[CaseCom]

http://www.vw.com/jetta/a5/

I dunno ... you used to be able to spot a VW a mile away. This could be mistaken for a Mazda 3 ... or maybe it's the Bangle-designed BMWs it reminds me of. Anyway, just not very unique.

[CD Hanks]

I am rather intrigued by it's somewhat wacky specifications:

5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)
6 Speed Automatic transmission (TipTronic no less), but why bother with that many gears in an auto?
and it's rather meager 150HP power output given it's decently sized 2.5L engine.

I like the design, it's fairly clean, if not bland though.

[Steve Bosell]

looks like a toyota

[turtle777]

Nope. I don't like it.

I'd rather wait for the Golf Convertible.

-t

[Skip Breakfast]

but why bother with that many gears in an auto?

Two reasons:

1) Fuel efficiency
2) More comfortable shifts

IMO, 5 is plenty for an auto, but not enough for a manual.

Also, IMO, automatics should be reserved for handicapped drivers.

[zigzag]

That's a real departure from the look of the previous models. Not necessarily good - it looks more generic-Japanese - but definitely a departure. I'll see how it looks in 3D at the Otter Show in a couple of weeks.

Has anyone seen the new Passat . . . er, I mean, Ford 500? A nice, sensible-looking car even though it's basically a copy of the Passat. Turns out it was designed by J Mays, who designed the Passat, so I guess he didn't have to do much extra work. Ford seems to be betting that people will lean more towards practicality than style (a la the Chrysler 300).

The new Subaru Outback is quite nice-looking, and still distinctive. I always had trouble with the Outback's rather odd styling before, but their new designer seems to have managed to make it more shapely and organic while keeping the old styling cues. Good job.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

I like it, very simple.

[drive-thru]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)

VW have been making a Golf V5 for a few years (possibly more) although it may have just been for the European market. The Jetta might be using that engine (although the specs didn't say it was a V5, so maybe not).

It doesn't look too bad, after all it's basically a Golf with a boot (trunk) rather than a hatchback, but it's not exactly beautiful.
Over the last few years the visual difference between VW and Audi has diminished. I know it's because of the VW-Audi Group but I don't like the way that the cars all look so similar, they're unique brands after all, even if they are part of the same group.

[Kitschy]

Toyota, indeed.

Corolla...

[Mrjinglesusa]

Base price of old model is $17,680. Base price of new 2005 V6 FORD Mustang is $19,500. Personally, I'd pay the extra 2 grand and get the Mustang.

[Zimphire]

Ew

[SouthPaW1227]

WOW! If that's not negative progress I don't know what is!

They changed from a beautifully distinct automobile into a run-of-the-mill Japanese looking car. Blah.

[Skip Breakfast]

The new Golf is uglier, btw.

I don't think you'll see a Golf Cabrio again. That's what the New Beetle Convertible is for.

[milhous]

so i take it that the new jetta won't have the tdi engine as an option?

definitely looks more like a japanese car.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by Skip Breakfast:
I don't think you'll see a Golf Cabrio again. That's what the New Beetle Convertible is for.

Dude, it's in the works.
It's not going to be called "Golf Cabrio", but it essentially is one.

Sorry that this is only in German.
http://www.automobilindustrie.de/fac...us_423270.html

-t

[Macfreak7]

I don't really like it too much since it does look like some other boring cars (design wise).
I'm guessing this is what the designer (Murat Gunak) wanted, bringing it at par with the newer Golf, Passat and Phaeton. Also, I notice similar lights (especially the rear) that he used when he worked with Mercedes on prototypes, which were probably rejected.

On the brighter side, I kinda doubt the build quality has changed at all.

However, nothing like the 2004.5 Gli:


:edit: added image

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
I am rather intrigued by it's somewhat wacky specifications:

5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)
6 Speed Automatic transmission (TipTronic no less), but why bother with that many gears in an auto?
and it's rather meager 150HP power output given it's decently sized 2.5L engine.

I like the design, it's fairly clean, if not bland though.

