2009 New Jetta

I am considering replacing all of the crap in my life with a new car again. I have the ability to take advantage of a 2009 Jetta S 2.5L 5sp employee lease special that would be structured to cover my mileage, covers all maintenance and the payments are less than it costs to fill up a F350 Diesel. My out of pocket will only increase $159.00 per month including my insurance. It is a one year program and can not buy the car at the end and I can opt to lease a 2010 for a similar price if I want when the contract is up.

I know I am probably closest to the source as far as these cars are but does anyone have any experience on large flat surfaces with these? is there anything that screams "Worst Daily Driven Autocrosser Ever?"

Anyone using one as an appliance?

How tricky are they at lease turn in about door dings or other small items. I am just looking for other ways that this could cost you more.

Are you the type to not fool with (alter or improve) a car for an entire year?

What about a loaner while it is in the shop. I hear the MidMichigan VW shops can be slow what with all the internet writting.

-John

Yeah, good luck trying to get parts for it!

[devil's advocate]

Check the lease carefully for rules against 'timed competition' etc. If you are going to autocross it, make sure that your employer won't get torqued-off at you, even if it IS technically not against the lease terms.

What happens if you quit/get dumped? Easy to get out or is it a golden handcuff?

[/devil's advocate]

Otherwise, sounds like a pretty nice benefit. Even if it ends up being not as good as anticipated, a year goes by quickly.

Top Gear thinks they are woefully craptastic. I hate working on them, and they break a lot. Not to mention the idea of a lease is strange to begin with (paying for the depreciation then giving it back???). I'd pass.

jrw1621 wrote: How tricky are they at lease turn in about door dings or other small items. I am just looking for other ways that this could cost you more.

Seeing as I have the full force of the dealership literally right behind me (and the dent wizard is my buddy) I don't really see an issue. Plus the 3 year lease of the Cobalt resulted in one repairable dinger so I have faith it will be clean.

jrw1621 wrote: Are you the type to not fool with (alter or improve) a car for an entire year?

Basically an extra set of wheels and tires would be the only modifications.

jrw1621 wrote: What about a loaner while it is in the shop. I hear the MidMichigan VW shops can be slow what with all the internet writting.

Yeah, I love Angies list ;) Actually the "slow" part of our shop is getting in. With only one dealership in ~100 miles or so it keeps us busy.Getting the cars out is usually pretty easy.

bludroptop wrote: [devil's advocate] Check the lease carefully for rules against 'timed competition' etc. If you are going to autocross it, make sure that your employer won't get torqued-off at you, even if it IS technically not against the lease terms. [/devil's advocate]

We will say that the company is "Motorsports friendly" between the Subaru guys and the rest of us.

bludroptop wrote: [devil's advocate] What happens if you quit/get dumped? Easy to get out or is it a golden handcuff? [/devil's advocate]

No golden handcuff, It is a normal lease contract through VWoA with a stellar price. We have retired and "good standing" ex employees that have these leases, the company is allowed X per year and most of the time there are people waiting in line.

P71 wrote: Top Gear thinks they are woefully craptastic. I hate working on them, and they break a lot. Not to mention the idea of a lease is strange to begin with (paying for the depreciation then giving it back???). I'd pass.

I will not even pay for the depreciation with what I am paying.

Sounds like you're paying less than the depreciation on a "pre-owned" car. Reliability? Well... it's a VW, but it's under warranty, you know exactly where to get it fixed, and it should be really convenient to "drop it off" while you go to work.

For that, you get to drive a new car.

I dislike VW, but I can't really see where you go wrong with this deal.

The fact that you're dumping money down the drain and don't even get to keep the thing?

any reason you wouldn't go with a diesel?

more torque, better mileage....seems a plus to me.

18 month waiting list... We have $1000.00 deposits stacked to the ceiling of the F&I guys office.

I really want a SportWagen but the payment is double for the same terms.

Sounds like a pretty good deal. The fact that it's a 2009 means no-charge maintenance too, but it also means that the warranty is 3 yr. 36K vs. the 4 yr. on the 08 and previous.

