Given what we/you know about the MK6 Jetta Sportwagen.. would you still buy one?

[JELLOWSUBMARINE]

Doesn't rain much where you are.

That and/or being tinted, garaged may be my saving grace. I love a factory optioned car and the non sunroof is kind of base, at least here with North American versions. I also think the horror stories may be the other spectrum of cold, wet climate in the weather full timers.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

One of the appealing features of the '11 GSW my son bought was the PO garaged it. I'm a big believer that keeping a car inside extends the life of cars significantly. I joke that my '02 Wagon is only outside when it's moving, and I've had fewer issues with things like door lock modules and latches than cars I hear about that are outside all the time.

 

[coolusername]

There's little difference between US and Canada other then some minor variables regarding trims. The base jetta is a base jetta, it's got the crap cluster in both markets

I will say that the Canadian Jetta Sportwagen (called a Golf wagon up there) is considerably nicer. From listings I've seen, they get the top level dual zone fully automatic Climatronic, real leather seats, and foglights. Makes the USA wagon look like a mid trim in comparison.

 

[cdi320]

I will say that the Canadian Jetta Sportwagen (called a Golf wagon up there) is considerably nicer. From listings I've seen, they get the top level dual zone fully automatic Climatronic, real leather seats, and foglights. Makes the USA wagon look like a mid trim in comparison.

Again, depends on the trim. My 2013 is a comfortline, and has no sunroof, no dual zone automatic climate control (has the very basic one that you'd find on a base Jetta), plain cloth seats, 16 inch alloy rims, midline cluster with no mfd controls, steering wheel with no buttons, but leather, and a bare bones radio with not even Bluetooth (yes, no bluetooth), but, it has an aux cable and surpringsly foglights ... Luckily being a vw, lots of choice to remedy these issues with OEM plus items if you want, which I have done (like replacing the radio and adding mfd functionality)

The 2014 wagon which got the Wolfsburg edition trim has some nice features including keyless start, so again, all depends on year and trim but the variations aren't huge

Again back on topic, while the sunroof would have been nice, knowing what I've read here and in other places regarding mk6 sunroofs, in a way I'm glad I lucked out with the comfortline and no sunroof

 

[Reinout]

A good set of winter tires will get you 90% of the way there

90% might be optimistic, but you're right: appropriate tires will make a difference. The other factor is the realistic confidence of the driver. How many "capable" vehicles do you see getting stuck because of a driver error?

While my trips to the school parking lot in winter to d!ck around in the snow was about fun, there were undeniable lessons into the capability in incapability of the cars I drove. I also come from a car enthusiast background with my father having been in Formula Ford, so I have that aspect to lean on. I know what all my cars can, and cannot do (snow, gravel, tarmac) and under the the right environment I've taken every car to the edge of their grip.

So yes, tires will make a difference, to a degree. I still don't believe that degree is 90%.