For those who asked...

[zlee]

pics of the CanAm hitch now on the Jetta

[dkottum]

It is interesting to see the severe downward tilt of the hitch head. Andrew Thomson has written about how critical this is to preventing sway and safe handling during emergency maneuvers.

doug k

[zlee]

Scary: during the first drive out rigged up, Kirk Thomson swerving sharply across two lanes of country road to test handling while I squeaked with my hands over my eyes...

[MrUKToad]

It's a nice neat job, isn't it? I can just picture all that weight being transferred down to the front wheels. Love the independent rear suspension, btw, no wonder it's such good tow vehicle.

[zlee]

It's a pity the newer Jettas are such poor vehicles. Apparently the Passats still would work, though.

[ROBERT CROSS]

zlee,

From your blog...


Buffalo Road....how 'bout River?

My Stream'n theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eDKKKshcks

Bob

[zlee]

Good stuff, Bob!

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

It's a nice neat job, isn't it? I can just picture all that weight being transferred down to the front wheels. Love the independent rear suspension, btw, no wonder it's such good tow vehicle.

The new Jetta design does not have independent rear suspension, and will not handle as well as the previous model. We have an 2006 Jetta TDI, 44-48 mpg, plenty of power, and handles like a dream. No repairs needed in 6 years, and it can tow a small Airstream. What more could we ask for.

doug k

[MrUKToad]

Just checked out the newer Jetta specifications and there looks to have been some serious cost cutting done compared with earlier models, including junking the independent rear suspension - that's progress for you. I notice, though, that the European spec. Jettas do get independent rear suspension although overall the options available to European buyers are fewer, including engines. But, like Airstream's European models, the Euro specifications may be better but they are a lot more expensive.

[zlee]

Apparently they're trying to go for the Civic crowd. Hopefully they'll come back to their senses, it's not what VW should be doing to their brand. They've pretty much toasted the Jetta, which was their most popular modern model ever.

[MrUKToad]

It was nice to see David Suzuki using Can-Am's Jetta to tow a 19' Bambi on that CBC documentary last night.

[mutcth]

Although they didn't make the Jetta better, the sales of the redesign are up. Might help that it now has a low, low, low starting price for advertising (which climbs quickly when you actually get to cars that people buy).

The GLI sports version has IRS, but no diesel. The Jetta Sportswagen remains on the old full-featured platform, as does the Golf.

Tom

[zlee]

Originally Posted by mutcth

Although they didn't make the Jetta better, the sales of the redesign are up. Might help that it now has a low, low, low starting price for advertising (which climbs quickly when you actually get to cars that people buy).

According to someone I know who shall not be named, since he works for VW, the main problem, he says, is the new buyers aren't the kind of buyer they might hope for. They balk at or are unable to afford regular maintenance. He feels that VW will have to quit cheapening the brand, or he hopes. In his words, the new Jetta is "a piece of crap, mechanically" and will sink a carefully worked for reputation for quality mechanics...especially when they're not maintained properly.

On the other hand, the year that Doug and I both own, 2006, the top of the line Jetta was actually a better car than the lower model Passat, so perhaps VW figured reworking it so the lines were more distinct would be good.

[MrUKToad]

Far be it from me to be cynical (ha!) but all of the VW "redesign" is to cut their costs. I'm not surprised, Tom, that sales are up as the base prices are probably closer to other similar cars now; that VW have cheapened the product to do it is a matter for them I guess but it really bothers existing and loyal VW customers. It seems to be a race to the bottom :~( That also ties in with Zlee's comment about the "type of buyer", too. getting volume sales up is one thing but reputation is quite another.

It's not just VW of course; we swapped our 1999 Camry for our 2011 Sienna and the general level of build quality and parts on the newer vehicle is way down; embarrassingly so in fact. I know the Camry can't be compared directly with the Sienna but one was a very good quality car, the other isn't. Mind you, the Sienna is still way ahead of the VW Routan in every respect, except price. There is VW's conundrum...

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by zlee

On the other hand, the year that Doug and I both own, 2006, the top of the line Jetta was actually a better car than the lower model Passat, so perhaps VW figured reworking it so the lines were more distinct would be good.

The 2006-2011 Passat was a pretty good car, but no one bought it. A lot of its potential buyers were scared off after the reliability roller-coaster that was the previous Passat. (I had a 2000 Passat wagon - loved it until pieces started falling off. That took two weeks after purchase.) Your and Doug's Jetta was a better sorted car though, reliability-wise.

The 2012 Passat follows the same road of the 2011+ Jetta: make it bigger, take money out of the interior finish, lackluster standard five-cylinder engine, invitingly low starting sticker price. They didn't go quite as far with mechanically decontenting the new Passat, retaining the independent rear suspension.

But you hit on an interesting question - will current VW owners be happy when they go to the dealer and find the new Jetta and Passat? Some will, but likely some won't.

Tom

[CallDon]

Originally Posted by mutcth

The 2012 Passat follows the same road of the 2011+ Jetta: make it bigger, take money out of the interior finish, lackluster standard five-cylinder engine, invitingly low starting sticker price. They didn't go quite as far with mechanically decontenting the new Passat, retaining the independent rear suspension.

I have never owned a VW, but I'm possibly considering a Passat TDI for the future, for towing a Casita at 3,500# max in a couple of years or so. We'll see how this new Passat holds up. My other choice is a Toyota Highlander, partly because of the history of reliability.

D*