C6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 29, 1999 AUTOMOTIVE Jetta passes the Wunderbar test By Rob Beintema SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Wunderbar! I usually leave the radio turned off when I pick up a test car. Those first few minutes are important. That's when everything is fresh and strange and new. That's when the little nuances register on your con sciousness, before the brain becomes accustomed to the idio syncrasies of a new experience and switches over to "ignore" mode. But the audio system came on with the Jetta's ignition and I was too busy adjusting the seat and fid dling with the mirrors to notice. I didn't really pay attention to the radio until I pulled out onto the road. Then, as my fingers reached to stab off the power button, a duo started singing the old Cole Porter song. Wunderbar, wunderbar, la la-la. . , heck, I don't remember the words. But for one brief moment there, as I accelerated and shifted up a gear in my German import, with the radio oom-pah-pah-ing in the background, I felt as if I'd been twilight-zoned into a Volkswagen commercial. Call it coincidence or synchronicity or even a fortuitous omen for Volkswagen but, oh well, I thought, let's just see how "wun derbar" or wonderful this car really is. The Jetta was first introduced in 1980. It was sort of a Rabbit with a trunk added on. Teutonically effi cient but with the uninspired styling of a brick. Over the years the car's sporty spirit has shone through, the edges have smoothed out, the comers have rounded off and the Jetta has evolved into a more stylish, sophisticated, entryluxury offering. Sort of a "baby Passat", as some refer to it. It's been less than a year since the Jetta's last major revision for '99. The fourth-generation, front wheel-drive Jetta (known as the Bora to the rest of the world) is now built on Volkswagen's stiffer "A" platform, underpinnings com mon to six other vehicles including the Golf, Audi A3, Audi TT and even the New Beetle. The wheels were pulled to the 2 00 0 Volkswagen Jetta comers last year, with about an inch and a half stretch in wheel base and a corresponding wider track. The Jetta also lost about an inch and a half in length but gained the equivalent back in width. The result? The Jetta assumes a wider, more aggressive stance. Complimented by overall excel lence of exterior fit and finish, the car has a solid, one-piece look. I spent a little extra time on my tra ditional, pre-drive inspection, admiring the Jetta's contours as I circled slowly around it. The raked and rounded evolution of styling, smooth and subtle, the only osten tatious note, the saucer-sized chrome VW badge on the grille. The curvaceous fender flares, the recessed, jewel-like headlamp array. And just the way the car sat there, hunkered down, shining and silvery in the morning sunlight. The Volkswagen Jetta comes in three trim levels -- GL, GLS and GLX. Standard equipment on the base car includes front side airbags, a premium eight-speaker cassette stereo with CD prep, ABS brakes, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated remote mirrors, cen tral remote locking, a center-cut folding key and options galore. New for 2000, the Jetta adds an enhanced traction system, optional Monsoon audio, child seat anchors on outboard positions, engine immobilizer, a brake wear indica tor on the dash and optional in dash CD players. Three different engines are available with either 5-speed man ual or optional automatic transmis sion. The standard 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine makes 115 hp @ 5200 rpm. Penny-pinchers should consider the 1.9L TDI Diesel. Power is rated at 90 hp @ 3750 rpm but the diesel also puts out a gutsy 155 Ibft of torque at a low 1900 rpm. The combination of cheaper diesel fuel and the 5.6L/4.4L/100km city/highway fuel rating will save a lot of wear and tear on your gas card. My tester came with the third optional engine, the 2.8L 6-cylinder VR6. With 174 hp-@ 5800 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque, this is def initely the sporty alternative. Acceleration is quietly powerful, smoothly linear and seemingly endless. The VR6 turns this family sedan into an autobahn-burner. The Jetta feels more like a tour ing car than a true sports sedan. With some body roll evident, the Jetta's suspension is surprisingly plush for a German car - which should please North American preferences. It's fine through the twisty bits but most comfortable as a highway cruiser. Which doesn't mean I'm poohpoohing the Jetta's driveability. With 6-cylinder power under the hood, just snick the stubby shifter into 1st, slip the clutch a tad to prevent wheelspin and you're off the line in a hurry. First gear tops out at just under 60 kmh. A quick shift into 2nd and you're up to 100 kmh in under eight seconds. Pop into third and watch the red speedo needle continue its climb up, up, past 1 5 0 .., well, you get the idea. Wunderbar! It's like we equipped your wallet with a side-im pact airbag; too. N ew Beetle No security deposit during Boxing Week, plus no charge alloy wheels or CD player when you lease a 2000 New Beetle. That's not all. It also comes equipped with A /C, an anti-theft alarm ond a 6-speaker stereo system. Boy, we're really looking after you, huh? Visit your local dealer today and take a test drive. s 299+ /m o . 