What is VW doing to the Golf/Jetta

[DionM]

After having looked over a MkVI Golf and a new Jetta recently, I'm wondering if they've cheapened it too much ...

My in-laws had a MkIV Golf (2 of them) and I almost bought a Bora. Quality was good, the interior felt nice.

The MkV is still nice but not as good as the MkIV. Some corner cutting is obvious, but VW lifted the game big time with engines and drivetrains (2.0T, diesels, TSI, DSG) so there is some forgiveness.

However to me the MkVI and the new Jetta seem to have dropped another step down the ladder in my view?

I've had a few MkVIs as loaners, and the big black piece of foam that sticks out under the seat when you have it all the way back (As I do, given I'm tall) looks awful. In the Jetta, there's no carpet under the bootlid, and the boot struts are old-style gooseneck things, rather than the non-loadspace intruding design of the MkV Jetta (which also lifts the boot lid nice and high). The boot floor doesn't sit flat and looks cheap.

The interior switchgear looks a little cheaper to me - yes the dash appears better, but the rest of it not as 'nice' overall compared to the MkV and MkIV. The absence of the nice sliding covers in the centre console is obvious.

I know VW is trying to compete with the Japanese on price - and the Golf/Jetta have gotten cheaper (or at least stayed in the same price range, and added features) but I feel their cost cutting is getting a bit too severe?

I'm wondering ... have they done this deliberately? Is it to distance more between VW and Audi? I'm pondering if they're starting to go too far ...

Have they done the same with the Passat? Touareg?

The Polo seems to have gone the other way, and gotten better with every iteration?

Maybe its just me ... but I'm not enthused about trading my MkV Jetta in on a new one? I know my in-laws felt the same way about when they traded their MkIV in on a MkV.

[SMOK3Y]

well the golf 6 is definately a step up even 90tsi (quality wise) from commy/falcoon thats all i can input.

[rayray086]

Being one who prefers modified cars in general, I see the Mk6 as a good design. It may look bland (especially the Passat and Jetta), but I see plenty of potential. I was iffy about the Mk5 when it came out, and still think the Mk4 looks awkward (tiny headlights, big taillights, no body swage lines in the side profile), but I instantly liked the Mk6 when it came out.

[Mk3 AAA]

Being one who prefers modified cars in general, I see the Mk6 as a good design. It may look bland (especially the Passat and Jetta), but I see plenty of potential. I was iffy about the Mk5 when it came out, and still think the Mk4 looks awkward (tiny headlights, big taillights, no body swage lines in the side profile), but I instantly liked the Mk6 when it came out.

Because it has a retro Mk3 waist line and they ditch the clown smile grill for a return to the Mk3 and Mk4.

...and you're a Mk3 whore.

I don't mind the new Golf, although I'd probably go for the more radical Focus RS if I was looking at that sort of budget. I do feel with ditching the 6cyl they lost the model that bold edge.

[Blitzen]

I personally think that VW have taken a massive step backwards in the look of their whole range. The only car I like the look of is the Golf R and the Scirocco... I saw a new Passat in the skin today, and it was ugly as hell. The same goes for the new Polo and Golf. If I buy another VW, it will either be a Mk2/3/4/5.

[Dub Toffee]

yea im liking the mk5 more than the 6
and i hope they have plans for another r32 if not in the next model in a couple of years, but im guessing they have got bored with
that engine for now and want to design new things, but why not design a North South R32 Golf RWD or if it has to be AWD send all the power to the rear haha

[dubbed]

The new Passats and Jettas look like they are heavily targeted towards the Chinese / Japanese market. Plain and cheap looking. As a company looking for bigger market share and more profit it makes complete sense.

[rayray086]

Screw you guys

[neil]

Screw you guys

Should've stuck a mk5 front on it or is this a Passat??? who knows cant tell the difference anymore.

[brimway]

Should've stuck a mk5 front on it or is this a Passat??? who knows cant tell the difference anymore.

And what about those A4 tail lights???

[phaeton]

The reason IMO why VW appear to have cheapened the Mk6 Golf is it was a stop gap between Mk5-Mk7.

The Mk5 cost VW to much to produce. I actually think it a is a more stylish classy unit in the design stakes some areas have been costed to a price for example; my Mothers 2nd cousin sat in my Mothers Golf (Mk5) and got out and said that the Mk6 had harder plastic on the sides and would bruise her leg, I was amazed at this little part causing her to pay more and get a Tiguan when all she wanted was a Golf sized vehicle.

Mk6 Jetta on the other hand was cheapened on purpose so they could sell the numbers they're currently selling in North America - Jonathan Browning VW of America CEO said next Jetta will not be built to a price if he has anything to do with it.

IMO Golf Mk7 and Jetta Mk7 should be much improved over the Mk6, VW now have the modular transverse kits, which means less expenditure on platforms (as one kit will serve 40 brands Polo to Passat across 4 brands Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT) and more on technology and interior comforts etc.

[DionM]

Don't get me wrong, I think the MkVI Golf and new Jetta are still nice cars on their own ... but when you compare it to previous iterations.

Even my mother in law, who is not a car person by any stretch, commented that her current MkV doesn't feel as 'good' as her MkIV and she regrets updating.

I do wonder if it will put off any potential MkV owners (and even MkIV) from updating. I know I'm not so sure about trading my 2.0TFSI in for the current equivalent. But then again, I don't know what else I would buy instead (Skoda?).

[AdamD]

...my Mothers 2nd cousin sat in my Mothers Golf (Mk5) and got out and said that the Mk6 had harder plastic on the sides and would bruise her leg, I was amazed at this little part causing her to pay more and get a Tiguan when all she wanted was a Golf sized vehicle.

People do often criticise the Mk6 family for having a 'cost cutting' feel compared to the Mk5, but to be honest I think it's only the most superficial observations that may lead to this viewpoint. I split my time between my MK6 GTI and a Mk5 FSI Sportline, and I can honestly say that my perception of quality in the design, construction and materials in the Mk6 is far superior overall. People do refer to the manufacturing cost when comparing the two generations, but any good engineer will tell you that there's no direct correlation between quality and per-unit cost.

What the Mk6 cars are not is trendsetters from a styling viewpoint. They will fade into anonymity far more quickly than the Mk5 IMO. Still, that trend does favour VW in certain overseas markets, as has already been mentioned.

[jessv3]

The cheapness has been noticed by most particular going from the Mk4 to the mk5, but i am very confident in saying that this was a part of VW's strategy to distance themselves from Audi. For a while there buying an A4 almost made no sense as the B5 Passat was pretty much the same thing but much cheaper. Now i look at the current shape A4 and the Passat and its clear that the A4 is worth the extra money, it has a much nicer interior, exterior and general feel, -not just the B8 A4 either the B7 A4 was of similar comparison.

The same could be said about the Mk4 GTI vs an 03 A3 1.8T very similar cars, same build quality etc. Now the A3 seems to have stepped up in quality over the Golf.

Personally i find it a bit of a shame, but thats only because i am the owner of a Golf and an ex owner of Audi so i really noticed the little differences in quality, even just little things like my passenger side window switches have worn in some parts down to the white undercoat or the plastic clicky feel of the a/c climate control. Having said that, its totally worth it for how good the drive trains are of the newer series vw's.