Do You Like German Automobiles?

Are you a fan of German automobiles? Do you want to get your hands on one, but don't have the financial means to afford a luxury brand like BMW or Mercedes-Benz? Well, you're in luck! Our host has found a car that embodies the essence of German engineering and style, and it's surprisingly affordable.

This particular model handles like a Scirocco, offers the roominess of a Dasher, and boasts fuel efficiency similar to a Rabbit. But what really sets it apart is its ability to transport its occupants in comfort and style. Our host remembers one such experience vividly – his high school girlfriend Abby drove him to prom in this very car!

Big thanks to Turo for sponsoring this episode of Up to Speed! Turo is the easiest way to drive sick cars without the hassle of going to a traditional car rental place. And the best part? It's legitimately way cheaper than those luxury brands! With over 5,500 cities available, you can choose from over 850 makes and models. Yes, seriously – if you want a car that's not a Chevy Zolt, then get on Turo!

Turo also offers the option to have the car delivered right to your doorstep. Click the link below to sign up and get $25 off your first trip when you enter the promo code UpToSpeed. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to drive like a pro without breaking the bank!

The Roots of the Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta is actually part of a lineage that begins with the Golf, or as they called it in the States – the Rabbit. VW knew that by adopting a more common three-box design car body configuration, they would attract more customers to their brand. And boy, did they ever! The Mark 1 Jetta was built on the same platform as the Golf, sharing the same suspension setup, including Macpherson struts in the front and a twist-beam rear suspension.

The Jetta's styling was inspired by the Italian automobilist Giogetto Giugiaro. Yes, the same designer behind the Delorean, DB4, Scirocco, and many other iconic cars! Giugiario took the Golf Mark 1 design and added a rear trunk that matched the boxy, angular shape of the popular hatchback. But VW didn't stop there – they also upgraded the interior to offer multiple trim levels with velour or vinyl upholstery.

The result was a budget sedan that was both practical enough for families of four and sporty enough to make you forget about your family responsibilities. And under the hood, it packed a punch! The same 1.6-liter Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel-injected inline-4 engine that powered the Scirocco, Audi 4000, and Rabbit produced 76 horsepower and 83 pound feet of torque.

The Jetta's performance capabilities were impressive for its time – capable of getting you and your family to 110 miles per hour. It may not have been the most luxurious ride on the market, but it was certainly a reliable and fun driving experience. And at that price point, who could complain?

