Consumer Clinic Bluesby Les Bidrawn
To be honest, until now I hadn't spent much time in our Jetta. Not on purpose, mind you. There seemed to be no compelling reason to fight for its keys. I find our Jetta just sort of `there' like the nondescript, glass-faced buildings I pass each day, clean yet unremarkable.
However, I did spend the last month behind its wheel and found the experience satisfying to say the least. Although I find the suspension wanting, I know VW can do better. One only need look at the GLI.
And that is perhaps the problem some people have with the Jetta. At heart, it's a taut sport sedan, lean, lanky and ready to rock. Unfortunately, it is reduced to lesser duties for drivers who regard their cars as more of an appliance than a passion. That VW designs cars for these people makes sense, but it also diminishes its genetic material.
I almost wish VW would only sell GLI models. Declare the Jetta a genuine sport sedan. If potential buyers are not into that kind of experience, they can always buy a Corolla.
That's the thrust here. The idea that VW is building a Euro-style Corolla gives more than a few serious car guys cold sweats. I think that's what put off our man Colin. Take the seats, for example. Our Jetta seats are made for wide bums and feature minimal bolstering for easy entry and exit. That one tends to slide around during spirited driving is a given. The GLI sport seats fix that. The suspension from the GLI does wonders for the Jetta chassis and the GLI's ducktail wing is almost identical to the M3's.
I cannot say enough good about the 2.0T engine; great power, big torque and, depending on your driving style, excellent mileage.
The six-speed transmission is so easy to shift we actually used the Jetta to teach Kelly (our hot 20-year-old intern) how to drive stick. In less than 30 minutes she was shifting like a pro.
I'll admit the Jetta 2.0T has a few weak spots. It's also got a ton of positive stuff going for it that easily outweighs the negative.
Though thinking about it, we should have ordered the GLI.
Hindsight is indeed a wonderful thing.