Jetta FSI Turbo

[Lima]

Well, I picked it up yesterday and everything went pretty well.

A few little things:
- They forgot to install the iPod adapter but that is being done right at this moment.
- The driver's seat and the centre console storage compartment lid touch and, as they are both leather, squeak when going over bumps. It's very quiet and only noticable when you have absolute silence in the car and go over a rough road.
- the leather on the passenger door near the grab handle looks like it needs to be tucked in under the panel better

Other than those very minor points, everything is wonderful. Of course I am taking it pretty easy for the first 1000k or so (in accordance with the owner's manual) but even so, this is still a quick car. A little run up Mt Cootha demonstrated that it likes the corners... the 225/40 on the 18" wheels surely do hang on well and I imagine they are still scrubbing in, so more grip to be had.

DSG is just a delight and makes me smile from ear to ear. I took a relative for a test drive and he said it felt like an electric car, just a constant surge of power. I tried Sports mode briefly... it's a bit bloody enthusiastic to say the least! It holds gears for eternity and changes down very early, I can see that there's going to be some fun had once she's run in!

I must admit, there is a learning curve here. At first I found driving the car smoothly a bit of a trick. It seemed to be either too slow or too fast, but now I'm getting the hang of it.

Interior comfort is better catered for than in any other car I've owned. For a car with so many features the controls are very intuitive and ergonomic. The stereo really pumps out the tunes well. They've leant me a TDI for today and the difference in sound quality is quite noticable (not having a go at TDIs here, a very nice drive).

Photos will be forthcoming next week.

Cheers,
Tom

Good stuff Tom.

I must admit, there is a learning curve here. At first I found driving the car smoothly a bit of a trick. It seemed to be either too slow or too fast, but now I'm getting the hang of it.

Congrats on the purchase.

I found the same thing. I now have 2000km down and i am much better but not perfect. I have hills starts down now without the use of the handbrake. The first couple of times the DSG said WTF and i didn't go anywhere when using the brake and accelorator at the same time.


Enjoy those twisties.

[tofo17]

Well, I picked it up yesterday and everything went pretty well.

A few little things:
- They forgot to install the iPod adapter but that is being done right at this moment.
- The driver's seat and the centre console storage compartment lid touch and, as they are both leather, squeak when going over bumps. It's very quiet and only noticable when you have absolute silence in the car and go over a rough road.
- the leather on the passenger door near the grab handle looks like it needs to be tucked in under the panel better

Other than those very minor points, everything is wonderful. Of course I am taking it pretty easy for the first 1000k or so (in accordance with the owner's manual) but even so, this is still a quick car. A little run up Mt Cootha demonstrated that it likes the corners... the 225/40 on the 18" wheels surely do hang on well and I imagine they are still scrubbing in, so more grip to be had.

DSG is just a delight and makes me smile from ear to ear. I took a relative for a test drive and he said it felt like an electric car, just a constant surge of power. I tried Sports mode briefly... it's a bit bloody enthusiastic to say the least! It holds gears for eternity and changes down very early, I can see that there's going to be some fun had once she's run in!

I must admit, there is a learning curve here. At first I found driving the car smoothly a bit of a trick. It seemed to be either too slow or too fast, but now I'm getting the hang of it.

Interior comfort is better catered for than in any other car I've owned. For a car with so many features the controls are very intuitive and ergonomic. The stereo really pumps out the tunes well. They've leant me a TDI for today and the difference in sound quality is quite noticable (not having a go at TDIs here, a very nice drive).

Photos will be forthcoming next week.

Cheers,
Tom

[Lima]

Well I'm very excited! I just received a call from the dealer to tell me the car will be ready as planned for tomorrow. I must admit to having been a bit sceptical the car would be ready on time, so this is a pleasant surprise.

Any advice on what to look for when inspecting the car before handing over the cash?

Cheers,
Tom, who probably won't sleep well tonight!

Good advice from ferg above.

I'm not sure it was because our stealer knew we're fussy or not (they even let me put on the rego sticker), but they showed a PDI check list that we had to tick off and sign, partly to absolve them of anything I guess, but also to make sure that we had a decent look over the car to see that everything was alright.

Good luck, the day you collect a new car is one of life's welcome pleasures.

Enjoy!

[fergVdub]

Check as much as you can

Hi Tom

congratulations I had to wait 5 months for my Jetta,

some tips would be to check as many things as you can
On pick up of my car I missed two things that are in the process of being fixed, firstly there was a mark on the door panel from the protective paneling that was not removed and more annoyingly the rear passenger window did not close properly and a replacement is on back order.

The Jetta is a complex vehicle in its electronics and features and as long as you read up on the pro and cons on sites such as this you can have a good understanding of what to expect.

At the end of the day they are great cars and I am very happy with my purchase and it isn' even run in yet

good luck

Ferg

[GoLfMan]

Well I'm very excited! I just received a call from the dealer to tell me the car will be ready as planned for tomorrow. I must admit to having been a bit sceptical the car would be ready on time, so this is a pleasant surprise.

Any advice on what to look for when inspecting the car before handing over the cash?

Cheers,
Tom, who probably won't sleep well tonight!

i've noticed on new cars that some of the paint jobs on new cars arent up to scratch so check that...
general check over interior check for oil leaks (it can happen!!) check lights and everything works...
well thats just wat i'd do just do a general inspection

[tofo17]

It's ready!

Well I'm very excited! I just received a call from the dealer to tell me the car will be ready as planned for tomorrow. I must admit to having been a bit sceptical the car would be ready on time, so this is a pleasant surprise.

