2011 Jetta in winter driving

[joem]

I live in snow country and would like to replace our Forester as my two kids are really outgrowing it and I third person in the back seat is near impossible. The problem is my slick snow or ice covered driveway is a 100' climb in 850 running feet. Our 2006 Subaru Forester climbs it like a squirrel climbing a tree with ease 98% of the time and @ 60,000 miles has surpassed the 2002 Passat (wrecked) as our favorite car. It has to be rain covered wet ice for it to lose traction running All season Good Year Assurance triple treads.

We test drove the new Outback (one nice vehicle) and the Forester. Same rear leg room (6"s more than we have now) in both but the outback had a wider feel which the kids loved.

More importantly we have ben holding out for hopefully a TDI Jetta with a AWD option or a Passat TDI with AWD. What does it take for VW to listen? Do they review these sites?

Who here has a 2011 TDI Jetta with a driveway like mine and how does it handle it?

 

[Hellfire]

Why don't you take one for a test drive to your driveway?

 

[joem]

Because the local dealer is 30 miles away and they are all anal. They want to finalize a price on a car, deposit, credit check before a test drive. How do you discuss numbers before you even know if you like the car?

 

[Hellfire]

Well, I put on some winter tires and have been driving all winter with no issues, and this winter was particularly intense with -40C temps and heavy, heavy snowfalls. But I can't say I've taken it up a steep hill in winter when the roads were not plowed so I can't really comment on your particular example.

 

[DC-IT]

I live in snow country and would like to replace our Forester as my two kids are really outgrowing it and I third person in the back seat is near impossible. The problem is my slick snow or ice covered driveway is a 100' climb in 850 running feet. Our 2006 Subaru Forester climbs it like a squirrel climbing a tree with ease 98% of the time and @ 60,000 miles has surpassed the 2002 Passat (wrecked) as our favorite car. It has to be rain covered wet ice for it to lose traction running All season Good Year Assurance triple treads.

We test drove the new Outback (one nice vehicle) and the Forester. Same rear leg room (6"s more than we have now) in both but the outback had a wider feel which the kids loved.

More importantly we have ben holding out for hopefully a TDI Jetta with a AWD option or a Passat TDI with AWD. What does it take for VW to listen? Do they review these sites?

Who here has a 2011 TDI Jetta with a driveway like mine and how does it handle it?

With that steep driveway & snow+ice conditions I'd say the Jetta TDI may not quite cope. Have you considered the Taureg TDI?
I'd stay with AWD + Winter tires so the Outback gets the vote as it's quite economical and has Subaru's legendary AWD.
Except there is an issue with the steering vibrations on the Outback that affects some Outbacks @ 80 MPH, so make sure you test drive properly.

Having said that I bought my TDI in Feb '11 and did not bother to fit it with Winter tires and it had not been an issue. But here in Toronto/GTA it hadn't been a nasty Winter so far!

 

[TwoTone]

I live in snow country and would like to replace our Forester as my two kids are really outgrowing it and I third person in the back seat is near impossible. The problem is my slick snow or ice covered driveway is a 100' climb in 850 running feet. Our 2006 Subaru Forester climbs it like a squirrel climbing a tree with ease 98% of the time and @ 60,000 miles has surpassed the 2002 Passat (wrecked) as our favorite car. It has to be rain covered wet ice for it to lose traction running All season Good Year Assurance triple treads.

We test drove the new Outback (one nice vehicle) and the Forester. Same rear leg room (6"s more than we have now) in both but the outback had a wider feel which the kids loved.

More importantly we have ben holding out for hopefully a TDI Jetta with a AWD option or a Passat TDI with AWD. What does it take for VW to listen? Do they review these sites?

Who here has a 2011 TDI Jetta with a driveway like mine and how does it handle it?

Maybe I'm missing something but you're going smaller by going to the Jetta.

 

[rtking]

Because the local dealer is 30 miles away and they are all anal. They want to finalize a price on a car, deposit, credit check before a test drive. How do you discuss numbers before you even know if you like the car?

Then clearly they don't want your business. I call "BS" on this approach. Will they guarantee that you can return the car after a 60 mile drive if you're not satisfied for any reason?

I would find another dealer - even if further away - that will let you test drive and try up a snowy slope equivalent to your driveway.

DC-IT has it nailed however. If you need to endure any kind of weather (which in your area, you do), I too would recommend the Touareg TDI. My wife has the 2011 Touareg VR6 Sport and we love it. It is phenomenal in snow.

 

[IFRCFI]

My wife has the 2011 Touareg

An approx. $50K vehicle isn't in everybody's budget.

OP,

VW doesn't seem to care re: more diesels for NA. I would gladly pay cash for a TDI CC w/ 4-Motion or a TDI Tiguan. Instead, I'm going to pull the trigger on a '12 Ford Explorer w/ the Ecoboost 2.0L gasser.

Skip the Jetta. Cooperstown, NY + 2 growing kids + steep driveway = something a bit larger with AWD. You didn't indicate your annual mileage, but a diesel may not be worth your investment. Perhaps a gasser Outback, Highlander, Tiguan.

I personally kept my '02 Outback Wagon, and only drive the Jetta when weather permits.