I recently bought a VW Jetta TDI. The mechanicals are wonderful. No complaints on economy (40-41mpg) or acceleration and handling. I bought the “sportwagen” for the ability to carry more. But if you’re over about 5’8” you can forget being comfortable. The ergonomics s@#k. The seat and every place you’d rest an arm are like marble. By far the worst aspect is that the Jetta, and every small car, now have a center console. This is like every car having running boards. It’s a fashion accessory. Apparently, if your car doesn’t have this console then it looks cheap. The leg and foot room is already tiny. I have relatives with 15-17 inch long feet. They couldn’t even operate the controls there is so little room. My feet are 12 inches in shoes and I have a hard time. With my feet down there I have about six inches of side to side room. If the console were not there (and it’s in every car now) they designers could have put the gas pedal further to the right.
I suspect the reason SUV’s are selling so well is, even if they have the dreaded fashion-statement console, they have more room and are therefore more comfortable. The most comfortable cars I’ve had were the old ones with upright seating. Man, if I could just get one of those with a diesel engine I’d be in heaven. Who wants to voluntarily fold up into a sardine can for a five hour drive?
Well... at my average height, my VW New Beetle is ergonomically perfect for long drives. I’m interested to see whether VW’s transitioning the car to the Jetta platform for 2012 will give it a more masculine look. I’m a guy and I know its tagged a “chick car” but I don’t care. Besides a car that smiles back at me is good for my mood.
Hope you didn’t buy the automatic.
Also, the ‘old’ cars with diesel engines are either Mercedes... or they’re crap. (See: GM 350 diesel.)