Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI Named 2009 Green Car of the Year(R)
Green Car Journal Announces Winner at the Los Angeles Auto Show

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20 — Volkswagen’s milestone 2009 Jetta TDI has been named Green Car Journal’s 2009 Green Car of the Year(R), besting competitors that included a pair of advanced hybrids, a clean diesel sport sedan, and a trendy fuel-efficient microcar. This is the first time that a clean diesel model has been awarded the title Green Car of the Year(R). Green Car Journal has been unveiling the Green Car of the Year(R) winner at the LA Auto Show every year since it initiated the annual award in 2005.

“The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI epitomizes what the Green Car of the Year(R) honor is all about,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “It raises the bar significantly in environmental performance with its EPA estimated 41 mpg highway fuel economy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and extremely low tailpipe emissions. This is all the more impressive when you consider the Jetta TDI is a clean diesel, achieving the kind of fuel efficiency offered by gasoline-electric hybrids but in a more affordable way.”

Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI features a 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct injection engine featuring the latest in diesel injection and emissions technology that allows it to meet strict emissions standards in all 50 states. Although its mission is to provide buyers a comfortable and fuel efficient five-passenger family sedan at an affordable $21,990, there’s a bit of performance in the bargain because of this clean diesel engine’s abundant low-end torque and the Jetta’s well-tuned suspension. This Volkswagen’s new-generation diesel powerplant is also exceptionally quiet for a diesel, reflecting just how far advanced diesel technology has come in recent years.

A jury of environmental and automotive experts selected the 2009 Jetta TDI from the field of five finalists that also included the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and smart fortwo. This jury is comprised of nine jurors including Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; automotive expert and Tonight Show host Jay Leno; automotive icon Carroll Shelby; and four Green Car Journal editors.

About Green Car of the Year(R)

The Green Car of the Year(R) award is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced technology, and alternative fuel vehicles. Green Car of the Year(R) is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.

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ORIGINAL: Vendaval

You have some excellent suggestions here and I also recommend talking in person to the local VW mechanics and having one of them check out the car first if it is used.  They can also give you the insider info on the costs for parts and what kind of mileage to expect, who has the best prices for diesel, etc.
 
Most likely there are discussion groups Online for VW owners and hobbyists too.  I cannot speak about Jettas, but my family owned many a VW through the years including Buses, Bugs and a Karman Ghia and they are sturdy cars.

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ORIGINAL: Vendaval
Oh yeah, always do your research and shop around, get the local info from mechanics and parts dealers.  

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ORIGINAL: wulfgarw

Hullo All!

I have currently a 1996 Ford Taurus  that has been starting to give me some transmission trouble.  And more to fuel my own curiosity than anything else, I went car shopping yesterday.  Looking over the veritable sea of colors and shapes and sizes, I started evaluating what I would use the car for, and what I wanted in a vehicle.

My conclusion was for a station wagon, and looking through the VW lot, found a Jetta Sportwagen.  Knowing VW has has diesel vehicles in the past to a degree of sucess, I located a salesman (saleswoman in this case) and the next thing I know, I'm test driving a 5 cyl gasoline version, with promises that a couple of the diesel versions, whilst spoken for, were on their way and would be similar in perfomance and handling.  A decently equipped TDI diesel version is slated to be about $26K (Automatic tranny and a HUGE sunroof.)

Making a very long story short, I was very impressed with the vehicle.  Silk smooth at highway speeds, responsive handling and excellent brakes.  Reports have filtered back that the diesel routinely gets 40+ MPG even in city driving.  Online reviews (or the ones I found)  have done nothing less than firewall the ratings bars and stars, to glowing and canonizing written reviews.

Granddad was the first person the first to tell me that if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

So, the question is, who on the boards have this vehicle?  Have you had any problems with this, or any of the newer VW's, particularly the TDI diesel in cold weather?  Are the VW's worth the extra money?  Parts availibility?   I just don't want to get burned because I know next to nothing about VW, hoping to connect with VW owners to get the skinny on potential problems.  Thanks to any who can help.