| Matched against the best-selling subcompact | | | | prohibitive, |
| models offered by Ford, | | | | |
| | | | even when the seats are positioned to the |
| Honda and Toyota, the Jetta is Volkswagen's | | | | most extreme setting. And, of |
| best-selling line.Combined with the nearly | | | | |
| identical Golf, more than 40 models of the | | | | course, with the front seats adjusted |
| | | | accordingly, rear-seat passengers |
| vehicle are offered, including several 20th | | | | |
| anniversary special editions.I drove the | | | | have even less room than the limited space |
| 1.8-liter, 180-horsepower, turbo-charged | | | | when the front seats are in a |
| 4-cylinder GTI | | | | |
| | | | neutral position.Likewise, the front and |
| anniversary edition for my weekly test. It | | | | rear-seat head room is adequate, but |
| included nearly every standard | | | | certainly |
| | | | |
| feature and option imaginable and was true | | | | not a selling point. Equally restrictive are |
| to form to its intended | | | | the front seats. While the cloth |
| | | | |
| audience.Drivers seeking a zippy little | | | | material is quality, the seats are snug and |
| machine get exactly that. From its bright | | | | rigid and feel more like |
| | | | |
| "Tomato Red" exterior and black-and-gray | | | | cockpits than comfort zones.Another problem |
| interior, the Jetta is more | | | | is the Jetta's lowered sport suspension. |
| | | | Since the |
| sports car than subcompact and it couldn't | | | | |
| be more conspicuous | | | | vehicle also has an extended lower front |
| | | | grill, advancing over speed |
| scooting around town or on the open road.The | | | | |
| vehicle featured 18-inch alloy wheels and | | | | bumps or driveway bumps - even a very low |
| with its lowered sport | | | | speeds - can be |
| | | | |
| suspension, the car has a unique feel. While | | | | problematic.Unlike other manufacturers with |
| not particular quick, it's | | | | expensively priced options, my Jetta |
| | | | |
| nonetheless fund to to drive.The steering | | | | was offered for a base price of 23,800. The |
| and handling is tight and responsive. The | | | | only additional charges were |
| six-speed | | | | |
| | | | the Electronic Stabilization Program (swerve |
| manual transmission is smooth and provides a | | | | reduction) for $280 and |
| driver who likes driving | | | | |
| | | | destination charges of $575. That pushed the |
| plenty of action. In short, the vehicle | | | | price to a non-economical |
| feels like it accelerates faster than it | | | | |
| | | | $24,655.2004 Volkswagen Jetta GTISafety |
| does.A power glass sunroof with a tilt | | | | features -- Driver and front passenger front |
| slide, air-conditioning (with pollen, dust | | | | and side |
| | | | |
| and odor filter), AM/FM cassette and in-dash | | | | airbags and front and read head restraint |
| CD player, cruise control | | | | airbags.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 21 mpg |
| | | | (city), 29 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper |
| and power/heatable outside mirrors are among | | | | to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; |
| the more than a dozen | | | | |
| | | | Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, |
| standard features.The brushed-metal console | | | | 12 years/unlimited miles; |
| and instrumentation panel are attractive and | | | | |
| | | | Roadside assistance, 4 years/50,000 miles; |
| well-positioned if nondescript. More | | | | Free scheduled |
| manufacturers are seemingly using | | | | |
| | | | maintenance, 1 year/12,000 miles.Base price |
| and a combined blue-red instrumentation | | | | -- $23,800.00.James Raia is a syndicated |
| lights and the color | | | | journalist in Sacramento, California, who |
| | | | |
| coordination work well in the Jetta. Cargo | | | | writes about sports, fitness, travel and |
| space is adequate as its | | | | lifestyle topics as well as the car |
| | | | |
| quietness rating is average.The Jetta does | | | | review colum, The Weekly Driver. |
| have limitations. Front-seat leg room are | | | | |