CTC Review: 2007 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

[CD_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2007 Volkswagen Jetta GLI


Day 1:

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Shame on me; I have never really been up on my Volkswagen model designations.  Of course, I know what a GTI is, but when told I was going to be driving the GLI Jetta this week, I was in the dark as to what exactly the GLI was.  I tried looking it up on the VW website to no avail; it still doesn't exist according to www.vw.ca.  To my surprise, I see Laurance Yap's First Drive on CanadianDriver and realize it is essentially the GTI of the Jetta line-up!  More ....

[airbalancer]

Looks like someone is going to have some fun this week

[vd]

just image... ummm... dreams dreams dream :-)

[JSCC]

Like you didn't know a GLI was a Jetta in GTI form, yeah right? 

[SIVIC]

If I had to have an automatic, the DSG I drove with in the new GTI would top my list.

it's power band is more useful than the Civic Si's, but less invigorating...

I wonder what kind of turbo care VW builds into their cars?  Does it recommend letting the engine idle after hard driving?

[lucid0703]

I'd like to see comparison between GLI and Jetta 2.0T+Luxury Package in drive wise.
Jetta 2.0T was so much fun when I testdrove it. If this excites the driver a lot more than Jetta 2.0T does, I think I can forget its rather high price.
I doubt there'd be a lot of difference since body+engine+transmission are identical..

[JSCC]

If I had to have an automatic, the DSG I drove with in the new GTI would top my list.

it's power band is more useful than the Civic Si's, but less invigorating...

I wonder what kind of turbo care VW builds into their cars?  Does it recommend letting the engine idle after hard driving?

Oh yes they do.

[JSCC]

I'd like to see comparison between GLI and Jetta 2.0T+Luxury Package in drive wise.
Jetta 2.0T was so much fun when I testdrove it. If this excites the driver a lot more than Jetta 2.0T does, I think I can forget its rather high price.
I doubt there'd be a lot of difference since body+engine+transmission are identical..

F1 style flat bottom steering wheel + purpose directed engine noise into the front dash might make a difference.
It sounds FASTer?! 

[Demosthenes X]

Flappy paddle gearbox, eh?  Someone's been watching a lot of Mr. Clarkson, I think. 

[toolatecrew]

VW NEEDS to drop the ride height and quick. A standard Jetta is a bit ungainly but hey its a standard Jetta. For a GLI to look so tippy? UHHHGGG

[tpl]

I am sure the aftermarket will oblige soon if not already with the euro ride height springs and struts...and any other bits to keep the camber correct...if you get real VW euro parts the dealer will never notice 

[safristi]

Wing good luck wif yer Floppy Paddle....row row row yer "boat" ashore to the Jetty'........why is the car BLUSHING??....    remember you will have a Bridge to not make cross !!!!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Ride height is being reduced from the factory on GTIs/GLIs now.

Wing, looks to me like you have not just the optional SABs but the extra optional SABs with rear torso. You also have the DSG. So yours is more than the MSRP stated - it's $36,455 + $695 Freight = $37,150. Only option you don't have is the $900 18" alloys on summer rubber.

Jetta GLI is broken down like this:
6-spd manual - $31,995
6-spd DSG A/T - $33,395 / $1,400
Power Sunroof with overhead console - $1,400
Luxury Leather Pkg (Includes power sunroof with overhead console, Top Leather Sport Seats, front power lumbar support) - $2,610
18" Alloy wheels with summer tires - $900
Side Curtain Protection - $250
Side Curtain Protection with Rear Side Torso Airbags - $450

The Jetta looks SO MUCH BETTER with the OEM Votex kit. They recently lowered the price of it in the US (not sure about here) but they would be doing themselves a favour if they offered it as an option from the factory.

[wing]

Good info SAM, I have received information from VW Canada and will ensure the price is changed to reflect this.

[Mr. Meow]

Wing Excuse me while I go test out those flappy paddles…

Its ok The noverty wears thin on that apparently. At least it did for me with the Sprinter. Piity you don't get to try out the Diesel. VW make a sweet Diesel.

<--You don't need plastic silver everywhere to look moden.
.

[Spec5]

$32k for a JETTA?! Wow, there must be a lot of suckers out there. Tons of cars in that price range that are faster, more practical and more reliable! Last consumer reports I saw the Germans in general were about on par with the domestics or koreans (forget which) while the Japanese still lead the way.

Accord V6, Altima 3.5SE, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX (ok its 2gs more but you get AWD) - AND you can get all those in a stick! Of course I've never been a big fan of VW. I like their cars, but way overprice in my opinion. Maybe back in the day when there weren't very many quality manufacturers out there (late 80s early 90s). But by today's standards they're nothing to write home about. Some nifty innovative features (folding key fob) but certainly not anything demanding that kind of a price premium.

I stand ready for the VW faithful retort - there seem to be a lot of you out there these days!

[safristi]

Nevva  knew  ?? woz a ...***ka

[Hal]

$32k for a JETTA?! Wow, there must be a lot of suckers out there. Tons of cars in that price range that are faster, more practical and more reliable! Last consumer reports I saw the Germans in general were about on par with the domestics or koreans (forget which) while the Japanese still lead the way.

Accord V6, Altima 3.5SE, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX (ok its 2gs more but you get AWD) - AND you can get all those in a stick! Of course I've never been a big fan of VW. I like their cars, but way overprice in my opinion. Maybe back in the day when there weren't very many quality manufacturers out there (late 80s early 90s). But by today's standards they're nothing to write home about. Some nifty innovative features (folding key fob) but certainly not anything demanding that kind of a price premium.

I stand ready for the VW faithful retort - there seem to be a lot of you out there these days!

I'm not one of the VW faithful, but the Jetta is almost what I am looking for in a car. I want a compact nimble sedan, fun to drive, with a pleasant well-constructed interior, a good highway ride, and ample torque (I'm not attracted to the 8000 rpm brigade). There is really not that much out there for direct competition, IMHO anyways. CSX maybe, but I don't like the looks too much.

I've never driven an Accord V6, but an Accord in general is a bit too big for me. I rented an Altima 2.5SL in the Spring, and while it has good straight-line power, it felt quite ungainly to me - it drove bigger than it was. MazdaSpeed 3 and WRX are in a different class than the Jetta for me - more sport at the expense of refinement.

The thing that kills the Jetta for me is perceived reliability - lack thereof. I want a very reliable car that I can keep for 6-8 years. Closest thing to what I want is a TSX. I would far prefer to spend $30K instead of $35K+ though. If only there was a stripper TSX with cloth instead of leather, no Bluetooth, HID etc - there would be one in my driveway already. Similarly, if the Jetta had Acura reliability, and VW had retained the old body style with the new drivetrain, I would be driving it now.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Accord/Altima too big, MS3 a hatch, WRX too small. There      
EDIT: Yes, TSX is dang close in price when you load up the Jetta, with a more similar size

Don't forget the 'ECON' setting unlike you like using the A/C and fuel. One of the things I didn't realize on my car until a few weeks into ownership is that it lacks the plastic/whatever strips along the outter edges of the roof above the side doors like most other cars because it has the laser weld with near perfect seam.  

[Hal]

Accord/Altima too big, MS3 a hatch, WRX too small. There       
EDIT: Yes, TSX is dang close in price when you load up the Jetta, with a more similar size

Don't forget the 'ECON' setting unlike you like using the A/C and fuel. One of the things I didn't realize on my car until a few weeks into ownership is that it lacks the plastic/whatever strips along the outter edges of the roof above the side doors like most other cars because it has the laser weld with near perfect seam. 

Ummm, yeah - what I was trying to say, only put more concisely! Cheers SAM