2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Great Gauges

I still think that VW should give you more of a spread between 0-60. Although the Jetta's gauges seem a little roomier than the Audi's with the larger dials and simpler markings.

I'd have to agree. I test drove a TDI last week (great car), and was really impressed with the gauge setup. The LCD display in the center was very useful and almost heard of at this price class.

* sorry unheard of at this price point. Edit button please??

I did feel like the MkV gauges looked a little less aggressive than the MkIV's, and they kinda ruined the GTI's gauges with those deep-set faces and stubby needles. VW also needs to stop putting 160 MPH speedos in 120 MPH cars, or 180 MPH speedos in 140 MPH cars. But the Jetta/Rabbit's design is definitely clean and readable, if a bit boring.

clarkma5: these cars are only electonically limited... chipped GTI's have gone over 160 MPH.

The center screen looks identical to that of the '98-'04 A6 (the gauge layout is remarkably similar, too). Maybe they had some leftover screen units that trickled down. Either way, it was very functional, until it patches of pixels would die out in hot weather, which was a typical fate. Hopefully they don't do that anymore.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was VW thinking, the temperature gauge needle doesn't line up on the center hash mark. Who would ever buy this car now??!!

I agree, but for one annoying flaw: The tach is labeled in rpm x 100, not rpm x 1,000. As a result the rev counter has the numerals 20, 30, 40, 50 -- just like a speedo -- instead of 2, 3, 4, 5, like you'd find on any normal tach.

I always do a double-take in this car (and the Golf GTI I drove every day years ago), especially when engine revs and speed are within 10 of each other. It seems careless to greate a potential point of confusion like this, and I can only assume it must relate to how spoken numbers are translated into numerals in German. Can any German-speakers confirm or deny this theory?

My dad's old MG had a tach that was numbered in rpm x 100, so it's not just German cars.

"OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was VW thinking, the temperature gauge needle doesn't line up on the center hash mark. Who would ever buy this car now??!!"

actually, it does. the angle at which the picture was taken makes it seem as if it does not though.

in German, the numbers are the same...the only different is that in German, when speaking a 2-digit number, you say the second digit first, and then 20, 30, 40, etc. that whole thing has nothing to do with why they put the numbers as a grouping of 10 X 100 though. its just simple how they label the guages in Europe...you'll see the same thing in a Saturn Astra or Saab 9-3

One of the good "little things" that makes VW's special is the fact that the tach reads in double digits instead of Japanese style single digits. I hope they never change it...its definitely a Euro thing. Fiats did it too. And the way the gas gauge doesn't say F or E but 1/1 or 0. These days in the under $20k class gotta take the little "extras" where we can get them.