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Sedans Volkswagen Jetta VW Jetta SportWagen
144 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 10:25 AM
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Replying to: jogousa (Nov 04, 2009 1:17 pm) The NHTSA page is two paragraphs of the boilerplate language that has been said about airbags for a good 10 or 15 years. The only specifics it mentions are rear-facing child seats in the front seat. It doesn't mention side impact airbags at all. Further there is no date on the page or any sources or references. On the other hand, the IIHS page is considerably more detailed and it explicitly addresses side impact air bags and even rear seat side impact airbags. It also cites sources and has a date on it showing it to be relatively current (Mar 2009). The only thing on this whole page that i can find that can be construed to support the anti-air-bag position is this sentence: "Like frontal airbags, side airbags have the potential to cause injury. However, side airbags typically are smaller and deploy with less energy than frontal airbags." This is then offset by several paragraphs that say it only was ever considered to be an issue with kids who aren't belted in and that even those have been addressed, AND, as mentioned in my previous post, that the NHTSA has record of only one child ever being hurt by a side airbag. Thus, as to the question on the table: "Should i get rear airbags and enable them in my VW if i have kids/grand-kids?" the answer is a nearly unqualified "yes". (It's only qualified by the statement that "i am not a lawyer or safety professional of any sort. YMMV.") For anyone still reading this, one of the sites linked from the iihs page is for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers' " Blue Ribbon Panel for the Evaluation of Advanced Technology Airbag". (http://www.brpadvancedairbags.org/). The bulk of it is about front impact air-bags, but the slides for one of the presentations: http://brpadvancedairbags.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/mullen-advanced-occupan- t-protection-systems.pdf has some pictures on page 8 of the starting position for some of the oop (out of position) testing that they do for side air-bags. Too bad the text / comments aren't included.
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Replying to: veryhrm (Nov 04, 2009 3:06 pm) the issue goes way beyond any particular VW or any one brand. if you really want to do your homework , try to find the individual case reports on NHTSA about the few hundred kids decapitated or paralyzed by airbags in low-speed/minor collisions. also consider the fact that it was NHTSA & their federal ilk who mandated the airbags that killed/maimed those kids, and take their posterior-covering analyses with an extra grain of salt because of that. |
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I love my wagon in fact it is my second. I had a problem with the sunscreen when i retracted it last week. Took it in to the dealer and they said a small rock had lodged in the track and caused the problem. The dealer said it was not covered by vw. The screen is like a catchers mitt for flying road debris. Seems like a defect more than my fault. Ugh.
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Replying to: breck (Nov 29, 2009 6:52 pm) Had you not told them that (rock incident) and removed the rock, you could then had it covered and blame it on unknown....but, you could try it at another dealer providing VW does not have a record (ticket) on it already from your dealer... or, if it was only verbal advisement... If you are talking about the small black mesh that pops up when you open the sunroof/moonroof, I have removed that immediately as it looked to me as ill-designed item and I have installed a plastic (smoke color) wind deflector (OEM VW accessory). Once you install OEM VW wind deflector you have to remove that pesky "mesh" anyway..because it's too high and it would not fit underneath the wind deflector....by the way, it's not designed to catch flies, mitts, etc. it's designed to be a wind deflector! If and when you remove it and open the moon-roof all the way (and drive over 30 MPH) you have to open back windows because the wind vortex creates unbearable noise to your ears as air flow enters the cabin compartment. If you go for a wind deflector, make sure you get the OEM VW deflector as the aftermarket (by WeatherTech) does not fit properly and interferes with closing the moon roof. But (correct me if I am wrong) you are talking about the screen shade that retracts all the way back horizontally...., right? Or about the framed mesh that pops-up?
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Replying to: jogousa (Nov 30, 2009 8:32 am) The factory installed wind deflector looks very flimsy - not built to last - and the item you used to replace it is an interest. Any more info you can provide about where you purchased the deflector, steps involved in removing the original, etc. is appreciated. I've checked around the web, and several "OEM" sites are selling the WeatherTech deflector that you wrote doesn't fit properly. Along the same thread, I've read several posts around the web complaining of heat build up in the car due to the sunroof. I'm in the DC area which - though nothing like Florida - can get pretty steamy in the summer. What has your experience been? Can the sportwagen's sunroof be tinted? I've read about several other cars that can't have their sunroof's tinted due to the expansion/contraction that polycarbonate sunroofs experience during temperature changes. Any other tips and advice before buying? Thanks everyone for your input.
