I agree wholeheartedly that all of this serves no purpose other than to clutter up an interesting thread.
So moving forward - let's keep this thread on topic...
- How does the Cruze compare to the Jetta?
- What are people seeing in terms of Cruze TD real-world performance and fuel economy?
- Have you test driven one?
- If so, what did you think? If not, don't tell us what you don't know.
If you don't have anything constructive to contribute, don't post.
I can tell you what I think of a Cruze versus a Jetta in everything but drivetrain. I test drove the 1.4 turbo 6 speed gas version last night, I was considering it as a replacement for my wife's 2011 Malibu. The trim level was a 1LT, I believe it's close to an ECO but there are some differences in wheels/tires and minor aerodynamics. This one did not have the RS package with the boy racer plastic crap on the rockers, etc. Here is a link to the actual car I drove.
[FONT="]http://www.langs.com/VehicleDetails...-Sedan_1LT_(Manual)-Beavercreek-OH/1944606173[/FONT]
You can see the markdowns in price and I hadn't even started beating on them and with the Malibu I also got the GM discount. I could have gotten the car for a good price.
As mentioned in an earlier post, I found the inside a little claustrophobic up front. It could be because it was an all black interior, could be the wrap around dash design, can't say, but my wife mentioned the same thing. I think part of it is the current design trend with higher window lines and taller doors versus older cars, you have less outward visibility.
The fit and finish are good, the materials are good for this class of car, the doors have a good solid clunk when closed. I think the factory stereo was a little weak but that's just me, maybe.
Driving the car, I was reminded why I don't like gas turbos, there is a little bit of lag and the pull is slightly nonlinear in light throttle applications. It's not bad, much better than other gas cars I have driven, but compared to a TDI you can tell/feel the turbo working. But we all know that's why diesels and turbos are a better pairing so that's not really newsworthy.
I thought the steering was a little darty and unsettled on the highway but it could be because I had just gotten out of a Malibu, which isn't all that vague but maybe the Cruze is just that much more precise. I would have driven another one to be sure that was the case.
We did not buy it and the deal killer for us was interior room. My sons are 6'2" and 6'3", the older son (6'2") has my Cosmic Green TDI so he isn't really a factor at this point. The younger one would not fit in the back seat of the Cruze and he is only 15, he may not be done growing yet at 6'3". I sat back there with the front seat positioned where I needed it for driving (I'm between 6'0 and 6'1") and I could live with it but again, compared to the Malibu, it seemed smaller, which is logical because it is smaller. Trunk volume was good for the size of car but small for what we would probably need for a week long trip somewhere with three of us.
My wife and I both agreed that if it was a few years down the road, the car would be fine for her and we would have bought it. It would be fine for people with smaller kids as well. Eventually you might outgrow it if you have Amazons for kids like I do.
OK, let's put all this in VW terms.....size wise, it's bigger in back seat room than my MK4's but feels a little smaller upfront, I personally think Mk3's are a lot bigger than Mk4's so the Cruze may well be around Mk3 sized or a tad bigger in back. Trunk room is around the same as a MK4. I rented a Mk5 Jetta to drive to Louisville a few years ago, it seems to be around Cruze sized up front, but I didn't sit in back. A guy here at work has a Mk6 Jetta that I have not ridden in or driven and it appears to be significantly longer than the Cruze and a little roomier inside, but it is also tan inside instead of black so it just looks bigger. (He hates that car, BTW, and he is a long time VW head).
I have to assume that the combination of the diesel and the turbo would address the issue of gas turbo lag, that was minimal in the gas car but I could feel it. I drove a diesel Rabbit for 7 years so room for me is all I'm worried about in my personal car. I could get used to the Cruze interior, I probably wouldn't have noticed it so much if I had been driving the Jetta instead of the Malibu.
And the big question you guys probably have is would I buy one for myself down the road? Assuming GM makes a diesel 6 speed version because the automatic is a total dealbreaker for me the answer would be yes, with a few disclaimers. One disclaimer is the problems seen with the diesel automatic in the next few years and how the GM dealer network handles them. The other disclaimer is if they don't offer a decontented version eventually. I don't want all that extra crap that is likely to break on my cars. It seems like a good solid little car for the money and I would have no problem owning and driving one.
I know people like to bang on GM but that Malibu has been one of the most painless cars I've ever owned, it has needed nothing. My 97 Lumina and 00 Taurus were the same way, which is why I ended up with the Malibu. I check the oil on the Malibu when it comes home after an oil change and I'm ashamed to admit that I rarely check it afterwards, I don't need to. After two years and almost 30k miles, nothing is showing any signs of wear. The dealer wanted our Malibu badly as a trade because they are bringing good money used, at least at the dealerships, they are apparently known to be good cars. It seems to me in summary that if the Cruze is as good as the Malibu and GM doesn't screw up, VW's diesel sales are in trouble. And frankly, given the attitude VW as a company has shown towards their customers, that trouble is probably overdue and only needs a good market alternative to show itself.
(For reasons I can go into if anyone wants to hear them) I'll never set foot in a VW showroom again. My favorite cousin sells VW/Audi at the local dealership so I can get as good a deal as possible but that doesn't matter, VW is not getting my money. So, I'm slave to whatever is out there in the used market and my preference is injection pump TDI's, after they are gone, I'm out of the VW game, I have no interest in PD's or anything later. My favorites were MK3's, they all rusted away, so now I'm into MK4's, which I have two of. Eventually, the Mk4's are going to disappear and I'll have to look at something else diesel because that's mostly all I've driven for a very long time.
I think the Cruze will be my only real option out there for a diesel daily and I'm comfortable with that situation, given the disclaimers above.
I hope this was helpful.
