Jetta makes worst 2011 flop list

[thebigarniedog]

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/worst-car-flops-of-2011.html

 

[oilhammer]

Having driven or at least sat in most all the cars on that list, as well as the cars they may have replaced, I can totally see where he is coming from. But he also leaves out the costs involved. Both the Civic and Jetta are larger yet cost less than the previous versions, which in many American consumers' eyes is a good thing, and they will not notice the bad things.

 

[South Coast Guy]

Manufacturers seek the right mix of features/quality/price and sometimes they miss.

 

[xtu1963]

Since I have never driven a Jetta prior to buying a 2011 TDI, I can't really comment on the comparison. That said, I think people are being a bit harsh. I really like the interior of the Jetta TDI. The seats are nice and comfortable, the lighting is awesome and unless you spend your whole life fondling your panels, who cares if they are plastic. As for the fuel economy dig, they must be talking about the gasser. I have been more than happy with the fuel economy so far, seeing close to 35 mpg in mixed driving that leans more to the city than the highway. I can't wait for my trip to Michigan; all highway should get me to 45 mpg easy and 600 mile tanks.

 

[oilhammer]

Yeah, it really depends on what your past experiences have been with the cars. My TDI gets 50+ MPG on the highway, and I drive fast (80+). So if I bought a new one that got only 35 I'd say that was pretty bad... but if I came from a 12 MPG F150 that would be very different.

This is why the 2011+ Jetta sedan owners are largely new to VW, as most of us 'VW veterans' would buy a Golf or JSW instead, as we are willing to pay more to get a nicer car.

I like the new sedans, though, but I think the value is best in the base Jetta S with the simple, tough, and reliable 2.slow.

 

[kjclow]

After having a loaner base jetta sedan while the local garage figured out why my jsw would not start, I understand the author's presepective. It is not on par with the previous model or, as oilhammer pointed out, the jsw or golf.

Having said that, I will now support it for what it is. It is a nicely appointed car for the price range and the competitive market. I would not hesitate to put my daughter's behind the wheel of a new one at $16500 or just over $18000 with the minimum equipment I would want them to get (bluetooth, mat kit, ipod). Of course I would rather see them with a diesel but that's not in their financial picture today.

 

[Grievous Angel]

Hmm. VW sales are up in America, aren't they? Nearly 20% from what I've read from the past year, and in the last month or so up 40% month over month. I'm guessing the Jetta, and the similarly treated Passat, are leading the way.

VW will take that kind of "flop" any day.

I prefer the styling of the new Jetta to the prior one--which to my eyes is the least "Jetta Esque" of them all. This one has more in common with the MKIV jetta, and all the ones that preceded it.

Having said that, I would have bought one had I been in the market at the time.

I'm averaging 42 on two fuelly fillups. My trip computer said 49.9 on the 50 mile commute this morning (though I understand it may be optimistic). And that's with the DSG.

 

[oilhammer]

Indeed sales are up. However, some of that may also be that the Failboat GM and ChryCo have been at a loss for wind, and Recall-ota has had a bit of a dip, and the tsunami threw a wrench on all the Japanese brands' sales.

But I agree, the current USA Jetta sedan is more in line with what the average American consumer wants. Basically, VW built us another Altima.

 

[Grievous Angel]

Indeed sales are up. However, some of that may also be that the Failboat GM and ChryCo have been at a loss for wind, and Recall-ota has had a bit of a dip, and the tsunami threw a wrench on all the Japanese brands' sales.

But I agree, the current USA Jetta sedan is more in line with what the average American consumer wants. Basically, VW built us another Altima.

Maybe that's true. I didn't go in to the VW dealer because of the new Jetta. I went in for my perceptions about VW. The German engineering and driving dynamics, the TDI, the styling and interior. In my eyes, compared to the Civic, Cruze, and Fusion, the Jetta is still a more conservative and tasteful car, both inside and out. The reasons for buying one over the others are still the same as they were before, if maybe less so than before with the "decontending" of the interior and the cheapened rear suspension.

 

[EJS]

Hmm. VW sales are up in America, aren't they? Nearly 20% from what I've read from the past year, and in the last month or so up 40% month over month.................

Yep, and the avg sales price is also up.

So let's see...........Jetta sales up & GM is diving once again - it would appear Numbnuts McDuh who made the statements hasn't a clue. What's his next job? CEO of Chysler or General Junk?

 

[NickBeek]

I have to say that I am enjoying my new Jetta. I test drove an '06 and some earlier model year Jettas. The price always drove me away. My 2011 has more room, more power, and gets reasonably good mileage (42.8 lifetime avg.). I test drove an Altima and a Taurus before I bought my Jetta and neither of those impressed me nor could they touch the FE of the Jetta.

I guess it comes down to perspective.

 

[aja8888]

I did draive a CR Jetta last year and I'll keep my 2005 Passat, thank you, even with its quirks.

