Picked up the Jetta today

"AM" (ap18961)
04/08/2015 at 15:29 • Filed to: None

It's so little! This sure is going to take a while to get used to. I do like how much easier this car is to drive in the city though and it fits in every parking spot, definitely a new thing for me.

After I drive this car for a week I'll write a post sharing my first impressions.

Here's an under hood comparison between the Jetta and Yukon:

DISCUSSION (41)

bob and john > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:31

you are going to LOVE dat fuel economy.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:34

How do you know you are in the US part 1; The VW Jetta is considered a tiny car :P

AM > bob and john
04/08/2015 at 15:35

I'm already excited! Going from 18mpg hwy to 42mpg hwy.

AM > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 15:38

That made me laugh haha! While it's certainly no Fiat 500 it sure feels quite tiny compared to my previous daily driver.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:42

If I made you laugh my work here is done ;)

I understand though, I really do.. But I can't help but laugh when Americans describe cars like the Mercedes S-Class as a "Smallish" car (yup, that happened).

bob and john > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:42

you should be able to eek out 45+...brand new car?

AM > bob and john
04/08/2015 at 15:46

No it has close to 18,000km on it so past the break in period, I'm just going by the EPA ratings on the Jetta since I haven't even been through a full tank of fuel yet. I'm confident I can get more than the 42mpg on my daily highway commute.

AM > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 15:49

You've seen/heard someone say the S class is "smallish" ?? That is just nuts! I think that car is just massive, I seen a LWB model not too long ago and all I could think was "nope, would never want that as a daily driver"

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:53

Someone here described the S-class as smallish in a post about towing a Charger (Dogde) :P

bob and john > AM
04/08/2015 at 15:56

Oh, epa on these cars is total bullshit.

Our A3 TDI was rated at 36. we REGULARLY get 45+. I have no idea WTF epa was doing to their to get such a low number

ly2v8-Brian > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 15:57

Dogde eh? Is that what they're called in Norway?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > ly2v8-Brian
04/08/2015 at 15:59

Posting from my phone.. sorry about that.

ly2v8-Brian > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 16:00

No need to apologize I'm just giving you a bit of grief.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > ly2v8-Brian
04/08/2015 at 16:04

;) I still hate stuff like that.. I've got dyslexia, so I usually make sure I spell stuff correctly, but that damn phone though.

ly2v8-Brian > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 16:36

didn't know that.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > ly2v8-Brian
04/08/2015 at 16:40

Don't feel bad about it though :) I make fun of stuff like that myself :)

AM > bob and john
04/08/2015 at 16:47

I read something a few years ago that said they purposely rate TDI's lower than they can actually get. I can't remember what their reasoning behind the whole thing was but it was a good read.

AM > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 16:48

Hey if you can make fun of yourself in front of others than you're the right kind of person.

ly2v8-Brian > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
04/08/2015 at 16:49

I do it to. I appreciate your level-headed ness rather than the usual internet interaction.

BKRM3 > AM
04/08/2015 at 17:33

My winter/daily commute ride is a 2004 Silverado 1500 Z71 with the 5.3L engine. Had to take it to the shop a couple weeks ago for some service. While it was gone I drove the girlfriend's 2013 Jetta (with the 2.0L 4-cyl) to work. I've driven the Jetta many times before, but never right after a solid three months of driving nothing but the truck. Holy cow what a transition! It was like driving a sports car! I can totally understand your delight.

You know what's even crazier? Going from the truck to the M3. Mind blown. Still love the truck though. Big vehicles have their benefits!

AM > BKRM3
04/08/2015 at 17:50

It is quite different. You are low to the ground unlike the truck where you can see over everyone. I've never had the chance to drive an M3 but I've always loved them.

Trucks/SUVs do have a lot of uses which is why I'm going to keep the Yukon. It will be better for any long trips, towing a small trailer if needed, driving after a heavy snowfall, etc. I just needed something more practical for my long work commute.