I love the responses of the anti-lease folks. Employee leases tend to be a pretty unbeatable deal when you consider what you pay over a year vs. how the car would depreciate if purchased outright. If you have the option to buy at the end, I'd almost guarantee that the money you pay over the full year term is pennies compared to the reduction in price as new (i.e. buy a 17K car, pay less than 3K in payments and have the option to buy for 11 at the end). In that case, you have the benefit of a low monthly payment, you get to walk away from the car if you don't like it, and if you decide you want it, you haven't taken nearly the depreciation hit you would if you'd bought the car outright.

The question, though, is whether or not you'll like the car. I like the stock suspension on VWs for daily driving and some backroad fun, but I wouldn't consider it competition worthy.

Thank you for sharing useful information.If horsepower its an issue with you than get the used one. The 2008 models now offer 170hp as opposed to the 05-07 models(150hp). Also if the used one is a 2.0T model than defiantly get because for the 2008 model line up the 200hp engine is not being offered.

http://autoselect.com/

I looked on VW's website and was suprised to see that the Jetta is the 4 door price leader.

Jetta: starting at $17.3

4 door Rabbit: $18.9

2 door Rabbit: $15.8

Bettle: $17.9

I thought the order used to be Rabbit 2dr, 4dr, Beetle, Jetta. What I find interesting is that the Basic Jetta is not that stripped out. Cloth seats, no trip computer, no alloys but still cruise and AC and a good stereo (no XM)

Sure, the whole leasing thing is just the argument of rent or buy. If you sell the two cars that you have listed now, that will pay for 1 year of lease right there. Sure, at the end you have nothing but you probably got through that year clean. It seems to me that you have a knack (or curse) for finding new rides, cheap, so finding something to drive at the end of the year should not be hard.

If it were me, I would put your wife in the new Jetta. At least where I live, a happy wife makes for a happy home and nothing makes wife more unhappy than a broken car or phone calls from the side of the road.

Invest in a few cans of scotchguard and spray the hell out of the rear seat area. At your stage in life, kid stuff in the back seat is a predictable way of life and you do not need to get dinged at lease turn in time. I recommend avoiding the tan or grey and sticking to black. I have not seen this years version but in my past experiences VW's tan or grey interiors are too light in color and do not wear well.

-John

A couple of people have mention "used" cars, I guess I need to clarify there are no used cars involved in the transaction. I can get an 09 Jetta S 2.5L with a 5 speed. That is it. For the price I can't get an automatic, I can't get a ThunderBunny, Beetle, an automatic a diesel or anything else without paying a lot more. That being said Mrs Mofeaux has a 70K mile Dodge Stratus type appliance that she is happy with. Yes I got the last new car and she DESERVES the next new one... but she will not drive a stick so she loses

And John, the car I am looking at has a black (anthrecite) interior.

I am making my decision over the weekend, we will know monday I guess.

My whole problem with the 2.5 is it's fuel economy. Maybe it's better than when it first arrived on our shores, but I remember reports of low 20's, whereas the 2.0T was seeing reports of high 20's, with substantially more power to boot. Of course, if you can pick one up for less than depreciation, it might be nice for a year.

Yeah,i would like to check out the parts while buying.And check the lease carefully.Good luck.

gomez Used Cars

You're not going to win nationals in a stock Jetta any time soon, but the MKV's are quite a bit more nimble than you'd think given the multi-link rear suspension.

You can also fit some big rubber underneath them and the 2.5L has a nice torque curve to go with it.

How much more would it cost to upgrade to a GLI/GTI?

Sounds like a good deal. I leased an 07 Jetta 2.5 Wolfsburg, white on tan, faux leather, 5 sp, sunroof. As for the lease, it wasn't a steal but it wasn't a total hose job either. You have to decide if you want to pay for the depreciation to use the car or buy the car and eat the depreciation anyway, if you're buying new, that is.

I love my Jetta. You may need to pay the annual property taxes and that can be a pain. I don't plan on buying it at lease end, either. I've even replaced the heavy duty floormats with new ones (driver mat was worn through at heel and will be detailing the hell out of it when I return it, it should look just like it did when I bought it, save for the miles. It has worn very well, been very reliable and is an awesome long distance driver. I get the bad wrap from years past reliability wise, but mine has been pretty much trouble free and I don't get the bad repuatation VW's have in today's market unless it is residual. I have to take it in for a recall on the headlight assembly and my airbag dash light went on a few months ago and needs to be reset. Otherwise, starts every day and no other problems.

I wouldn't auto-x a 2.5. They handle decenlty but are a little sluggish.