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(engine revving)- Do you like German automobiles?Do you want to put yourgreasy little fingers on onebut don't have the moolah to throw downfor a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz?Well, boy oh boy, do I has a car for you!It handles like a Scirocco,has the roominess of a Dasher,the fuel-efficiency of a Rabbit,and my high school girlfriendAbby drove us to prom in one.This is everything you needto know to get up to speedon the Volkswagen Jetta!Hi, Abby, congratulationson getting married.(retro 8-bit music)Big thanks to Turofor sponsoring thisepisode of Up to Speed.Turo is the easiest way to drive sick carswithout the hassle of goingto a car rental place.Plus, it's legitimately way, way cheaper.Turo's available in over 5,500 cities.I'm constantly surprisedthat Turo's availablein cities I go to, 'cause Igo to some real small cities.You can choose from over850 makes and models.Seriously, name it, they have it.You want to get a carthat's not a Chevy Zolt?Then get on Turo.You can get like GTIsand Porshes and stuff.And, if you want to make it really easy,you can have the car delivered to you.Click the link below,and sign up to get $25off your first trip,when you enter the promo codeUpToSpeed UpToSpeed, UpToSpeed.Sick.The roots of the Jettabeing with the Golf,or the Rabbit, as theycalled it here in the States.VW's insanely popularfront-wheel drive hatchbackbuilt to replace the Beetle.While the Golf was a great seller,and to this day, is the topcar sold by the company,VW knew that the more commonthree-box design car body configurationwould attract more customersto the German brand.- We're also impressed at wayVolkswagen make Jetta.- Like the Golf before it,the Mark 1 Jetta got it's stylingfrom the Italian automobiledesigner Giogetto Giugiaro.Giugiario?The same dude who designedthe Delorean, the DB4,the Scirocco, and aga-ja-dillion other cars.He took the Golf Mark 1design and added a rear trunkthat matched the boxy, angular shapeof the popular hatchback.They used the samesuspension setup at the Golf.Macpherson struts in the front,and a twist-beam rearsuspension in the back.The wheelbase was keptthe same at 94.5 inches.But with the addedtrunk, the overall lengthwas increased by 15 inches.But VW couldn't charge 25% morefor just adding a trunk to a Golf.Well, I mean, they could but they didn't.They classed the interior up,offering multiple trimlevels to choose fromthat included velour or vinyl.And did I say a trunk?The budget sedan was practicalenough for a family of fourand sporty enough to make you forgetabout your family of four.And the motor?She was zippy.(engine revving)It was the same one thatthey put in the Scirocco,the Audi 4000, and yes, the Rabbit.It was a 1.6 liter Bosch KE-Jetronicfuel-injected inline-4,producing 76 hrsprs and83 pound feet of torque.Capable of getting you andthe fam to 110 miles per."Yay!:"Honey, slow down.""We got to get to church on time!""It's Saturday, Frank!""I know that, Debra, but we're Jewish!""Oh, that's, right."VW was an early proponent ofpassive restraint systems,like automatic seat belts.Remember, this was the 80s.Cars had to have them,but it didn't mean you had to wear them.The Jetta got a five out offive on a crash test ratingby the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administrationfor both the driver andfront passenger sides.In 1984, the last year of the Mark 1,VW would release their GLI,the sporty spice version of the Jetta.Similar to the GolfGTI, the GLI copied overmany of the parts from it's hatchback bro.Like the 90 hrspr 1.8 liter engine.The motor got lighter pistons,a higher compression ratio,and the cylinder heads werealtered for performance.It was a GTIwith a trunk. (farts)- Jetta.It's not a car, it's a Volkswagen.- But while the Golf Mark1 sold like Ghostbusters,the Jetta didn't.Even though it was morepractical for a family of four,the hatchback brother outshone it.So what did VW do?They continued to make the Jetta.Enter the Mark 2! (mimics air horns)(engine revving)Americans love their sedans,but the inaugural Jetta wasjust a little too small.So VW gave it a shot of HGH,and the Jetta got bigger.Going from subcompact to compact.This preteen growth spurtmake the Mark 2 nearly four inches longerand two inches wider.And the wheelbase grew over 2.5 inches.And just like me,it could now hold fivepeople instead of four.And the real car factyou all came here for,the trunk, it gained 30 liters,or 10 bottles of Faygo.Whoop, whoop!The baseline Mark 2 Jettas came standardwith a 1.8 liter inline-4,made into either a four-speed manualor a three-speed automatic.There were also diesel options.(engine revving)(laughter)The pumped up GLI returnedfor the second generation in 1987,and started with a 1.8 liter 16 valveand then was upgradedto a two liter 16 valvewith 134 hrsprs!