VW’s All-new 1.8L Turbo in the 2014 Jetta

Driving in Napa Valley CA looks like this.

[another video: Driving Elation]

I was with Volkswagen, to test their all-new 1.8L engine, and the 2014 Jetta.

Plenty of kick, handles precise and direct, nice note.

2014 Volkswagen Jetta

1.8L TSI Turbo – 170 hp & 184 lb.ft

Note: to get the new 1.8L engine, you have to bump up to the 3rd trim level, Comfortline. The base 2.0L Jetta is starting at $14,990, the 1.8L Comfortline is +$7,000-ish, totalling about $22,000.

Do it, never mind the old 2.0L engine, spend the money with an art-of-long-view.  Here’s my full review on Autonet.ca.

NO SCREEN

Yes I’m yelling, it’s that rare. And that tipped me over: I’d buy this car, this model year. I’ll guess this will be one of the last times that a Jetta can be ordered without a screen.

Plus, the new 1.8L engine; VW’s ergonomic elegance; and an exterior styling that will wear well over time, because it too, is minimal. No GPS; barely any aids, with cruise control being the fanciest; and available in manual.

Then tada – this would be my car for the next 15 years. An great commuter between test vehicles, and a fun week-off car.  And I’d seriously consider the diesel.

It was maybe my best-test-day to date.

They had 50! cars lined up, more than half were manual, rare; and also rare was, there were more cars than journalists, so I was alone all day… no passenger time, no passenger.

Called this video, “Driving Elation”.

 

 

Driving Elation

Filmed in Napa CA, while testing the new VW 1.8L Turbo.

Ridiculous changes in elevation, not one straight line,
through beautiful terrain, on a clear blue sky day…
alone on total video game roads.

Manual all day long, too.

One of my best driving experiences to date.

Here’s the post about that trip. And another video, and about the car.

 

Went to California for 48 Hours

Aaand home.

That was maybe my best driving experience yet.

Ridiculous changes in elevation, not one straight line,
through beautiful terrain, on a clear blue sky day…
total video game roads.

Manual all day long, too.

Made a video.

And I was testing a Jetta! What I own! (here it is)

Short review – loved it.

(it’s tough to beat VW and Audi, I think. I love minimal though, remember (as I type this on my white desk, in my white living room, with nothing on the walls)).

NO SCREEN YESSSS

OH NO.

As I was cropping this photo, I see I forgot to remove the un-sightly key-fob, before taking the photos for the paper ughhhhh sound, hangs head.

Specifically, I was in Napa Vally.

The grapes really do look like the ones in those paintings,
in cheap Italian restaurants.

These trips sound glamorous, but it’s bit tough to be honest. NOT complaining, I love it, but it’s an intense, fast-paced, all-consuming 48hrs, with a 3hr time change, my stomach is weird, and it’s hard on your skin, and cel phone bill.

I just need to keep refining my system, is all. I keep coming back to: if I trained myself to sleep in shifts, could I do more that way…

Over the ‘ole Golden Gate.

Unpacked; laundry in; next week’s column done, talking about the badges on cars.

Now my jogging-pants-greasy-plane self is off for a beer, and to catch up on the internet.

Here’s to a good start to your last weekend of summer!