Saw these at the VW dealer yesterday...

[VDub2625]

EDIT: I'll put the pics back up as soon as they're re-hosted... I want my photobucket back! Was Jalopnik'd:
http://jalopnik.com/#!5783395/this-i...lly-looks-like

In the showroom, they had two base-base model new Jettas. My phone battery was dying so these are the shots I got:
(pic removed of barren dash)
No AC, no radio. Not pictured were the manual mirror knobs, but it did have power windows standard.

I was more interested in the technical stuff since the engine design is similar to mine, and I was wondering what, if anything, might swap to my car:
(pic removed of coil pack)
Coilpack, mounted to the engine block in the place of the old distributor, and a weird giant oil filter flange. ( think this is similar to the MKIV setup but I've never worked on one)

(pic removed of alternator/belt area)
Bad pic becuase the flash died, but there's a huge gap in front of the engine where the AC compressor would go. Power steering was standard, the bottle is now bolted to the space above the alternator, on the engine. Odd. Looks like a VR6 style belt tensioner too (I'm unfamiliar with the MKIV 2.0s, this might be normal?).

And this suprised me...
(pic removed of $13,865 sale price)
Well not really... I didn't expect them to move like hotcakes. But it seems odd that these are the models this dealer would choose to show off in the showroom. Another guy in the showroom asked me, "are they serious with the no radio?" The other model advertised $99/mo payments, with a lot of other fine details I don't remember.

But when was the last time that a brand new VW, that's still uncommon on the street, was discounted like that? I would totally buy one if I had 13k to blow, and wanted a track car. There are a ton of SC and turbo kits for these engines that give them very respectable power, and the decontenting would be good in this case. Throw a fun suspension on it and I'd rock it! Yes, even with the solid rear beam But you can get a decently sized Hyundai for this price (even with the discount) if all you need is a car.

[trbochrg]

I can't remember the last time i have seen a VW without a radio....they have had so many "Standard features" such as Radio, AC and "power everything" for the past few years.

[MN6845]

Taking cheap to a new level.

[Sir UNBANNED_GERBIL M.B.]

Taking cheap to a new level.

Why the facepalm? Cheap is bad?

Vw isn't the only one where you can buy a new vehicle without AC or radio.

[BigSkyGLI]

Taking cheap to a new level.

Cheap and inexpensive are two different things. Honda and Nissan have both offered entry level cars with no radio or A/C for as long as I can remember.

I would welcome the chance to choose my own soundsystem over paying a premium for a crappy stock setup. Many times it is even less expensive to go that route.

I am glad to see VW making steps to make their cars affordable and accessible to entry level buyers. That is still a great, safe car for $13k +.

[Dawg Dee-Lux]

No radio - no problem!

No A/C - wtf! Is that even possible these days?

[VdubChaos]

One might say it's cheap to have no radio...but I say it's a good thing. Factory radios suck anyways so it's nice not to pay for crap.

[08-Jetta]

Nice engine shots. Have you got any more. I'm also interested the differences between that base model engine and the older ones. No picture of the alt bracket eh?

[Sir UNBANNED_GERBIL M.B.]

No radio - no problem!

No A/C - wtf! Is that even possible these days?

A lot of people don't like AC. I for one only turn it on when it's raining with high humidity.


Usually windows down, roof open, and stereo going.

[VDub2625]

Nice engine shots. Have you got any more. I'm also interested the differences between that base model engine and the older ones. No picture of the alt bracket eh?

No but I can go back, now that my phone is charged. When i got the Evo I was warned about this

Usually windows down, roof open, and stereo going.

Well, you'll have 1/3 with this car

[trbochrg]

[QUOTE=G2BForReal;70547258]

I would welcome the chance to choose my own soundsystem over paying a premium for a crappy stock setup. Many times it is even less expensive to go that route.

QUOTE]

Just wondering, would a car that came stock without a radio still have all the appropriate wiring behind the dash to install a radio?

(sorry if this is a stupid question)

[Dr. Woo]

A lot of people don't like AC. I for one only turn it on when it's raining with high humidity.


Usually windows down, roof open, and stereo going.

This. If it's anything south of 90 degrees, chances are I won't need AC. It's mostly used to correct humidity.

