Good job with the new Corolla, there, Volkswagen. :sad: :thumbdn:

The new Jetta is totally lame. :egads:

It looks to me as though they'll be offering ONE U.S. engine choice: a 2.5 liter inline 5-cyl petrol (rated at a pulse-deadening 150 normally aspirated horsepower :boring: ) mated to a 6 speed auto tranny. From their U.S. website, it looks like, at least initially - this will be the primary and only power option. So they must be dropping the other powerplants, probably citing slow sales of the diesel and base petrol (2.0L) powerplants, and the maintenance problems associated w/ the 1.8T.

Volkswagen's marketing is insulting to boot. Don't believe me? Check out their website. It's full of one-liners like:

"Have you hugged a curve today?" :chicken: (see 3rd picture)

I don't mean to go crazy here - :wild: - but I like the current Jetta (especially the overpriced GLI); perhaps irrationally so, but this new generation just promises to squash the stand-out nature, the uniqueness - if you will, of the current car ... (its appearance no longer suggests "German-Import" ... but rather something awkwardly straddling "Korean" and "EGGY!!!!!!!!!!!!").

Here are some pictures: (Regarding the first one - Flash drew the "race number + flame" ... I bear no responsibility for that flagrant incongruity.)

M.

(/rant and myself)

The interior seems to have retained its upscale appearance.

But I still prefer the current gen.

The rear is just a travesty ... it's truly disappointing and hideous and Corolla ... not that there's anything wrong with that ... IF you're a Corolla kinda guy/gal ...

And check out the ACCESSORIES!!!!!

:egads: :egads: :egads: :egads: :egads: :egads: :egads:

"... in case you feel like dressing up."

Those tail-lamps are making a strong case for me to hurl ... all over the place.

To me it's not bad, it just isn't Jetta-esk. I agree it looks a lot like the Corolla. That's the problem. I too, like the current model. I like the past model also. They are German looking, teutonic. Maybe they think more people will confuse it with the Corolla and sell more. One thing they can't copy...Corolla reliability. They probably didn't even try.

I saw it at the Detriot auto show and in the flesh it looks a LOT better than these pics. :thumbup:

Actually I like the look a lot. I'm also convinced that people on this board like NOTHING coming out these days.

interior is nice but a wood grain shift knob in a jetta? :uh:

interior is nice but a wood grain shift knob in a jetta? :uh:
Maybe it's faux wood ? I don't like it BTW, but it'll probably handle better than a Corolla.

it looks like a focus with wheels from a saturn

Actually I like the look a lot. I'm also convinced that people on this board like NOTHING coming out these days.

I'm curious ... do we have to be forced to like EVERYTHING that comes out these days? Sure, styling is subjective, but for most enthusiants, many new cars just aren't getting good styling.

I for one agree with others that this really looks like a Corolla, and looks more like a Japanese car than it does a German car. I'm not sure what VW was thinking here. The German auto makers in general seem to be using more and more styling cues from the Japanese. The IS shaped headlights on the 2006 BMW 7 Series is another example.

It's funny how German auto fans always complained that Toyota was copying styling from MB, and I don't know if that's true or not, but now, where it *seems* to be the other way around, German auto fans are keeping quiet, and yet Toyota fans are being humble and not pouncing on the MB fans or anything. What I mean to say is, Toyota fans seem to have more honour and respect than *most* german auto enthusiasts. I have seen this trend universally across all car boards.

It seems in general, the Germans really are struggling, and are trying to adopt some of the Japanese strategies and techniques in order to improve their sales. An example, this year, VW has said it will be using the same electrical supplier as Toyota, thus improving their quality and reliability. That remains to be seen of course.

I'm curious ... do we have to be forced to like EVERYTHING that comes out these days? Sure, styling is subjective, but for most enthusiants, many new cars just aren't getting good styling.

No, you just have to like SOMETHING.

Seriously, nobody likes ANYTHING coming out these days. Personally I would hate to be a designer these days. The fact is, it is almost impossible to create a car that does not look like something out there already. Just MHO!

No, you just have to like SOMETHING.


That's cool.

I do like some vehicles coming out now.

I like Infiniti's crazy styling. I can tolerate all of Mazda's new products. Some new products from Chrysler (the 300 and the Pacifica) are tolerable. I like most of Mercedes' styling (except for the ML). I like Lexus' current line-up and I'm currently warming up to the new GS.

The Jetta redesign, however, I do not like. One reason being that it's lost its identifcation as a German entry level sedan in favor of looking like a Corolla. Another reason being that the powerplant (SINGULAR) that will be offered is stodgy and lame.

They could have and, in my opinion, should have done much better.

M.

No, you just have to like SOMETHING.

Seriously, nobody likes ANYTHING coming out these days. Personally I would hate to be a designer these days. The fact is, it is almost impossible to create a car that does not look like something out there already. Just MHO!

I like most of the Toyota/Lexus lineup. I like the 300C. The new GS is just gorgeous IMO, and I eagerly await to see the other new redesigns. I like a few new Mercedes cars, the CLS being my favourite so far. I actually think the Chevy Cobalt looks pretty nice too. And Nissan has some decent styling as well.

All I'm saying is, if a car looks bad, we shouldn't be forced to like it. Honestly, the new jetta looks average, but what makes it worse is that it looks like a Corolla. And that interior is pretty average looking if you ask me. At least this is tolerable, as opposed to some of the Bangle BMW's.

Well the new car mags have reviewed the Jetta and are completely underwhelmed. Onewriter stated when he saw them all lined up, he thought they were Toyotas to compare to the Jetta.
The reat tailight is the same as the Passat.
The engines are very weak, period. Nothing even close to 200hp (the 197hp engine is coming soon).
The interior is very nice but no longer much better than the competiton.
The car keeps getting bigger and heavier, its barely a Jetta.

I liked the Jettas boxy styling. This one leaves me cold as well and I doubt it will help turn VWs current misfortune around.

That is a disappointing redesign. I had a Jetta once so I have a soft spot for it but this one does not do it for me.

interior is nice but a wood grain shift knob in a jetta? :uh:

Until it was dropped, the last-generation VR-6 top-of-the-line Jetta had more wood paneling than that.