It's probably just me, but the upcoming Jetta (most recent auto mags have pics) has to be one of the WORST VW designs to come down the pike in a long time. I mean, styling inspiration via Corolla? How more mundane and boring can a car get than that? I'm not much of a fan of the newest Golf (somehow reminds me of the current dopey Honda Civic SI hatchback, but with more lumps), but the Jetta is as dog-butt dull-looking as they come.
The March '05 issue of Automobile Magazine reports the U.S. price creep for the new Jetta will be approaching $30k, depending on options and variants. Boy, for that sort of money there are plenty of alternatives out there. Infiniti G35 sedan? A base A4? Add 4 or 5 thou more, and I'm into a WRX STI, or an Acura TL. Yeah, like I really would want a made-in-Mexico, probably-still-loaded-with-QC-issues Jetta instead.
I'd have to see it in the metal to really see but I do agree it's very Corolla.
the 4 door Golf V is nice but the 2 door I do agree looks like a honda product because of the shape of the rear side windows (that's what looks very Honda about it).
I don't think it's dull, but it's mostly like a more expensive looking Corolla. At least it doesn't look cheap though.
no, other people have remarkes similarly (although I don't agree)
but the upcoming Jetta (most recent auto mags have
Unfortunately, that styling sells in the US.
And I have an island off the CA cost to sell to you. I would suggest looking at the US VW web site, where you can see that the Jetta V starts at $20K and is quite nicely equipped at $25K MSRP (probably -$2000 actual sales price or so in 6 months). Also, about the same price as previous version, except safer, larger, and more powerful base engine.
Not for $20K, any of the above.
Any racial undertones, here? My 13-year old Mexican-assembled Golf has been almost flawless, incredibly low cost of ownership.
perhaps, although reliability is relative (i.e., for some people, having twice as many issues in a given amount of time is not an issue).
Not exactly...that styling sells for Toyota and partially for its sibling Lexus, specifically. Toyota has this weird aura powerful enought that it seems they could make their cars look like piles of dog crap and the faithful will still line up for the things, madly waving fists of cash and willing to get on waiting lists. Oh what a feeling.
Cali's gonna slip into the Pacific, taking said primo island and all. Better to invest in oceanside property in Nevada.
I only repeat what the automotive press chooses to call facts. Automobile Magazine quotes a price range of $18k to $28k, though they do preface it as an estimate. But in the hopes of humoring you, I spent several minutes visiting the Jetta pages on vw.com, and straight away I saw that they don't list one of the upcoming engines for the new Jetta, a 197hp turbo 2.0L; Automobile took that motor into account in their estimate. Given that the GLI with the 1.8T bases at just over $25k US according to VW, and the two listed factory options add nearly a grand to that price. For the bigger
2.0T, I don't see it as much of a stretch that the Jetta in that configuration will be around $28k (which to me qualifies as closing in on $30k, just like the mag describes), especially if VW chooses to add even more goodies into the car to go with the 17 additional ponies, which most manufacturers always seem to do to capitalize on the ($$$) profit. $28k for
197 horsies...be still my achin' heart.
But at $28k, or maybe higher...yes, we the automobile public are into G35 / A4 territory. And with creative financing or blowing off some of Google stock in one's portfolio...smack dab into WRX STI range.
Even if we head towards the lower end of the pricing range, there's still some mighty intriguing alternatives. The regular WRX is in there, the sharp-looking Mazda 6 is as well, as is the new 'Roo Legacy (which, according to the guy who owns the Focus I'm about to tell you about below, is a hoot to drive). Somewhere in the middle there, the old standby Altima's lurking around (with 260hp, at that), and of course there's the Jetta's original styling inspirations, the Corolla and Camry, and their butt boring-looking cousins, the Civic and Accord. And I haven't even begun to discuss the possible domestic alternatives.
My neighbor's '00 Jetta has been a horror story; gave up on it and bought some sort flavor of Focus. Hard to imagine a FORD doing better than anything else (recall, anyone?), but he's had a lot less problems to talk about with that car. A co-worker's '01 has been almost as bad. As for myself, I can't say from personal experience, since I only own a '98 B5 Passat, which has been nearly as nightmarish collection of electrical gremlins itself, but I can only blame Germany--and maybe some eastern European subcontractor or three--on that. My wife's best friend's New Beetle (don't know what year...think it's a '99 or '00) had been hell on wheels, and we ain't talkin' about it as if the concept was some sort of good thing. After she had her fill of reliving her Flower Power years, she gave the car to her kid and bought herself a 3-series convert. That's what I call a cruel parent.
