40-page thread about a Jetta

[Secret Chimp]

Is your left-hand strut blown through the tower, or is that just a hose in front of the mount?

[CALL_911]

Well, it will probably get double the fuel mileage the V8Q did. And a manual transmission can't hurt either.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Get rid of that stupid sticker!

What kind of seller doesn't remove bumper stickers?

It's called "wholesale". It's a good thing because you usually save some money by doing some of the cleanup work yourself. Of course, you could also end up with a complete lemon.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Is your left-hand strut blown through the tower, or is that just a hose in front of the mount?

that must be some kind of optical illusion

[MrH]

Wait, what happened to the V8Q?  Anyone mind pointing me in the right direction?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Wait, what happened to the V8Q?  Anyone mind pointing me in the right direction?

If you want one, there's an Audi/VW recycler shop that has like five of them. One of them used to be mine.

[MrH]

I thought you replaced the belt and a lot of other things and it was running well?

[Eye of the Tiger]

I thought you replaced the belt and a lot of other things and it was running well?

It is running well. It's just that the entire brake system needed replacing at a cost of $3415, so I decided to cut my losses.

[Cookie Monster]

I thought you replaced the belt and a lot of other things and it was running well?

Apparently the brakes took a shit.

[Soup DeVille]

I thought you replaced the belt and a lot of other things and it was running well?

The the brake lines rusted out and Nick's wallet gave up the ghost.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Apparently the brakes took a shit.

The brakes actually worked remarkably well, despite their outward appearances.

[280Z Turbo]

Welcome to chick-car-dom

He's been there before. He's owned a Focus.

I'm glad you got the 5 speed because the 2.slow teamed with the automatic is dreadfully bad.

Other than the powertrain, cigarette butts, and trash in my brother's '96 Jetta Trek, it's not a bad car to drive.

[Eye of the Tiger]

He's been there before. He's owned a Focus.

I'm glad you got the 5 speed because the 2.slow teamed with the automatic is dreadfully bad.

Other than the powertrain, cigarette butts, and trash in my brother's '96 Jetta Trek, it's not a bad car to drive.

I'd put it just a notch below the Focus. The Jetta just isn't quite as sharp, the ride is harsher, and the engine is not even as exciting to play with. One thing I love, though is the interior. In fact, I think it is the most comfortable, ergonomically sound and best quality interior of in any car in it's class. In nearly every respect, it seems to be a better car than any Civic, Corolla, Cavalier, or Escort from the same year.

[280Z Turbo]

I'd put it just a notch below the Focus. The Jetta just isn't quite as sharp, the ride is harsher, and the engine is not even as exciting to play with. One thing I love, though is the interior. In fact, I think it is the most comfortable, ergonomically sound and best quality interior of in any car in it's class. In nearly every respect, it seems to be a better car than any Civic, Corolla, Cavalier, or Escort from the same year.

Yeah, I don't think it's as sharp or as refined, but the steering is nicely weighted and it does have fairly stable handling.

It's hard to beat a Focus. Even VW knows that, which is why they copied the control-blade IRS from the Focus.

[CALL_911]

Yeah, I don't think it's as sharp or as refined, but the steering is nicely weighted and it does have fairly stable handling.

It's hard to beat a Focus. Even VW knows that, which is why they copied the control-blade IRS from the Focus.

The Focus is a great car.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yeah, I don't think it's as sharp or as refined, but the steering is nicely weighted and it does have fairly stable handling.

It's hard to beat a Focus. Even VW knows that, which is why they copied the control-blade IRS from the Focus.

It's certainly easier to drive straight on the highway than in a Focus - or maybe my Foci's alignment was thrown off from all the autox/rallyx. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Is your left-hand strut blown through the tower, or is that just a hose in front of the mount?

The answer to your question, I have discovered it on the VW Vortex forum's FAQ:


Gap between the strut tower and the top plate in engine bay?

Don't worry, that is normal. Turn your steering wheel all the way and you'll see one gap grow larger as the other one becomes smaller. If the gap gets much larger than 1/2" or so, you may need to replace the strut bushings/bearing (see above), however, even a brand-new car has that gap.

[280Z Turbo]

It's certainly easier to drive straight on the highway than in a Focus - or maybe my Foci's alignment was thrown off from all the autox/rallyx. 

No, mine pulls towards the slope of the road on the freeway too.

[Raza]

Yeah, I don't think it's as sharp or as refined, but the steering is nicely weighted and it does have fairly stable handling.

It's hard to beat a Focus. Even VW knows that, which is why they copied the control-blade IRS from the Focus.

On which car?

[Eye of the Tiger]

No, mine pulls towards the slope of the road on the freeway too.

Ok yeah, same problem. Foci's just like to turn; straight lines are boring to them.

[280Z Turbo]

On which car?

FWIW:

"While the interior quality of the previous model startled rivals and led most of them to up their game in revised/replacement models, the astonishing chassis and all round ability of the Mark 1 Ford Focus startled Volkswagen (and indeed other rivals). In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen poached from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link 'control blade' rear suspension system, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. The suspension changes, along with careful tuning of the chassis, led to the Mark 5 Golf delivering better road manners. However, this also sacrificed usable cargo space; despite this model's considerable increase in size over the outgoing model, its hatch volume is roughly 3 cubic feet less."

[280Z Turbo]

Ok yeah, same problem. Foci's just like to turn; straight lines are boring to them.

I think the US-spec ride height has something to do with it.

The rear suspension changes toe as it compresses. Supposedly, lowering the car helps with the side-stepping issue in a turn.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh, there's also a little bonus to getting a Jetta: I already have a set of Jetta wheels/tires that I had used previously on the 'st33m. They will fit perfectly on this car.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think the US-spec ride height has something to do with it.

The rear suspension changes toe as it compresses. Supposedly, lowering the car helps with the side-stepping issue in a turn.

But I LOVED the side-stepping issue.

[280Z Turbo]

But I LOVED the side-stepping issue.

That shit used to scare me on freeway onramps.

[Raza]

FWIW:

"While the interior quality of the previous model startled rivals and led most of them to up their game in revised/replacement models, the astonishing chassis and all round ability of the Mark 1 Ford Focus startled Volkswagen (and indeed other rivals). In order to counter criticisms of the average dynamics of the previous model, it is widely reputed that Volkswagen poached from Ford the engineering team who designed the multi-link 'control blade' rear suspension system, widely regarded as the class benchmark for ride and handling. The suspension changes, along with careful tuning of the chassis, led to the Mark 5 Golf delivering better road manners. However, this also sacrificed usable cargo space; despite this model's considerable increase in size over the outgoing model, its hatch volume is roughly 3 cubic feet less."

Interesting. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

That shit used to scare me on freeway onramps.

I used to scare my passengers by tapping the brake in turns and letting the rear end slide a little. It was so easy to control, it wasn't even funny. A cop saw me do it one time and he just gave me a warning.

[280Z Turbo]

I used to scare my passengers by tapping the brake in turns and letting the rear end slide a little. It was so easy to control, it wasn't even funny. A cop saw me do it one time and he just gave me a warning.

It does like teh left foot braking.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It does like teh left foot braking.

I wunder if the JEtta likes it? That'll have to wait, there's supposed to be some kind of nasty winter precip starting tonight. I hope I don't need wipers tomorrow... oh, I shoulda pulled the 'sc0rt out so I could drive that instead.

[280Z Turbo]

JET-uhs have torsion beam rear suspensions. It may not like it.