PCA Forums

It's time for my brother and I to get a car
We're both getting our licenses soon... July 1 is my 16th birthday, my bro is a slacker and is 17 1/2 and still on the 1st of 3 driving lessons
Anyway, my dream car would be a BMW 325i, but I'm dreaming there
My dad is thinking new Jetta/Passat, because the safety is so good... What are your thoughts on engine setups/extra packages on these things? Also any color suggestions are welcomed... I'm in SoCal, so it can't be too dark

JMan

I'd make sure you get an engine for sure. They run better with one. Mine has a 4cyl and it has plenty of power and more than many 6cyl's. Plus gas mileage is usually better. No doubt get a/c and a good stereo setup. As for what color get what color you like when you look at them. My personal taste is for a nice blue shade. Power windows are nice to have, a good console where you can rest your arm, handily placed cup holders, bikini babes, etc...

Thanks blade
We test drove a few models, I think 2 were Jettas and 1 was a Passat. The V6 Jetta drove way better than the V4... A V4 turbo would run the Jetta okay, but it only comes in manual, and I don't wanna mess with the stick shift. The Passat V4 turbo ran okay, but not as well as the V6 on the Jetta.
The GLS models and up come with power everything.
I was just hoping someone has some experience with these things and could give me some advice as to what's hot and what's not
Also, are there any very good online car dealerships? I found one place that goes for about $1k under MSRP, but I haven't checked it against the local dealerships yet.


JMan

<i>"and I don't wanna mess with the stick shift"</i>

Real men drive a stick Seriously, once you drive it, you won't go back ('till you're old and lazy like my dad )

i love driving stick

you have total control over the car

I HATE manual trannies, so much that I even finally converted my manual trans Volvo to auto trans a few months ago (after owning it for 7 years). Yep, I'm getting old for sure but if you drive much in metro areas (stop and go traffic), like swapping cds while driving at high speeds around hairpin turns while eating an egg McMuffin goin' to work....you too will soon learn to hate any manual tranny.
So...........what do I do? Buy yet another car with a manual trans (my 'Stang) but at least that trans is a HP tranny so maybe it'll be more fun? The car's also not a daily driver either.

aww come on evil

I've drove stick for maybe a year and got down the swapping cd's/eatting/anything you can think of without killing myself yet

...Yet

I can see how it would be a bitch if you are in LOTS of stop/go traffic, but where I live (indiana) it's great. If you lived in San Fransisco with all the hills and you had to deal with parking on 'em all the time, I would probably stick with an auto and have a manual for just cruising on good days.

VW? It's all good baby Personally, I'd go with the TDI and get 700 miles to a tank. I love manual trannies; they're like automatics to me anymore. But like it was mentioned earlier, if you have alot of stop and go it can get tiresome. The 1.8 turbo is an awesome little motor. Great power and decent gas milelage. Put an upgrade chip in it and you've got a high 14 second car (even the heavier Passat). The V6 in the Passat is nice, but you'll have higher maintenance/repair costs. The V6 in the Jetta (not really a V, but close to it) is a sweet motor as well, but I'd stick with the 1.8L turbo. It's a little lighter than the VR6 so you get a little less understeer. Are you looking to lease or buy? Thinking of keeping it a while? If you are keeping it, stay away from loading up on the power accessories. One thing that V-dubs do have trouble with over time is the electrical system.

BTW: Not a V4 in these things. Just an inline configuration. Haven't seen a V4 since the good 'ol SAAB Sonnets and such

something you gotta consider though is that if you get a turbo, you WILL have more things to look out for, maintainance wise.

Not too much more H_T. Turbocharged engines nowadays are far more reliable and maintenance friendly compared to what they were years ago in their hay-day. Definately more important to keep up with oil changes on turbos than with a normally aspirated engine though. Luckily VW includes 2 years of maintenance . BTW JMan, check out the new Subaru WRX if you get a chance. Very sweet

I would go for the turbo jetta but that's just me. It's a nice looking car(to me at least), and it's quick, what more do you need? especially if your dad approves of it, I would go for it. BTW whos paying for it? your dad?

