2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL: Slow start to a long race

[nuclear]

http://thewheeldeal.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/12/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-sel-slow-start-to-a-long-race/

Rare, indeed is the $20,000 car that incites as much controversy as the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. It is just another indication of the depth and duration of feeling evoked by the VW brand -- especially when you consider that it stems from some clever advertising from 40 years ago, and a car model, the Beetle, which had a 68-year production run. VW better hope it can channel that emotion and use it to positive use as it attempts the all-but-impossible feet of quadrupling its U.S. sales by 2018.
The betting here is that the Jetta will give the automaker a decent head-start toward meeting that goal but won't do much to win more adherents to the VW brand.
First, some background: In its drive to pass Toyota and become the world's largest automaker by 2018, VW has penciled in a contribution of 800,000 sales for the VW brand in the U.S.
That's going to be a stretch, considering that through November, VW had sold just 232,963 vehicles in the U.S. It didn't help that hard-driving U.S. boss Stefan Jacoby decamped to China to run Volvo for its new owners.
Jacoby was replaced by a seasoned GM and Ford executive named Jonathan Browning, who makes up in polish what he lacks in push.
Browning addressed the Jetta controversy at a meeting of the International Motor Press Association in New York last week.
"Sometimes I think we are penalized for making changes simply because people like how things had been done in the past," Browning said. "I would simply urge you to compare us against what our customers are looking for and what our competitors do, rather than against a narrower, car enthusiast's ideal."
What those car enthusiasts are complaining about is the Americanization -- read "cheapening" -- of the Jetta.
In seeking to post bigger sales numbers, VW brought the all-new 2011 Jetta to market at a base of $15,995 -- $1,740 less than the 2011 model -- allowing it to compete with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Chevy Cruze.
To do so, VW made some changes to save money -- and the enthusiasts erupted.
Wrote Dan Neil in the Wall Street Journal: "Our Jetta SEL with Sport package was saddled with some of the cruelest, cheapest plastic dash and door materials I've seen in years. What an awful way for petrochemicals to die! The innards of this thing make a Chevy Cruze look like a Maybach."
The Detroit News weighed in with another pan. "All of that ultra cool V-Dub mojo has been replaced with a washing machine," said Scott Burgess. "Germans, whose culture is known for its appreciation of excellent engineering and pounded pork chops, wouldn't give two schnitzels for this particular sedan."
Tough talk. But it overlooks two salient facts.
VW's ability to hit its U.S. sales targets depends as much on the quality and reliability of its products and the competence of its dealers as it does customers' perceptions of its vehicles.
And on both those points, VW has been failing for years. On product quality, it has repeatedly been one of the worst performers, and currently ranks third from the bottom in J.D. Power's 2010 Initial Quality Survey.
In Power's less well-known Sales Satisfaction Study, which measures customer reaction to the salesperson, the dealership, and the deal, VW ranks as one of the worst as well.
In his IMPA speech, Browning promised to address both those areas with faster analysis of customer complaints and tougher standards for dealers.
As for the products themselves, Browning vowed to deliver both on the science of the auto business -- quality and value -- as well as the art -- style and performance.
On the quality and value side of the equation, Jetta gets an incomplete until Power's 2011 IQS study is published.
On style and performance, the car is only average. The shape of the body and the contours of the sheet metal are generic. Opportunities to show some flair in the treatment of the headlamps, where manufacturers like Nissan are experimenting with new shapes and lighting, were ignored, and the rear facia is unrecognizable as a VW.
The Jetta's interior does deserve better press. The instrument panel is neat, well-arranged, and pleasing to the eye. It avoids the chrome-colored plastic with which designers at General Motors and Ford have become so enamored. And if the plastic on the dashboard isn't as soft to the touch as it used to be, well, how often do you touch the dashboard?
Under way, the new Jetta drives like the old Jetta. Changes to the suspension and the brakes haven't impacted the ride and handling, which remains best in class.
Performance is on the mild side. The engine is a carryover 2.5 liter that produces 170 horsepower. Acceleration to 60 miles per hour has been measured at 8.5 seconds. Fuel economy is a respectable 24 miles per gallon city/31 mpg highway.
VW did get the price right. My Reflex Silver Metallic test car with sunroof stickered at $24,165.
Volkswagen's new slogan is "Great. For the price of good." It understands the importance of affordability in the compact segment. But price is not the same as value, and until VW learns that lesson, its ability to hit its 2018 sales targets will be in question.

