CD Article: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


Returning to the Canadian market, the newer, greener 2009 VW Jetta TDI sedan "is quieter and more powerful than the previous one," says Editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson, and "offers better fuel economy than most cars."
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Read the article | View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Honda Owner]

Ahh, VW cars. I had one in the mid 1980s, a loaded turbo diesel Jetta. It was a true love/hate relationship. The car drove very well and handled even better. It was also very frugal to drive, once one got over the high sticker price. That  is the love part.

The hate part was watching the car self destruct. With the exception of the power windows, every single electrical accessory broke before the warranty was up and then shortly thereafter. There as a fuel leak the day I took it off the lot. Things fell off the car constantly. The service department of dealer I bought the car from was so awful that I went to another one, which was equally as bad.

From what I have heard and read, VW cars are still very much a love/hate relationship for the same reasons. I would love the drive a Jetta diesel wagon but at my age, I really do not want ever return to a dealer for warranty work and even less so for retail repairs. I am on my third Honda and none of them has ever had a warranty or retail repair (other than wear and tear, that is). This is not at all uncommon for Honda cars, either. I have had excellent service from all the dealers, too.

[Altima1]

Would this Jetta been out in May I might have considered, but the reliability risk would probably have bugged me.  I'm pleased with Nissan, and my Altima can reach 41mpg on the highway

[tpl]

Had the Golf version ( which may never arrive in NA for some reason) been available in May in a "Highline" version I would have bought one in preference to the GTI.  Here in G there are several diesel pumps so fuel isn't a problem.

[airbalancer]

A Jetta TDI sportwagon will be on the radar when I am looking for our next car
TDI is very quiet
Every new station appears to have diesel in it
It will be interesting to see how people make out using B100 http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=224644

[Jem_hadar]

The one remaining downside of owning a diesel car, at least in my opinion, is the availability and convenience of diesel fuel. Where I live in Vancouver, one in five gas stations might have diesel fuel and I have to go out of my way to fill up. In addition, at the diesel station closest to me, diesel fuel is in the Full Service lane, so I have to wait for an attendant to fill it up. I've heard from readers and associates that some areas of the country have a diesel pump at every gas station, so I would recommend that you check out your neighbourhood gas stations before committing to buy a diesel car (or truck).

Ya, here in Collingwood (Blue Mountain/Wasaga Beach area) where I live we have maybe 2 gas stations that carry diesel (and I think it might only be 1 actually).

There are none in Stayner, so next closest is around the Barrie area for me.

Since I'm only ever driving around Collingwood and to and from Toronto, the lack of available diesel-carrying stations is a concern to me.

A friend of mine drives an old diesel jetta and when we'd be going out at night we always had to be aware of how full his tank is, bc of the stations around here that carry it, none are open past 6 or 8pm anyways. We've been screwed over a number of times (before I had a vehicle myself) by lacking fuel since we couldnt fill up anyways if we wanted to go out driving somewhere.

[carcrazy]

The MkVI Golf TDI will be on my list for the next purchase provided I can get over the reliability concerns.

[Jem_hadar]

The MkVI Golf TDI will be on my list for the next purchase provided I can get over the reliability concerns.

The next gens look nice! Not sure which tail lights I like better though... I've grown VERY fond of the circular reverse lights in the brake lights form! Very hot and upscale, IMO. I've come to really associate that rear look w/ VWs already.

The only thing I dislike abt the MKVIs is that possibly the interior illumination is no longer the cool or bright blue, but now white for some models (at least on the GTI I think it was, maybe the Golf too?).

With Volkswagens, I just LOVE the whole trade-mark blue/red interior colour illumination.... to change that would bother me. (Yes, its a shallow concern, but one that would make me strongly lament its loss on the new VIs all the same, if its true.)

Jem

[tpl]

On the GTI that blue instrument lighting leaves the radio display practically unusable at night.  The deep embedded fuel and temp displays on the Mk V are IMHO difficult to see in daylight. I much prefer the ones on the new Mk VI.   Trouble with deep blue and deep red lighting is that older eyes have more trouble at the ends of the visible spectrum.

I agree that the round rear light clusters look good... if only they'd put in the EU ones with amber blinkers ( about a US$300 fix to do it at retail, probably $0 at the factory)

[Steve]

I have to say I find the price comparison in the article quite misleading. The US spec car is equipped near the Canadian Highline. To make it equivalent you need to add stability control to the Canadian car and a Sunroof to the US car.

