VW Jetta 1.9TDi Trendline : Initial Report

vittalnrv · 10th May 2009, 21:00

This is my first ever review on T-BHP since I joined in 2005! So please pardon me on my writing manners.

On Thursday 7th May picked up Campanella White Jetta TDi from Volkswagen Chennai. Car is bought for my father living in Tuticorin, nearby to Madurai.

Am giving head to head comparo between Laura Elegance and Jetta TDi Trendline since my brother already owns Laura and in which I have driven extensively.

DESIGN:
Volkswagen has done a very good job for this segment. Car looks as expensive as the 25L+ Passat, but I really feel sorry for the headlight assembly design and integration. Even fiesta manages to have better integrated and designed headlights. Side and rear profile is ditto passat, the 16" Milwalkuee wheels, LED tail-lamps w/ integrated turn signals, class apart. Laura sure does look aged compared to this latest incarnation from VW.

INTERIORS:
I liked the interiors of Laura better. Oh well, I read in few posts people going ga ga over quality of materials used in VW, but let me tell you, Skoda is no where short. VW Trendline looses on cruise control, automatic windshield washers, rear sunblind, parkatronic, part leather seats and auto-dimming RVM.

PERFORMANCE:
VW at it's best. Torque flow is much linear than in Laura, gearbox more precise and in gear acceleration times, all better than Laura. Had driven the car yesterday for 400Kms between Chennai - Tiruvanamalai, and God save people driving this car. It hesitates to drive slow! Doing 130Kmph on the VW is as breeze as doing 100Kmph on the Laura. With an avg. speed of 110Kmph, the instantaneous consumption was 6.8L / 100 KM!!

ROAD MANNERS:
Similar to Laura. I found the braking to be more effective and the handling is a little more razor sharp.

Will update with pics ASAP, till then happy motoring fellas!

jack7 · 10th May 2009, 22:28

Congrats mate on you car. Knowing Skoda's reputation a VW is a better choice any day.

redeff · 10th May 2009, 22:48

I never liked the jetta's looks when i saw it first.

Then i saw it from close. The more you see the car, the more it grows on you, agreed the front could have been a bit better, but those un-mistakable German Teutonic lines and the lovely curves and back are a peice of art. It is when you get close and take in the finer aspects of the car that you realize how Attractive it really is. It's like a single malt, you have to graduate to it. ( Done the looks comparo with a Civic Parked side by side ! )
Plus a healthy fuel efficiency and the amazing gearbox just sweeten the deal. And yes, exclusivity goes in your favor and so does the new service package ( hope you took it, VW servicing can be expensive) add to it the VW top assist ( Available to VW , Audi and Porsche ) and you got a winner on your hands!

loving_alaap · 11th May 2009, 15:02

VW do have noce car, but they have put a dismal price in India.

any way, congrats for a nice car, waiting for pics.

Do share the price, FE & dealer exp.

hellstar · 11th May 2009, 15:08

hi pal congrats on the new car !

Nice choice you have made..the white looks soo elegant on the jetta.

will wait for the pictures ? are you planning for any tyre / alloy upgrades?

pradster · 11th May 2009, 15:17

Congratulations on your purchase , Bring on some pics amigo!!
OT :I drove my friends American spec Jetta quite a bit and fell in love with the car. My only grouse is that VW has overpriced it in the current avatar. Its tough to pay 12l for a car knowing well that in the US I was driving around in a better equipped car for much lesser the cost!
Sigh, story of buying a car in India!

MadRash · 11th May 2009, 16:35

Mr. Vittal, it will be great if you could post a more detailed review with loads of pictures.

CarsPG · 11th May 2009, 17:21

Congrats on the car. I had test driven it a few months ago and really liked it. Hopefully Once the localization increases they will reduce the price a little!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pradster

Congratulations on your purchase , Bring on some pics amigo!!
OT :I drove my friends American spec Jetta quite a bit and fell in love with the car. My only grouse is that VW has overpriced it in the current avatar. Its tough to pay 12l for a car knowing well that in the US I was driving around in a better equipped car for much lesser the cost!
Sigh, story of buying a car in India!

That's the case for pretty much every car sold in India though (especially Japanese or European)

GTO · 11th May 2009, 17:47

Congrats on the Jetta! I'm a fan of clean European lines and love the stance of the Jetta.

The primary differentiator between Skoda & VW could be the after-sales, we'd appreciate your updating us on the experience (when she goes in for service / repairs). VW should take advantage of Skoda's rotten after-sales standards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vittalnrv

Torque flow is much linear than in Laura, gearbox more precise and in gear acceleration times, all better than Laura.