36 month lease S2,149 due at signing (plus PDI, ins., lie., tax) Drivers wanted* Awoys mrmrbmr lo u n w faty belts Seal chJdren only rear. using reslroetf systems ihcN are appropriate to r tie r sae a I oge TO W appfce i io a 36 m on*i baM W o 2000 Ne» Beefte erf 5350 ieou»ed (X Wne o l IransaOkon PCX. eweance. k nse and oppt rnhle la w e**o MorSNy popnanb to ld 5KL7S284 GIS 5-spood ond ndudei 11500 da»n payment. J298 69 fa * m on#* payment ond retadoble e -ear Requret VW Cm t1 Canada, fac aDomrO and dec r p a rvpo pn Dealer mo, base far fast Leoe nXe e baeed on an Laaec msoraibtt lor nw onc* Al lease end. fans* mooraUt tor JOKyWn c « r 60000 bn. far damage and bm ed O I999V im d r twt f rale a l 85?% See dealer lor lu l d e k * and pu*hoK apton O iler ends December 31 1999 Sue Oakville Volkswagen 557 Kerr Sheet, Oakville (905) 844-3285 banta, you for the rea»y cool new cloriv or Christmas! M y mon' ^ ^ aT going to donate n\y old clothes to nadian Diabetes Association's mity Collection Cre# She is going them in bags and place them in the »d donation box at CanadiatvTir^ 'y d e ^ a d i& a te J m ^ Q ^ ^ 1 rlSi TH E KIE\\ V E A K . k SAVE 6 7 ^ . A T yoJK oNTAKJe PEAUR.S , anks again Santa, see you nexT year Love, Tommy p c, for more informa tion or to arrange-a fre e pick up call us CANADIAN DIABETES | ______ ASSOCIATION______ ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DU DIABETE Purchase any new 2000 Windslar, and 2000 Explorer get or 2000 F-150, s Z000K 2000 WINDSTAR IX w in m i m s Ffwm JUST MOVED? 5r % BNDE-TO-BE? N EW For free information and gifts... 2000 TAURUS SE EnnK EnnnTM 3491% *2991% *319£ NO SECURITY DEPOSIT NO SECURITY DEPOSIT N O SECURITY DEPOSIT $91Q ~=M f o tmm m NO SECURITY DEPOSIT m tm ttm m «· > » «5 ·-- PAY NO INTEREST ON SELECTED NEW IN STOCK 1900 MODELS AND SAVE... HORRY, LIMITED TIME OFFERS. YOUR ONTARIO FORD DEALERS. * 1. S O U T H E A ST A nne Phillips 842-2385 2. S O U T H W E S T C arol H agen 338-3456 CALL 3 . N O R T H EA ST Pat Fairfield 842-1560 4 . G L E N ABBEY C athy W oloschuk 847-9157 Or call toll free: 1-800-301-1104 Toronto Area: (416)497-8111 Internet: www.welcomewagon.ca www.ford.ca/offers W feL C O M E 4 * r S in c e 1930 T 4 / A G O N lto . WISE BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPY: ` Purchase any new 2000 Windstar, 2000 Explorer, 2000 F-150 (under 8500 lbs. G.V.W.) and receive $2000 cashback. Taxes payable on fu ll am ount o f purchase price before cashback. Taxes applicable to the cashback ($300) w ill be deducted from the cashback. $2000 cashback not combinable w ith any other offers, tLease a new 2000 Taurus. 2000 Windstar, 2000 Explorer, 2000 F-150 (under 8500 lbs. G.V.W.) from Ford Credit to qualified retail lessees on approved credit (" Lease O ffer"). Based on an APR o f 5.9% (Taurus), 4.5% (Windstar), 4.9% (Explorer) and 6.9% (F-150) over 36 months. Total lease obligation for Taurus $16.559/Windstar $15.059/Explorer $15,979/F-l 50 $14,039. A charge o f $0.08 per km above mileage restriction o f 60,000 km over 36 months applies, plus applicable taxes. Lease O ffer is available on 24. 36 and 48 m onth leases only. Lease O ffer also available on Advance Payment Plan (APP) lease where one base m onthly payment w ill be deducted from the to ta l APP payment. **0% Purchase financing on new in-stock 1999 vehicles (excluding Lincolns. Super Duty, Econoline, Mustang and Cougar) fo r a maximum o f 48 months on approved credit to qualified retail customers. E g. $25,000 financed at 0% annual percentage rate fo r 48 months, m onthly payment is $520.83, cost o f borrow ing is $0 and to ta l to be repaid is $25,000 w ith $0 dow n payment. This is a sample calculation only. All offers are m utually exclusive, ` to ffe rs exclude $870 (Taurus). $925 (Windstar), $815 (Explorer), $960 (F-150) freight, licence, insurance, adm inistration fees and all applicable taxes. Some conditions apply. Dealer may sell or lease fo r less. Limited tim e offers. See dealers fo r details. O ntario FDA PO Box 2000 Oakville O ntario L6J 5E4 m A N eighbourhood Tradition Since 1930 i 4