Jetta or Golf

[marc77777]

Dealer made me an offer for my almost new 2011 Jetta TDI Comfortline with multimedia kit to trade for a used 2011 Golf TDI Highline with NAV with 17000km's but they will bump the warranty to 120k instead of 80k. My monthly payment will go up slightly but I want some opinions on anyone who has driven both. I need to decide asap. If anyone has followed my posts, my car is a piece of crap and this is my chance to dump it, just want to make sure i'm trading crap for crap.

 

[DC-IT]

I'd go with another 2011 Jetta TDI over a used 17,000 KM Golf TDI.
The Golf has gone through a lot of KMs for a 2011!

It is unlikely that another Jetta will have the same issues as your "lemon"?
The larger size of the Jetta is what sold me and so far mine is without any issues and an absolute joy to drive.

BTW is it a Golf SportWagen or normal 4 Dr Golf?

 

[TDI_Timmy]

We had an '09 Golf/Rabbit for a loaner for about a week and we HATED it! I thought the ride was very harsh. I really like the ride of the Jetta's, due to the longer wheel base. I don't mind a taut suspension, but I don't like being jostled around and I begin to notice it. I would rather have a Corvette do that to me than a Golf. I have always liked the ride of the MkV and MkVI Jetta, felt like a German sedan.

Was space an issue for you? Golf SportWagen for more room and longer wheelbase? Great they are extending warranty, but I feel you are paying for it one way or another. Also, seems like it has more KMs than your car, and it isn't NEW! You bought a NEW car...I know you are probably done with this whole mess and just want to throw in the towel and the dealer gave you something to latch on - I would press for more.

I don't think the dealer is doing good enough for you. If anything it should be straight across or your payment is less. My opinion is that you have had way too many issues to be acceptable for any new car. I also realize that laws protecting consumers is that if they are unable to fix an issue in given amount of tries and time, rather than multiple issues all at once or close together.

I guess take an extended test drive and see if you like it. On the other hand, maybe all the repairs that needed to happen are all fixed and you will have trouble free motoring minus basic needs (shocks, struts, brakes, oil/filter, etc.). I wish I had my crystal ball for you.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

I also agree with DC-IT.

 

[anotherTDI]

................ my car is a piece of crap and this is my chance to dump it, just want to make sure i'm trading crap for crap.

just be sure you are not inheriting someone else's "piece of crap."

if it were me i would insist on another "new" identically equipped sedan of your choosing. don't let them dump something on you.

if they don't want to play then i would be on the phone with the corporate office. they are probably the ones who will have to approve it anyway.

my only advice in purchasing cars for the last 35 years is don't EVER let anyone rush you into a decision.

 

[mo_focus]

this really frustrates me!!!! ***! you had a car for less then a week with problems. VW should take the ****ing car back and give you another one. This is not acceptable!

As for the Golf or Jetta. I have both and both are great for what they are. If you need the rear seat/trunk space then Jetta is the car. Golf is great, ours is DSG and i like driving it, but i love driving my Jetta.

 

[marc77777]

As for the Golf or Jetta. I have both and both are great for what they are. If you need the rear seat/trunk space then Jetta is the car. Golf is great, ours is DSG and i like driving it, but i love driving my Jetta.

Actually the only thing I don't like about the Golf is the rear space which I do need (2 kids in car seats).
Pros: Golf is Highline with nav. It is very nice
Cons: It's not new, i'm not the one who did the break-in and it's almost an extra $100/month

As far as driving, I didn't test drive it but they did give me a loaner Golf Wagon this week, this drove great and was very comfortable but from all your comments this probably isn't a very good comparison.

Result: I'll take your advice and keep mine for now.

Thanks for all the quick replies, I value your opinions.

 

[JBKM]

No way in heck would i take that 'offer'. You would be driving a used car, God knows how its been run/maintained. Plus it will cost you another $100/month?

 

[DC-IT]

Isn't the Golf due for a model change soon?

 

[bluelineman]

I'd make them give you another Jetta. As stated before, the odds of you getting another lemon are slim.