5 cylinder really isn't that special.
What about the 7-speed Automatic mercedes sells right now with all the new Mercs ?

You're right about the engine tough. It's seems you're getting the crap engines .

[zigzag]

Originally posted by Macfreak7:
On the brighter side, I kinda doubt the build quality has changed at all.

That's the brighter side? As a former VW owner, I would say that if the build quality hasn't changed, they're in big trouble.

[Skip Breakfast]

I bet the bulbs in the tailights fail every 3 months in the new ones too.

[bradoesch]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
pecifications:

5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)

We've got a '96 Eurovan with a 5 cylinder diesel. Weird.

Now I want a GTI again. Stupid VW prices and VW parts keep me away. Living a good hour from a dealer is also sucky.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by bradoesch:
Stupid VW prices

Maybe you should blame the stupid weak US $.
3 years ago, prices looked much better...

-t

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)

A lot of Land Rovers come with 5 bangers.

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
and it's rather meager 150HP power output given it's decently sized 2.5L engine.

The power curve will probably have been written to have torque well up. My 2.5 Jeep puts out less than 150 bhp yet runs about the same torque as a Ferrari 360.
Torque is what you want, not that girlie BHP stuff.

As for the styling:

[Link]

Eeew. This sucks! The last jetta looked so much cooler, you knew it was a jetta going down the street when you saw the short trunk and the antenna on top...

This looks like a toyota corolla It's a shame

[anthonyvthc]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
I am rather intrigued by it's somewhat wacky specifications:

5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)...

Volvo is still making cars with 5 cylinder engines. I have a '97 850 with a 5 cylinder and it is one of the best fuel consumptionower outputs out of any of the cars I've had. It's a nice balance.

[angelmb]

Originally posted by anthonyvthc:
Volvo is still making cars with 5 cylinder engines. I have a '97 850 with a 5 cylinder and it is one of the best fuel consumptionower outputs out of any of the cars I've had. It's a nice balance.

Not only that, those 2.5 5 cylinder engines are pure music ! Maybe not a big deal in the States with your big engines but really worth here in Europe.

[C.J. Moof]

Originally posted by anthonyvthc:
Volvo is still making cars with 5 cylinder engines. I have a '97 850 with a 5 cylinder and it is one of the best fuel consumptionower outputs out of any of the cars I've had. It's a nice balance.

I'll agree. I have a 94 850 Turbo Wagon, 2.3l inline 5. 28 MPH highway at a 75MPH cruise, and plenty of power. Floor that sucker at 50MPH and it drops 2 gears, hits full boost, and just rockets past the guy you're passing.

Audi also had an inline 5 for many years.

Being a VW fan, that new Jetta design is very dissapointing.

All I can say is thank goodness it's bigger. The old Jetta was pathetically small. If I'm paying that much for a sedan, it should have enough legroom in the back seat for people older than five years.

I like the Passat, the old Jetta was an insult.

[maxintosh]

The New Golf looks great in person. Saw them all over Germany. And the new GTI looks to be awesome too. I'm mixed on the new Jetta -- it's a little clunky but definately better looking than a Corolla -- but I will reserve judgment until I see it in person. VW and Audi cars tend to look much nicer in person than in the press photos. I remember being horrified by the '02 A4 when it was first announced but they are beautiful cars.

The new Passat however.... *drool*



Maybe making the Jetta look a little plain was on purpose though. Look how successful painfully boring cars like the Camry/Corolla/Taurus are. Esp. in the US, where the Jetta is more popular than the Golf.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by maxintosh:
The new Passat however.... *drool*

That's one sexy car !

-t

[bradoesch]

Originally posted by turtle777:
Maybe you should blame the stupid weak US $.
3 years ago, prices looked much better...

-t

I meant to bash VW part prices more than the price of the vehicles. We've had 2 lemon VWs and spent more money on VW parts than I care to remember.


....yet I still want a VW. A GTI.

[brapper]

It's nothing special...