Agreed that the Jetta somehow seems to offer more balanced handling than the Laura, but the engines are identical AFAIK. Don't remember any marked difference even in the way that they are tuned.

As they say, pictures speak a thousand words. How about some?

Caramelo · 12th May 2009, 00:19

great buy! awaiting pics. we have a lot of jettas here at abad. they are all trendline diesels i think. one day i saw 3 jettas on the same road one after anoter in an interval of 5 mins lolz. after that havent seen one yet. i really like the premium looks! congratulations.

10th May 2009, 21:00	#1
vittalnrv BANNED Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 192 Thanked: 34 Times	VW Jetta 1.9TDi Trendline : Initial Report This is my first ever review on T-BHP since I joined in 2005! So please pardon me on my writing manners. On Thursday 7th May picked up Campanella White Jetta TDi from Volkswagen Chennai. Car is bought for my father living in Tuticorin, nearby to Madurai. Am giving head to head comparo between Laura Elegance and Jetta TDi Trendline since my brother already owns Laura and in which I have driven extensively. DESIGN: Volkswagen has done a very good job for this segment. Car looks as expensive as the 25L+ Passat, but I really feel sorry for the headlight assembly design and integration. Even fiesta manages to have better integrated and designed headlights. Side and rear profile is ditto passat, the 16" Milwalkuee wheels, LED tail-lamps w/ integrated turn signals, class apart. Laura sure does look aged compared to this latest incarnation from VW. INTERIORS: I liked the interiors of Laura better. Oh well, I read in few posts people going ga ga over quality of materials used in VW, but let me tell you, Skoda is no where short. VW Trendline looses on cruise control, automatic windshield washers, rear sunblind, parkatronic, part leather seats and auto-dimming RVM. PERFORMANCE: VW at it's best. Torque flow is much linear than in Laura, gearbox more precise and in gear acceleration times, all better than Laura. Had driven the car yesterday for 400Kms between Chennai - Tiruvanamalai, and God save people driving this car. It hesitates to drive slow! Doing 130Kmph on the VW is as breeze as doing 100Kmph on the Laura. With an avg. speed of 110Kmph, the instantaneous consumption was 6.8L / 100 KM!! ROAD MANNERS: Similar to Laura. I found the braking to be more effective and the handling is a little more razor sharp. Will update with pics ASAP, till then happy motoring fellas!
	() Thanks

10th May 2009, 22:28	#2
jack7 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 100 Thanked: Once	Congrats mate on you car. Knowing Skoda's reputation a VW is a better choice any day.
	() Thanks

10th May 2009, 22:48	#3
redeff BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 362 Thanked: 286 Times View My Garage	I never liked the jetta's looks when i saw it first. Then i saw it from close. The more you see the car, the more it grows on you, agreed the front could have been a bit better, but those un-mistakable German Teutonic lines and the lovely curves and back are a peice of art. It is when you get close and take in the finer aspects of the car that you realize how Attractive it really is. It's like a single malt, you have to graduate to it. ( Done the looks comparo with a Civic Parked side by side ! ) Plus a healthy fuel efficiency and the amazing gearbox just sweeten the deal. And yes, exclusivity goes in your favor and so does the new service package ( hope you took it, VW servicing can be expensive) add to it the VW top assist ( Available to VW , Audi and Porsche ) and you got a winner on your hands!
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 15:02	#4
loving_alaap BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 808 Thanked: 9 Times	VW do have noce car, but they have put a dismal price in India. any way, congrats for a nice car, waiting for pics. Do share the price, FE & dealer exp.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 15:08	#5
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,073 Thanked: 44 Times	hi pal congrats on the new car ! Nice choice you have made..the white looks soo elegant on the jetta. will wait for the pictures ? are you planning for any tyre / alloy upgrades?
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 15:17	#6
pradster BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 292 Thanked: 16 Times	Congratulations on your purchase , Bring on some pics amigo!! OT :I drove my friends American spec Jetta quite a bit and fell in love with the car. My only grouse is that VW has overpriced it in the current avatar. Its tough to pay 12l for a car knowing well that in the US I was driving around in a better equipped car for much lesser the cost! Sigh, story of buying a car in India!
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 16:35	#7
MadRash BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Madras Posts: 243 Thanked: 3 Times	Mr. Vittal, it will be great if you could post a more detailed review with loads of pictures.
	() Thanks

12th May 2009, 00:19	#10
Caramelo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ahmedabad Posts: 769 Thanked: 17 Times	great buy! awaiting pics. we have a lot of jettas here at abad. they are all trendline diesels i think. one day i saw 3 jettas on the same road one after anoter in an interval of 5 mins lolz. after that havent seen one yet. i really like the premium looks! congratulations.
	() Thanks