1999 VW Jetta

By Kenny Beghtel (vanagod@aol.com)

    The New Jetta is a totally new VW. It's design is very similar to the new Passat. Basically, it is a Passat. Just smaller, and cheaper than its bigger brother. The Jetta that I test drove was a black GLS, 5-speed, with silver interior, power conveiniance package, 15" rims, Air conditioning, and premium audio. Amazingly, it was the most basic model offered. Before the test drive I inspected the car for differences from the old Jetta. I found that: the trunk opens to 90 degrees so you won't hit your head loading groceries, there are tie downs on the floor of the trunk, the three passenger rear seat folds down flat for more space, and all three passenger's get three point seat belts. Moving forward I saw triple sealed doors, front passenger air bags, and side air bags in the seat backrest's. I noticed that the interior is very tight fitting and simple. The Jetta's instrument gauges are blue with red indicators. (Very Cool). The steering wheel is tilt and telescopic. The gear shift is ergonomically designed and feels really comfortable. Standard motor is a 2.0 litre four cylinder which hides under plastic covers that make the engine compartment look more organized.

    Driving the New Jetta is an experience to be had. The car starts smooth and instantly. The seats are easily adjustable to drivers comfort. The seats may be uncomfortable for some on a long trips due to the harshness of the seat padding. The new Jetta uses a drive by wire throttle.(There is no mechanical link from the pedal to the motor) The Jetta drives very smooth at slow speeds. Ride at slow speeds is a little stiff. Around town the new Jetta performs nicely. First through third gears have perfect ratio's for cruising. Getting onto the highway was no problem for the four cylinder. I didn't notice any blind spots to worry about at any extent. The car accelerated to 70 mph very smoothly. I noticed the ride on the freeway was much better than in town. The car handles with confidence between lanes and stops very rapidly in case of emergency, ABS brakes are standard. Its ride and handling is very similar to cars in the $30-90,000 range. I could also say the quality is there too. Road noise is very minimal thanks to the triple sealed doors. Everything  needed by the driver is within reach. The car handles very well in aggressive cornering, body roll is minimal and cornering is neutral till pushed past the limits. In my opinion, the new Jetta would make a great DTM style street racer.

    Trim levels are GL,GLS,and GLX. The VR6 motor can now be had on any trim level, not just the GLX. The cool options include the VR6, CD changer, cruise control, sunroof, and leather. Check with your own dealer for more info or VW.com on the internet. The only complaints are the stiff seats and tiny cupholders. People with large hands would probably agree that the steering wheel is too plastic-like and hard to get a hold of. The Jetta would be great for a small family or for college. Gas mileage is about 30 mpg, which is average for the 2.0. The New Jetta is better than ever and even more fun to drive. A lot of heads turned to see what it was. Most thought it was a Passat. I think from a distance it looks like a Mercedes E class. You be the judge.

    Look for more articles to come here at VWMagazine.com. Who knows, maybe I'll test crash some new VW's. The coolest VW magazine in the world is Brock's VW magazine online.