Confused Miata > AM
04/08/2015 at 18:04

I went from a mid-size SUV to my Jetta (2013 2.5 auto) and it was a big difference. I could feel the difference in lightness and pep.

AM > Confused Miata
04/08/2015 at 18:26

My Yukon feels faster than the Jetta but the car just whips around corners like nothing, it has me quite impressed so far and I haven't even had it for 24 hours yet. On the highway drive home and around town today it was quiet, comfortable and effortless but it is quick and feels like pretty sporty if you drive a little harder.

jkm7680 > AM
04/08/2015 at 19:09

Ooh and brown also.

AM > jkm7680
04/08/2015 at 19:36

Yeah! I try to stay away from the typical black, white or silver cars since there is so many of them these days. When I went to the dealer this one really caught my eye, it was tucked in between a Jetta and Passat which were both white (go figure).

jkm7680 > AM
04/08/2015 at 19:37

Buy, lease? Love brown V-Dubs.

Ryan A. > AM
04/08/2015 at 19:40

From what I read — when I was very briefly thinking of getting a TDI Jetta — is that people rarely get the advertised fuel economy and are able to (with little effort) do much, much better.

BKRM3 > AM
04/08/2015 at 19:43

the jetta will treat you well on the highway! We drove ours from Philly to Miami last June. It got something like 36mpg if the car's computer is accurate-ish.

AM > Ryan A.
04/08/2015 at 19:44

I don't doubt it! One guy on here said he's been getting 52mpg hwy in his, damn impressive.

AM > jkm7680
04/08/2015 at 19:49

I'm financing it. I put a $10k down payment on it and paid the taxes so I only owe $13k now. I'm paying just over $576/month for it for 2 years. I plan on paying the rest off before then though just have to budget properly so I don't blow all my savings.

AM > BKRM3
04/08/2015 at 19:52

I've received a lot of feedback that makes me feel like I got the right car. Is your's the diesel model or gas?

jkm7680 > AM
04/08/2015 at 19:53

Not bad! Great purchase, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

AM > jkm7680
04/08/2015 at 19:59

It's all worth it in the end, I plan on keeping it around until it dies.

jkm7680 > AM
04/08/2015 at 20:01

That's pretty awesome!

BKRM3 > AM
04/09/2015 at 08:18

Gas. 2.0L four cylinder. Pretty gutless. The diesel should be even better.

AM > BKRM3
04/09/2015 at 09:28

36 for the gas engine is pretty good. I find they don't feel overly gutless unless you are comparing to the diesel which has all that extra torque.

BKRM3 > AM
04/09/2015 at 10:59

Hahaha ok, maybe not completely gutless but it's hard to go from 414hp to 115 and maintain an objective opinion. And I'm not exaggerating - the 2.0 gas engine makes only 115hp. With the diesel you get all that extra torque and even better fuel economy. It's a shame that it costs so much more than the base gas engine model. Maybe on the used market they'll be closer in price? I haven't done any research there. I think we'll be moving on to something else once the lease is up next April.

AM > BKRM3
04/09/2015 at 12:35

Wow 414hp do you have a tune on your truck? Also, the diesel engine only makes 140hp but it has 236lb-ft of torque to go with it.

I picked up mine for $23,495 plus taxes and it's a 2013 with just under 18,000km on it. It's a top of the line model to so it was priced very good.

BKRM3 > AM
04/09/2015 at 12:51

Sounds like a great buy!

Haha no the truck only has 295hp/330lbs-ft of torque. The M3 has 414hp/295lbs-ft of torque. =)

AM > BKRM3
04/09/2015 at 13:12

I was about to say jesus fuck you have a lot more power than me lol I have the 5.3 in my Yukon as well, it's a good motor.

BKRM3 > AM
04/09/2015 at 16:33

Love the 5.3 in the silverado! It has a K&N cold air intake, brand new y-pipe and cats from walker (old cats fell apart and clogged the muffler) and a performance muffler that was on the truck when I got it. Don't know the brand. I absolutely love that small block - works great, sounds great.