Pros and Cons of new 1.4 tsi Jetta

[neexis]

greggle....car looks good!
where did you get your tyres?
are those also low rolling resistance?

i love the stock handling of my continentals.. really wouldnt want to replace them with anything that doesn't drive as well.

[greggle71]

Automotive Components for the Goodyear

[drchaos]

Lard boy allergic ... Them Hilux people does get riled up real fast ...

[neexis]

funny.... for the past few weeks most of them hilux/navara/big automatic pickups i've seen were driven by.... women. not sure what going on, unless is some hardcore shopping going down.

[nemesis]

The brake dust issue of euro's is not only the pads. The rotors contribute to that also. It can be significantly reduced with a pad change, but you also lose some initial bite on the brakes.

As for the continental tires, my experience has been a bit mixed with those. While they do work reasonably well and have pretty good wet traction, they're a bit expensive in trinidad, plus I've had sidewall swelling on more than one that was bought locally. The sidewalls are too soft(and ugly) for me also. Being so closely priced to Michelin's, I wouldn't even consider them again.
I still think we need a proper bridgestone dealer in trinidad.

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

So far I haven't had any issues with the Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tyres. I haven't rotated them at all so the fronts are 80% worn. They have become noisy but no vibrations or swelling after 17500 miles. The rears have shown about 20% wear after a year. If I had been rotating I could have increased the life of my fronts that I am looking to replace. For now I'm looking at

Hankook Ventus V12 summer tyres
Sumitomo HTR Z III
Continental ExtremeContact DW
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Maxxis ma-z1 Victra

They are all pretty much rated higher spec wise and review wise than the factory tyres and are all cheaper than OEM.

@Greggle, it is very difficult to get a dealer to replace tyres it seems. They say it's a wear and tear item. Usually if they are replaced it's cuz owners purchased extra tyre warranty. Did you do the lower grille and spoiler installation yourself? Car is looking good. I always say the lower grille with chrome helps the front of the car alot. I couldn't stand seeing the all black lower grille on mine.
I have a new found respect for dealers, maintenance persons etc who work on these cars. Some installations are downright tedious and that's just body work stuff.

[fastredcar]

Hey guys..

I have the sound of startup with my engine noise for you all but don't know how to post it.

Did you all ever hear about some recall of the water pumps in some of the vw cars? Some other euro guy was telling me about it.

Also..they told me it was going to take two days..dropped it early Tuesday morning told me I would have gotten it back on Wednesday evening..no problem there right..I catered for that.

But..they then called me lunchtime Wednesday to tell me the car will be ready by Friday..WTF!! is one thing that I catered for two days..without a replacement car..but now you extend by a further two days?! Very very inconsiderate in my book..

So of course I had to call and get on a little because they offer you no comfort no anything..

But what we can do right..we love our cars..and they are the only ones selling it and in order to maintain our warranty we hadda abide.

Oh well..that's my experience..

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[fastredcar]

I also told them..changing my water pump had nothing to do with the cradle arm bushings..both repaira could habe taken place at the same time. .because they have to carry the cradlw arms to gwt the bushings.pressed in..and so while that is going on they could have worked on getting thw water pump out etc..how many techs they have..two?

The girl tried to explain to me that it is plwnty work etc. Well if you all knew it was plenty work they should habe told me so and make sure I get a loaner..but wait..th we y told me loaners were only for the people who bought Touaregs!!

Again..oh well...

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[fastredcar]

Try this link to get the audio file of my Jetta less than a year old starting up and with the noise...

http://temp-share.com/show/KdPf2a3oh

[greggle71]

@allergic, i have a body shop close by so he put them on for me for a 50. The mud flaps and exhaust tips I did myself.

I'm tempted to lower the springs but still on the fence. After I do a wheel upgrade I think I will be good with that. The car is very refined on its own in all honesty

Gonna try the ceramic brakes cause I like clean wheels when that change is required as well.