 

[Pelican18TQA4]

"All of that ultra cool V-Dub mojo has been replaced with a washing machine."

That pretty much sums up my opinion of the new Jetta. I haven't driven one, but I'm not sure I even want to. I felt "cheap" just sitting in one. I mean c'mon, even the rear deck is hard, shiny plastic!

 

[pawel]

"All of that ultra cool V-Dub mojo has been replaced with a washing machine."

That pretty much sums up my opinion of the new Jetta. I haven't driven one, but I'm not sure I even want to. I felt "cheap" just sitting in one. I mean c'mon, even the rear deck is hard, shiny plastic!

That's why I'm going to keep mine until wheels fall off

 

[ruking]

That's why I'm going to keep mine until wheels fall off

For a whole lot of reasons, I am inclined to agree with you. EVERYTHING going forward is subject to change, new regulations, and being multiple movable targets, etc.,etc. Price normally is an every increasing thing. The minimium is the real or perceived rate of inflation, i.e., 4% per year. From the oem's point of view, hopefully ... MORE. So,... just the very act of making the Jetta model $1,800 cheaper than the years' before has had and will continue to generate enormous ripple effects. Seemingly, not all of them good. So for example, with admonitions to the contrary, I would hardly call a writer for the WSJ a representative of the car enthusiasts' "cult". Rationally, if they kept the quality the same and improved the reliability/durability, this would be a very slow and glacial step forward, which would have taken @ least a decade to recognize, get recognized, realize, etc. Yet it has unmistakenly been designated a CORNERSTONE of VW's push to match and exceed Toyota with targets @ 800,000+ units.

 

[pawel]

lets for a moment talk about reasons why I got the TDI:

1. Fuel economy (I just can't see myself driving a Pri-thing
2. German engineering (for what it's worth)
3. German vehicle handling

Now, looking at the current Jetta offering, if I decided to drive a "corolla" like vehicle, I would not get a VW badged "corolla" but I would get toyota corolla instead.
whomever a bean counter at VW was allowed to make those decisions to worsen next gen jetta, this person or group of people have no clue whatsoever to why people bother buying vw vehicles. it's not the cheap price but the German driving feeling without paying $50k to get it... And this one thing that vw had going for it.... it's lost...

 

[ruking]

lets for a moment talk about reasons why I got the TDI:

1. Fuel economy (I just can't see myself driving a Pri-thing
2. German engineering (for what it's worth)
3. German vehicle handling

Now, looking at the current Jetta offering, if I decided to drive a "corolla" like vehicle, I would not get a VW badged "corolla" but I would get toyota corolla instead.
whomever a bean counter at VW was allowed to make those decisions to worsen next gen jetta, this person or group of people have no clue whatsoever to why people bother buying vw vehicles. it's not the cheap price but the German driving feeling without paying $50k to get it... And this one thing that vw had going for it.... it's lost...

Well for sure (despite concerns/issues) that will definitely be a good thing for VW. For a lot of reasons other than price, the VW is not has never been in the same ballpark as the Corolla/Civic and others. Except for mpg it has never been in the same ball park as Prius, which it is compared with ad infinitum. As a base line, Jetta is more in the park with Camry Hybrid, which almost no body acknowledges !!!??? Be that as it may the Jetta beats in price, mpg, handling, etc.

 

[fgbrault]

lets for a moment talk about reasons why I got the TDI:...

it's not the cheap price but the German driving feeling without paying $50k to get it... And this one thing that vw had going for it.... it's lost...

I have not driven it yet, but the reviews I have read say it still has the same driving feeling even with the torsion rear suspension and hydraulic power steering (I love the steering feel on my 2009, but am not a fan of electric power steering anyway). So maybe that 'German' driving feel is still there. I hope.

 

[TwoTone]

"All of that ultra cool V-Dub mojo has been replaced with a washing machine."

That pretty much sums up my opinion of the new Jetta. I haven't driven one, but I'm not sure I even want to. I felt "cheap" just sitting in one. I mean c'mon, even the rear deck is hard, shiny plastic!

Ironically other makers are adding what VW took off.

 

[ZiggyTheHamster]

Ironically other makers are adding what VW took off.

No kidding. My Jetta is in the body shop and they initially gave me a 2010 New Beetle. It was plasticy and cheap. Totally unlike my Jetta and other NBs I've seen. I switched it for a 2010 Ford Focus and it's got leather, a sunroof, Bluetooth, Sirius (sub not active though), and a bunch of other features that VW stripped out. Granted, it's probably a base NB and a higher level Focus, but still. It was like, night and day difference.

