The results
The H&R Touring Cup Kit was a great choice. The ride height is ideal. It is low enough to give us the look we're after, but I have yet to scrape on anything. The spring and damping rates give a more controlled ride that's perfect at speed, but not too firm for around-town driving. The car changes directions better, freeway ramps can be taken at higher speeds with greater confidence, and mid-corner bumps no longer cause gut-wrenching drama. This kit probably won't satisfy the hardcore track junkie, but for canyon runs and aggressive street driving, it's hard to beat.
The Yokohama Sdrives are impressive. Grip is incredible, steering feedback has increased, and they are even quieter than the stock tires. These tires should cost about the same as the ES100s. For this much performance and comfort, they represent a great value in the performance tire market.
Autotech's brake lines have made pedal feel much more linear. The dead spot is all but gone, but braking performance still isn't everything it could be. The stock pads throw off lots of dust, and heat seems to be an issue on hard runs. We'll have to look a little bit harder for a better solution.
I have yet to warm up to the MkV Jetta's styling, but I must say that the suspension and wheels have really improved aesthetics. While they looked good, the stock 17s were a tad small and didn't fill up the fenders. Proportions are now more in harmony, making the Jetta look like a performance sedan rather than just another commuting hack. If time wasn't an issue, there are a few other things I would address. I find the bejeweled, 'Euro-style' taillights quite gaudy. I guess some designer figured he needed something to balance the chrome battering ram at the front of the car, which could come in handy if I ever need to breach a castle wall. The Oh Crap handle in the center console digs into my knee, and I would like to have a little more aggressive sound. Since we taught the Jetta some new manners, maybe it could handle a little more power. In fact, I'm sure of it.
The Verdict
In hindsight, our last Jetta review was perhaps irrelevant. A born and bred Brit, the author failed to see the Jetta's attraction, a largely European perception. The thing is, we ain't in Europe. This is the United States, a country where the Jetta has given legions of drivers their first taste of a genuine sport sedan. Just look at the sales figures. The Jetta is king and for good reason.
So far, our 2.0T has been a fabulous ride, both robust and very entertaining. It had a few shortcomings, but so does almost anything else with four wheels. I was all prepared to talk about how great the Jetta is, how a few minor tweaks would make it perfect, or simply trade it in for a GLI. Engineering editor Febbo would have none of it. Unbeknownst to the staff, he had a secret agenda: make ec fall in love with the Jetta.I had seen a black-on-black Jetta a day earlier and remember thinking how right black wheels look on black cars. I also began to wonder where our Jetta was, maybe dummy up a set on the computer for effect. Then Febbo called and said he had something to show us. He sounded nervous, excited, maybe both.
He showed up in a Jetta which was clad in brand-new shoes and sitting a tad lower. The car looked like it just came back from a health spa. "I fixed it for you," he said as I took the keys, trying not to smile.
As I entered the freeway on-ramp, the results of his work were obvious. Whereas the torque-laden turbo engine would typically cause a certain amount of pitching and squatting, there was now a steady calm, like an invisible hand was pressing the chassis down. Sliding through traffic, the Jetta felt hugely responsive and aggressive lane changes were performed with surgical precision. It was funny, because as you get to know a car you learn what it can do and how to make the most of it. I was over-driving the Jetta and I'm sure fellow drivers thought I was playing Gran Turismo on the 57 freeway. I was 'that idiot' everyone loves to curse.
Essentially, the Jetta feels like a freshly sharpened blade, one that glides rather than saws through stuff. -Les Bidrawn
I remember typing out the Long-Term Intro on our 2006 Jetta 2.0T. I said a lot of good things about the car, and I wasn't kidding, because at its core I think it's a really good car. The engine and gearbox in particular are extremely well suited to one another and very sporty in their interaction.
The main problem with the base car was the chassis' inability to put the drivetrain's latent enthusiasm to good use. The culprit was a soft and woefully under-damped suspension. We've fixed it. The ride is noticeably firmer than before, but not what you'd call harsh. More importantly, the damping rates are spot-on. This is an upgrade any sport-minded Jetta owner must consider, whether you drive a 2.5L or a 2.0T. Steering inputs feel more significant too, due to superior tires, and the brakes are more inspiring in their actuation. This Jetta now feels like a real European sport sedan-which is, after all, the way it should feel. Its tendency to squat under acceleration has been banished, the unsettled feeling in bends and during freeway-speed lane changes eradicated.
We never really asked for matte-black wheels, but I think they were a great choice. Along with the black paint, they make the car look at least 50 percent meaner. Now, about those taillights...-Karl Funke