J.R. Rogers
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2000
- Location
- Dallas, TX USA
Hi, Everyone! I've been a lurker here for quite a while, trying to decide which TDI I wanted, and learning as much about them as possible. After much consideration, I have settled on the Jetta GL TDI. I placed a deposit on it today, and it's being shipped from the port sometime in the next few weeks. It's a 2001 Silver Arrow w/ Black interior.
After much consideration of the Golf, New Bettle, and the Jetta, strangely enough I settled on the Jetta GL TDI.
GOLF- The Golf is nice, and is actually bigger inside than the Jetta, plus it's easier to get into the back seat.... And it's cheaper than the Jetta by about $1200 or so, depending on the options, allowing you to add some cool toys for the sale price as you'd pay for a Jetta GLS. You also get the added utility of the Hatchback which is nice. In the end, the Golf was axed from the list because my wife thought is was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen, and forbade me to buy it. To preserve peace in my marriage, I crossed it off my list. The exterior styling could probably use some tweaks, but I don't personally have any complaints about it.
The New Beetle - This was a tough one... What's not to like about the Beetle? (Except everyone seems to have one these days - mostly women around here.) The Beetle is a great car, roomy front seat (better than the Golf and Jetta), excellent styling inside, loads of headroom, lots of room in the back, etc... Plus, the Beetle handles like it's on rails. Very cool! It's styling interior and exterior is both cool and funky at the same time. I'm really not sure whether I love the look of the Beetle, or hate it! (Does that make sense?) Three things prevented me from getting the Beetle. 1) We have a small child, and getting him in and out of the back would be a pain. 2) Price. The dealers were dealing on everything EXCEPT the Beetle. 3) Styling - I like people to look at what I'm driving, but not gawk at me. The Beetle is such an unusual vehicle, that even during the test drives, you got the feeling that everyone on the road was staring at you, and that you were on display. Anyone else notice this? It just made me feel weird.
Jetta - Since I'm buying this primarily as a commuter car, the GLS TDI was the first thing I looked at. One thing really bothered me about the GLS - the seat fabric. The Velour fabric seemed to stick to me, and created a lot of static electricity when getting in and out. Then I noticed that it was attracting all kinds of lint and stuff from our clothes, etc. That was kind of a turn-off. The seat fabric in the GL seemed a lot more "durable" and much less of a lint magnet. The armrest was also a little high and kind of uncomfortable, I found.
The only differences between the GL and the GLS in the TDI model are:
1) Seat Fabric
2) Arm Rest
3) Power Windows
4) Availability of options
The GL TDI includes the cruise control and everything else that the GLS has standard other than the above. The price difference was $900 between a no-option GLS, and a GL. For $900, I'd get an uncomfortable arm rest, seat fabric I didn't like, and power windows that I didn't need. I think the $900 is better spent on a CD player and a set of alloys for the Jetta.
In conclusion, this is my first VW and my first diesel. I'm really excited about this car! I think I got a great deal on it. The car was a mere $17500 + TTL (+ addl. $350 for a VW CD player installed) + I get 2.9% financing.
Is this a good deal? Comments?
J.R. Rogers
After much consideration of the Golf, New Bettle, and the Jetta, strangely enough I settled on the Jetta GL TDI.
GOLF- The Golf is nice, and is actually bigger inside than the Jetta, plus it's easier to get into the back seat.... And it's cheaper than the Jetta by about $1200 or so, depending on the options, allowing you to add some cool toys for the sale price as you'd pay for a Jetta GLS. You also get the added utility of the Hatchback which is nice. In the end, the Golf was axed from the list because my wife thought is was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen, and forbade me to buy it. To preserve peace in my marriage, I crossed it off my list. The exterior styling could probably use some tweaks, but I don't personally have any complaints about it.
The New Beetle - This was a tough one... What's not to like about the Beetle? (Except everyone seems to have one these days - mostly women around here.) The Beetle is a great car, roomy front seat (better than the Golf and Jetta), excellent styling inside, loads of headroom, lots of room in the back, etc... Plus, the Beetle handles like it's on rails. Very cool! It's styling interior and exterior is both cool and funky at the same time. I'm really not sure whether I love the look of the Beetle, or hate it! (Does that make sense?) Three things prevented me from getting the Beetle. 1) We have a small child, and getting him in and out of the back would be a pain. 2) Price. The dealers were dealing on everything EXCEPT the Beetle. 3) Styling - I like people to look at what I'm driving, but not gawk at me. The Beetle is such an unusual vehicle, that even during the test drives, you got the feeling that everyone on the road was staring at you, and that you were on display. Anyone else notice this? It just made me feel weird.
Jetta - Since I'm buying this primarily as a commuter car, the GLS TDI was the first thing I looked at. One thing really bothered me about the GLS - the seat fabric. The Velour fabric seemed to stick to me, and created a lot of static electricity when getting in and out. Then I noticed that it was attracting all kinds of lint and stuff from our clothes, etc. That was kind of a turn-off. The seat fabric in the GL seemed a lot more "durable" and much less of a lint magnet. The armrest was also a little high and kind of uncomfortable, I found.
The only differences between the GL and the GLS in the TDI model are:
1) Seat Fabric
2) Arm Rest
3) Power Windows
4) Availability of options
The GL TDI includes the cruise control and everything else that the GLS has standard other than the above. The price difference was $900 between a no-option GLS, and a GL. For $900, I'd get an uncomfortable arm rest, seat fabric I didn't like, and power windows that I didn't need. I think the $900 is better spent on a CD player and a set of alloys for the Jetta.
In conclusion, this is my first VW and my first diesel. I'm really excited about this car! I think I got a great deal on it. The car was a mere $17500 + TTL (+ addl. $350 for a VW CD player installed) + I get 2.9% financing.
Is this a good deal? Comments?
J.R. Rogers
