2012 VW Jetta TDI or GLI?

[porchemasi]

Hey Guys,

I am strongly considering purchasing either a new 2012/2013 VW Jetta GLI or TDI (probably 2013 model) in the next 5-6 months once my Honda lease is finished.

I am moving up north and my commute will be +30KM a one way trip to work. So +60KM a day. The Jetta GLI loaded comes to about $37k while the fully loaded Jetta TDI clocks in around $35k!

After doing research there are many mixed reviews. Some say maintenance on Diesels go upwards of $1100!!! Oil changes for diesel also cost more??

Does anyone own a Diesel and can share there exp? I really need to decide in the next few months.

Help!

[Anonymouse]

Oil changes on a TDI are every 15 000 km, and the timing belt interval is 160k km. With your commute mileage, you will be changing the oil a little more than once a year, at about $120 if you do it at the dealer. The only other maintenance on a diesel that you don't have to do on a gasser is to get the water out of the water separator, which you do every 30k km, or about every 2 years in your case, and it takes 15 minutes of a mechanic's time.

[tjayl]

Personally I wouldn't chose the Jetta TDI. I'd choose the golf TDI. The stuff removed from the Jetta to bring its price down didn't make it appeal to me. Plasticy interior pieces instead of soft touch materials. No independent rear suspension. I believe the GLI kept some of these, so if Jetta is what you want, that's the one to pick.

[lordnikon]

Personally I wouldn't chose the Jetta TDI. I'd choose the golf TDI. The stuff removed from the Jetta to bring its price down didn't make it appeal to me. Plasticy interior pieces instead of soft touch materials. No independent rear suspension. I believe the GLI kept some of these, so if Jetta is what you want, that's the one to pick.

+1

The multilink suspension is dropped for independent torsion beam axle.

[greybrick]

Personally I wouldn't chose the Jetta TDI. I'd choose the golf TDI. The stuff removed from the Jetta to bring its price down didn't make it appeal to me. Plasticy interior pieces instead of soft touch materials. No independent rear suspension. I believe the GLI kept some of these, so if Jetta is what you want, that's the one to pick.

While the GLI has most of its content returned, the TDI is still devoid of many of the features found on the previous generation. Sixty km per day isn't really a major trip and the GLI will be more responsive then the decontented TDI. The TDI will definitely be cheaper to run, but the savings don't justify the loss of content IMO. Strangely enough, the upcoming hybrid Jetta will also have IRS and soft-touch materials. It's almost as if VW wants their diesels to fail in North America.

[lordnikon]

VW is cutting costs so they will have different models for different markets. The Jetta in Europe has soft touch and other features. Same for the Passat.

[greybrick]

VW is cutting costs so they will have different models for different markets. The Jetta in Europe has soft touch and other features. Same for the Passat.

I know.

It also means there is no possibility that we will be seeing the rumoured Jetta CC in North America. I just find it interesting that the Jetta will have the content that was stripped out of the TDI; a car I normally associate with Volkswagen. Volkswagen's cost cutting strategy makes me cringe as other automakers seem to be adding content for the North American market rather than gutting their cars.

If we end up getting a cheap Golf instead of the MQB Golf bound for Europe I will be less than pleased.

[Chew300ZX]

I have a 2012 GLI. The soft touch dash is indeed included in the GLI and the car drives amazingly well and gets many compliments. I love the beefy wheel too!

That being said, TDI is still a nice car, gets amazing mileage and still has a decent amount of torque for some get-up-and-go around town.

If you go GLI, my advice is to make sure to get one with the 18 inch wheels, 17's are nice, but not in the same league at all.

[Andro]

get a GTI if you can, if not then GLI.

[B0000rt]

Oil changes on a TDI are every 15 000 km, and the timing belt interval is 160k km. With your commute mileage, you will be changing the oil a little more than once a year, at about $120 if you do it at the dealer. The only other maintenance on a diesel that you don't have to do on a gasser is to get the water out of the water separator, which you do every 30k km, or about every 2 years in your case, and it takes 15 minutes of a mechanic's time.

This TDI doesn't have Urea?

[lordnikon]

This TDI doesn't have Urea?

No it does not require urea injection to satisfy emission requirements.

[Anonymouse]

Me, I'd get a Golf TDI or a GTI. They are authentic German automobiles, the Jetta is massively decontented to sell to Americans who hate cars.

[porchemasi]

Thank you all for the responses! I will wait for the 2013 models line out because I have until early winter before my lease is over.

Hopefully the 2013 models will bring back soft plastics (i really dislike the hard plastic). Once the 2013 models arrive I post back and let you know if my decision.

Thanks again!

[spike1128]

Thank you all for the responses! I will wait for the 2013 models line out because I have until early winter before my lease is over.

Hopefully the 2013 models will bring back soft plastics (i really dislike the hard plastic). Once the 2013 models arrive I post back and let you know if my decision.

Thanks again!

I think if you really want a TDi, get the Golf TDi. If you want sporty and budget, get the GLI without the downgrades of all the other Jettas. If you want sporty and expensive, then get GTI.

[malecoke]

As much as I love VW's and TDI, their DSG is a major turn off. The risk of having a false neutral when you're driving down the highway is potentially life threatening.

just search DSG, problems, false neutral on youtube and see for yourself.