 

[ChippedNotBroken]

In January of 2000 I bought the base model 99.5 Jetta (roll up windows). Last year I went to look at the new Jetta, sat in it, took the sport wagon for a drive. My wife chose a Mini Clubman over the Sport wagon and the Jetta sedan was never even considered, just looked and felt so much cheaper than my base 99.5 which will be driven for at least another 5 or 6 years.

 

[skinnyb]

My local dealer took delivery of 5 new TDI sedans today and I took the liberty of sitting in one and checking if out. All I got to say is I am so glad I got in with a 2010 model. Granted the sticker price was about 1500 cheaper than mine was but the features and feel of "quality" was absolutely nonexistent in comparison.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[UberVW_TDI]

After actually sitting in the new 2011 Jetta Sedan, I'm disappointed in VW's new direction for the Jetta too. I feel like VW is abandoning their traditional customers in an effort to win "corolla/civic" customers.
Problem is:
1. Toyota/Honda have an excellent dealership experience reputation (unlike VW).
2. Toyota/Honda have excellent reliability records (unlike VW).

I don't understand VW's stratagey on this. Why would a corolla customer buy a VW Jetta? The only reason I would buy the 2011 Jetta vs the competition is for the TDI powertrain.

I'm so sad to see VW abandoning the very things that I love about it (in addition to the TDI, of course).
The instrument cluster is not even in the same ball park as the current 2010, 2011 JSW, Golf. Huge step backwards. Feels cheap. No MFD as is in the JSW/Golf. No temperature gauge. No adjustable arm rest. Hard, cheap plastic as Dodge used to put in all their vehicles.

"The people" don't want a cheap feeling vehicle. I want the cool-VW, with sport suspension tuning, high quality best in class interiors, to go along with that wonderful TDI powertrain.

Check out the new 2011 Chevy Cruze, 2012 Ford Focus, 2011 Hyundai Sonada interiors. VW is going the opposite direction with the 2011 Jetta. The american manufacturers found out what happens when you continually cheapen your products.
The auto industry has always been about the product. As soon as manufacturers forget about making excellent products, sales will fall to others doing it right (quality with value).

I don't think I will buy another VW if:

1. VW decideds it wants to keep making "toyota corolla" jettas (If I wanted a toyota, I'd buy one).

Maybe the new Mazda6 with the Diesel (Sky-D) will give VW some USA competition in the non-premium diesel car market.

I'm so happy with my JSW, it makes me sad to think I'm being abandoned by VW.
In 2017, I'll look for a used 2015 Audi A4 TDI...as that might be the only way I'm going to get what I'm looking for in a VAG TDI (non-SUV) product anymore.

 

[ZiggyTheHamster]

It would be nice if VW offered the Toyota competitor as the base package but then had higher packages with the same or better features than they already have. I went with my Jetta because it was the best in terms of handling and comfort of all of the cars I considered. And it also has the best fuel economy.

 

[rotarykid]

I currently own a previous generation Corolla S and have driven the base 2.0 5 spd man 2011 Jetta . The current 2011 Jetta 2.slow as some call them is many times the car my Corolla is in driving feel , steering , braking , throttle response and about anything else . I've also clocked more than a few miles behind the wheel of a very nicely equipped 2010 Corolla . The base Jetta has pw pdl ac and almost every other option but CC which seems odd to me .

The current and last generation of the Corolla is dull to drive compared to the base Jetta even with it being comparable equipped . Anyone that has read anything I've written knows that I care less than nothing about 0-60 times , neither are fast but both are adequate . Real world fuel economy is similar on both so that isn't an issue .

The only place where at least perception wise the Corolla beats the new Jetta is in reliability . Over the last decade at least I think from real world experience they both are comparably reliable . But where the edge still seems to be is in how each brand's dealership handles their customers . Today Toyota wins that one hands down and if VW ever wants the kind of sales numbers they claim they wish this will have to change . This is where the head of VWAG US must work by pulling dealerships of the ones that refuse to fix this . I can think of a couple of ones that should at the least be suspeneded from new car sales for some of the crap they have allowed .

All that said if I were faced with a purchase today of either new offereings for me or my family to own I still would prefer to drive the 2,slow VW . If that is what they were going for I think they hit a home run .

And if you are comparing the 2011 Corolla XLE the current Jetta TDI there is no comparison , the cars aren't even manufactured on the same planet . I think even though there is some bad press on what VW has done with the US/Canadian spec base Jetta it has worked to help get buyers at the lower end sales .

