As some of our readers will remember, we had a Jetta 2.0T long-termer a couple years ago. Staffers had a few complaints, not least of which was the soft, "floaty" suspension. We don't have the same complaint with this car. VW seems to have replaced the mushy spring and damping rates with something more suited to wearing the VW badge. While it's no GLI, it is very livable for an enthusiast. The car does roll, dive and squat slightly, but lift-throttle oversteer is entertaining enough and the car will hold its own on a canyon road. The tires are best described as efficient. They perform admirably for a 205/55/16s, but performance-minded drivers should opt for something more substantial. Jettas can be ordered from the factory with wheel sizes ranging from 16 to 18 inches, so this is a problem that can be cleared up before the car even rolls off the lot.
One thing that can't be cleared up with the order sheet is the brakes. The problem may be more ours than VW's. A lot of cars we drive come equipped with binders that elongate eyeballs and bend ears. The Jetta's brakes are just normal. While they're adequate for the stock car, bigger tires and a better suspension will leave the stock brakes wanting.
When we ordered our car, VW's new touchscreen nav and entertainment system was unavailable. We have sampled them on other cars and were impressed. We're trying to get one to retrofit, and that may just be the beginning of the modifications our long-termer will see.
We're looking forward to the coming year. We've driven TDI racecars and were left convinced of the sporting possibilities of oil-burners. We know how good our last Jetta was with just a few mods, so we really see potential in this car. The most exciting thing? If you don't look at the numbers on the tach, you don't even know anything is different.
At A Glance
+ Mileage, torque, fit and finish
- Average brakesTotal mileage: 2,012
Consumption average: 38.5 mph
Not a week after we took delivery...
Not a week after we took delivery of our long-term TDI, Volkswagen arranged to have a new body kit installed. Here's what the car looks like off the showroom floor... the rest of the shots on these pages are with the kit installed. The aerodynamics are modeled after those worn by the TDI Cup cars and the kit is available for purchase by regular customers as a port-of-entry or dealer-installed option. More information will be forthcoming in our first long-term update, as well as at www.europeancarweb.com.
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
*Layout
Transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
*Engine
2.0-liter I4, dohc, 16-valve, turbocharged, common rail direct-injection, catalytic converter and particulate filter equipped
*Transmission
Six-speed DSG
*Performance
Peak Power: 140 hp @ 4000 rpm
Peak Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
0-60 mph: 8.2 sec.
Top Speed: 128 mph
*Base Price: $21,990
*Price as Equipped: $24,090
*Options: DSG transmission: $1,100;
sunroof: $1,000