Over the years, I've talked with other Jetta owners (as well as owners of other types) while at the dealer for service...I'd say a clear majority describe their cars as good to great, but it certainly seemed a greater than usual number (to me) say there's too many things going wrong with their cars at seemingly regular intervals, even with some of these so-called "good" cars. I sure don't recall that being the case when we owned Hondas a decade and a half or so ago. I certainly don't see that level of flaws with our ancient Maxima (which hasn't been perfect itself, but a hell of a lot more problem-free than our Passat has been, with nearly TWICE the number of years in the books), or with my 993 (now you want to talk expensive to fix and maintain? Good thing Porsche got my particular one right, knock wood).
Glad to hear that 'some' people are more forgiving and tolerant. For the rest of us, we'd just like the damn things to work RIGHT, with as little fuss as possible.
Gee, I'm glad you appreciate unabashed, obtuse sarcasm.
After it's all said and done, the new Jetta's STILL FUGLY. But in a very Toyota sort of way, which must make all those suits in Toyota City immensely happy and smug.
Well from the looks of it, for the Canadian market (where our dollar didn't fluctuate and sink as low as the American dollar compared to the Euro) the pricing is about the same as it was, maybe a little more money (for a bigger car tho with more standard equipment... no one buys the top end GLI Jetta around here, i've never seen one on the roads, but leather lined TDI GLS's are quite common).
It looks like a Corolla only when you remember what a corolla looks like and then have a look at the Jetta picture. I was reading a car and driver in traffic (I was not driving, don't worry... one of my co-workers was) and a Corolla drove by, they are "similar" but the Corolla looks more rounded, cheap, taller, uglier... the Jetta still seems to have that solid German look to it. I even convinced the one other guy who was in the car that it looked like the Accord from the front and the Corollar from the back that it, at least, doesn't really look too Corolla-ish from the back... The car really looks like the new Audi's, so does the new Passat.
Don't look at the pics of that gold Jetta, they look the ugliest, look for pictures of the silver one, from the front and back - looks a lot better - tho why are they using those 10 spoke alloy wheels, they are the same as on the Honda Accord...
I'll be going to the Toronto Auto show in about 9-10 days, I will get pictures of the Jetta there, and of the Corolla, they are quite different in appearance, i'm sure. (maybe i'll make some sort of comparing website... who knows)
The $25k version at vw.com is NOT the 197hp 2.0T that Automobile Magazine reported AND drove in the March '05 issue, which is the $28k (est) version I'm referring to. VoA's website (at the time of my original post and follow-up) does not include this bigger, more powerful engine.
So, are you claiming VW would plan on putting out a larger engine and not raise prices?
I saw a photo of the new ('06?) Jetta and the first thing out of my mouth was "looks like a Toyota", you picked out the model. I drive a G4 Jetta (2000) and I love the look. Kept the signature VW heritage. This new one totally abandons it.
If you search Google Groups around the fall of 98 when the first A4 Jetta pictures showed up several people said it looked a Tercel or Corolla. Then everybody was saying that they liked the A3 look better.
That's true, Al -- plus, I've got to ask, what VW signature heritage? Good grief, anyone remember what a first-generation Jetta looked like? Remember how different the '85s were? Compare a '77 Jetta with an '04. If there's a "signature heritage" in there, it's pretty well disguised.
Cars always look much different when they're right in front of you than in a picture. I wouldn't fret too much, guys, there's bigger things to worry about.
Plus, take a look at the 6th generation Passat, and new GTI/Golf.... The Jetta's new look is making sense, then look at the new Audi's and you see it makes even more sense...
VW/Audi are both shifting their looks.... and none of their new cars look like the ugly square boxes they both used to make only 15 years ago... Every car maker seems to go thru a rebirth of what their "look" is suppose to be - except BMW... they hit a styling pinnacle then went too far with it (the flame surface look, but even now that is beginning to grow on a lot of people).
I was one of them, well not that it looked like a Corolla, but that it looked strange. And I got used to it, and I have gotten to like it.
In fact my personal rank, styling wise is
A2 Jetta A4 Jetta A1 Jetta A3 Jetta (yuck)
This is not about the mechanicals, but the body shape. Based on the past I will likely 'get used to' the new one after it's been around awhile. Still, Coming off the showroom floor it needs larger wheels, and other things perhaps, to balance the proportions.
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