Topic: CD Article: 2008 VW City Golf and City Jetta

[Autos_Editor]

Today's First Drive:

Volkswagen's Canada-only City Golf and City Jetta models receive new styling, revised interiors and a minimal price increase for the 2008 model year, reports Senior Editor, Paul Williams, but their engine and chassis technology remain "comparatively old."
   
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Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[2JDM]

I like the Golf.

But with the MT...at 110 km/h, engine runs over 3,000 rpms?  Seeing that 400 series speeds are 120+, its gonna be one noisy highway ride.

But I guess "City Golf/Jetta" explain they are city vehicles?

[The Mighty Duck]

The pricing on the City Golf really is incredible.  Good enough that I would consider one, were I in the market.  The styling of the new model is very nice, too - especially in red.  Only big downer to these cars is the underpowered-sounding engine.  From the sounds of it, the gearing on the manual cars also needs some work.

Still, well equipped for $16 500, the City Golf is a very attractive deal.  It undercuts everything on the market substantially. 

[Ex-airbalancer]

If I was in the market for $20g car these two would be high on my list
I like the driving position in both cars

[Mike-NB]

This is an innovative approach to a problem that VW has, namely that they don't really have an entry-level vehicle.  My concern is that the engine seems to be unchanged.  If that's the case, then the engine is the same 2.0 litre engine that my wife had in her 1993 Golf.  It put out 115hp and modest torque.  That engine also powers my mother-in-law's 1993 Golf.  This engine seems unrefined for a 1998 model, so I can imagine that it seems worse 10 years later.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe VW improved the engine.  Then again, it is a chance for people to buy a new VW for a low price. 

[2latecrew]

If they continue to produce these cars build on older technologies they may eventually work the bigs out and make them reliable. After all they've had years to soret out the recalls TSBs etc.

[MJMontreal]

I went to VW of Brasil's website to find that they have the same restyled version of the "City" Golf for sale there - that is where it is built after all. So I guess it isn't exclusive to Canada...

I can't understand why the German-built Rabbit, which has A/C, power locks and windows standard, starts at $14,990 in the US. Instead we get this older South American built car for $400 more!  Don't get me wrong, I really like the "City" models but they should be cheaper.

[tpl]

I cannot find any interest in these vehicles.  VW would possibly get my business if they just imported the latest in Golfs and Passats with all the legislated changes of course within , say, 6 months of the intro in Germany and ditched these old junkers. Spend their money on making a NA version of the Polo.

I was very pleased with my 87 twincam golf  but the 95 with the 2.0 was not a great car. I drove a 1.9l 100 bhp  tdi in France for a month in 2003 and that was a great car... so I am prepared to want another VW but not an out of date one... must be like buying a Lada which was a time expired Fiat 124

[PJungnitsch]

... must be like buying a Lada which was a time expired Fiat 124

For the Soviets a Lada was a great thing, but as they say, having no choice is no fun...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DWAKtYGJZSM

[Rupert]

This seems to be a way outdated vehicle now. I dont think that the policy of putting a new grille on it and introducing it as a new car will carry VW very far. Why does Canada not get the latest effort?

[The Mighty Duck]

This seems to be a way outdated vehicle now. I dont think that the policy of putting a new grille on it and introducing it as a new car will carry VW very far. Why does Canada not get the latest effort?

   We do.  It's called the Rabbit, and it's been on sale for a year.

[tpl]

But we only get a limited set of options/engines/body styles/colours. IMHO a lot of it is 'cos the Americans don't want hatcbacks and the Europeans don't want sedans and all the interesting variants are based on the hatch body not the sedan (Jetta) body.

[Chad]

I'm currently driving the 2007 Volkswagen City Golf and I was blown away today to find a newly revised 2008 City Golf with a facelift, updated tail end and upgrades etc.  I'm kind'a mixed on the look, sort've still like the older style.

I thought the whole idea of making the City Golf cheap was to utilize the old model architecture, now they've spent money to update it and added more the base price (from $14,900 to $15,300..not a huge jump but here we go adding things again).

Anyway, as a side note, I love my 2007 City Golf! It was flippin' CHEAP! and so far I've got 16,000kms without any problems at all...very smooth.  Not even a quirk.  So far I'm very pleased.

[mmret]

I thought the whole idea of making the City Golf cheap was to utilize the old model architecture, now they've spent money to update it and added more the base price (from $14,900 to $15,300..not a huge jump but here we go adding things again).

This update comes from the Asian market MK4 Jetta/Golf I believe, its not brand new.

VW has a frightening amount of "stuff" when you think about it.

[Mitlov]

But we only get a limited set of options/engines/body styles/colours. IMHO a lot of it is 'cos the Americans don't want hatcbacks and the Europeans don't want sedans and all the interesting variants are based on the hatch body not the sedan (Jetta) body.

Americans have tons of variety.  Rabbit three-door, Rabbit five-door, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen (on the way), Eos.  2.5, 2.0T, and TDI (on the way).  Plenty of color options.  So if you're mad about the lack of variety in Canada, blame VW of Canada, not the United States.

[tpl]

Its not the USA exactly Mitlov, its the VWOA controlling VWOC and I think that has just this month changed so that VWOC reports to Germany directly.   It may not help tho.  The Rabbit aka Golf V only comes with the 2.5. from what I read we may not get the TDI in a rabbit, only in a Jetta. 

We don't get the R32.  Neither of us gets the Golf plus nor the Polo. We are both getting the Touran. 

[terry0703]

I like the idea of having "City" models.
At least the styling is not bad, the engine power is still similar to other models in the price range.
My only concern is its not-good fuel efficiency, which seems hard to attract buyers of entry level cars.

[Rupert]

Not with a 2 liter engine around town. Wonder what the actual returns are.

[MJMontreal]

I thought the whole idea of making the City Golf cheap was to utilize the old model architecture, now they've spent money to update it and added more the base price (from $14,900 to $15,300..not a huge jump but here we go adding things again).

This update comes from the Asian market MK4 Jetta/Golf I believe, its not brand new.

VW has a frightening amount of "stuff" when you think about it.

It does not come from Asia - it comes from the South American market (the Golf from Brazil and the Jetta from Mexico). If you go to their websites you can see the variety of cars that are offered to them - included the new Fox.

[MJMontreal]

But we only get a limited set of options/engines/body styles/colours. IMHO a lot of it is 'cos the Americans don't want hatcbacks and the Europeans don't want sedans and all the interesting variants are based on the hatch body not the sedan (Jetta) body.

Americans have tons of variety.  Rabbit three-door, Rabbit five-door, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen (on the way), Eos.  2.5, 2.0T, and TDI (on the way).  Plenty of color options.  So if you're mad about the lack of variety in Canada, blame VW of Canada, not the United States.

We have all those models too!  Besides VW of Canada might as well not exist since... Our model selections are dictated by the American Market (or the 'North' American market). Although, I learned that VW of Canada was released from VW USA's control and will now answer to VW AG which may lend to a better variety. It is no coincidence that Canada and the USA have nearly identical build standards - like reflectors in taillights, side markers, etc. Meanwhile, the international standard requires side repeaters, a rear fog light (in the EU), amber turn signals and not red in tail lights. Foreign car makers don't want to have to mess with making the bumpers bigger or adding stupid little lights on the side's of the bumpers - it isn't profitable - so they only import cars they hope will sell in high numbers.

Transport Canada should allow cars imported here to be either Euro or American spec...