Re: Goodbye, Jetta, Pt. 2

[Laurence Eng <laurence.eng@3web.net>]

Hi Tom,

Sorry to hear about your loss.  I had a 95 Jetta GLX VR6 but now own a 2001
Jetta GLS 1.8T 5 speed, Silver Arrow with black leather, cold weather
package, sports luxury package and the monsoon audio with the cd changer.  So
far as mods are concerned, I've done the ever popular TT pedals and H&R sport
springs.  The car is quieter than the old.  As far as power is concerned,  I
feel that the power is actually quite close to the VR6.  There is great grin
factor when you step on that accelerator.   If I were you I'd go for it.
Here is a link to a site which has a picture of my car.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1172781&a=9458006&p=31013400&Sequence=0

Laurence



Tom Boyer wrote:

> Greetings.
>
>    Well, the insurance company did declare the car a total loss. In fact,
> their assessor estimated the damages at $11,240. Value of the car was
> about two hundred dollars more than that. Thus, a total loss.
>
>    After the assessor looked at it, I went by to take another look.
> Apparently, the assessor had been able to open the hood, because I was
> able to. Smashola. The battery was in contact with the coolant expansion
> tank. The power steering fluid reservoir had been destroyed, with pieces
> (and fluid) everywhere. The exhaust header had ripped from the back of
> the engine (which betokens an engine that has moved, and thus quite
> likely torn or damaged the engine mounts). Obviously, the radiator is
> absolutely smashed. The driver's-side front quarter panel got tilted and
> pushed up and back, which is what made the door difficult to open - it
> dented the door's leading edge. It also pulled up and away from the wheel
> well (and the tire), which brought the mud flap in contact with the back
> of that tire. My year-old Neuspeed upper tie bar remained fastened to the
> strut towers, but it's askew (which indicates that the strut towers are
> askew). The windshield, I now notice, is splintered, and there are TWO
> dimples in the roof, not one.
>
>    I have taken photographs, and will be making a little web suite for
> them. I'll let give you the URL when it's up and running, so that you can
> see for yourselves how your car will look once you've installed the Dodge
> Neon upgrade.
>
>    I do have a Garret chip that's for sale. It's about the only thing
> that I still have that's not broken. That's because it wasn't in the car.
> In fact, it's never been in any car. I never got around to having my ECU
> socketed. The chip was purchased at Waterfest in 1999 for I think $120.
> I'm willing to sell it for $75. If you're interested in purchasing this
> Garret chip, intended for my 1995 GLX, send me an email privately.
>
>    In other news, we went and test-drove a 2001 Jetta 1.8T. It's a pretty
> nice car. This one was silver and had the sport luxury package (17"
> alloys, suspension, moonroof), the moonsoon sound system (not half bad),
> cold weather package (since I'm in Maine), and 9 miles on the dial.
> Unfortunately, it doesn't have an MFA. Anyhow, it drove very nicely. It's
> quiet and smooth. Almost no wind noise. Driving 50mph with the moon roof
> all the way open and no deflector gave hardly any noise at all. Cornering
> was smooth and responsive. In fact, the whole car was incredibly
> responsive. The sport luxury package suspension is really nice and firm,
> and quite predictable. The brake felt somewhat soft, but that may be due
> to the car's age. The only thing that the car lacked was the hammering
> punch of the VR6. Being forced to drive our doggy Grand Am these days, I
> really miss that surge I'd get when mashing my Jetta's accellerator. The
> turbo lag was definitely there. But, it's a 20-valve engine, and the AMS
> chip, I believe, brings it from the factory-rated 150bhp to 196bhp, and
> ups the torque to something in the vicinity of 220ft-lbs. I wonder if
> that'll do the trick.
>
>    I'm interested in buying this one at some point in the next month or
> two. If you have any information about the vehicle, please share!
>
>    Well, that's it for now. The search for the pre-1993 Cabriolet
> continues. We'll see how it all pans out. Thanks to you folks who shared
> your concern. And wear your seatbelt.
>
> -Tom Boyer
> ex-1995 GLX (black/black) - Dodge Neon feature added