Tale of two Jettas

Oberkanone

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Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Location
NW Indiana
TDI
13 Jetta TDI Premium manual "gone"
source Automotive News
European buyers will get a more costly and more upscale version of Volkswagen's new Jetta sedan than North American customers.

The Jetta for Europe is built with “higher value” fittings, said VW development chief Ulrich Hackenberg at the sedan's European launch here.

For example, the European Jetta is equipped with a soft control panel that has a higher quality feel than the hard control panel of the U.S. version.

VW said the European Jettas have a sophisticated four-link suspension system similar to that fitted to the Golf. This is new to the latest model and is not fitted on U.S. models.

The system gives the European Jetta good handling characteristics. In the U.S., by contrast, the car is being delivered with a beam axle that offers greater driving comfort.

Not for students

Hackenberg said the new Jetta should be seen more as a high-value sedan with a definite sporty flair rather than a “student's car” like some of its predecessors.

European buyers will pay a high price for their fancier Jetta.

In Germany, prices for the new, sixth-generation Jetta will begin at 20,900 euros (about $29,000). In the U.S., Jetta prices start at $16,000.

The Jetta went on sale in the U.S. in October and launches in Europe in March, positioned between the Golf and Passat models.

The Jetta is Volkswagen's top-selling model in the U.S., with annual sales of about 110,000 in the country. In Europe where buyers prefer hatchbacks instead of sedans, Jetta sales were just 6,800 in the first eight months, according to market researchers JATO Dynamics, compared with sales of 338,000 for the Golf.

The new Jetta is 90mm longer than the model it replaces at 4640mm, offering rear passengers more legroom.

Frugal diesel for Europe

In Europe, the Jetta will be sold with a broad range of gasoline and diesel engines. The most fuel efficient version of the 1.6-liter diesel engine, which has modifications including stop/start and battery regeneration, uses 4.2 liters of diesel per 100 km and has CO2 emissions of 109 g/km CO2.

North American buyers are offered one diesel, a 140-hp, 2.0-liter unit, as well as 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter gasoline engines.

The sedan is built for European and North American markets in VW's factory in Puebla, Mexico. It will also be manufactured in China as well, starting in 2011.
 

ruking

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Joined
Mar 27, 2003
Location
San Jose area, CA
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2003 VW Jetta, 5 M, Reflex Silver: 09 Jetta, 6 Sp DSG, Candy White: 12 VW Touareg, 8 Sp A/T, Flint Gray
In a lot of ways very good and then depending on one's take ...not as good. With a single platform, so called modular techniques, an oem can pretty much tailor a car to its' intended markets. It pretty much stems from the principle that app 75% of a WW platform (model's like Jetta, Bora, etc, I am by no means an expert) is common. The platform system has been in use for a very long time (33 years or more?). To wit, I remember getting a 1978 Rabbit new, making the jump from a 1970 Beetle. So world wide, up until recently (2003?, concidently the same year as getting an 03 TDI Jetta) the Beetle was manufactured. FF to 2011, the "RABBIT" platform is in a modern incarnation... GOLF.

The other is I am not so sure a 29,000 MSRP Jetta will help VW rack up the numbers, they are shooting for in the US markets, circa 2011 and beyond.

The Chattanooga, TN plant has been designated to produce the VW "midsized" segment, (Camry, Accord, Passat?) to the tune of 850,000 units per year.

It would appear the Golf, Jetta models will occupy two of the "entry roles." Since Golf's are still assembled in Germany, it might be priced as more a premium entry level offering. I guess there is a mystic about a crossing the Atlantic FOB ride!!??

So for example, when we bought a 04 Civic, it was interesting to see one could literally get a "CIVIC" that cost from sub 12.5 k to north of 24,000 !!! ?? As I remember there were 5 to 7 distinct variations.
 
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Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
The low initial price will lure a lot of people to dealerships and sell some cars. I think they will get more expensive as time goes by and content will go up with the price.

I was talking to the service manager for my local dealer and he said VW is being careful not to have service as the bottleneck to moving more cars. He said that in the early 2000's VW sold more cars than they could service in a resonable time. I hope they really have this figured out if they want to pump up the volume like we've been hearing they will. A less complex volume car will help. Since this car is not exactly new the systems should be pretty well understood by service teams by now. If you look under it is is really a stretched MK5 pretty much.
 

IFRCFI

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2010
Location
Winchester, VA
TDI
2013 Touareg TDI Lux
The low initial price.
VW realizes the only thing that is going to sell more cars is price. The market space that the Golf, Jetta, and JSW compete in is pretty fierce. The TDI version of these cars in a niche that makes them popular, but what about the gas versions....not so much.

VW sales and service, reliability, and resale create a reputation that isn't exactly stellar. TDI was the only reason I considered VW. Otherwise, it would have been a Lexus or Infiniti.

I think the de-contenting will continue.
 

740GLE

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Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
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2017 Alltrack SE; Totaled 2015 Passat SEL, BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat SE w/ Nav,
OHHH so this will mean more euro mods for the mk6!!!!

Wonder how much the US GLI will compare to the Euro version of the jetta
 
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