2003 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition Road TestFrom Closet Fan to Full Conversion I think it's fair to say that I've been a closet Volkswagen fan for the better part of my life. I have admired the fine German engineering from afar, but unfortunately have never become too intimate with the brand.
This, however, has recently changed. My boyfriend assisted me onto the VW bandwagon at the wheel of his '95 Golf. I gradually started to feel the same enthusiasm that he does towards his "baby," a devotion that is not unusual among Volkswagen fans. My keenness further evolved into a great appreciation after having driven the new 2003 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition. I am now out of the closet, and I am a wholehearted fan.
When I saw the Tornado Red Jetta parked in the lot it was instant attraction, red being my favorite color. I've been in a few Jettas in my time but had never had the privilege of getting behind the wheel, until now. Unfortunately a nasty virus had knocked me out of commission for the most part of the week, but I did manage to fight off the beast and get in some seat time, and what a great time it was. Last weekend the weather in Vancouver was beautiful. The sun was out and it wasn't too hot so I went cruisin' in the Wolfsburg. The optional power sunroof, which goes for an extra $1,015, was wide open, and the standard power windows were rolled down. And yes, air conditioning is a standard Wolfsburg too but as I've said before, I like the real thing better. The tunes were pumpin' on the single CD player that is accompanied by eight fantastic speakers. The sound quality is clear and precise, and all the AM/FM stereo/CD player buttons are easy to locate and read. While the audio system was above adequate I'd have to say that I was most impressed by the way VW's 5-speed manual transmission synchronized with the rev happy 180-horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC 20-valve intercooled turbo I-4 engine with SMPI. Wow, try and say that all in one breath. The tiny engine left me breathless too. This thing just goes and goes. I found myself driving along and then all of a sudden I was flying. It was almost a little too much sometimes as I like to be the one in control, and I felt that it often took control of me. But with a crack of the foot whip, I tamed the turbo beast. With taming comes braking. The Wolfsburg, 4-wheel discs, standard ABS and electronic brake force distribution slow it down in a flash.
So, what makes the Jetta Wolfsburg any different than the 1.8T GLS? I found the Wolfsburg to be a nice blend of "sports car meets sedan". There is no sacrifice of comfort or convenience for the sake of styling. Included in the package are front sport seats, 16-inch BBS alloy rims, a sport suspension, a leather sport steering wheel, leather hand brake, a rear lip spoiler and Wolfsburg Edition badging. Also included are 5-way heated front seats (probably more appreciated during colder months), halogen headlights, remote power door locks with 2-stage unlock and illuminated entry, and body-color door mirrors, bumpers and bodyside moldings.
What I found to be one of the Jetta Wolfsburg's strongest points was the simplicity of its interior. VW managed to create a technologically advanced cabin without all the high-tech hassles. Translation, I hate tons of buttons. I fancy interiors that are simple and "ready-to-use" without forcing the need to look it the owner's manual to figure out what button does what. Maybe I am impatient, but it just makes my life easier. When I say there is no sacrifice of comfort for styling, I can use the rear lip spoiler as an example. Naturally, spoilers have the tendency to obstruct the vision of drivers when looking behind them. Rather than the current whale-tail trend, the Wolfsburg wing was modest, with just the right amount of flare. It was close enough to the trunk to not impede my visual path out the rear window, but perky enough to advertise that this is no mere mortal Jetta. The trunk underneath that spoiler is roomy too. On that thought there's also a reasonable amount of room inside, plus an open feeling brought about by a superb visual range, loads of headroom, a spacious and comfortable back seat, all aided to by a fairly high seat height. Also important Volkswagen has managed to offer all these attributes without the loss of intimacy, common among today's sedans.
With a high-performance vehicle comes high-performance fuel. The Wolfsburg's preferred drink is premium unleaded, a hard pill to swallow on a regular basis. Still, due to its sensational performance the higher priced gas was a sacrifice I was willing to make, at least for the weeklong duration of my test. On the positive the Wolfsburg experiences fairly decent fuel economy at 9.9 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 L/100 km on the highway, and is classified as a Low-Emissions Vehicle (LEV). Like I said previously, I'm now an out-of-the-closet VW fan. The Jetta Wolfsburg Edition is a well built, modestly priced sports sedan. Of course modest to some might be outrageous to others. Its base price starts at $27,595, while the price as tested came to $29,260, including the $1,015 power sunroof, $430 Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), and $220 worth of side curtain airbag protection. I recommend trying out a Jetta Wolfsburg, or any VW product, if you are a closet admirer like I used to be. You'll probably be as pleasantly surprised as I was. Specifications (Wolfsburg Edition):
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