- My 2007 Volkswagen Jetta may be a base model, but it is definitely not a penalty box. It really is a great car and I'm glad I purchased it. I'll admit that Volkswagen wasn't even on my list. I was looking for American cars but on my way to a Chevy dealership I happened to see a Volkswagen dealership and decided to stop in. The dealer put me in a black Jetta with a 5-speed manual and only 31,000 on the odometer. I drove it for 5 minutes and immediately fell in love with the car. Performance is totally respectable for that 2.5L 5-cylinder motor under the hood. The car only makes 150 hp but it definitely feels much more powerful. I can do wild and crazy burnouts with both wheels spinning on command. Its engine noise is very different but sounds great. Gas mileage is also totally respectable. I'm averaging around 20 mpg in the city (my driving style is spirited so that's pretty good) and I get about 33 mpg on the highway at a steady 85 mph. The ride is a little stiff but it's supple enough to not be punishing. That stiff ride makes the car handle beautifully. The steering is practically telepathic and is weighted nicely. The 5-speed manual transmission feels great. The shifter feels great in the hand and feels good as you row through the gears. The clutch is a little bit tall for my liking but the pedal take-up is light and linear. The brakes perform and feel better than the brakes in my grandfather's BMW 328xi sedan. The styling of the exterior is handsome but a bit plain. Since my car is the base model it comes with 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps which are boring but don't look too bad. I love the turn signal repeaters on the side view mirrors but I could do without the factory rear spoiler. The interior is very attractive with high quality materials. The blue and red backlit controls and gauges look great and the 10 speaker AM/FM stereo with a CD player and auxiliary input jack is loud with crystal-clear sound. The front seats have plenty of adjustment and the steering wheel both tilts and telescopes allowing anyone to get comfortable but some of the adjustments are awkward to reach. The car has plenty of headroom and legroom front and rear although hip room is a little tight since it's such a narrow car. This car must have been designed with performance in mind because the seats are incredibly comfortable and have tons of lateral support making them awesome for drives down my favorite twisty roads. The trunk is massive and the car won't tire you out over long distances making it a great road trip car. With regard to the interior my biggest complaint is the lack of rear cup holders. In order to get rear cup holders you must order the car with the rear center armrest. This is a major oversight in my opinion. I've never even heard of another car with upholders being optional. Cup holders are also really important for me because I'm always driving friends around and my rear passengers need them. So far the cost of ownership has been cheap, although I've only had the car for 2 months and 4,000 miles. The only thing I've had to put money into was gas. It’s just a rewarding car to drive and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have owned two Jettas, a 2007 and 2009. Both are excellent vehicles. Good pep to the engine, but not too much so that young drivers can get in trouble. Great brakes with quick stops. The seats are firm, but very comfortable for a long drive. I routinely take this car on 3-4 hour drives with no fatigue or aching back. Gas mileage is good, with about 27 MPG in mixed driving and 32 MPG on the highway. Trunk is good sized, for the vehicles. A great car!

If you are looking for a great car at a great price this is it! I have 160,000 miles on it and never a serious mechanical problem...great in the snow and great on gas....safe and reliable....plus it looks pretty good too! :)

I like the lines of the car. The Wolfsburg Edition trim package is exceptional. This is the 3rd VW I have owned. The first 2 were 70's era Beetles. They were very reliable and that influenced me in deciding to purchase this car.

I love almost everything about this car. It has good acceleration. Good gas mileage. It looks good and the inside is very nice and has all the amenities you would hope for. It is not a sports car though. So, if you want something that accelerates like one I would recommend a GLI.