 

[rotarykid]

Something I saw the dealer that had one of these do which infuriated me was to mess this up by adding $1,800 worth of useless worthless extras defeating the purpose of the model even being offered .

VWofA should have put their foot down on this like VWofC did in Canada with the City models telling the dealers not to involuntarily add to the sticker of the base model but to offer it as is . Only adding options when requested by the interested buyer .

And I think the lowering of the price of a base model would have worked even better if they had completely decontented a model , roll up windows , no alarm removing everything but ac to get the base price down to say $12-13k . Now that would have got some new buyers in the door ......

Toyota seems to have no trouble offering at least one base completely decontented model , no alarm , no keyless entry only automatic as an option for $14k & change sticker which with a 5 spd man were selling for close to $12,500 - $13,200 out the door last fall . I saw more than a few of these last year when I was car shopping for one for a friend . If VW would of had a model like I describe last fall my friend would have one of them instead of her new Corolla today .

 

[Nextwhat]

After actually sitting in the new 2011 Jetta Sedan, I'm disappointed in VW's new direction for the Jetta too. I feel like VW is abandoning their traditional customers in an effort to win "corolla/civic" customers.
Problem is:
1. Toyota/Honda have an excellent dealership experience reputation (unlike VW).
2. Toyota/Honda have excellent reliability records (unlike VW).

As a 2011 Jetta owner, I must admit I get a laugh out of this argument. In effect you're saying pre-2011 Jetta buyers were suckered into paying even more for a vehicle less reliable than the competition. Oh, but you did get the all important soft touch plastic dashboard.

 

[mo_focus]

Funny all those who are saying the new one sucks dont even have fun and most are 2009 and 2010 drivers!

ps, one more thing, why are ppl posting gas model comparisions in this area. The Jetta TDI has diffrent options then the gas one!

 

[fastalan]

My take is if it sells well, it's a good product. VW is in the business as a car manufacturer, to gain market share, either VW wins the market share war and drive other manufacturers to extinction OR they leave the US market as loser.

For the enthusiast, there is still the Golf and CC around, the new Passat looks good. If you don't like the standard Jetta, wait for the GLI. We don't know if VW really not going to bring other R models into US market, they may. Finally, you can always buy an Audi if you absolutely hate VW's current offering, now if you can't afford it and complaint about Audi's pricing, that's not VW's problem. People buys 2011 Jetta because they don't want a Corolla pcs of junk anymore, and it is these new customers that's going to help VW increase market share. For the diesel driver, can you really say 2011 Jetta in TDI trim is a bad car? Tell you the truth, there's no other small 4 door sedan on the market as capable as the 2011 Jetta TDI.

VW wants driver, drivers are coming and sales is up. If you are a VW owner, if you like and support the brand, why would you not want to see VW do well selling tons of Jetta? Stop being selfish, VW is not your enthusiast only small world brand, VW = Volks Wagon, people's car, it's people's brand. Keep driving your MK IV and MK V Jetta, you can live in the past, nothing wrong, but VW the rest of the world is moving forward into the future.

As for the press, some of those people are just getting too emotional with their reports. These people get to play with Merc, Ferrari, Porsche and Bimmers free of charge, many of them are spoil journalists anyway. If Porsche Americanize the 911, they'll get pissed off too. The press will just cool off after a few seasons and the Jetta's Americanization won't even be an issue in the future.

 

[snakeye]

What I'm wondering is WHY Volkswagen does not offer the features they dropped in the production of the 2011 Jetta as OPTIONS. If you want a soft dash, why can't you pay extra for it? Same thing for the arm rest, IRS, instrument cluster etc.

 

[mwayner69]

What I'm wondering is WHY Volkswagen does not offer the features they dropped in the production of the 2011 Jetta as OPTIONS. If you want a soft dash, why can't you pay extra for it? Same thing for the arm rest, IRS, instrument cluster etc.

I'm with you on the arm rest an instrument cluster. It seems like those wouldn't have been hard options to offer or make standard on the higher models. Hopefully there will be aftermarket or later model options in the future that I could switch out.

I've only touched the dash in my MKV a few times, so I'm not real sure why whether or not it is soft matters that much. The only thing I can figure is quality/longevity concerns, but I couldn't care less if it's soft or hard. I've got not complaints about the steering feel or handling on the car at all, so the lack of IRS doesn't really bother me either.