If I were in for a new car, I suppose I would wait it out for a crossover SUV (gasoline version) that actually got near 30 MPG or a Tiguan diesel, if it ever shows up on this continent.

 

[kjclow]

Yep, and the avg sales price is also up.

So let's see...........Jetta sales up & GM is diving once again - it would appear Numbnuts McDuh who made the statements hasn't a clue. What's his next job? CEO of Chysler or General Junk?

Congress!!!!!!!

 

[blzbug]

Ford Escape Hybrid gets 31 hwy 36 city. The hybrid design is now 7 years old and quite reliable. I have an 06 FEH that I am currently selling. I recently bought an 03 Jetta wagon TDI to replace the FEH. Most of my commute is highway, so the tdi is a nice mpg boost. The FEH is pretty damn dull to drive. To get the most out of the hybrid, you need a really light touch on the gas. Boring! I'm not a speed demon, but the dumpy performance of the FEH made me yearn for something with more pizzaz. I still wanted to haul some stuff and get good mpg, hence the jetta wagon. I would still recommend the FEH for someone looking in that realm and not concerned too much with the driving experience.

I too would jump on a Tiguan with a 2.0tdi. Or a Ford Ranger diesel. Or a 2.2L Honda CRV diesel. Or many of the quality diesels that the rest of the world gets, while we suck azz with our gas versions.

Instead, I'll just put some fat tires and a lift kit on my wagon I have a 1/4 mile gravel driveway that gets very sloshy when it rains...

If I were in for a new car, I suppose I would wait it out for a crossover SUV (gasoline version) that actually got near 30 MPG or a Tiguan diesel, if it ever shows up on this continent.

 

[biglipps66]

Theyre definitely speaking of the gasser ha. Of course the interior isnt fashionable, its a freakin 24k econobox!!! Coming from my s60R theres definitely a difference in fancy features but hey, if I wanted fancy I would have bought another expensive car that sucked in fuel mileage.

 

[thebigarniedog]

I did draive a CR Jetta last year and I'll keep my 2005 Passat, thank you, even with its quirks.

If I were in for a new car, I suppose I would wait it out for a crossover SUV (gasoline version) that actually got near 30 MPG or a Tiguan diesel, if it ever shows up on this continent.

That is really the issue here. If you are in the market for a new car would you buy any of these cars and specific to this thread, the two point blows new Jetta entry model? Other posters comparing the tdi version Gen 6 cannot do so as it is not the same vehicle as demonstrated by the 40% markup in price .......

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call any author from yahoo an auto enthusiast, but this article criticizes the new Jetta as not up to VW's recent reputation for high quality interiors and driving dynamics (gasoline versions, anyway) from a VW devotee's point of view. I find the Jetta TDI interior unsatisfactory in appearance and materials, and the lack of a real fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and the beam rear axle are unacceptable to me. Ironically the GLI has none of these shortcomings and is about $1000 more expensive than the TDI. It also has a great 2 liter turbocharged engine and shows EPA figures of 26/33. I'm sure it requires premium, but that's not much of a mileage penalty compared to what some are reporting here with their TDIs. I do think the new Jetta sedan exterior is attractive.

But...I paid more money for my 2-door Golf; what many would consider less car than the Jetta Sedan. Better interior, seats, gauges, IRS, no hood prop...everyone knows the differences. Worth it to me, but probably not even noticed by folks new to the brand. But they would notice the price.

The Jetta sedan will sell well, no doubt. And it should. But for those of us who expect more from a VW, we're not gonna like it so much.

 

[oilhammer]

Well said ^^^

 

[earlthepearl]

I like the new sedans, though, but I think the value is best in the base Jetta S with the simple, tough, and reliable 2.slow.[/QUOTE]

Right you are Oilhammer. Having owned and driven VWs since 1970, if you're looking for low cost, reliable transportation, go with simple. I love my 67 Beetle. you can't get more simple than that.

I would have loved to have a de-content option for the wife's Touareg. Rubber mats, roll-up windows, stick, etc. Auto wipers, lights, and self dimming rear-view mirror, totally unneeded in my view. Though I would accept the ammenities of A/C, cruise control, and Sirius radio.

 

[EJS]

.......... It also has a great 2 liter turbocharged engine and shows EPA figures of 26/33. ................

The Jetta sedan will sell well, no doubt. And it should. But for those of us who expect more from a VW, we're not gonna like it so much.

That's about .03/mi - not insignificant but any means. Premium bites I'd wager few if any could tell the difference between independent & twist beam blindfolded in a normal drive.

Do I like the cuts they made? No, it is all the little stuff - little stuff that sucks. Prop rods are generally hotter than hell when you try to use them on the side of the highway in the middle of a long drive

But what choice did they have? Given the 1/2 wit American consumer - none. Consumers so sh*t all stupid they couldn't see the difference between equally equipped vehicles (they just looked at the entry price). Even the reviews - "but the VW is expensive........." - well they're about the same when you add all the equipment to the baseline nut bucket there ya idjit.

