wagon? THe Jetta seems to be pretty cool with having MT, Diesel and a sport wagon. Is there any plans for manual wagons in the USA or a Diesel? Any feedback on the Jetta TDI appreciated.

I test drove the Jetta TDI 6-speed a couple of times, and it was under serious consideration as a replacement for my 2005 A6 (I want a car that averages over 30MPG).

The engine is smooth and torquey.. but not as quick as a B8 or my C6. The interior is nice, not as luxurious as Audi, but the styling is similar. Fit and finish appear to be excellent.

My biggest gripe with the Jetta TDI is the rather lackluster handling and braking. Not very sporty. Nothing a few grand in aftermarket parts and tuning wouldn't fix though. I wish VW would offer a TDI/GTI version. I also wish VW would offer the CC in AWD with a TDI engine. I also wish Audi would sell us Americans a TDI A4.

I keep wishing, and not buying, because nobody really offers a decent quality high-mileage car yet. That new Tesla Model S has me very intrigued, though.

--Phil

I test drove the Jetta TDI 6-speed a couple of times, and it was under serious consideration as a replacement for my 2005 A6 (I want a car that averages over 30MPG).

The engine is smooth and torquey.. but not as quick as a B8 or my C6. The interior is nice, not as luxurious as Audi, but the styling is similar. Fit and finish appear to be excellent.

My biggest gripe with the Jetta TDI is the rather lackluster handling and braking. Not very sporty. Nothing a few grand in aftermarket parts and tuning wouldn't fix though. I wish VW would offer a TDI/GTI version. I also wish VW would offer the CC in AWD with a TDI engine. I also wish Audi would sell us Americans a TDI A4.

I keep wishing, and not buying, because nobody really offers a decent quality high-mileage car yet. That new Tesla Model S has me very intrigued, though.

--Phil

Some things to keep in mind with the Jetta:

1) This is a class below Audi (downgrade).
2) This is a class below a mid-size sedan (downgrade).
3) VW's still have poor reliability (check Consumer Reports's last five years).
4) The price of diesel goes up and down. More up than down in the past seven years.
5) Diesels are known to start off and sound quiet when new, but as the miles pile on, they end up soundind like a 1976 Mercedes 300D (IE, junk). All reports back in 2000 stated the then new Jetta TDI was quiet and clatter--free, but if you hear one driving down the road today, it's embarassing.

Some things to keep in mind with the Jetta:

1) This is a class below Audi (downgrade).
Yes, it may have fewer features
2) This is a class below a mid-size sedan (downgrade).
Actually, while it is smaller outside, the interior space is quite similar. Why is a smaller car auomatically a downgrade?
3) VW's still have poor reliability (check Consumer Reports's last five years).
Yeah - and Audi get stellar marks on CR:rolleyes:. The fact remains that the reliability of VW is on par with that of Audi - or any of the European manufacturers
4) The price of diesel goes up and down. More up than down in the past seven years.
I'm not sure if that is a factual statement - although it feels correct in the DC area. I'm not sure how true it is in the rustbelt or in other areas of the country where there is lots of trucking.
5) Diesels are known to start off and sound quiet when new, but as the miles pile on, they end up soundind like a 1976 Mercedes 300D (IE, junk). All reports back in 2000 stated the then new Jetta TDI was quiet and clatter--free, but if you hear one driving down the road today, it's embarassing.
That is also quite wrong. Diesels have gotten quieter over the years and the 2000 Jetta TDI is as quiet now as it was then - but it is still much louder than a truly modern diesel. In addition, most older diesels have tons of miles on them and may have had spotty maintenance. A properly maintained diesel will not get any more noisier over time than a gasoline engine with similar mileage.

In addition, how many 1976 gasoline cars do you see running around with high mileage? Since when is a Mercedes 300 series car considered junk.

These inaccurate generalities serve no purpose but to perpetuate a myth about VWs or diesels.

Quite frankly, my VW R32 was as well assembled - and had more features - than the A3 3.2. In addition, the interior seemed more luxurious and had more space. Aside from that it handled far better than the A3.

Yeah, VW nailed the R32. And the exhaust note - intoxicating.

Too bad they didn't fix the dealer network...

AWD an option? Wasn't the last I checked. No AWD = chains = "not gonna happen"

In addition, how many 1976 gasoline cars do you see running around with high mileage? Since when is a Mercedes 300 series car considered junk.

These inaccurate generalities serve no purpose but to perpetuate a myth about VWs or diesels.

Quite frankly, my VW R32 was as well assembled - and had more features - than the A3 3.2. In addition, the interior seemed more luxurious and had more space. Aside from that it handled far better than the A3.

I don't think you have some of your facts straight. VW reliability has been well below average for quite some time, and certainly lower than Audi's if you look at any Consumer Reports book the last ten years. Jettas, Passats, and Beetles all rank low (black dots or half black dots). While the Audi A3, A4, and A6 models have been average or above. More, my own 1999 Passat had a lot of problems. My 2003 A4 was built much nicer and visited the dealership less. Out of all the Euro makes, Audi is the most reliable.
Second, a smaller car that that costs less and does not have a luxury brand name is generally considered a "downgrade" to many people. This may not be how Europeans think, but this is how America thinks and how American car companies have reacted in the last twenty years (SUV craze, etc). Although I too find it silly and shallow, America has always equated size with status and prestige.
Third, I had a neighbor who had the mentioned Mercedes 300D (I could have the year wrong). He didn't trash it, but he didn't baby it either. The thing sounded like a P-51 Mustang. Maybe the word "junk" is too harsh, but it sounded like the three 2000 Jetta TDI's I've heard on the road. They are all noisy, knocking, and obtrusive. Maybe these three were all coincidences, but it sure got me thinking twice about the promises made by VW.
More, I've been following the auto industry for a heck of a long time and noticed the same promises made by every manufacturer. It goes like this..."...this new diesel is amazing... no clatter, knocking, or vibrations like the diesels of yesterday." Then five to six years later I hear the noisy VW's at a stop light. Sorry, but I am not convinced through my own experiences that today's diesel is going to remain quiet as the miles pile on.

I think if Audi brought a Diesel A4 over it would be auto only.

Well, yes. Moving from Audi to VW generally speaking is going to be a "downgrade". But if you're like me and your goal is to own a car that averages 30MPG minimum, your choices begin to narrow. Sadly, nothing from Audi or any of the premium luxury brands achieves that mileage. What's left are cheap econo-boxes, a bland Prius or Camry Hybrid... or a couple of other more enthusiast-oriented choices. One of them is the VW Jetta TDI. Not quite an Audi, but if you load it up with options, its not bad. The other is the Mini Cooper Clubman S.

There are no AWD cars on the market that average over 30MPG.

Next year Audi will bring the A3 TDI to the US, which to me is a more appealing choice than any of the high-mileage vehicles offered now. Having said that, I really like the Tesla Model S that was revealed this week.

As far as diesel prices go, here in Ohio, they seem to be sitting about 10-15% higher than regular gasoline. That extra cost is more than offset by the very high mileage you can achieve with a car like a Jetta TDI. Some owners are reporting figures around 50MPG.