[Link]

I PRESENT:

The new PASSAT!

http://www.mikeandbev.org/altima/altima2h.jpg

and of course

THE NEW JETTA!!!

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...49739.1-lg.jpg

Man, this is awful The 2004 passat was my favorite car, aside from the Chrysler 300.

http://www.downtownfinecars.com/DFCV...at-640x480.jpg

Pretty ^_^

That or the 300.

http://www.autoreview.ru/new_site/ye...ews/800/01.jpg

[d0ubled0wn]

on the new Jetta, looks kinda ugly... however the new Passat looks great. But I still like my 2001 Passat the best. Clean and simple, just how I like it.

Why haven't variable transmissions like the Audi CVT become more popular? Seems like it should be more efficient over geared transmissions.

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by Mrjinglesusa:
Base price of old model is $17,680. Base price of new 2005 V6 FORD Mustang is $19,500. Personally, I'd pay the extra 2 grand and get the Mustang.

Man I love the new Mustangs. 2004s look kinda like a 67/68 Mustang, and the 2005s looks like a 70's Shelby. In fact, I'm pretty sure Shelby worked on the 2005 model.

I want one.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by Mrjinglesusa:
Base price of old model is $17,680. Base price of new 2005 V6 FORD Mustang is $19,500. Personally, I'd pay the extra 2 grand and get the Mustang.

Indeed. Those are sweet.
Though I would want the 8banger.

[sideus]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
I am rather intrigued by it's somewhat wacky specifications:

5 cylinder engine (only other car I've heard of that had 5 cylinders was an older Volvo)

Chevy has an inline-5 in the Colorado.

[ManOfSteal]

Me like the 2005 Passat.

[the_glassman]

It's ugly just like every other VW, I've ever seen.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by the_glassman:
It's ugly just like every other VW, I've ever seen.

Finally someone with a qualified, substantiated opinion !

-t

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by Link:
I PRESENT:

The new PASSAT!

http://www.mikeandbev.org/altima/altima2h.jpg

and of course

THE NEW JETTA!!!

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...49739.1-lg.jpg

[Mafia]

Originally posted by the_glassman:
It's ugly just like every other VW, I've ever seen.

[macaddict0001]

I don't really think vw's are ugly at least not when compared to american cars(the big 3)
but what vw has going for it is big engines the biggest engine they have so far is a twelve cylinder but they have the technology to stack cylinders therefore making 16 and even 24 cylinder engines.

[Rev-O]

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
I don't really think vw's are ugly at least not when compared to american cars(the big 3)
but what vw has going for it is big engines the biggest engine they have so far is a twelve cylinder but they have the technology to stack cylinders therefore making 16 and even 24 cylinder engines.

Yes, but a narrow angle W24 layout would have the length of an inline 6 and be prohibitively wide for most applications. Other than a VW engined Bentley or Bugatti, any vehicle that would justify the price tag of a W24 would languish on the local VW lot, much like the Phaeton.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Tell me, why would you want a big engine?!?! That comment sucks my balls. Oil prices skyrocket, we're using massive amounts of oil, and someone wants 16-cylinder cars...

greg

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by sideus:
Chevy has an inline-5 in the Colorado.

I am a Machine Repairman at a GM plant that makes the 6 cylinder version of this cam. The engines are called L-5 and L-6.

They are excellent engines.

[sideus]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
I am a Machine Repairman at a GM plant that makes the 6 cylinder version of this cam. The engines are called L-5 and L-6.

They are excellent engines.

Is that an inline 6 or a v6?

[Lancer409]

jetta doesnt look bad. the current passat = fugly.

new passat = New Hotness!

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by sideus:
Is that an inline 6 or a v6?

Inline. See about halfway down the page.

Another excellent page in info for GM's inline family from Edmunds.

Inline 6's are excellent engines.

[amsalpemkcus]

Looks like crap

[Rev-O]

Originally posted by amsalpemkcus:
Looks like crap

Originally posted by Kitschy:
Toyota indeed.

Corolla

Obviously, the new Jetta looks like Crapolla!