About to test drive a 2025 Jetta GLI manual

Hermann

Hermann

Site Donor 2023
Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
6,476
Location
Kansas City
Generally I tend to like German engineered things, I've had 2 Motorcycles and a slug of Dual and Miracord turntables. In a 50 mile radius of Kansas City there are probably at least 75 or so examples of Jetta GLI's with a 6-speed manual. Most are the Autobahn model. Even a decent selection of colors.

Yes, I know the pitfalls and joys of German things. My left leg and knee are in good shape at age 70. If it would happen, there will be a extended warranty purchased. Does anyone here have a recent vintage GLI and what are your thoughts?
 
The rev hang and hill start assist ruin the manual MQB cars in my opinion. If you're good at driving you'll probably find it a bit too intrusive and it contributes to more clutch wear. It's activated on almost all complete stops, which is ridiculous. But it is nice on actual hills. You can get rid of both of these gripes with money and a possible voided warranty.

There's also this:
https://www.vwvortex.com/threads/af...h-capacitive-steering-wheel-controls.9518037/
They are piano black, get nasty quickly and you accidentally press them when turning. The HVAC controls are also capacitive touch which is like fingerprint entrapment. Forcing us to fingerprint it and look at it later.

Other than that I think the MQB platform is stellar and easy to service.
 
I've seen some YouTube videos lately and the reviewers are in awe over the Jetta with a manual. The manual may in fact be the last of their breed! And the Jetta that was tested was priced in the low $20K price area which was a bonus.
 
Last edited:
I had a Jetta as a rental car recently. It was a nice car to drive and comfortable. I did notice the tendency for fingerprints. If you can get past that, great. MT is even better!
 
CharBaby said:
I've seen some YouTube videos lately and the reviewers are in awe over the Jetta with a manual. The manual may in fact be the last of their breed! And the Jetta that was tested was priced in the low $20K price area which was a bonus.
Click to expand...
I've seen a couple of YouTube vids. Sarah N' Tune video was great with lots of under body views with detailed specs and great views of the rear end suspension. Also someone complained about the long throw somewhat imprecise shifter. This car has the goods that make a driver's car. A test drive or two will decide if I want the last of a breed.

Thanks for your thoughts so far.
 
Hill start assist can be "lessened" easily through OBDEleven or the like. That said, I've never had it activate if I wasn't on an actual hill. It's got plenty of power and is fun to drive...the VAQ diff enables it to put the power down pretty well despite being FWD and it basically eliminates torque steer. Spending under $400 on a JB1/4 gets you another 30+ HP and torque just like that. In short, great power train but interior is low cost VW here and there, even on the Autobahn trim.
 
Last edited:
Only issue with EA888 is that water pump will leak, though they redesigned it several times. So, you might squeeze 60-80k before leak.
However, I think GRAF offers aluminum one for all EA888 generations.
 
I like them, but my experience is limited. I'm 68 and I suppose my vehicle purchases will continue to be limited to German cars and Jeep Wranglers.
 
edyvw said:
Only issue with EA888 is that water pump will leak, though they redesigned it several times. So, you might squeeze 60-80k before leak.
However, I think GRAF offers aluminum one for all EA888 generations.
Click to expand...
I must be outlier , our 2018 VW Tiguan with 188k no leaks thus far
 
Hermann said:
Generally I tend to like German engineered things, I've had 2 Motorcycles and a slug of Dual and Miracord turntables. In a 50 mile radius of Kansas City there are probably at least 75 or so examples of Jetta GLI's with a 6-speed manual. Most are the Autobahn model. Even a decent selection of colors.

Yes, I know the pitfalls and joys of German things. My left leg and knee are in good shape at age 70. If it would happen, there will be a extended warranty purchased. Does anyone here have a recent vintage GLI and what are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
I sold VW's starting three weeks before dieselgate. Then jumped over to a lot tech. We only had one or two jetta gli's come in. From what I was told VW builds batches of automatic then manuals. That's wild that there are so many. They drive really nice, but my biggest complaint is that they really should have added awd to the GLI, and a little more horsepower. But with the Golf R, and base Jetta dropping the manual transmission option (According to VW the manual produces .2g more CO2per km. The Euro 7 emissions didn't pass but they didn't anticipate this) go for it. The Golf R had a 48-52% manual transmission take rate in the USA and Canada. It was really stupid to stop selling it here.
 
CharBaby said:
I saw this video last month and I've wanted to post it in this thread but I couldn't find it again until now.
Click to expand...

That was hard to watch. That guy acted like the Jetta was the first automobile to have any of those options.
 
Finklejag said:
That was hard to watch. That guy acted like the Jetta was the first automobile to have any of those options.
Click to expand...
A lot of the YouTuber car video channel leave a lot to be desired. Haven't gone and test drive
one yet, mostly because it's cold and nasty around here.
 
Last edited:
There are a little over a dozen Jettas with manual transmissions on Manheim right now.

I bought two of them earlier this year. It reminds me a lot of a prior gen Audi A4. Great solid cars.

Screenshot_20250110-092215.webp


Screenshot_20250110-092238.webp


Screenshot_20250110-092252.webp


Screenshot_20250110-092309.webp
 
Five manuals at the VW dealer near me, according to their website. One Jetta and four Golfs.
 
macarose said:
There are a little over a dozen Jettas with manual transmissions on Manheim right now.

I bought two of them earlier this year. It reminds me a lot of a prior gen Audi A4. Great solid cars.
Click to expand...
OP wants a GLI, not the standard Jetta. GLIs are easier to find with a manual than the base Jetta due to the performance orientation and 2025+ the GLI is the only way to get a Jetta body with a manual.
 
tbm5690 said:
OP wants a GLI, not the standard Jetta. GLIs are easier to find with a manual than the base Jetta due to the performance orientation and 2025+ the GLI is the only way to get a Jetta body with a manual.
Click to expand...
Well, I wish him the best with that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hermann
Took a second test drive of the 2025 Jetta GLI 6-speed manual
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
tbm5690
G
  • Locked
My 2014 VW Jetta GLI - I can live with it
2 3
Replies
45
Views
15K
gregoron
Back
Top Bottom