So it was ~2 months ago I picked up my CPO 2012 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI so have had some wheel time to get a feel for her (named her Heidi).
Fuel Economy: Being a TDI I figure this would be the most imperative talking point. The revised figures after the fix are 29/37 and it is easy to see these numbers. The shorter freeway trips I have taken (25-30 miles each way) I typically am sitting ~39-40 MPG. I can hit the 29 city under the proper conditions but living, working and driving in the core of Atlanta is complete opposite of conditions conducive to hitting EPA #'s so my current Fuelly average is 25.1 MPG. Considering I was seeing 12-13 MPG average tanks (per trip computer) in my E350 4Matic and saw as low as a 9.8 MPG tank in my MB C300 running E85 I am pleased with the double in fuel economy. My work commute sucks - its 3-4 miles depending on route and can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic, there are days I could probably walk home faster.
Ride and Drive: The Sportwagen rides on the older MKV platform (2005.5-2009 Jetta), it was just mildly facelifted in 2010 to look like the MKVI Golf (front fascia and interior dashboard). I had a 2006 Jetta 2.5 for ~4 years, hopping in my 2012 Sportwagen it feels like hopping into an old friend. Even the ride and handling were familiar to me. Handling is very competent and even in wagon form it is a very tossable car, for a front wheel drive car with a relatively heavy engine sitting up front it feels surprisingly balanced.
Drivetrain: 140 HP and 235 ft/lb torque. Not exactly a barn burner but with a 0-60 in the mid 9 second range it is entirely competent, its mainly highway passing where I miss the brute power of the 3.5 V6 from my E350. Lower speeds and around town is where the TDI shines with the strong torque right off idle. My car has the DSG gearbox and I have to say it is pretty amazing how it snaps off shifts that are pretty much imperceptible, the only bad about the DSG is taking off from a stop where there is a slight delay while the computer tries to modulate the clutch - sport mode it is a bit more aggressive so I am finding myself sliding it down into S when I have a maneuver to pull.
Warranty: VWoA is desperate to recoup some $$$$ by unloading these cars so the CPO program has been flexed for TDI vehicles. 2 year/unlimited mileage bumper to bumper CPO warranty and the TDI emissions warranty will cover my car until 2023 or 48k miles from purchase, the emissions warranty covers entire fuel system, entire engine long block and entire exhaust system - basically anything that will turn on a CEL will be covered. My ~8 year old 2012 is CPO and my other half ~9 year old 2011 is CPO.
Now to the bad.
Some of these fixed cars have been stored for lengthy periods of time (mine sat for ~1.5 years, my partners sat for ~1 year) which we all know non-use can create its own set of issues so if you decide to look I would strongly suggest going CPO route and check the tires over well. Ours were stored in the Southeast (guessing both of ours stayed in Georgia as they were both Georgia cars with the first owners) so stayed sun drenched most of the summer - don't know how cars react to being covered in snow for months on end for the northern stored cars. Despite being CPO both of our cars have storage related issues - the panoramic sunshade on mine was broken but replaced under CPO warranty (that is a $1500+ repair), guessing it was dry rotted from sitting unused in the sun for 1.5 years. The 2011 the headliner is starting to come loose around where the sunvisors sit - we are holding on bringing that in until the 2 year CPO is about to expire as its not bad at all right now and barely noticeable.
Overall:
Large part of my satisfaction is the deal that these can be had at. My 2012 w/66k miles was $9500, my partners 2011 w/46k miles was $9900 - so for ~$22k OTD we got two very gently used Jetta Sportwagens that are covered for 2 years bumper to bumper and 4/48 emissions warranty. I have always been a fan of Volkswagen's and this will be my 4th VW and my partners 3rd. We were so happy with the 2012 we went 2 weeks later and picked up the 2011 because my partners '03 BMW 325i was not going to pass emissions without major repairs - he test drove both a 1.8T Jetta Sedan and the TDI, shockingly coming from the BMW he liked the TDI better and said the 1.8T felt under powered (I didn't ask ? on that observation). I am glad to know I have probably one of the last generations of TDI that will ever see these shores as I doubt VW/Audi will ever sell a TDI ever again in the US.
