I was pretty thrilled when we added the Jetta TDI to the fleet. Sure, I was eager to give diesel a try, but my connection to this generation of Jetta is very personal. See, for seven years, I was the proud owner of a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. It was with me through high school, college and beyond; a loyal companion who traveled across the country several times with a scant few problems -- a near miracle considering V-Dub's splotchy reputation. Yet, my Jetta couldn't possibly be more different than the Edmunds Jetta, despite both being of the same generation. Driving the TDI seems so familiar, and yet it has a certain Twilight Zone feel to it -- like growing up with Disneyland and then visiting Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Along with having different equipment levels (mine had leather, heated seats), a quick look at the numbers shows the vast difference between the two model styles.
As the torque numbers show, both cars have wonderful low-end power, which is one reason why I like them both so much. The fuel economy difference is staggering though, with the TDI being exceptional and the VR6 being just awful. That 19 is about what I achieved, but our Enclave gets 19 mpg combined for Pete's sake. But hey, I bought the car in Indiana back in 1999 when gas was hovering around a buck per gallon -- I don't even remember looking at fuel economy.
So the two Jettas couldn't be any different, and yet driving the TDI always feels like hanging out with a long-lost friend; a friend I miss despite being able to drive much nicer cars on a daily basis. I'm sure quite a lot of you folks feel the same way about past cars.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 54,048 miles
P.S. Which gauge cluster do you prefer? The Jetta underwent a midlife refresh in 2004 that included a new gauge design, and I really don't like it. The silver rings are somewhat snazzy, but the TDI's needles look cheap in comparison to the original chunky ones that sliced through both sides of the center like a watch's second hand. In general, they seem more Germanic and classy (they both glow cobalt blue at night, though).
daytona_500 says:
09:56 AM, 03/11/08
Agreed, I like the top ones better.
SubyTrojan says:
10:19 AM, 03/11/08
+1
Your Jetta GLS' gauge cluster > LT Jetta TDI's gauge cluster
bimmerjay says:
10:30 AM, 03/11/08
I kind of like the silver (does look "more expensive") but there's something to be said about the simplicity and legibility of the 2000 Jetta's cluster. I particularly like its oh-so-German x100 RPM tachometer.
And James, I lived in Indiana (W. Lafayette) from 1997-2002. I remember paying $0.97/gallon for gas at one point around the 1998-1999 timeframe you mentioned!
prndlol says:
10:34 AM, 03/11/08
You must've had quite the well paying part-time job in high school to afford a new VR6 Jetta!
Even if that's not the case please allow me to believe it as the other option will only disappoint me.
benson2175 says:
11:10 AM, 03/11/08
Ahh, remember when gas was cheap. Ahh. Unfortunately at it's cheapest I owned a 91 Civic. You couldn't get that thing to drink gas no matter what you did. What a waste. I should have had some kind of gas guzzler as I probably never will now.
hola_dan says:
11:14 AM, 03/11/08
I have a 5MT 2002 VR6 (still 12V) and I love it! I get about 27-29 mpg highway, and 18 city, or so.
I love driving it, but there are a few rattles starting to appear inside the cabin, how does the build quality of the newer TDI compare?
jriz says:
11:51 AM, 03/11/08
About the same, a few rattles in the headliner around the passenger-side visor. But nothing horrible considering it's got 54,000 miles on the clock.
cruiserhead1 says:
12:14 PM, 03/11/08
Forget the gauges, compare the exterior of your TDI with the new Jetta! What the heck was VW thinking? I miss the clean, euro classic look of the old Jetta. The new one looks so cheap and ugly.
jerrywimer says:
12:52 PM, 03/11/08
I like the upper guages better, but the best would be the above guages with silver trim around them. :D
joefrompa says:
03:06 PM, 03/11/08
Driving my friend's Audi A4 2.8 5-speed (1999) is a tremendous joy for me...it's not fast (probably slower than the Jetta due to drivetrain sap from the AWD), but it's just so solid, the driving position so fantastic, and the feel of luxurious german interior so engaging that you just can't help but feel good driving it.
At ~140k, that car is solid like a rock. I would buy it from him in a heartbeat (for a few thousand dollars) just to enjoy it on a regular basis.
I imagine the Jetta with leather was only a step or so below that experience...
Joe
jriz says:
04:00 PM, 03/11/08
It was. That budget German sport sedan feel was the No. 1 reason why it was so darn good.
mopar424 says:
04:05 PM, 03/11/08
Hows the interior of the Jetta holding up? And for that matter, your 2000, which Im assuming you no longer own. There was a known issue with the interior quality of that gen Golf/Jetta- my friend has a 2000 Golf where the interior (particularly headliner) is literally falling apart. Was this addressed by '05?
greenpony says:
08:41 PM, 03/11/08
I like the new gauges better in daylight; looks classier and more expensive. But there is no substitute for the previous-gen's gauges at night; gorgeous!
My brother used to have an '03 1.8T with about the same power figures as your VR6. Amazing what a difference three years can make.
jriz says:
08:46 AM, 03/12/08
mopar424: I never had a single problem with interior quality in the way you describe. There were a few rattles here or there, but nothing I would say is out of the ordinary. In general, I also figured the boys in Mexico had a good day when they built my Jetta.
Having said that, I baby my cars -- the interior looked practically brand new when I sold it at 72,000 miles.
cbmorton says:
08:53 AM, 03/12/08
I prefer the old blue gauges as well. Easier to read, plus they take me back to my years of ownership of an '00 Jetta VR6 (also silver, but 5-speed). Loved that car; loved the sound of the engine in particular. Never had a single problem with it. It was a solid vehicle.
jriz says:
09:18 AM, 03/12/08
How did you like that 5-speed? Aside from the fact I couldn't find one, I remember reading back then that it wasn't well paired to the VR6.
playdrv4me says:
03:12 PM, 03/12/08
Wow... a non-problematic Jetta... proof that it CAN and DOES happen even though people constantly pigeon-hole brands into stereotypes.
In fact, I'll top your Jetta... I had a 2003 Range Rover I let go at 95000 miles just recently (traded it on an M3 Vert) and had nary a problem with that awesome truck outside of a leaking washer reservoir and a bad steering wheel telescope gear (both common BMW problems)... neither of which I ever bothered fixing.
It was really hard to let that gas guzzling friend go.