made it clear that the intention was to bring the Jetta down in line with the Corolla /Civic class. Until now, it's been a premium compact and for that reason, VW couldn't achieve the sales levels they want. So they had to cheapen the Jetta by giving it rear drums, non- independent rear suspension, cheaper interior, weak base engine, ect. I believe they finally did what they had to do. They've been selling Jetta's for the price of Camry's.

And it kind of seems you're comparing elements of the Jetta with the Yaris. I sure hope the Jetta has a better ride than the Yaris. It costs like $7K more.

Originally Posted by vwtech

my mother had a highlander with a bad sludge problem and shesnever 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.

Sure, a rare repair might be needed but usually not until well after 100,000 miles.

Mine hasn't needed a single repair as of 93,000 miles and it feels like it just rolled of the assembly line.

A VW with 93K on it is all but worthless.

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

VW has made it clear that the intention was to bring the Jetta down in line with the Corolla /Civic class. Until now, it's been a premium compact and for that reason, VW couldn't achieve the sales levels they want. So they had to cheapen the Jetta by giving it rear drums, non- independent rear suspension, cheaper interior, weak base engine, ect. I believe they finally did what they had to do. They've been selling Jetta's for the price of Camry's.

And it kind of seems you're comparing elements of the Jetta with the Yaris. I sure hope the Jetta has a better ride than the Yaris. It costs like $7K more.





Sure, a rare repair might be needed but usually not until well after 100,000 miles.

Mine hasn't needed a single repair as of 93,000 miles and it feels like it just rolled of the assembly line.

A VW with 93K on it is all but worthless.

I know toyota's never break right....I bet the techs are going broke LOL. Last time I went to get my recall done there was a 2 week wait. I understand they are making a car people can afford in this economy but I wish they would have brought over another car to sell instead of making the jetta cheap although still loads nicer than a carolla. we did get a 2 litre 5 speed in and wow was that thing a slug.

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

A VW with 93K on it is all but worthless.

Really? We have 2 VW's:

2002 Golf TDI: 198,000 miles (approximate, but definitely over 197k last I checked). Still runs great. Bought at 175k in 2007. No pussy-foot driving of this car. Only repairs since ownership: replacement of turbo.

2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI: just turned over 16,000 the other day. Do we expect that it will continue the same as the Golf? Umm, hell yea!!!

[why?]

Originally Posted by 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..

That was the base engine for VW for many, many years. And they still were ridiculously overpriced. And had major electrical issues.

Originally Posted by DevilGirl

Really? We have 2 VW's:

2002 Golf TDI: 198,000 miles (approximate, but definitely over 197k last I checked). Still runs great. Bought at 175k in 2007. No pussy-foot driving of this car. Only repairs since ownership: replacement of turbo.

2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI: just turned over 16,000 the other day. Do we expect that it will continue the same as the Golf? Umm, hell yea!!!

You have two TDI's. I am pretty sure they are from a different company, or something, because they never have any of the usual vw issues from what I've seen.

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by why?

You have two TDI's. I am pretty sure they are from a different company, or something, because they never have any of the usual vw issues from what I've seen.

To my knowledge (which I could be wrong, and I admit that possibility), they are made by VW. But they are designed differently due to the use of diesel as opposed to gas. I wouldn't even consider a VW if it weren't a TDI. While the diesel engine adds to a higher costing car, the MPG and reliabilty are better than the gassers, thereby making it worth the extra upfront cost. At least in my opinion anyway.

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by DevilGirl

Really? We have 2 VW's:

2002 Golf TDI: 198,000 miles (approximate, but definitely over 197k last I checked). Still runs great. Bought at 175k in 2007. No pussy-foot driving of this car. Only repairs since ownership: replacement of turbo.

2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI: just turned over 16,000 the other day. Do we expect that it will continue the same as the Golf? Umm, hell yea!!!

thankyou for chiming in there I have regular customers (oil changes and timing belts) who own tdi's who have over 300k trouble free miles. I also have 25k trouble free HARD miles on my 09 tdi I beat the tar out of that car and nothing has gone wrong with it the low end torque is adicting. vw has gotten a bad rep because of the passat 1.8 and jetta 1.8 those cars are money pits and I'm sure toyota has their money pit cars as well.

[why?]

