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Old 09-18-2007, 01:00 PM
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Arrow 2007 Volkswagen Jetta Fahrenheit GLI


2007 Volkswagen Jetta Fahrenheit GLI

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI Fahrenheit signaled its intentions from a block away: Driver wanted.

Yellow is reserved for race cars and taxis, and this compact didn't have a fare meter.

What it did have was 2.0T turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that could crank 200 horses, sending the front-drive sedan from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, with an electronically regulated top speed of 128 mph.

The six-speed stick and metallic accents on the accelerator, brake and clutch completed the picture.

Under the direction of the stick, the GLI took off briskly, with breathtaking acceleration in second gear.

Fahrenheit GLI is a limited edition version of the Jetta, sold to only 1,200 buyers. Its halo covers a lineup that is known for speed, handling and braking that represents the uberlegenheit of German engineering, as interpreted by a Puebla, Mexico, assembly plant.

Along with the yellow paint, the Fahrenheit comes with a black interior with yellow stripe on the dash and doors. The manually manipulated model is priced at $27,880 and the automatic at $28,955.

Additional style points come from a blacked-out honeycomb grille with a red pinstripe. The grille is framed by auto-leveling, high-intensity Xenon headlights. Large, round taillights wrapped in thin chrome rims share space with white back-up lights and amber turn signals. Stainless exhaust tips gleam beneath the rear lower valance.

The Fahrenheit is less than half a second faster than the regular GLI with the same engine. The 2.0T's power surge comes at 4,000 rpm and beyond, with a maximum torque of 207 foot-pounds. At highway speeds, the engine flattens out nicely in sixth gear, delivering great fuel economy (for a performer) of 32 mpg. Urban economy is about 25 mpg if you curb your enthusiasm.

The automatic transmission available on all GLI models is a six-speed "manumatic" DSG that operates manually as well as automatically. To shift gears, you simply press the shift paddles on the steering wheel as professional racers do.

The GLI's sport-tuned suspension is relatively stiff, signaling the texture of the road without excessive harshness. Electronic traction control and stabilization hone the car's reflexes in dicey conditions.

The Fahrenheit's massive disc brakes are visible through the 18-inch spoked alloy wheels, with red calipers capturing the eyes of admirers. In the Germanic tradition, the GLI has great feel in the brake pedal, offering extremely authoritarian stops.

This is a drive-by-wire car, meaning inputs in the accelerator and brake are conducted electronically via the computer to the engine and brakes. The old days of mechanical linkage are over.

The GLI rides on a fairly long 101.5-inch wheelbase but corners like a smaller car. The sedan is classified as a compact, but seats two full-sized and three average-to-small passengers. The sedan feels somewhat narrow, and particularly snug in the back.

Front seats are eight-way adjustable sport buckets that keep the driver and passenger securely in place. The dash is festooned with silver rings and silver-finish buttons on the radio. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes and bears switches for cruise control.

My chief complaint about the center stack was the air conditioning that seemed to take its time cooling the cabin. The controls for the AC could be a bit clearer. I wasn't sure if I had to push the recirculation button to maintain cooler air.

Also, the headlamps did not appear to have a setting that would allow you to leave them on automatic while still enjoying luminescence on the instrument panel. I much prefer to leave the headlamps on auto to prevent accidentally deadening the battery.

For 2007, Volkswagen has lowered the Jetta's price by an average of $1,400 without cutting content to improve its competitive posture against Asian-brand sedans. Unfortunately, the popular diesel-fueled Jetta TDI has been discontinued due to its inability to pass new 2007 government emissions tests.

Another upscale version of the Jetta is the Wolfsburg Edition sedan, which comes with 2.5-liter engine and leatherette upholstery, a new Apple iPod adapter, simplified cruise control switching, a standard tire-pressure monitor and, as options, a 115-volt power outlet and Homelink transmitter.

While the base Jetta with a 150-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine starts at $16,490, the potent GLI version begins at $23,990.

The current Jetta is the fifth generation of a model introduced in 1984 with a name derived from the jetstream.

Richard Williamson writes about automobiles for Scripps Howard News Service.

Source: [url=http://info.detnews.com/autosconsumer/autoreviews/index.cfm?id=26881]DetNews.com[/url]
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