2011 VW Jetta sucks.

[Edd]

I was a VW lover in my late teens/twenties (4 Rabbits) and my roommate had a Fox. I thought that car was pretty fun to drive.

 

[Glenn]

An air cooled in the front...that must have been a pretty interesting set up.

 

[bvibert]

An air cooled in the front...that must have been a pretty interesting set up.

I know I'd be freaked out if I opened the hood of a Fox and found an air cooled engine in there...

 

[darent]

had a VW beetle in 68, great car, cheap to run and fix, got drafted and my brother drove it. had a sguare back 1600 in 72-73-74. never had a problem with it and drove it all over the usa. you had to readjust the carb at altitude or it was a pig

 

[Geoff]

The 2011 Jetta is a total POS. It has the wimpy 2.0L engine and can't get out of it's own way. They cheaped out on the interior. It even has rear drum brakes.

 

[ctenidae]

Dropped my car off for warranty service this morning, and got an automatic C300 as a loaner. I only drove it about a mile to work, but I think I can say, without fear of contradiction (because it's my opinion) that I hate automatic transmissions. This doesn't change anything I said about the Jetta, but it does temper the transmission issues.

The car feels heavier, more sluggish, and a whole lot looser than mine. It's akin to being inside a marshmallow. Weird.

/gonna hate shopping for a new car next spring, as more and more standards fall out of production...

 

[Puck it]

My daughter has the 2.5L in her 2011 and has decent power. The base model does suck. The car is a good teenager though for the price. And no headaches for me.

 

[Geoff]

My daughter has the 2.5L in her 2011 and has decent power. The base model does suck. The car is a good teenager though for the price. And no headaches for me.

The inline 5 isn't a bad engine. The 2.slow in the base model is pathetic. I agree about it being a good teen car. For an econobox, VWs are as good as you're going to get in a crash. I have been renting I5 Jettas from Hertz. I'd never mistake it for my GTI but it's way better than a Corolla. The Chevy Cruze is the other thing I swap to when Hertz tries to give me a Corolla as an "intermediate". For a $16,000 GM shitbox, it's not bad.

 

[Puck it]

The inline 5 isn't a bad engine. The 2.slow in the base model is pathetic. I agree about it being a good teen car. For an econobox, VWs are as good as you're going to get in a crash. I have been renting I5 Jettas from Hertz. I'd never mistake it for my GTI but it's way better than a Corolla. The Chevy Cruze is the other thing I swap to when Hertz tries to give me a Corolla as an "intermediate". For a $16,000 GM shitbox, it's not bad.

We actually looked at the Cruze. A lot of car for the money. She just like the VW better though.

 

[Nick]

After my brother's Audi experience and my sister's 2004 Jetta, and all of its problems, I will never consider either brand.

My first two cars were VW's but the second was a 1993 VW Passat GLX and while the interior was great on that car it caused me so many problems.

I paid $5k for the car at the time. In 1 year I put over $5500 into it (including routine maintenance items like tires / brakes) and sold it for $1800 a year later.

Worst car experience ever. :angry:

 

[Riverskier]

I just bought one of these 2011 Jetta base models. I more or less agree with the critisisms, but for $15,500 brand new, it is hard to beat. I personally like the look, handling, find it very comfortable and spacious, and have been getting 35 mpg, which is good in my book. Comparisons to higher priced cars really aren't relevant to me, as I wanted new and cheap. They had a beautiful Golf GTI in the showroom for $31,000, but that was not in the cards!

 

[Glenn]

The inline 5 isn't a bad engine. The 2.slow in the base model is pathetic. I agree about it being a good teen car. For an econobox, VWs are as good as you're going to get in a crash. I have been renting I5 Jettas from Hertz. I'd never mistake it for my GTI but it's way better than a Corolla. The Chevy Cruze is the other thing I swap to when Hertz tries to give me a Corolla as an "intermediate". For a $16,000 GM shitbox, it's not bad.

The 2.0 is an old engine! Single overhead, 8v. I had the same engine in my 1994 Jetta. It wasn't a rocket in that car...I can't even imagine how it is in a car three generations newer...and heavier.

C&D says it's "OK": http://blog.caranddriver.com/10best...ty-okay-which-is-to-say-better-than-expected/

 

[ctenidae]

I just bought one of these 2011 Jetta base models. I more or less agree with the critisisms, but for $15,500 brand new, it is hard to beat. I personally like the look, handling, find it very comfortable and spacious, and have been getting 35 mpg, which is good in my book. Comparisons to higher priced cars really aren't relevant to me, as I wanted new and cheap. They had a beautiful Golf GTI in the showroom for $31,000, but that was not in the cards!

No doubt, for what it is, it's fine. I just don't want one.

 

[Riverskier]

No doubt, for what it is, it's fine. I just don't want one.

I don't blame you seeing the cars you drive! I simply can't afford an expensive car, or even a $20,000 car, for which most people on here would consider cheap. Luckily (in this case) I have never owned a high end car, so I have no point of reference, and actually consider the Jetta to be pretty nice inside and out. It does have a serious lack of power, but the 5 speed helps a little, and 95% of my driving is on country roads and highways, and no city driving at all, which might actually require acceleration. Fortunately for me, I have never been a "car guy", and it is really just transportation for me. The lower price point definitely sold me on the car, but it remains to be seen what it will do for the VW brand.

 

[AdironRider]

Supposedly the new Jetta has been selling pretty damn well, so VW must be onto something with the cheap stuff.

While I have yet to drive one, Id be seriously tempted at a Jetta sedan base model with a stick if and when I move back east. Truck will be paid off at that point, and it would be a good new car for the wife.

 

[deadheadskier]

Didn't base Golfs used to be cheaper than a base Jetta?

Anyone driven the base Golf? It's also pretty inexpensive at 18K for the base 2 door. Wonder if it too suffers similar short comings as some folks are lamenting about the base Jetta. Sucks you can't get a MT in the 4 door unless you go the TDI route.

 

[AdironRider]

Didn't base Golfs used to be cheaper than a base Jetta?

Anyone driven the base Golf? It's also pretty inexpensive at 18K for the base 2 door. Wonder if it too suffers similar short comings as some folks are lamenting about the base Jetta. Sucks you can't get a MT in the 4 door unless you go the TDI route.

I know with the Golf TDI it has the same suspension and everything as the Golf GTI, just a diesel motor. Not sure if that applies to the Jetta line as well. But the diesel golf I know for sure is pretty sporty.

 

[o3jeff]

Didn't they bring the Rabbit back last year or the year before?

 

[JimG.]

I don't blame you seeing the cars you drive! I simply can't afford an expensive car, or even a $20,000 car, for which most people on here would consider cheap. Luckily (in this case) I have never owned a high end car, so I have no point of reference, and actually consider the Jetta to be pretty nice inside and out. It does have a serious lack of power, but the 5 speed helps a little, and 95% of my driving is on country roads and highways, and no city driving at all, which might actually require acceleration. Fortunately for me, I have never been a "car guy", and it is really just transportation for me. The lower price point definitely sold me on the car, but it remains to be seen what it will do for the VW brand.

We think alike in this case...I too look only for reliable transport in a car.

For me, it's the nature of my job. I do like cars and would love to own a high end sports car like a Porsche.

I'm saving that for when I'm a really old fart and can't ski as hard anymore...at that point I will become the older fart who drives way too fast. Plus, I'll have the disposable income to afford the ridiculous maintenance charges that come with owning German vehicles in general.

 

[AdironRider]

Rabbit/Golf = one and the same. Just a different generation. The add campaigns were pretty funny though for the Rabbit.