I do wonder how many people who are complaining about this car have actually driven one? I've had my TDI for 3 weeks and have really enjoyed it so far and don't anticipate that changing in the future, unless the "cheapened" interior starts falling apart at some point.

 

[740GLE]

They don't offer the options to keep the price of the car's entire line down. If you have a platform that can be built a 1000 different ways with different options this engines that, the cost of even producing the stripper model will go up. Wasn't part of the MK6 Jetta and Golf cutting manufacuting costs? Elimitingating steps cuts costs.

Even if you get the stripper model it still needs to be designed to accomidate the options you're not paying for and that cost cash.

 

[elconquistador]

Wow, I don't make purchasing decisions on dash hardness or softness

 

[Driver_found]

I would buy a fully loaded Hyundai Elantra Limited.

 

[AirmanTDI]

Wow, I don't make purchasing decisions on dash hardness or softness

My thoughts exactly!

 

[tdi90hp]

My take is if it sells well, it's a good product. VW is in the business as a car manufacturer, to gain market share, either VW wins the market share war and drive other manufacturers to extinction OR they leave the US market as loser.

For the enthusiast, there is still the Golf and CC around, the new Passat looks good. If you don't like the standard Jetta, wait for the GLI. We don't know if VW really not going to bring other R models into US market, they may. Finally, you can always buy an Audi if you absolutely hate VW's current offering, now if you can't afford it and complaint about Audi's pricing, that's not VW's problem. People buys 2011 Jetta because they don't want a Corolla pcs of junk anymore, and it is these new customers that's going to help VW increase market share. For the diesel driver, can you really say 2011 Jetta in TDI trim is a bad car? Tell you the truth, there's no other small 4 door sedan on the market as capable as the 2011 Jetta TDI.


VW wants driver, drivers are coming and sales is up. If you are a VW owner, if you like and support the brand, why would you not want to see VW do well selling tons of Jetta? Stop being selfish, VW is not your enthusiast only small world brand, VW = Volks Wagon, people's car, it's people's brand. Keep driving your MK IV and MK V Jetta, you can live in the past, nothing wrong, but VW the rest of the world is moving forward into the future.

As for the press, some of those people are just getting too emotional with their reports. These people get to play with Merc, Ferrari, Porsche and Bimmers free of charge, many of them are spoil journalists anyway. If Porsche Americanize the 911, they'll get pissed off too. The press will just cool off after a few seasons and the Jetta's Americanization won't even be an issue in the future.

brilliant. I hope they sell millions of jettas....to make more great golfs!!

 

[DieselNerd]

It all comes down to the almighty dollar.

I looked at a Golf TDI. I loved it. I liked the TDI motor. I like the fuel economy. What I didn't like was the high bolstered seats. If I wanna go fast and get excellent fuel economy (better than my TDI), I have a Kawasaki motorcycle in the garage that will run circles around the Golf or any car south of a $100,000 price tag.

But wait...I can hear you. "But you can't ride a motorcycle in the snow. You can't do your grocery shopping with it. You can't haul the kids to school. Etc." Yes...you are correct. The high bolstered seats in the Golf SUCK for climbing in and out of the car. It seems to sit lower too, which at 6'5" I didn't care for. The Golf ONLY comes with cloth seats, really nice ones too. Which is all good until your 6yo gets in the car with muddy feet and you can't grab the stack of McDonalds napkins and immediately wipe it off the fine fake leather in the Jetta. The Jetta is longer and offers more rear seat room. My clients appreciate that. I also appreciate the big trunk that will haul my bass amps and gear without displaying them through a glass window for all to steal.

Sometime between my 16th birthday and my 39th birthday, I learned that public streets aren't a race track. I stopped caring what the 0-60 time of my cars were (but I still enjoy brisk performance). The TDI motor is FANTASTIC. Good performance (not sports car quick...but more than adequate) and excellent fuel economy. I do a lot of driving for work, and I don't get mileage reimbursement, so I appreciae the good fuel mileage.

So let me see what my options are for a good performing car, with excellent fuel economy (40+ on the highway), that's family friendly, looks nice for a professional to drive, and hauls a ton of crap in the trunk....and here's the kicker....for less than $24,000.

Prius? Uh...NO!
Honda's newest Hybrid, the CR-X something or other....uh...NO!
A Nissan Leaf. A LEAF? Really?? Might be nice till the batteries die. NO!
Chevy Volt....oops....$40,000 price tag.