 

[IFRCFI]

another lemon

His car is nowhere near lemon status......

 

[marc77777]

His car is nowhere near lemon status......

What do you consider a lemon?

 

[IFRCFI]

What do you consider a lemon?

Catastrophic failure of major components (engine, transmission, etc).

Repeated, unrepairable issues. Un-findable gremlins requiring multiple trips to the dealer.

Extended service stays where car is unavailable (weeks, months).

Wind noise, defroster, unplugged harness, horn? Not even close...and you are crying about getting a replacement?

 

[marc77777]

Catastrophic failure of major components (engine, transmission, etc).

Repeated, unrepairable issues. Un-findable gremlins requiring multiple trips to the dealer.

Extended service stays where car is unavailable (weeks, months).

Wind noise, defroster, unplugged harness, horn? Not even close...and you are crying about getting a replacement?

When you spend 30K on a car and a bunch of stuff doesn't work right off the factory floor, damn right I cry about getting a replacement!! My car is 3 weeks old, been to the dealer 3 times and has had numerous problems.

 

[tdi90hp]

I think the golf blows the doors off the jetta...sorry jetta lovers...but look at your transaction carefully...

 

[mo_focus]

I think the golf blows the doors off the jetta...sorry jetta lovers...but look at your transaction carefully...

i have both cars and do disagree with you! get both cars, drive them for 25000kms and come back and do a proper comparision

Both have thier ups/downs but it does come down to wants and needs! Also you have to compare the golf right next to the jetta and you will see there is not much difference. They have been cutting lot of things on the Golf as well, but they did it quitely so ppl didnt notice as much. I still say the best interior in any golf/jetta would have to be the 2006 Jetta lux tdi or pk3 in US. After that it all went downhill!

 

[tdi90hp]

I drove both at the store thouroughly cause I went in looking for a Jetta....bought a golf....But I dont need a big trunk....anyways...thats why they sell both...they both have a market...

 

[lou95gts]

When you spend 30K on a car and a bunch of stuff doesn't work right off the factory floor, damn right I cry about getting a replacement!! My car is 3 weeks old, been to the dealer 3 times and has had numerous problems.

You bought a VW! If you didn't want issues with a new car, you should have headed for the Toyota or Honda store. Much better odds of not getting a lemon there.

 

[marc77777]

You bought a VW! If you didn't want issues with a new car, you should have headed for the Toyota or Honda store. Much better odds of not getting a lemon there.

LOL!! My bad for thinking they got better over the years.

I'm happy to say it's been a week though and no new issues to complain about, seems like they got most of the bugs out for now. Just waiting for the mirror part which is on back-order to fix the damn whistling noise.

 

[mo_focus]

LOL!! My bad for thinking they got better over the years.

I'm happy to say it's been a week though and no new issues to complain about, seems like they got most of the bugs out for now. Just waiting for the mirror part which is on back-order to fix the damn whistling noise.

Marc what is the mirror part that you speak of. Can you take pics before and after. I do have the noise as well, but i really dont want anyone touching my car until i know what they are going to do.

 

[marc77777]

Marc what is the mirror part that you speak of. Can you take pics before and after. I do have the noise as well, but i really dont want anyone touching my car until i know what they are going to do.

Sure, I'll take a picture tomorrow. If you don't want anyone touching your car you might want to wait for me to get it done first to confirm this fixes the problem. The part is bo and possibly because vw may be re-engineering the part...this is what I was told.

 

[BarrieCommuter]

Sure, I'll take a picture tomorrow. If you don't want anyone touching your car you might want to wait for me to get it done first to confirm this fixes the problem. The part is bo and possibly because vw may be re-engineering the part...this is what I was told.

+1 add me to the list. and if you know the TSB number, chime in too.

 

[marc77777]

Forgot to take the pic tonight, I'm working from home tomorrow so I'll try and do it during the day tomorrow.

 

[Hellfire]

Forgot to take the pic tonight, I'm working from home tomorrow so I'll try and do it during the day tomorrow.

Part number isn't on your invoice ?

 

[J.G.R.]