Originally Posted by vwtech

thankyou for chiming in there I have regular customers (oil changes and timing belts) who own tdi's who have over 300k trouble free miles. I also have 25k trouble free HARD miles on my 09 tdi I beat the tar out of that car and nothing has gone wrong with it the low end torque is adicting. vw has gotten a bad rep because of the passat 1.8 and jetta 1.8 those cars are money pits and I'm sure toyota has their money pit cars as well.

actually, that is the point, toyota does not. VW has some cars that can last forever, and a bunch of cars that have serious problems. Toyota, and to be honest most Japanese cars, have vehicles that are almost trouble free, with a few exceptions.

Now of course, German cars, including VW/Audi, are rather fun to drive, while most Toyota's are rather boring. It is a case of where the manufacturer chose to spend the money.

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by why?

actually, that is the point, toyota does not. VW has some cars that can last forever, and a bunch of cars that have serious problems. Toyota, and to be honest most Japanese cars, have vehicles that are almost trouble free, with a few exceptions.

Now of course, German cars, including VW/Audi, are rather fun to drive, while most Toyota's are rather boring. It is a case of where the manufacturer chose to spend the money.

Every japanese car line has their money pit cars, I know this because I have worked at two japanese car dealers one had mitsubishi nissan the other was a toyota mazda dealer. back in the early 2000's toyota had their fair share of sludge and prius battery problems they also had a TON of v6 head gasket problems. I bet you can look under the hood of any older v6 camry to find it pouring oil out of the v/c gaskets. Nissan's had alot of problems as well I dont even remember how many 20k altima 2.5's I replaced because they were burning a quart of oil every 200 miles or sometimes they would just blow up for no reason. pretty much any nissan you own past 60k you'll be thowing cats in them like they are going out of style or cvt's. I dont see why people think that japanese cars never break its so untrue and I cant stand it when they bash domestics for no reason and they have never owned one. some domestics are more reliable than any japanese car and way cheaper to fix. I think toyota is the most boring car line they dont make a single car anymore that is fun or looks good well I take that back the fj cruiser is pretty sweet but way too pricey.

[why?]

Originally Posted by vwtech

Every japanese car line has their money pit cars, I know this because I have worked at two japanese car dealers one had mitsubishi nissan the other was a toyota mazda dealer. back in the early 2000's toyota had their fair share of sludge and prius battery problems they also had a TON of v6 head gasket problems. I bet you can look under the hood of any older v6 camry to find it pouring oil out of the v/c gaskets. Nissan's had alot of problems as well I dont even remember how many 20k altima 2.5's I replaced because they were burning a quart of oil every 200 miles or sometimes they would just blow up for no reason. pretty much any nissan you own past 60k you'll be thowing cats in them like they are going out of style or cvt's. I dont see why people think that japanese cars never break its so untrue and I cant stand it when they bash domestics for no reason and they have never owned one. some domestics are more reliable than any japanese car and way cheaper to fix. I think toyota is the most boring car line they dont make a single car anymore that is fun or looks good well I take that back the fj cruiser is pretty sweet but way too pricey.

now it sounds like you are mad and willing to say anything to try and make toyota sound bad.

Good way to make a point...

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by why?

now it sounds like you are mad and willing to say anything to try and make toyota sound bad.

Good way to make a point...

just speaking from experience all i'm saying is that ever car will break and alot of people think that toyotas never break and that everything else is junk.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by vwtech

Every japanese car line has their money pit cars, I know this because I have worked at two japanese car dealers one had mitsubishi nissan the other was a toyota mazda dealer. back in the early 2000's toyota had their fair share of sludge and prius battery problems they also had a TON of v6 head gasket problems. I bet you can look under the hood of any older v6 camry to find it pouring oil out of the v/c gaskets. Nissan's had alot of problems as well I dont even remember how many 20k altima 2.5's I replaced because they were burning a quart of oil every 200 miles or sometimes they would just blow up for no reason. pretty much any nissan you own past 60k you'll be thowing cats in them like they are going out of style or cvt's. I dont see why people think that japanese cars never break its so untrue and I cant stand it when they bash domestics for no reason and they have never owned one. some domestics are more reliable than any japanese car and way cheaper to fix. I think toyota is the most boring car line they dont make a single car anymore that is fun or looks good well I take that back the fj cruiser is pretty sweet but way too pricey.