Keep thinking? Got any ideas where I can find a car for that money that does EVERYTHING I want it to do? The cheapest TDI Golf with no sunroof and a manual tranny was still more than my Jetta. Granted, it was made by German hands versus Mexican ones, but I've seen Mexican's work. I'll never doubt their work ethic. They bust their fanny.

So yeah...the seats aren't as nice. The plastic thing is a mystery to me. I couldn't tell any difference between the two, but I didn't run my hands over the plastic. The Jetta still has nice touches where people are actually SUPPOSED to touch the car. The shifter, the steering wheel, the hand brake, the radio controls.....all pretty much identical to the Golf.

In my world, I'll take a little jingle in my pocket over some nice plastic any day. I checked the window sticker. Yep, there is was, "Engine: Germany Transmission: Germany". Same guts as the Golf.

Oh yeah...the Jetta has a torsion beam rear axle. What shucks, that automatically makes it a POS. Guess I made a bad choice. Except of the fact that I have no plans to autocross my Jetta, do a track day with it, or jack it up and make it into a rock crawler. The beam axle works fine for me.

I belive VW is on the right track. The heart and soul is there. The wonderful TDI engine. Handling is good too (even with the beam axle). VW tried the upmarket thing. Remember the Phaeton (or whatever it was called)? How many of those do you see driving around? Toureg V10 TDI? Great vehicle, but it cost an arm and a leg.

Look back at Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, etc...even BMW. How did they get their foot hold in the US? AFFORDABLE cars. Cars with less amenities, but with rock solid engines and transmissions that ran for hundreds of thousands of miles. I sincerly hope VW learns from the past. Give us less "soft plastic", more great TDI engines, and lower sticker prices. Do that, and VW will QUICKLY overtake Toyota as the largest car company in the world.

"Sell to the classes, live with the masses. Sell to the masses, live with the classes."

Bring back the "People' Car"!

 

[~Jb]

Wow a newbie with more common sense then most "veteran" members here. *shocking

I could not agree with you more DieselNerd, but if life has taught me anything, its that "to each their own". Reading all the "mk6 jetta suck", "golf tdi over jetta tdi any day" or my personal favorite, "a 25k car without a soft dash I can stroke while i drive" I almost for one second thought I made a bad choice, but the more I drive my car (5k miles later) I realize that not only imo is this the best car under 25k on the market today, but that I have made the best purchase to date!

Haters are going to hate, its fact. But in my world and for what I do, the Mk6 JTDI is perfect for me. Sounds like it just might be the same for you.


Welcome to the club!


~jb

 

[TDI_Timmy]

Great post DieselNerd. My feelings exactly. I really like that you brought up all the points.

Soft dash - so you can press it in? (funny though is my Fairlane has a soft dash - billed as a safety feature and that was 67!). What's most important to me is the texture of the plastic - whether touching or looking and it definitely doesn't look cheap or feel cheap to me.

And the rear suspension - since the car is lighter it handles every bit as good if not better than the previous MkV.

Just like you and ~Jb our car is perfect for my family and I. It was great when headed up to a recording session with two other guys, all our instruments in the trunk and plenty of room to spare in the car. Now, we have a newborn and the front seats can go all the way back not interferring with the baby's car seat which is in the middle position in the back. Everyone is comfortable! Not many other cars can do that in the same class as the Jetta.

 

[DieselNerd]

I was dead set on the Golf after reading the opinions of all those who said "Get the Golf". But while the Golf is a superior sporty car in all aspects, the Jetta is more practical. I think that was the intended design of the 2011.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I can honestly say that if I were going to by a TDI for no other reason that the fun factor, I'd buy the Golf, but I simply have different needs.

I can tell you that the Jetta handles REALLY well as just tonight I had a deer jump out in front of me. Even with the inferior 16" wheels that people see fit to spend $2000 to replace, and the Hankook tires that are bemoaned, I was able to perform an emergency swerve with not so much as a tire squeal or the car getting out of shape.

After spending five years behind the wheel of huge SUVs, the Jetta feels like an F1 car.

 

[KHill215]

I was dead set on the Golf after reading the opinions of all those who said "Get the Golf". But while the Golf is a superior sporty car in all aspects, the Jetta is more practical. I think that was the intended design of the 2011.

I'm in the same boat as you. I was dead set on the Golf too, in fact I even had a deal on one. But after I thought about it more and more, the Jetta is so much more practical, not only for families, but for business too (clients riding in my car). I haven't looked back or lamented that I should have got the Golf. This has been one of the best car purchases I've ever made.