2009 Jetta TDI Road Test: Has Volkwagen Finally Created The GTI's Little Brother?

I really like this car. The turbo Jetta requires premium gas - so the diesal isn't that much more per gallon. Reports are pushing the mpg to around 45-50 - which is better then the 30 for the turbo.

The car has potential to do well. I think I read that most of the intial shipments have already sold.

The car has a ton of torque. Another postive is the tax credit (not sure how much it is).

— CRS2112 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:10:55 AM | | Votes: 7   

1300 dollars tax credit.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:12:43 AM | | Votes: 7   

Agreed I think VW really has something great on their hands; the fact that these cars are selling out speaks volumes. I see a Diesel in my future

— Jaybrn (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 12:41:05 PM | | Votes: 6   

It's too bad it'll be spending more time at the dealership than in your driveway.

If anyone wants a lift from your VW dealership, I'll be glad to pick you up in my boring, dull Prius and give you a ride home.

— nozferatu (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 3:00:43 PM | | Votes: -7   

The Jetta is highly recommended by ConsumerReports in terms of reliability...troll.

— audirevolution (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:58:17 PM | | Votes: 2   

Oh boy, another victim of false propaganda this "nozferatu". I wonder why people like him even participate in these forums? Car forums are suppose to be places where people who KNOW about cars share opinions, not a place where people who are ignorant enough to believe fairy tales like Honda is reliable and VW is not come to spew garbage. If you believe those fairy tales you should sign up on a Honda forum or on rice or ricer.com where your opinions are shared and more ...appreciated by the fart can community.
Just let us real enthusiasts have discussions at a different level.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 8/16/2008 6:42:51 PM | | Votes: 2   

I don't think that is necessary. I drove the diesel Jetta and the 240 pounds of torque really do the job. But if you still think you need more power, a 500 dollars chip will put you right there at 170-180 hp and about 280-300 pounds of torque.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:19:13 AM | | Votes: 1   

Maybe the U.S. will get the 170 HP diesel in the form of a Passat TDI?

— Bored (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 2:37:14 PM | | Votes: 2   

Buying a Jetta might be considered by some to be the real thing.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 11:27:17 AM | | Votes: 8   

because its way better than the carolla

— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 12:55:48 PM | | Votes: 6   

Yes, and in last weeks US Top Gear, which is an old UK program, Clarkson and Hammond chose alternatives to the "boring ubiquitous" 3 series, Hammond chose a PASSAT while Clarkson chose a Mazda 6.

Clarkson has also written that the Passat is boring, so one mans poison is another mans nectar. And, Clarkson raves about the Golf GTI, absolutely loves it, guess what a Passat is based on? A Golf platform.

— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 1:01:22 PM | | Votes: 1   

3 series is ubiquitous in europe , it`s 10th best selling model in europe .

"Clarkson raves about the Golf GTI, absolutely loves it, guess what a Passat is based on? A Golf platform."

This is the most funny from your statement . Another "platform expert" who judge cars basing on their platforms , who can`t find something that he understand .

BTW I like Clarkson becouse he always says what he really thinks about a car , he`s not paid by automakers .
Read first half of clarkson article about this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article1124046.ece

— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 4:57:08 PM | | Votes: -1   

abcd..

I understand very well, I own both a GTI and a Passat 3.6 4 motion, having prviously owned several Audi's.

Clarkson is great, but everybody has their opinions and I do not have to agree with every car he likes or dislikes. I disagree that the Passat is boring, so does Richard Hammond who has pretty good credentials as well.

I feel the Passat has a better sorted chassis than my previous 3.2Q S line A6. The fact that the Passat is based on a modified Golf platform would seem to bear this out.

— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 7:34:58 PM | | Votes: 2   

Yes and I have opinion that camry isn`t boring :), but unfortunately other think different . The same with your vw passat . Hammond choose it not becouse it`s not boring , but becouse it`s quite good for average british motorist ( of course not with v6 ) , like camry is quite qood for average US motorist but boring ( even with v6 ) . You may be right that it has better chassis than your previous audi becouse I read recently article from credible journalist where he said that he`s surprised new Audi A4 becouse it`s a first audi that can turn , also clarkson said once that audis always had problems with turning becouse of engine behind front bumper . Of course this don`t determine that audis are boring , handling don`t determine some car as boring .

— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 8/16/2008 3:46:48 AM | | Votes: 0   

you don't care about the jetta right? so why would you waste your time to read this article and post on it?

— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2008 3:55:34 PM | | Votes: 5   

1dott8....seems like you've been spending too much time at the dealer with window regulators and coilpack replacements huh?

1.8 can neva loose!!

— nozferatu (View Profile)

Posted on 8/18/2008 2:23:00 AM | | Votes: 1