A Jetta over here in the UK is the mark 2 golf with a big pig ugly boot/trunk stuck on the back to make it a saloon instead of the hatch it should have been. After that it was a Vento on the Mark 3 and now is another bloody stupid name.

Do you guys not have Peugeot over there? If so the 306 is the sweetest handling car for your money. But it must be a hatch back.

A Golf should always be a HATCH....end of.

A Passat is a saloon or an Estate (Station Wagon I guess over there). You guys with your stick shift, that also kills me. 5 speed is normal over speed, Auto is normally about £900-£1000 extra on mainstream motors. 6 speed is quite normal now on quick stuff.

What a world of difference...we all have similar PC's but the car situ is wildly different.


Luck with your choices....want help with UK car techs I can help!

Don't forget about the Mk1 Jetta Zak. Personally that was my favorite of the old Jettas. Golfs are nice, but hatches just aren't very popular here in the states. It has that whole econo-box stigma. Thats one of the reasons why we never got the Polo. The Golf always has been a hatch over here (even the MK1 Rabbit), never had the Estate version. Peugeot has been long dead over here. Due to their poor reliability, sales suffered badly. Actually the differences between US and UK (Europe in general really) vehicles is slim anymore. You have a couple of more vehicle manufacturers over there, but that is about it. It's a global market anymore

How many of you good people will drive a 1.2 litre engine? Not too many, and yet we are buying them in hordes!

The executive class car, is typically up to 3.0 litres

Why only that big........? Cos we get over 200 bhp from 3.0 normally aspirated. GM have started bringing their US cars to our shores, but my word how many combos of engine are there? 4.2 litre Blazer with 190 or a 3.6 litre Camaro with the same!

4.2 litres here is for the ultra rich on a new car or the die hard 4x4 person on a used Range Rover (and most are 3.5 or 3.9)

I find it hard to understand how Peugeot could be suffering "Poor Reliabilty"

What did you all have for Peugeots? 205's? Doubt it.
605, bad of pooh, but more likely that is the source of the US discomfort on this brand.

Me I work for Vauxhall (GM) but I would have a Peugeot almost every time for its handling, ride and RELIABILTY!

Turbos next......what kinda boost pressure do you boys get outta your US turbos?
Is it akin to Japanese beasts? 2.0 litre 4 pots with 220 bhp up to 265 in road going showroom form? Prob not but I hope you do!

Glad to see you trumping TDi's though. Quality engines, but guess what, VW here uses the TDi's in Skodas and Seat's. Have you heard of them?

Give me an idea of bhp per engine size over there to help me....I shall use Vauxhall figures which I know very well

1.0 12V 3 CYL 57 BHP
1.2 16V 4 CYL 75 BHP
1.6 8V 4 CYL 85 BHP
1.4 16V 4 CYL 90 BHP
1.6 16V 4 CYL 100 BHP
1.8 16V 4 CYL 125 BHP
2.2 16V 4 CYL 147 BHP
2.5/2.6 V6 6 CYL 172/174 BHP and 200 in GSi
3.0 V6 6 CYL 204 BHP

1.7 DTi Diesel 4 CYL 75 BHP
2.0 Di Diesel 4 CYL 82 BHP (is a turbo but only tiny, no intercooler)
2.0 DTi Diesel 4 CYL 100 bhp
2.2 DTi Diesel 4 CYL 125 BHP

Now those babies rock

but

Peugeot 306 GTi 2.0 16V 4 CYL 160 bhp+

and Cyborg Mitsubishi 1.6 16V 4 CYL.......160 bhp again!

Where do you US boys hide the BHP......and don't talk to me about TORQUE

Astra GTE 16v circa 1988!!! 156 bhp and 150 lb/ft of torque, of which 80% or more from 2500 to 6200 rpm!

Woops arse every time

OK......UK car sales pitch over....your go