These VWs we love to hate

When your name is Volkswagen, getting old is never easy. Booed for their lack of reliability, VW cars still managed to become popular, particularly because of their incomparable fun factor and their fuel-efficient diesel engines.

But recently, technology and emissions became a chief concern, and the automaker had no other choice but to suspend for one year the sale of its TDI-powered models, despite the fact that they represented a solid core. Fortunately, the executives at Volkswagen's Canadian division reacted promptly and smartly by introducing the City lineup. These Golfs and Jettas are more affordable since they rely on the technologies and features of the old generation.

Yet, the old stuff proved to be good enough to sell no less than 16,000 units in just one year. Not bad for a manufacturer whose total sales figures in Canada amounted to 37,500 vehicles in 2006.

That's why the company refused to abandon these popular offerings, especially since they made people forget about reliability issues. Now, the question is: how do you update such entry-level cars? The answer, quite simply, is to freshen up the styling and the list of amenities in order to make these little urban cars as inexpensive as ever yet more modern-looking.

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Very interesting cars.

 

I love the look of the new Jetta! I wonder if the rear inward wheel lifts off the ground while cornerning hard like Jettas of the past?

 

If you want German engineering for cheap (and for better or worse), VW is the way to go.

They can prove that you don't need a luxury marque like BMW or Audi to have fun. But then again, a lot of other automakers that can make it fun and reliable and cheap, so they still have a lot of work to do to be competitive in the market...

 

Wait, those are the last generation VWs? I like that design a lot better than the new ones.

 

They are last generation models. Although the 2008 models have been updated with the new look you see in the article. The Jetta has a Passat face and a Phaeton's butt. The Golf has a modified Rabbit/Golf front and I don't know what the hell it's supposed to be with the taillights.

 

The City models are dirty cheap in Canada. They're Cdn$15k to Cdn$21k. That's bang on the price range of a Corolla ($15k-$23k). Civic goes from $17k-$24k, Mazda3 from $16k-$25k.

Yaris is from $13k-$20k, Fit from $15k-$21k and Versa is around that price range too $16k - $22k.


For comparison, a 3-dr Rabbit w/ manual is $20,175. Add $1,500 for 5-dr model and tops out at $26k. The Jetta is $23.5k - $38k for a loaded GLI auto

 

wait, are these brasilian models?

 

no....they're canadian models, just as the original article and the poster above posted....

 

And VWs are WONDERFUL to drive. Just a great engine, steering, handling combo for a relatively inexpensive ride. And I like the interiors a lot. Audi-lite.

 

the new Jetta wagon looks impressive.. maybe cause it's a direct import from Europe as the Golf Variant so it's not watered down.

 

Yes, you are correct. These vehicles are made in Brazil.

A relatively new industry without an extensive infrastructure and experience level... Raises quality issues...

 

I liked that generation Jetta. Not to bad.