Sittin Waitin Wishin: 2014 Jetta GLI

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein) 07/03/2014 at 10:56 • Filed to: Sittin Waitin Wishin, Volkswagen, VW, GLI

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Last week we did a fantastic cheap car, one that was then recommended to me to go drive. I haven't yet, but I will, hopefully soon. With this week's SWW, I figured we can stick with the cheap car theme and talk about a car that used to be a fairly cheap but has been progressively moving up market. This week's SWW is all about the VDub! Specifically the Jetta GLI, the go faster version of the standard Jetta. VW fan boys will point out all the racy features, all the subtle differences between this and the standard Jetta. But really if you buy this car, you don't care about all those subtle differences, you want the anonymity; you don't want the bozozuka fenders or appearance. You are looking for a refined quick car that you can switch from your daily driver to full beast track mode by just putting your foot into it more. While it's sister the GTI has more of a boy racer feel, this car is built for the person that needs to be presentable, by also has a half tattoo sleeve under their button down shirt. Essentially, it's the perfect car for this series, not much on the exterior, all on the interior! But here is the problem, I lost the pictures I took of this car, so to Google we go!

Because this person needs space, most likely for children and stuff of that nature, the trunk space is massive. You could literally fit all of the Jalopnik staff in here without anyone really feeling that claustrophobic. Moving into the interior of the cabin, the supposed up market feel has gone down in quality. VW is supposed to be a step behind Audi, but the interior feels like 2 or 3 steps behind Audi. Specifically, some parts of the leather is designed to look like carbon fiber. This was so poorly executed that it felt like it was going to fall apart in my hands. What's funny is that the faux carbon plastic dash panels feel nicer than they probably should.

( Whoever is shooting for MotorTrend is awesome! )

What's also nice is the driver's area. The addition of a flat bottom steering wheel is nice for the larger people, or those that want to track the car. It feels really nice too; the leather is soft and conforms to your hands very easily. The front seat in general is very nice. The seat is soft and there is some great bolstering to keep you in the seat when driving enthusiastically. And to accompany you on your spirited drive, VW has also included the ability to spec the Jetta out with a Fender acoustic stereo system. I personally tried this out, it bumps and bumps awesomely. What isn't nice for the driver or at least not most people that track their cars is not including the option for three pedals. Three pedals would be awesome with this car, but the fact you get a slightly modified DSG, the same kind you get in a Porsche is pretty awesome.

Headroom is great in the front, I've got at least 3 to 5in's between my head and the roof. This is by far one of the best front seats I sat in at the show this year. Where that awesomeness ends is in the rear seats. The back seats headroom is a joke if you're more than 5'3", or don't care about breaking your spine. Somehow though what won't suffer in the rear seats are your legs. The rear legroom is like sitting in an S-Class it's that massive. So whoever designed this car has a torso that's like a foot, with 19ft of legs?

( Don't pay any attention to the different interiors )

What do you then get with this middle management hoonmobile? You get an exterior that belies a conservative 1950's Dad mentality. But move to the interior and you are immediately greeted with bits of racy carbon fiber, a flat bottomed steering wheel, and some great sport seats. In other words, while the exterior is all 1950's, the interior is all from this decade. With the addition of the stereo you could transform your drive to and from your cubicle hell into a much more spirited drive, but when you get there you could blend in and pretend you actually belong, keeping your head down, until one day you decide you've had enough and quit while flipping a desk as you walk out. What's the verdict then? This GLI isn't as nice as the previous one, its way more sleeper, but the interior is still good. It could use better materials in the interior to really step up its game and let people know that they are in an up market car.

You can find me here on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Photos via MotorTrend

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 11:05

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Points for great write up and for using points at the end.

Vicente Esteve > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 11:24

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Liked the article a lot, and agree with pretty much everything. As a VW fanboy I respect this car a lot, and would like to drive one so badly. The early 2012 GLI is even more of a sleeper, since it didn't have LEDs. Still, I want one so badly.

Stupidru > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 11:33

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"What isn't nice for the driver or at least not most people that track their cars is not including the option for three pedals. Three pedals would be awesome with this car, but the fact you get a slightly modified DSG, the same kind you get in a Porsche is pretty"

Wait what? I drove a GLI with the option for a third pedal, and it was fantastic.

Jonathon Klein > Stupidru 07/03/2014 at 11:37

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I didn't see it on the build sheet at the show as an option. Must have been wrong.

Party-vi > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 12:12

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No manual?

(°° 

Axial > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 13:15

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I don't think this is a 2015 GLI. At most recent, I think this is a 2010 GLI. Besides the tail lights, the trunk lid hinges are a dead giveaway; these are better than the ones on the 2015.

Jonathon Klein > Axial 07/03/2014 at 13:19

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MotorTrend lied to me then

Axial > Jonathon Klein 07/03/2014 at 13:23

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