This weekend I simply wanted a drama-free car. Well, it was either the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI or the Subie STI. And since I can shift the VW smoothly as opposed to the WRX, I picked it over the more powerful (read: fun) car. I knew I'd be using it to transport my running buddies to Chinatown this weekend for the annual firecracker 5K/10K run and didn't want to knock any heads whilst maneuvering the hills around downtown.
In any case, I was also delighted to find that our VW sports features that not even our newer long-termers have. First and foremost, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. It makes it easier for any driver of any size to get behind the wheel. Most new cars that are about the same price ($17,200) don't even have this feature: our 2008 Focus, the 2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS, the 2009 Nissan Sentra and 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i.
Also, I love that it has the light that comes on over not only the passenger side mirror but the driver side one, too. AND who can forget that sunroof? FYI, you can't get a sunroof in any of the above cars in the same price range.
Even though the V-Dub is pretty vanilla for my tastes, the fact that you can still have decent fuel economy and these deluxe features for under $18K is pretty nifty.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 67,240 miles
carguy622 says:
12:38 PM, 02/ 9/09
Sadly the Focus used to have a telescoping steering wheel and they took it out. Memo to Ford: Add features, don't take them away.
By the way... I know this Jetta was used but that interior is atrocious.
subytrojan says:
12:52 PM, 02/ 9/09
Good point, Caroline. The Impreza WRX and WRX STI (and Forester XT) come with tilt/telescoping steering wheels. Subaru should just use the same column for all of their Imprezas and Foresters.
jkp1187 says:
12:59 PM, 02/ 9/09
It's a shame that VW doesn't offer a sport suspension package ala the GLI on this. Or leather seats.
I'm also a little worried about long-term reliability. (VW hasn't exactly been known for that lately.)
That said, a TDI Sportswagen or a TDI A3 may be in my own automotive future...in a year or two.
fadetoblackii says:
03:04 PM, 02/ 9/09
So we're comparing a used car that was all over $30k new to a new car that's $17k? Hmm... yeah, there's probably going to be a few features that you "can't get" on those... sheesh... this is apples to oranges...
threem says:
03:07 PM, 02/ 9/09
Actually, my 2000 jetta has the tilting telescoping wheel and the lights, and it was $16,500 when new. True, I don't have the sunroof, but I am sure you could get a Jetta with a sunroof in 05 for well under 30K.
cwc1 says:
06:18 PM, 02/ 9/09
That's one thing I really liked about the MkIV Jetta. It had a much nicer interior and features that other cars in its class didn't.
banhugh says:
01:51 AM, 02/10/09
"Also, I love that it has the light that comes on over not only the passenger side mirror but the driver side one, too"
What light?
dg0472 says:
05:40 AM, 02/10/09
Sonata GLS? Let's try something a little closer to the Jetta's size, like an Elantra SE. A brand spanking new one with a fully warranty even. Total MSRP : $17,845, with destination and sunroof, telescoping wheel, and dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors. And that's before you even start bargaining. Or better yet how about a used '07 Kia Optima with 30K miles where you could throw in power pedals and still come out around $14K. No, they don't get the same fuel economy, but don't require the about 20% premium diesel commands now either. Overall, this is one of the oddest, strangely reasoned posts I think I've seen.
fadetoblackii says:
10:21 AM, 02/10/09
threem-
yours wasn't a diesel was it? no? didn't think so. go ahead and price a loaded diesel with all the options listed above and get back to us.
threem says:
02:11 PM, 02/10/09
Fadetoblackii,
The post was about features found on an inexpensive car that represent high content for the class. My point was that those features Caroline was talking about were on the base car, so her point that the car has impressive features for the money is still valid, since the base model of the same car has those features.
BTW 2009 jetta TDI with sunroof $23,270 or thereabouts, the rest of what she is talking about is standard fare on any jetta
matt_a says:
02:17 PM, 02/12/09
This 2005 Jetta TDI was nowhere near $30K. It might have been slightly over $20K when it was new. My 2001 Golf GLS TDI with heated seats, sunroof, and alloy wheels was $19300 sticker. And yes, it has all the same features that this test car has.