I laughed when I saw wheel locks were additional on the new Passat...........is that good or bad?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

.03/mile when diesel is $.80 more than premium, as it is in a lot of the country? Not that the prices won't change. I couldn't go back to gasoline, but the figures were a pleasant surprise. I expected something more like 19/29.

You're right, consumers won't notice the de-contenting. If you asked 100 Kia drivers whether or not their car had drum rear brakes I bet 90 couldn't tell you.

Thanks for the reminder about wheel locks. I've got to check and see if the Golf has them and get rid of them.

 

[GoFaster]

If you asked 100 Kia drivers whether or not their car had drum rear brakes I bet 90 couldn't tell you.

Sad thing is that the new Rio (and the platform-mate Hyundai Accent) has 4 wheel disks!

But, the point is taken concerning normal drivers, who know nothing about what's underneath. Most people just care about the monthly payments, and maybe how much power it has or how quiet it is, and whether it has the electronic entertainment gizmos that they want.

 

[aja8888]

Sad thing is that the new Rio (and the platform-mate Hyundai Accent) has 4 wheel disks!
But, the point is taken concerning normal drivers, who know nothing about what's underneath. Most people just care about the monthly payments, and maybe how much power it has or how quiet it is, and whether it has the electronic entertainment gizmos that they want.

My neighbor came home with a newer (07) Chev. pickup to replace his 2000 that had 200,000+ miles on it. Nice looking truck (LTZ model). I asked him if it had a V6 or V8 in it....he didn't know. In my neighborhood, three of us (men) change our own oil and do basic maintenance on the family cars. The other 20 or so neighborhood family men don't know where the dipstick is in their cars. Kind of "American typical", I would assume.

Yes, the decontented VW's will sell well here.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

A friend just bought an automatic 2.slow Jetta and she loves it, coming off a '99 Accord with 350,000 km with a rotted-out subframe. Says the Jetta is "more fun to drive". Even with 35 less hp. Can't argue with her. Jetta sales are way up, so the mass-market, as opposed to the enthusiast market, seems to love it. I agree the best value seems to be a stripped-down, 2.slow, 5-speed manual. Should be simple enough and free-enough from VW quirks (turbochargers that fail, chains that fail, HPFPs that fail, half as many camshafts to fail, no A/C, need special oil that contains unobtanium, etc.) to last a very long time. All it is really missing to complete the simple-no-break-car picture, is roll-up windows.

I was hesitant to see her go from an Accord that served her very well for a VW, but if a non-car person had to go for a VW, this is the one for her.

 

[Ian F]

You're right, consumers won't notice the de-contenting. If you asked 100 Kia drivers whether or not their car had drum rear brakes I bet 90 couldn't tell you.

Thanks for the reminder about wheel locks. I've got to check and see if the Golf has them and get rid of them.

People may not notice decontenting, but they notice a nice interior. When I bought my car back in '03, more than few were stunned at how much I paid: "20.9" " "29 Thousand?" "No... Twenty thousand, nine hundred" (this was pre-Katrina, when gas was under $2/gal and TDi's were novelties). The reply to that was always, "Wow..." as they sat they surrounded by nicely finished tan leather. There's something about tan leather that just makes it look more expensive than black leather.

I've been saying for years that VW set such a high standard with the Mk IV interior that even they themselves have had trouble matching it - particularly when trying to reign in production costs. Even today, when I can spend a day detailing it, the interior of my car looks as good as anything available new, IMHO.

The wheel locks on my car never bothered me until I was auto-crossing it... then when I was changing wheels at the event, they got annoying and I bought replacement wheel bolts. If/when the car gets prepped for STF/FSP, I'll go to studs.

 

[aja8888]

No A/C?....

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

The MKIV interior is nice, although it wasn't as nice as the Audi A4 I traded for my wagon. And it still looks good after almost ten years and a quarter million miles, a lot of them with kids and a dog in the car.

I'm still happy that my wagon has crank windows, however. So far failure-free.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

No A/C?....

I kid you not. The base Jetta Trendline in Canada comes with... no A/C...

 

[bhtooefr]

There's a super secret special handshake Jetta Base config that's unadvertised, and about $14k, for the US. No AC, no radio, and no flip key (think 98 Beetle).

IIRC, Canada has a Trendline+ package, equivalent to our S, to add AC and the flip key.

 

[GoFaster]

I kid you not. The base Jetta Trendline in Canada comes with... no A/C...

The base Jetta is a replacement for the (Mk4) Golf/Jetta City in Canada, and that one didn't have A/C as standard equipment, either. The climate here is a far cry from that seen in Texas or Louisiana. If you can deal with the usual week or two of weather above 30 - 32 C in Toronto each year then some people would rather save the extra thousand bucks and have less stuff to go wrong. These days it hurts resale value to not have it, though.

I never had a car in which the A/C consistently worked, until the Jetta that I have now. Everything before either didn't have it, or had it but it didn't work for most of the time that I owned the vehicle. Family never had anything with A/C until around 1989.