(high-pitch engine revving)That's the one you want.Both were made into a five-speed manualand came with sportier, widealloy wheels made by BBS,sport-tuned suspension,and really, really sick Ricardo seats.And while the Mark 2 Jettawas the best-selling Europeancar in North America,outselling its little bro two to one,VW sales in the states were dropping.This was partly due to themselling the second gen Jettaunchanged in the States for 8 years.The longest running Jetta to date.That might sound good,but its competitors at the time,like the Toyota Camryand the Honda Accord,were getting better,while the Jetta prettymuch stayed the same.VW started to feel the pinchas early as the 80s here in the States.North American sales would teeter-totterthroughout the decade, but in 1993,it hit an all time low.50,000 vehicles sold.That's the total number across all models.In '93, Toyota sold 300,000 Camrys.So it wasn't a time whenpeople weren't buy cars acrossthe board, because they were.Americans just weren't buying VWs.VW debated pulling outof the North American market altogether,but luckily for me, in 1993,the Mark 3 changed all that.(tires screeching)(cheering)You see, VW knew that Abby would needa third gen Jetta to drive us to prom.So they obliged.The third gen Jetta will go downas the car that savedthe American arm of VW.If you're European, you nevergot the third gen Jetta.Ha!Now you know what it feels like, Europe!Actually, Europe did get the Mark 3 Jetta.It was just called the Vento.Yeah.They got smaller bumpersand cooler trimlines too.Yeah, I know.Giogetto Giugiaro didn't puthis design hands on the Mark 3,but Herbert Schaefer did.Schaefer rounded the edges of the car,helping create a moremodern look for the time.But still keeping trueto the Jetta imagine.The Mark 3 got two new motors.The TDI, a 1.9 liter turbochargeddirect-injection diesel engine,and (mimics horn) the VR6 2.8 literDual Overhead Cam, narrow-angled V6!The second best-sounding motor ever!(engine revving)The compact design helped VW run the VR6in cars that only hadspace for four cylinders,like the Jetta.The 172 hrspr VR6 gotthe wind mobile movingfrom zero to 60 in avery sexy 6.9 seconds.(tires screeching)Macpherson struts in the front,and torsion-beam axle out back,along with front and rear sway bars.The most important upgradethough, cup holders.Seven of them to be exact.You want to learn more about cup holders?Check out this episode of Wheel House.The interior was further refined.Leather seats were an option now.VW used recycled plasticsinside that cabinin order to sell the Jetta asmore environmentally friendly.They also ditched the two-door version.With so many improvements overthe previous Jetta Mark 2,VW sold close to 400,000 Mark3s during its five year run,effectively pulling VW out of their slump."We're staying in America, boys!""Oh, that's so great!"(engine revving)And if the Mark 3 Jetta isn'tsorority girl enough for yous,VW was working onthe most sorority girl car ever.The fourth gen was the beginning ofthe Golf-Jetta separation,but the two cars did sharea few things during thoseyears that are important.The main one being the 1.8liter turbo, AKA, never lose!(engine revving)If you were in the VWcar game at the time,the battle raved betweenthe VR6 and the 1.8 T.Which one is better?If you want my humble boyopinion, it'd have to be the VR6.But what do I know?I've only owned 26 of them.The VR6 returned with the Mark 4,and this time, you couldget it with 24 valves.And the GLI was back.It got some cool suspensionbits, really cool body kit,and big old 18 inch BBS honkers.And the best part aboutthe Mark 4 and the 1.8 T,was the (mimics engine sound).(engine revving)The Mark 4 wasn't all roses though.It got new electrical gremlins,and cheap interior partspeeled and popped off.Also, it smelt like crayons.I don't know why they smell like crayons.If you do, let me know in the comments.It's called a call to action.It builds a community.You see, YouTube is different from TVbecause you can talk to me.Can't wait to hear from you.The Mark 4 ended in 2005,paving the way for an entirelynew generation of Jetta.The Mark 5 had maybe thescariest ad campaign of all time,the "safe happens" commercial.- Stuff doesn't sort of "like" happen.- Bam!Those guys are dead now!Mark 5 was all right.You could get it in thesport wagon, which was cool,but the standard model was basicand lacked some of the character and charmthat the previous year had.(engine revving)The Mark 6 was the high-volume VW madeto fight their Japanesecompetitors Toyota and Honda,which actually was working out with VWuntil this little thingpopped up in the press.Dieselgate.You ever heard of it?I'm sure you have.Ironically, the 2009 Jetta diesel sedanwas awarded Green Car of the Year.An award that was rescinded in 2015once the truth got out abouthow the diesel produced40 times more noxiousgases than they said!Just don't lie.Just tell the truth.Almost tanked the company.The Mark 7,well, not the company, justthe company in America.Volkswagen istoo big to fail.The Mark 7.It's the new, hot new Jetta that VW builtto get them out of their lies.- And in my German words,we have totally screwed up.- Because since 2011, sales of the Jettahave continued to slowly decline,dipping into five figure sales numbers.Again, don't lie kids!Once you break the bond of trust,you may never, ever, ever,never, ever, ever, ever,never ever, be able totrust that person again.(laughter)Thanks for watching UP to Speedand Donut Media in general.Me and all my friends work here,and honestly, my dream job.Oh, you want to seeanother sick Volkswagen?Check out this episode of myother show Bumper 2 Bumper.Follow me on Instagram andTwitter @jamespumphrey.Follow Donut on Instagramand Twitter @donutmedia.I love you.