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Replying to: emptypixels (Dec 03, 2009 5:07 am) Factory installed wind deflector is flimsy indeed. There are just 2 screws that hold it in place to remove it. WeatherTech wind deflector is too low and closing of moon-roof interferes with final stage of closing - you have to briefly push wind WeatherTech wind deflector up (from inside the vehicle), while moon roof is closing (moving), so that moon roof retracts completely. If it feels any small resistance (safety issue) moon roof mechanism moves it back.This could also be due to the sun heat that heats up the WeatherTech and it sag's a bit in the middle as a result thereof. There are other wind deflectors out there, VW OEM, Lund and others. I have an OEM VW in transit to me (to replace WeatherTech) and will tell you if that one is better later on this month, if interested. From VW description/specs it seems that OEM one is a bit higher than WeatherTech. Installation is simple. There are two thin metal brackets with hole/thread openings that you push between the rubber sun roof seal and the body. Then you secure it to the plastic deflector with two screws. Heat build up is pretty intense here in Florida (in Summer) and I have a square paper cardboard covered with aluminum cooking foil that I put up there (in Summer), between the sun shade mesh and the moonroof. Otherwise, when you get into a car in such intense heat, your seats feel as if the seat heater is on. However, overall it a nice feature to have a sun roof / moon roof ( it also increases re-sale value). For someone in D.C. area, I would get it, if it's on a car as a factory option. By the way, if you get the moon roof, you will also loose some storage (for sun-glasses) and possibly Blue Tooth transmitter (not sure about that) that are housed on the headliner in that area. |
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I'm still on the fence. The vast majority of sportwagens available seem to be TDI, and the popularity in sales seems to justify this, but I can't for the life of me figure out why. This would be my first diesel car if I go with the TDI, so anyone who has info please explain. I know it has better fuel efficiency, but with the extra cost of the TDI model (and the navi unit to find diesel in unfamiliar areas for peace of mind) the cost comes to around $4k extra. Even figuring fuel at around $3/gal it looks like it would take around 11 years for the vehicle cost to be made back in fuel savings. Without the navi, it's around 6 years to make back the difference. Either way, that seems like a long time before a customer can (possibly) make back the difference in initial cost. Am I missing a key factor? Is there some benefit to the TDI that I'm not seeing? Any help is appreciated.
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Replying to: emptypixels (Dec 03, 2009 9:10 am) 6 year payback, means doubling your "investment" in 12 years, which is a return of about 6% based on the "rule of 72". That is a pretty good return, but not that big a deal as we are talking about getting 6% (rather than maybe 2-3%) on a couple thousand dollars, it just does not add up to much in actual dollars. Plus this assumes you are not borrowing the money, if you are borrowing at 6%, then it would seem top be a wash. I'd get whichever version I liked best, that little bit of long term savings would not be worth having a less desirable car to me. The diesel may or may not have better resale value, if you are a frequent trader...it'll depend on fuel prices at the moment you sell, as people seem to be very short sighted on such things.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Dec 03, 2009 9:19 am) I agree the price of the built in navi system is silly, but I haven't seen an after market unit that offers diesel locations as a POI. (Just starting this research, so I could be way wrong on that.) Admittedly, convenience is definitely playing a factor here though. Since it's so easy to find gasoline - and diesel is so scarce in some locations - it would definitely be a change in behavior for me (and I assume most drivers) switching over to diesel for the first time. Either way I agree that the cost difference doesn't make the difference in the end. You have to buy what you like. But from what I've seen online, the stats on TDI sales versus the sales of all sportwagens - 80% of sales are TDI - seems to be awfully one sided considering it comes down to 'whichever version you like best'. Hence my concern. Just making sure I'm not missing something that the other 80% of the sportwagen buyers did see.
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Replying to: emptypixels (Dec 03, 2009 9:10 am) As far as diesel - it's a personal choice. I like my 2009 Tdi Jetta Wagon although I would prefer a Subaru Diesel (for better ground clearance). |
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