Bump for the pic please, I will be buying a new Jetta soon, possibly today. If I start to hear a noise it would be nice to know where to look first.

 

[rtking]

I looked at the Jetta sport wagon, Golf, and even a left over TDI Cup Jetta before deciding on the '11 Jetta. Yes, there are some cheaper materials on the interior, but not where you're going to feel it most of the time. What it really came down to was the amount of back seat room and trunk room. Neither the Golf nor the JSW (or Cup Car) offered enough rear seat room to accommodate either myself or my wife (we're both fairly tall) for a long trip. That 3 inches of extra rear leg room do make a pretty big difference. If I needed the hatchback versatility however, the Golf or JSW would have gotten the nod.

My Jetta too had the whistle from the mirror. But I heard it only when the window was down and I was driving over 45 mph. I pushed the black trim around the mirror in firmly and, although it didn't seem to do anything, the whistling has largely stopped. I wonder if adding a small, thin bead of clear silicone around the top of the mirror (where the black and painted plastic meet) would solve the issue permanently?

 

[J.G.R.]

I looked at the Jetta sport wagon, Golf, and even a left over TDI Cup Jetta before deciding on the '11 Jetta. Yes, there are some cheaper materials on the interior, but not where you're going to feel it most of the time. What it really came down to was the amount of back seat room and trunk room. Neither the Golf nor the JSW (or Cup Car) offered enough rear seat room to accommodate either myself or my wife (we're both fairly tall) for a long trip. That 3 inches of extra rear leg room do make a pretty big difference. If I needed the hatchback versatility however, the Golf or JSW would have gotten the nod.

My Jetta too had the whistle from the mirror. But I heard it only when the window was down and I was driving over 45 mph. I pushed the black trim around the mirror in firmly and, although it didn't seem to do anything, the whistling has largely stopped. I wonder if adding a small, thin bead of clear silicone around the top of the mirror (where the black and painted plastic meet) would solve the issue permanently?

I see you also got the Nav. Do you have Verizon with google Nav on your phone? I do and am not sure if I should pay the extra for the Nav in the car. The phone Nav works great.

 

[rtking]

I see you also got the Nav. Do you have Verizon with google Nav on your phone? I do and am not sure if I should pay the extra for the Nav in the car. The phone Nav works great.

I have an iPhone 2G and can use Google Maps to navigate, but California police are far too happy to give you ticket if they see you with a phone in your hand.

The integrated nav system is OK, but nowhere as nice as the RNS-850 nav in my wife's Touareg. Is it worth it to get? I think so as I don't like having wires everywhere, and I wanted the KESSY and fog lights. (Both come as part of the Nav package.)

 

[TDI_Timmy]

I have the Nav on my car as well - pretty much did it for the chrome trim, fogs and KESSY.

I also use an iPhone 4 which I have Navigon on. One thing that I like about the car Nav is that even if it loses satellite signal (ie. tunnel, etc) the thing still works. Now, I know it would be bad if I got lost in a tunnel but I thought it was cool that it uses the wheel sensors and internal compass to also tell me where I am. I pulled into an underground parking garage and while I lost my sat. radio the car indicator on the map screen showed me where I was in that block. I thought it was kinda funny. (also, won't be getting lost in a parking garage.)

I agree with what rtking said about having wire everywhere - I hate that. Also, in the same boat with the police as rtking is when it comes to having a cell phone in hand.

I know you can just put a mount suctioned the windshield and not run any wires as you could just run off the phone's battery but having lived in NYC for several year I am paranoid leaving anything not to mention a trace leaving a trace of anything valuable in a car (ie. suction cup ring)

 

[marc77777]

It's the black mirror trim that was ordered, I wasn't sure if it was black on all cars since my car is black. I don't have the part number, dealer hasn't closed the file on this yet since it wasn't received or installed.
Dealer told me due to numerous complaints vw is redesigning the part and the reason it is bo'd. We'll find out soon enough I guess.

Edit: Ok, the photo thing didn't work, apparently I don't know how to do it, here's the link:

http://pics.tdiclub.com/showphoto.php?photo=75137&title=mirror&cat=503