Fuel Economy: Being a TDI I figure this would be the most imperative talking point. The revised figures after the fix are 29/37 and it is easy to see these numbers. The shorter freeway trips I have taken (25-30 miles each way) I typically am sitting ~39-40 MPG. I can hit the 29 city under the proper conditions but living, working and driving in the core of Atlanta is complete opposite of conditions conducive to hitting EPA #'s so my current Fuelly average is 25.1 MPG. Considering I was seeing 12-13 MPG average tanks (per trip computer) in my E350 4Matic and saw as low as a 9.8 MPG tank in my MB C300 running E85 I am pleased with the double in fuel economy. My work commute sucks - its 3-4 miles depending on route and can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic, there are days I could probably walk home faster.
Ride and Drive: The Sportwagen rides on the older MKV platform (2005.5-2009 Jetta), it was just mildly facelifted in 2010 to look like the MKVI Golf (front fascia and interior dashboard). I had a 2006 Jetta 2.5 for ~4 years, hopping in my 2012 Sportwagen it feels like hopping into an old friend. Even the ride and handling were familiar to me. Handling is very competent and even in wagon form it is a very tossable car, for a front wheel drive car with a relatively heavy engine sitting up front it feels surprisingly balanced.
Drivetrain: 140 HP and 235 ft/lb torque. Not exactly a barn burner but with a 0-60 in the mid 9 second range it is entirely competent, its mainly highway passing where I miss the brute power of the 3.5 V6 from my E350. Lower speeds and around town is where the TDI shines with the strong torque right off idle. My car has the DSG gearbox and I have to say it is pretty amazing how it snaps off shifts that are pretty much imperceptible, the only bad about the DSG is taking off from a stop where there is a slight delay while the computer tries to modulate the clutch - sport mode it is a bit more aggressive so I am finding myself sliding it down into S when I have a maneuver to pull.
Warranty: VWoA is desperate to recoup some $$$$ by unloading these cars so the CPO program has been flexed for TDI vehicles. 2 year/unlimited mileage bumper to bumper CPO warranty and the TDI emissions warranty will cover my car until 2023 or 48k miles from purchase, the emissions warranty covers entire fuel system, entire engine long block and entire exhaust system - basically anything that will turn on a CEL will be covered. My ~8 year old 2012 is CPO and my other half ~9 year old 2011 is CPO.
Now to the bad.
Some of these fixed cars have been stored for lengthy periods of time (mine sat for ~1.5 years, my partners sat for ~1 year) which we all know non-use can create its own set of issues so if you decide to look I would strongly suggest going CPO route and check the tires over well. Ours were stored in the Southeast (guessing both of ours stayed in Georgia as they were both Georgia cars with the first owners) so stayed sun drenched most of the summer - don't know how cars react to being covered in snow for months on end for the northern stored cars. Despite being CPO both of our cars have storage related issues - the panoramic sunshade on mine was broken but replaced under CPO warranty (that is a $1500+ repair), guessing it was dry rotted from sitting unused in the sun for 1.5 years. The 2011 the headliner is starting to come loose around where the sunvisors sit - we are holding on bringing that in until the 2 year CPO is about to expire as its not bad at all right now and barely noticeable.
Overall:
Large part of my satisfaction is the deal that these can be had at. My 2012 w/66k miles was $9500, my partners 2011 w/46k miles was $9900 - so for ~$22k OTD we got two very gently used Jetta Sportwagens that are covered for 2 years bumper to bumper and 4/48 emissions warranty. I have always been a fan of Volkswagen's and this will be my 4th VW and my partners 3rd. We were so happy with the 2012 we went 2 weeks later and picked up the 2011 because my partners '03 BMW 325i was not going to pass emissions without major repairs - he test drove both a 1.8T Jetta Sedan and the TDI, shockingly coming from the BMW he liked the TDI better and said the 1.8T felt under powered (I didn't ask ? on that observation). I am glad to know I have probably one of the last generations of TDI that will ever see these shores as I doubt VW/Audi will ever sell a TDI ever again in the US.
