Re: New jetta opinion poll... GLX or Wolfsburg?

["Christopher Morgan" <cmor@home.com>]

I typed up this much last night before I went to bed.  Most of the points
have been covered, but I'll send it anyway:
>>>
For the most part I'm in agreement with you about the qualities of BMW's.
As an enthusiast, just about the entire product line gets me all hot and
bothered, and this goes way back to when I was a wee lad getting shuttled
about in a '77 320i driven like a maniac by my swim coach (a she, no less!).
I also had the good fortune to learn how to *really drive* in an E30 M3.  So
I love BMW's (even rode my K-bike to Spartanburg to tour the factory), but
in defense of VW, I'll toss out the following thoughts:

BTW, there's an E46 323i and an E36 325i in my family and I have a '97 GLX
and an '00 GLS VR6.

There is no doubt that an E36 is a way better car than the A3, but those
cars are history, so to speak.  While the E46 is a fine car, the A4 Jetta is
pretty darn close at ~3/5ths the price, comparably equipped.  In fact, I've
talked to two other A4/E46 combo owners and they both agreed with me that
the VW is nicer to drive on a daily basis.

Why does BMW still offset the steering wheel to the right and the pedals to
the left?  This annoyed me in my older Audis and it still annoys me in the
323i.

For the $35,420 that the 323i cost, it should include things like a folding
back seat, an alarm, a switch inside the car to pop the trunk, and anything
else but those cheesy painted plastic dash inserts (i.e. wood or aluminum
instead).  To get the trunk switch would have meant stepping up to a 328i.
The other three items could have been added to the 323i for $1500+.

Window regulator replacement scorecard: Jetta - 0 (so far)  BMW - 2.

Jetta w/16's = soggy feeling suspension
323i w/16's = soggy feeling suspension
Jetta w/17's = much better than expected
323i w/17's = don't know

The difference in price between my Jetta GLS VR6 and an 'acceptably
equipped' 3 series (or Audi A4 for that matter) was enough to pay for my
Speed Triple, which is way more fun than any car (except when snowing or
getting run over).  I like the Triumph so much that I just added a Sprint ST
to the fleet and I'm selling my K1100RS.

If I really wanted a car for track use I would still get Jetta as a daily
driver and pick up an E30 M3 as my play car.

The owners of Cross Country BMW Motorcycles have a Golf 1.8T (they were
going to get a 3 series until they looked closer at the Golf).  Their
business partner has a Passat GLS V6.  A salesman has a Jetta GLS VR6.  The
parts guy was thinking of a 3 series wagon, but after driving my car (with
the 17's) he is now probably going to get a Jetta Wagon 1.8T when they come
out.  That's a lot of people with BMW connections who chose VW's.
<<<

Anyway, Bill, 95k in 3.5 years!  On bikes!  Holy shit, man.  *That* is
riding.  What do you use for tires?  Mich 90X's (now 100X's) are my choice
for a reasonable performance/treadlife compromise and Pilot Sports are set
to go for the play bike.

-Chris
inbox:
'00 Jetta GLS VR6
'00 Sprint ST
'00 Speed Triple
outbox:
'97 Jetta GLX
'93 K1100RS
'88 Hawk GT