I must have missed something here. You drive a Volks and obviously love it. That's great! Apparently you don't like Japanese cars and you enjoy bashing them on a Toyota forum. So, I'm really wondering what you're doing here on yarisworld (?).

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by kimona

I must have missed something here. You drive a Volks and obviously love it. That's great! Apparently you don't like Japanese cars and you enjoy bashing them on a Toyota forum. So, I'm really wondering what you're doing here on yarisworld (?).

There must be no VW forum in anything but German.

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by vwtech

thankyou for chiming in there I have regular customers (oil changes and timing belts) who own tdi's who have over 300k trouble free miles. I also have 25k trouble free HARD miles on my 09 tdi I beat the tar out of that car and nothing has gone wrong with it the low end torque is adicting. vw has gotten a bad rep because of the passat 1.8 and jetta 1.8 those cars are money pits and I'm sure toyota has their money pit cars as well.

Originally Posted by why?

actually, that is the point, toyota does not. VW has some cars that can last forever, and a bunch of cars that have serious problems. Toyota, and to be honest most Japanese cars, have vehicles that are almost trouble free, with a few exceptions.

Now of course, German cars, including VW/Audi, are rather fun to drive, while most Toyota's are rather boring. It is a case of where the manufacturer chose to spend the money.

Originally Posted by vwtech

Every japanese car line has their money pit cars, I know this because I have worked at two japanese car dealers one had mitsubishi nissan the other was a toyota mazda dealer. back in the early 2000's toyota had their fair share of sludge and prius battery problems they also had a TON of v6 head gasket problems. I bet you can look under the hood of any older v6 camry to find it pouring oil out of the v/c gaskets. Nissan's had alot of problems as well I dont even remember how many 20k altima 2.5's I replaced because they were burning a quart of oil every 200 miles or sometimes they would just blow up for no reason. pretty much any nissan you own past 60k you'll be thowing cats in them like they are going out of style or cvt's. I dont see why people think that japanese cars never break its so untrue and I cant stand it when they bash domestics for no reason and they have never owned one. some domestics are more reliable than any japanese car and way cheaper to fix. I think toyota is the most boring car line they dont make a single car anymore that is fun or looks good well I take that back the fj cruiser is pretty sweet but way too pricey.

Originally Posted by kimona

I must have missed something here. You drive a Volks and obviously love it. That's great! Apparently you don't like Japanese cars and you enjoy bashing them on a Toyota forum. So, I'm really wondering what you're doing here on yarisworld (?).

If I remember correctly, vwtech does own a Yaris for a daily driver.

They way I am interpreting this is: it's not that he doesn't like Japanese cars, but more so that he was pointing out, from his experience as a mechanic, that, yes, there are some VW cars that are total bombs and cost way too much due to constant repairs. But also that other car manufacturers, American, Japanese, German, Purple, Yellow, etc (you get the point, it includes ALL manufacturers), have had their fair share of lemmon cars that need repairs way too frequently. This was submitted in response to the constant bashing of VW's on this forum. Yes, it is a forum for Yaris, which is made by Toyota, but a person should be allowed to speak their opinion, even if their opinion is against the "majority".

Me personally, there are some Toyota vehicles that I love (obviously my Yarii), but there are those in the line-up that I despise with a passion (a.k.a. Prius). I love the VW TDI, but none of their other cars as I don't feel they're worth it. I love Ford trucks, but don't like their cars/SUVs. Chevy, well, we won't go there.

A lot of my opinions are based on *MY* experiences. Every person is an individual and has their own set of experiences that shape the way they think/feel/do things.

I am asking politely that, even if you loathe VW (or any other manufacturer), please respect the opinions of others when they present them.

[vwtech]

Originally Posted by kimona

I must have missed something here. You drive a Volks and obviously love it. That's great! Apparently you don't like Japanese cars and you enjoy bashing them on a Toyota forum. So, I'm really wondering what you're doing here on yarisworld (?).

I'm just trying to say not every vw is a money pit and not every toyota will run forever. Alot of people think that japanese cars never break and it is so untrue if its designed by man and its a machine it will break. I do actually own a yaris 07 lb and I already had to basicly rebuild the transmission due to a leaky input shaft seal that is designed to be on the inside of the transmission. but I still like the yaris alot and its a great car for the money. Not trying to bash toyota just saying that they have their bad designs as well as vw and every other car line out there.