I've been in Vegas for the 2008 SEMA Show and I made the drive in our long-term 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The ride quality is as comfortable as it is controlled, and just feels perfectly matched to conditions in LA, Vegas and every patch of concrete and asphault in-between.
Yeah, I know most cars ride fine these days, but the Jetta stands apart from recent long-term cars I've road-tripped. Maybe it's the 205/55R16 tires I like so much, even if they're the antithesis of SEMA rubber.
Of course, the 2.0-liter TDI powerplant is pretty nice, too. It's quiet for a diesel and has a wider powerband than I'd expected. I happen to know, for example, that it's revving at about 3,600 in 6th gear if you're cruising at 100 mph. Yet, there's still plenty of meat left at this point.
I have mixed feelings about the dual-clutch transmission. I was complaining about it to a friend, noting that gearchanges have a slow, halting quality when I'm accelerating in traffic at low speeds. But then my friend pointed out how smoothly we were getting around West Lost Angeles at this particular moment and I had to stop and think.
And I think... the DSG only feels jerky when I'm making authoritative moves in traffic -- something I try to avoid doing to excess when I have a passenger. Alone again in Vegas and aggravated by the long traffic-light cycles, I got irritated at the transmission once more. I'm not surprised it's like this, of course, because I'd expect to shift frequently in a conventional manual-shift diesel car. Just because a computer is making the decisions here doesn't change that need.
No such problems on Interstate 15, though. I'll have a few more thoughts and trip fuel economy in tomorrow's post.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 3,851 miles
dragonflight says:
06:58 PM, 11/ 6/08
Really like the picture on this post. Looking forward to hearing the mileage on this guy (especially in comparison to the '05 TDI and Smart)
pezzy669 says:
08:48 PM, 11/ 6/08
The ride is one thing I love about my '06 Jetta 2.5. Smooth and controlled. During hard driving it can be a bit soft but I am more than happy to trade some handling for ride comfort. BTW hint to the Edmunds crew......better tires do wonders on these cars. The stock tires limit the car, aftermarket high performance or ultra high performance really make the chassis and suspension shine.
Mechanically this generation Jetta is WAY overbuilt, I look forward to seeing how well it does for the Edmunds crew.
dougtheeng says:
05:50 AM, 11/ 7/08
I think the previous generation looked much better, but I still think its a great vehicle. Erin's comments about this Jetta largely mirror my feelings about my 2004 Golf. That is an excellent vehicle, and I'd recommend it to anyone (diesel or not).
joefrompa says:
06:32 AM, 11/ 7/08
Pezzy - Can you tell me exactly how this generation of Jetta is overbuilt?
Joe
texases says:
07:06 AM, 11/ 7/08
Latest DFW prices - RUG $1.99, diesel $2.99...no TDI for me!
tslbmw says:
08:21 AM, 11/ 7/08
I've owned sticks all my life except in two cars, my current 08 R32 and an 06 A3 2.0T. Both of those cars have (had with the A3) DSG and I have to say that I LOVE the transmission; even at slow speeds. Yes, you can "feel" the gear changes in auto mode at low speeds...but, I "need" that feeling. If not, it would just be a conventional automatic. Plus, can't you just leave it in "manual" mode and shift yourself? I'm assuming its the same in your TDI as it is in my R32 and the A3?? That way YOU control the shifts, not the computer.
benson2175 says:
08:52 AM, 11/ 7/08
The red lights in Vegas take forever, even longer when your car is overheating.
mbtech208 says:
08:54 AM, 11/ 7/08
Wow. Just wow. That is all.
pezzy669 says:
11:14 AM, 11/ 7/08
joefrompa:
Many parts of the car use a much higher grade of material than what should be the norm for this class and price point. This is compared to my spouses '07 Altima which stickers for about $1k more than my '06 Jetta did.
Things like the door seals, hinges, sheetmetal, etc. Things many people would not notice but something that contributes to longer lasting parts. Then there are things that people do not see like the billet aluminum suspension mounting points of the front suspension, the aluminum front subframe, all sheetmetal fully galvanized. Mechanically its a VERY sound car.....its the trim that give it a very bad reputation.
autoboy16 says:
04:32 PM, 11/ 7/08
Adding to pezzy:
Plus the mkiv's (last generation) jetta's electrical system. I've seen bad trim mostly in the Mkiv's Armrest being held together with hairties/shoelaces/duct tape and/or buttons on the stereo scratching off, but never have I noted any electrical problems [knock on wood]...
Other than my dad's expedition cutting off on me not even 2mins after I exited I-95 the other day causing the fuse box to buzz and many many error lights (PRNDL ERROR WTF!?) to go off followed by a non restarting engine, $200 tow to autorepair shop, $140 fusebox, $200 installation, and an expeditionless weekend.... All on Halloween Night in the unfamillar part of town at that! Thankfully, I'm ok.
[Venting Over]
-Cj
mikeolan says:
05:40 PM, 11/ 7/08
@Pezzy: the difference is that the front suspension will fail at 80k, the transmission will crap out around that time, too, everything electric will have been replaced about 2 or 3 times, the seat fabric will have sagged and stretched, and numerous drains will have clogged and caused damage.
The Jetta is many things- long lasting isn't one of them.
pezzy669 says:
02:39 PM, 11/ 8/08
mikeolan:
With the MKV (current gen) VW has begun sourcing many of their electrics from Toyota's source. Electrical problems have been fixed - I have had one electrical hiccup and that was the engine immobilizer activating once after a grocery trip for some unknown reason.
Interior and exterior on my '06 looks almost as good as the day I drove it off the lot, the V-Tex (VW vinyl) look new and still are mistaken for leather. Never had any problems with the cloth seats in my '03 Golf.
Cant really comment on the suspension bit. The shocks/struts on my Golf went prematurely but everything else was quite sound when I traded it in at ~85k miles. Other than that my Golf was rock solid (mechanically) on trade in. Electrically it was an absolute disaster to behold.