Jettas starting to mainstream now. Seeing them everywhere

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

I personally know of owners of mk5 Jettas getting a loaner vehicle while their cars were in for repairs. They got the same vehicle Kirk drives for D&W complete with all the stickers...Try speaking to someone else maybe? Corrina?

The water pump was recalled back in 09 or something. I remember seeing it on an australian forum for mk6 golfs.
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/ ... 31066.html

Might be worth a read. Not sure if it is the same issue.

[Pointman-IA]

I personally know of owners of mk5 Jettas getting a loaner vehicle while their cars were in for repairs. They got the same vehicle Kirk drives for D&W complete with all the stickers...Try speaking to someone else maybe? Corrina?

The water pump was recalled back in 09 or something. I remember seeing it on an australian forum for mk6 golfs.
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/ ... 31066.html

Might be worth a read. Not sure if it is the same issue.

That explains the day I saw the car down Santa Flora, i thought they were on a promotional tour

The amount of Jettas I am seeing now. They are getting common like B-14...

[fastredcar]

@allergic

Sorry to sound like this but maybe those guys either know someone personally their, or their money adds up, or their skin color makes it easy. I am just fedup..and that's mk5 owners eh..I just bought mine..I just paid $240,000 for a vehicle that I hadda carry in to fix a water pump and cradle arms and get no relief car....BA better get their act in order yes, because they treating me worse than a foreign used car dealer, I am sure I woulda get better treatment from one of them compared to BA.

Now about those tyres..well the original potenzas RE050 that we got with the car is threadwear 140 so it would have finished quicker than the usual tyre out there..it holds really really well...and cornering, braking is really really well with it because of that threadwear. I was trying to get it down here, no one has it, if you know anywhere that have it then let me know, but i real search..

I would go toyos or even the maxxis because of the traction and it doesn't swell as easy as the potenzas.

[fastredcar]

BA just called me to tell me that the car would be ready at 4:00 pm..WTF!! Might as well tell me come for it tomorrow like they said because for me to leave from south to head up there and come back down at that hour is not making sense.

Also left on the voicemail, to call them back to make sure it will be ready by that time, they think I really have time to waste or what? I don't understand this na...tell me Friday and done the whole set of stories..Like i said fellow owners, I am getting fedup.

But do download the audio file I posted, it is very interesting, the sound the engine makes is a bit frightening.

Thank you all though for the feedback and the comments.

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

The guys didn't know anyone personally. It was more to do with how long the car would be left with BA (weeks). Skin colour also didn't make things easier plus hey they drive jettas which from a money standpoint is one of the cheaper vehicles BA sells so that also isn't it.

I haven't seen any local dealers for the RE050. In any case I expect it to cost at least TT$1800 per tyre so it's why I'm looking for better tyres that cost less. The only reason it costs so much is cuz it's listed as OEM. All the tyres I listed have better treadwear, traction ratings, reviews than the RE050 and all cost less. So i'mma take a chance with one.

I'd be glad to get my car back "early" though. An extra day without the car is hard.

[fastredcar]

@allergic
Well man I am sorry if I said something to offend anyone. But I am just upset. I guess I just have bad luck. I guess I don't have the personality for them to give me a car. I guess is my bad luck that I am living south and don't really care to travel up north at 3:00 pm in the afternoon to collect my car. I guess its my bad luck for living south and purchasing a car from the 'north'.

As regard to the tyres..the lower the thread wear the better it holds the road in terms of stickiness etc..so other tyres may have better thread wear but it may or may not hold the road as well as those potenzas or continental s.

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[fastredcar]

Also for me $240,000 is not cheap. Whether it is the cheapest they offer it is not cheap for me...

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[fastredcar]

Clearly no one here has any issues with service or the dealership..so sorry for wasting the forum's time.

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[Allergic2BunnyEars]

It is possible to have high thread wear with lower traction. The RE050 has the lowest life compared to the other tyres and also has lower traction than 4/5 of the other tyres listed.

I wasn't saying Jettas cheap. Was just stating the background of those who got the courtesy car to say it wasn't down to their personality, skin colour, who they knew or the amount of money they had.

