A German Car?

When it comes to word association, the word Volkswagen always brings one response. That would be "German." This car has all of the outstanding German engineering that you can get for a reasonable price. The only non-German thing about it is its manufactured in Mexico. Also, if you want the current model of Jetta, you better hurry up. This is the last year for the current one, because it will be replaced by a "new and improved version in 2006." I still don't understand why VW is doing this, because this is the best selling European sedan in America. Its also their best product, and it has been around for many years.

The GL comes with a manual five speed transmission, that works exceptionally well. The GL starts at $18,000, and comes with these options: air conditioning, power steering, airbags(Front driver/passenger), side impact airbags, power windows, power mirrors, rear defroster, ABS 4 disc system brakes, cloth seats, AM/FM/CD/CASSETTE player, power locks, and cruise control. The performance is as follows: a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder single overhead cam engine. It is front wheel drive, and this engine gets great gas mileage. (24 miles per gallon in the city, 31 in the highway-EPA) The engine diplaces 122 lbs of torque per foot at 2600 rpm's, and has 115 horsepower. The cars overall weight is 2,895 lbs, and the gas tank can hold 14.5 gallons of unleaded fuel. The tire size is 195/65/15, which are reasonably priced for future tire changes. The car comes with a full size spare-not a donut!

The safety options on this vehicle are incredible. The airbags (both standard and side impact) are a nice feature. Also having 4 disc ABS braking system is practical, as well as inexpensive to service. The cars headlights always illuminate for safety reasons, and the car is equipped with child safety locks. The Jetta has always scored well in crash ratings-every single year, every model. This will help in insurance costs as well.

Worried about the Jetta braking down? Not going to happen very often. While the Jetta has not received the highest ratings such as Honda and Toyota receive, it will be above average in reliability. Also, it has a excellent warranty. The Jetta comes with a 4 year/50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. The only thing that might hurt a bit is Volkswagens are a bit more to repair than other cars. However, they run forever. My friend's Jetta(1989 model) has over 250,000 miles on it. The only thing she has had done is routine maintenance.

The other great thing about this car is its excellent resale value. Usually a Jetta holds on to as much value as Toyota's and Honda's. The residiual value will help you wallet, and they are much better than the competition in this and other categories.(Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Chevy Malibu, Mazda 3)

Here's my total view of the Jetta's driving experience. It is impressive, and drives like a much more expensive German sedan. The visibility is excellent, and the brakes are perfectly tight. They also seem to help the car stop on a dime when needed. The seats are easily adjusted, and moving them back and forward is a cinch. The car is very comfortable for tall people, and the back seat can be pulled down to allow more storage in a already cavernous trunk. The acceleration is quite good, especially when you consider the gas mileage amounts. The steering is easy, and with a flick you can navigate through any situation. Backing up is easy, and the shifting is effortless. There are no blindspot issues, and the accessories work perfectly. The only complaint I have is the radio switches are a little bit small. That may cause problems for people with arthritis or other conditions, but for me it was just a minor nuisance. Its overall very user friendly, and the stereo plays all music types well. Its also easy to preset your favorite stations and settings. The glove compartment has a good amount of room, at least enough to put your registration and a few Cds/cassettes. The engine is very quiet-almost too quiet. The only way to hear the engine is to turn the radio off, and give it some serious gas. Overall handling is excellent, and it is truly German engineering. The power mirrors easily adjust..unlike many other car models.

I would fully recommend this car, because it seems to be the perfect reasonably priced German car. Its overall record and level of fun are outstanding, and there is a reason its sold so well. Its a great car, and you can take the family with it, or drive by yourself and enjoy it.