Any advice on what to look for when inspecting the car before handing over the cash?

Cheers,
Tom, who probably won't sleep well tonight!

Congratulations!

We did something similar. I'd been looking at Golfs for a while, one of my work coleagues has one and it struck me as solid well built car. I wanted a new family car that was reliable solid with a bit of class that we could keep for a few years. My wife has been driving a 92 model Jaguar for the last 5 years or so. Nice car to drive but I'm getting a bit tired of working on it as it's getting a bit long in the tooth.

We went to the dealer to look at the new Golfs but my wife went for the Jetta when she saw it. The more we looked at the more we liked it.

We went for the TDI diesel with DSG and identicle paint and leather as yours although we optioned electric drivers seat as my wife loves them in her Jag.

I was thinking about the FSI Turbo but at the time I also had a Ford Pursuit Ute for my performance kicks. We settled on the Diesel as it was very impressive in it's power delivery, this thing has got grunt. It felt significantly quicker to drive than the non turbo petrol version. I guess it's all that low down torque and the way the DSG just keeps snatching the next gear keeping you in the thick of it.

The economy is what has stunned me since. I was used to putting around $90 a week into the Pursuit as a daily driver. Now we drive the Jetta everywhere and put $60 in every 2 weeks or so.

I guess we've gotten hooked on diesel now since I've sold the Pursuit and bought an 03 TD5 Landrover Discovery. The Cobra is up and running now if I need some speed thrills.

Cheers

Michael

[Lima]

Mallet ... luxury ... had to pop bonnet and use hands me. I'd love to drive one again just to see how much of a nancy boy I've become.

[tofo17]

With the exeption of the Outback that made way for our GTI I've always had manual cars, right back from learning to drive in a 3 on the tree 1971 HG Premier. I find in our GTI, and I assume the Jetta would be similar, that the pedal travel is quite long on the clutch and the gate's are not as tight as I would like them to be. Maybe it's just because I only drive the GTI on the weekends and am not as familiar with it. Dunno???

However, I've had a quick blat around the block in a mate's GTI with DSG and it really is superb. I could easily see myself living with it as a day to day proposition. The biggest fault it has is the fact that it's pedal setup makes it look like an auto, when in reality it's a manual in an automatic sheep's clothing.

I also learnt how to drive on a three in the tree, but mine was a HT Premier! I have fond memories of carrying a mallet in the boot as the linkages use to get jammed from time to time and you'd have to give them a good wack Good times... good times.

[Lima]

With the exeption of the Outback that made way for our GTI I've always had manual cars, right back from learning to drive in a 3 on the tree 1971 HG Premier. I find in our GTI, and I assume the Jetta would be similar, that the pedal travel is quite long on the clutch and the gate's are not as tight as I would like them to be. Maybe it's just because I only drive the GTI on the weekends and am not as familiar with it. Dunno???

However, I've had a quick blat around the block in a mate's GTI with DSG and it really is superb. I could easily see myself living with it as a day to day proposition. The biggest fault it has is the fact that it's pedal setup makes it look like an auto, when in reality it's a manual in an automatic sheep's clothing.

[tofo17]

Hi everyone! my first post too!!

im in a similar boat to tofo17, family on the way (wife due in may) and need somthing with a bit of room. I fell in love with the GTIs straight away but i just need a bit more room so in late 05 we bought a brand new x trail, they are a great car but boring as all hell! (coming from a n15 sss pulsar)

We had a good look at the Jetta on the weekend and fell in love. We couldnt belive how big the boot was! Im sold. Unfortuanly i need to pay some more off the x trail before i can sell it, but hopefully it will be around the end of the year.

My only concern is the DSG, everything ive read about them is good, but ive always been a manual man, i guess ill have to drive one and decide for myself

Hi Matty R, all I can say is test drive one with DSG. I've always been a manual man but the wife only has an auto licence and ostensibly the Jetta is hers, so it had to be auto. Well, even if I had a choice of manual, which you don't in the Turbo FSI Jetta, I wouldn't get it. DSG is a bloody marvel and I think offers the best of both worlds. Once I get the car and have had more time with it I'll give more of a review.

Cheers,
Tom

Hi everyone! my first post too!!

im in a similar boat to tofo17, family on the way (wife due in may) and need somthing with a bit of room. I fell in love with the GTIs straight away but i just need a bit more room so in late 05 we bought a brand new x trail, they are a great car but boring as all hell! (coming from a n15 sss pulsar)

We had a good look at the Jetta on the weekend and fell in love. We couldnt belive how big the boot was! Im sold. Unfortuanly i need to pay some more off the x trail before i can sell it, but hopefully it will be around the end of the year.

My only concern is the DSG, everything ive read about them is good, but ive always been a manual man, i guess ill have to drive one and decide for myself

[Lima]

Great post Tom. Welcome, and enjoy!

Your Jetta will be a lovely sleeper and DSG as well will ensure you get off the line smartly. Congratulations (on the expecting kiddie as well).



Cheers Liam

[tofo17]

Dsg

Thanks for the replies lads, no doubt I'll have plenty of questions and it's good to find a friendly place to have them answered!

In answer to Mk3vr6, I'm in Brisbane.

When I test drove the car (twice) I didn't notice any problems with DSG, in fact as I said, I loved it. However I've read a few comments that it can be grumbly at low speed and be a bit rough when pulling up quickly. Is this true? Oh, and what behavioural changes does the "Sport" mode invoke?

Cheers,
Tom