CDN Highline $29,775 + 450 for ESP + 1335 PDI = $31,560
US $21,990 + 1000 for Sunroof + 650 Dest = $23,640
using the conversion rate from the article that works out to $25,093 in Canadian funds.

Which works out to around the magic $6000 premium we seem to pay for cars in Canada.

[Diesel Advocate]

A Jetta TDI sportwagon will be on the radar when I am looking for our next car
TDI is very quiet
Every new station appears to have diesel in it
It will be interesting to see how people make out using B100 http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=224644

I agree that the Sportwagon will be the one to go for as far as my situation goes. I currently drive a Kia Sedona and any fuel saving would be very welcome even at the expense of the extra space which the Minivan brings.

[vdk]

On the GTI that blue instrument lighting leaves the radio display practically unusable at night.  The deep embedded fuel and temp displays on the Mk V are IMHO difficult to see in daylight. I much prefer the ones on the new Mk VI.   Trouble with deep blue and deep red lighting is that older eyes have more trouble at the ends of the visible spectrum.

I agree that the round rear light clusters look good... if only they'd put in the EU ones with amber blinkers ( about a US$300 fix to do it at retail, probably $0 at the factory)

The EU LED tails are sexy.. pretty hard to make them blink amber though

I too find the red/blue lighting difficult to focus on at night sometimes.. no problem w/ the radio though.. just the instrument cluster.. it's not that easy on the eye..

[Mitlov]

If I recall correctly, the Jetta has about an "average" rating from Consumer Reports for reliability nowadays, and has had such a rating for several years.  I won't deny that Volkswagen hit rock-bottom reliability-wise a while ago, but they're not there anymore.  The electronics in my 2004 Jetta have been reliable as those in my previous car, a 2006 Subaru Legacy.  Not entirely faultless, but darned close (occasional sound system malfunctions in both cars).

[tpl]

On the GTI that blue instrument lighting leaves the radio display practically unusable at night.  The deep embedded fuel and temp displays on the Mk V are IMHO difficult to see in daylight. I much prefer the ones on the new Mk VI.   Trouble with deep blue and deep red lighting is that older eyes have more trouble at the ends of the visible spectrum.

I agree that the round rear light clusters look good... if only they'd put in the EU ones with amber blinkers ( about a US$300 fix to do it at retail, probably $0 at the factory)

The EU LED tails are sexy.. pretty hard to make them blink amber though

I too find the red/blue lighting difficult to focus on at night sometimes.. no problem w/ the radio though.. just the instrument cluster.. it's not that easy on the eye..

The regular non-LED EU tails need just one wire changed per side at the tail light connector.

[airbalancer]

the only problem with my sons Jetta TDI has been a bad rear light , filling with water but the electronics have been fine

[Honda Owner]

The only problem in the four years I had with my 2004 Civic was the line up of people at the door when sold it. Got full asking price the day I listed it.

As for my 2008 Fit, the only problem in 10 months if daily ownership is nothing to complain about. One oil change, one tire rotation. That's it. Granted, the second oil change will be some time in November or December.

[airbalancer]

The only problem in the four years I had with my 2004 Civic was the line up of people at the door when sold it. Got full asking price the day I listed it.

As for my 2008 Fit, the only problem in 10 months if daily ownership is nothing to complain about. One oil change, one tire rotation. That's it. Granted, the second oil change will be some time in November or December.

 

This thread is about the Jetta

[Honda Owner]

It is about Jettas. I was relating the fact the the one VW I owned was a reliability nightmare, was the same model my dad had. My friend's Passat spent more time in the shop than on the road.

This is compared to the Honda cars I have owned, none of which has ever had a warranty or retail repair over and above wear and tear.

I love to drive VW cars. I just don't have the time or inclination to shuttle them to the show. Any car I buy will be a Consumer's Report Best Buy with the best reliability rating.

But that is me. Anyone who wants to become friendly with his or her VW dealer is more than welcome.

[safristi]

RE_READ Clarksons JETTA review......."PRICELESS".....

[airbalancer]

It is about Jettas. I was relating the fact the the one VW I owned was a reliability nightmare, was the same model my dad had. My friend's Passat spent more time in the shop than on the road.

This is compared to the Honda cars I have owned, none of which has ever had a warranty or retail repair over and above wear and tear.

I love to drive VW cars. I just don't have the time or inclination to shuttle them to the show. Any car I buy will be a Consumer's Report Best Buy with the best reliability rating.

But that is me. Anyone who wants to become friendly with his or her VW dealer is more than welcome.

The Honda dealership the SiL works at is very busy in the shop, but what do I know?