@greggle: I saw a video on how to install mud flaps and I say not me and dat

[purple_heart77]

@ fastredcar No m8, it is all good. Experiences/views are always welcomed in my opinion.

Enjoy your car when you get it back....it is one of the best.

[neexis]

i think you should have gotten a loaner.

they usually give one for any repairs that have to be done due to some manufacturer's defect.. i asked about this when making my purchase... cuz i really don't have a backup car to use.

Allergic: who are you checking for your tyres? Our dealer told me to check mileage mack. Also... what's the price range of the above mentioned tyres?

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

I was planning to bring them in myself when I eventually choose. If I find them locally for cheaper then I would go that route. Plan to check a few dealers this weekend. Mileage Mack is one of them.

[neexis]

i was considering that as well... but freight and duties are a concern.

actually just checked it with the courier's calculator. works out to about $2400 to bring in via ocean. so about $7500 total.... vs around 9000 locally

[2WNBoost]

Clearly no one here has any issues with service or the dealership..so sorry for wasting the forum's time.

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BA's after sales service leaves a lot to be desired.
The service reps don't follow up on calls to customers or provide timely updates on the status of your vehicle.
They had no trouble contacting you during the sales process.
I had an issue with noise from the front end and they kept trying to give me a song and dance. It wasn't until I asked for the service manager's contact information did they move to resolve the problem.
Plus the nonsense about not doing tyre work is ridiculous.
I'll talk with my wallet when the warranty is up and the next vehicle purchases are due.

[nemesis]

fastredcar : Having to service in POS is a problem VW and Merc owners always have to live with once you purchase it. Should have asked about a loaner though.

BunnyEars + others : Bringing in tires as an individual is not always cheaper than buying locally. Depends on the tire. The Michelins you might get cheaper if you brought in provided you get a good price in the US. Tirerack will not work in my experience. Especially since Michelin in Trini has sales so often.

As for the treadwear, you're right there. fastredcar, 2010 was the year I believe that a huge advancement was made in the rubber compound used for the better tires. Michelin had it on their website also stating that what is now 300 has the equivalent dry grip as the same tire would have at 220 before, but has higher treadwear based on the fact that they'll also last longer. That combined with the huge difference tread design provides would mean that it is possible to get a tire that is better in every possible way and has a higher treadwear than your previous set.

bunnyears : I use Pilot SS now.. zero regrets although they're a bit pricey. They actually do everything better for a sporty road car.

[fastredcar]

For the record..I did ask for a loaner..was told that it is only for the people that purchased the touareg.

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[Allergic2BunnyEars]

@ nemesis: I would only bring in a set if I got it at a good price in the US. Tirerack usually is great for tyre info but a bit pricey otherwise so I've been looking on amazon for better prices.

[kingskid]

Check this link out for some tire tips.
http://cars.about.com/od/adviceforowner ... ddonts.htm

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[drchaos]

Hey allergic, have a quick question. The minor mods you did to the car, did you ask BA if the warranty still holds?

Thanks

[Allergic2BunnyEars]

Warranty is a general term but it breaks down into different segments on the vehicle. e.g. you have engine warranty, tranny warranty, suspension etc. They can't void the warranty of the entire car simply because you change you add a rear spoiler for example. However if you choose the wrong size wheel and damage the suspension they can void your suspension warranty but not another warranty unrelated to the suspension.

So far all my mods have been minor and with oem parts save for the led drl. All the other mods were with parts specifically designed for the Jetta save the lowering springs which are technically for a Golf.

So to answer your question, if BA wanted they could void the suspension aspect of the warranty based on that and the warranty on the lights. They can't void the warranty on other components based on the minor mods I have done.

Finally, BA themselves install aftermarket mods on some vehicles at the request of the owner. The fancy led drl headlight replicas that you see on some Jettas e.g. PCX2*9 is an example of this which leads me to believe that they aren't too mod unfriendly and will try to help you once you haven't done anything too aggressive in the engine, transmission, chassis departments.