Of course last summer's blitzkrieg of 100+ days made me thankful for air conditioning...

Just wondering, would a car that came stock without a radio still have all the appropriate wiring behind the dash to install a radio?

(sorry if this is a stupid question)

I don't think it's stupid, I'm curious too. I've never bought a car with no radio from the factory.

Wiring harnesses are expensive, so my guess would be "no," but I could be wrong.

[VDub2625]

Just wondering, would a car that came stock without a radio still have all the appropriate wiring behind the dash to install a radio?

(sorry if this is a stupid question)

Not a stupid question. Most cars do have radio prep from what I understand (I saw a Versa at the auto show without the radio, it still had a roof antenna and radio prep). I know back in the day 9when my Mk2 was new) you had the choice of "radio prep" or an actual radio. No cars came without a radio harness.

Yes other manufacturers ie Nissan with the Versa make a similar car (no AC, radio, manual trans) but this is a bigger car. I figure there is a slight expectation difference in Versa, Rio, vs. this car. but this must be the new direction VW wants to go in. We'll see. I'm not hating it.

[lojasmo]

[QUOTE=trbochrg;70547348]

I would welcome the chance to choose my own soundsystem over paying a premium for a crappy stock setup. Many times it is even less expensive to go that route.

QUOTE]

Just wondering, would a car that came stock without a radio still have all the appropriate wiring behind the dash to install a radio?

(sorry if this is a stupid question)

Probably not?

[patrickvr6]

But when was the last time that a brand new VW, that's still uncommon on the street, was discounted like that? I would totally buy one if I had 13k to blow, and wanted a track car. There are a ton of SC and turbo kits for these engines that give them very respectable power, and the decontenting would be good in this case. Throw a fun suspension on it and I'd rock it!

I know when I think $14000 and track car a 2.0 Jetta immediately comes to mind.

[VDub2625]

I know when I think $14000 and track car a 2.0 Jetta immediately comes to mind.

A track car you can drive every day. Sort of like a brand new version of my car. If I were rich I'd buy one just to play with it.

There are better choices, but there are better choices for what I spent on my car too (which, over the years of restoring it, come close to the price of this car). if I could afford the lump sum, a brand new car with warranty, 0 miles etc would be in the running. I had fun doing the work on my car but if you just want the end result (tuning, not having to fix broken things), then this might be an option.

No one said car guys were rational.

[08-Jetta]

A track car you can drive every day. Sort of like a brand new version of my car. If I were rich I'd buy one just to play with it.

There are better choices, but there are better choices for what I spent on my car too (which, over the years of restoring it, come close to the price of this car). if I could afford the lump sum, a brand new car with warranty, 0 miles etc would be in the running. I had fun doing the work on my car but if you just want the end result (tuning, not having to fix broken things), then this might be an option.

No one said car guys were rational.

Battery aside the Evo is still pretty sweet. I have a Legend.

I think this is the only kind of brand new VW I would ever buy. Something with no a/c. Something I could work on quite easily. Something I could pay off real fast. Something with a WARRANTY.

(but I need an oem radio)

[MRVW00]

I know when I think $14000 and track car a 2.0 Jetta immediately comes to mind.

THIS.

[2.0_Mazda]

Hope batteries are not sold separately!

[6cylVWguy]

This is the car many people around here have whined about for years. A stripped out car with no features. I never understood this mentality, but I guess this is a trim version for the real enthusiasts.

[AutoUnion32]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Jetta S at least come with AC and power everything? Is this a new stripper model? I don't remember ever seeing a Jetta this stripped.

[08-Jetta]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Jetta S at least come with AC and power everything? Is this a new stripper model? I don't remember ever seeing a Jetta this stripped.

Is it one of those deals (like with the Versa) where they order a bare stripper model so that they can advertise the low number. When they sell it fast they get all of the other people in the showroom looking for that price, but having to settle for more. Bait and switch

[PowerDubs]

I drive a '97 Golf for my 'work car' exactly because it is extremely cheap, basic, simple- good on gas, easy to work on and cheap parts.. (almost 200,000 on it).

I'm very happy to see VW offer a car like this. The people that bitch can always option it out.

If this was a Golf instead of a Jetta, I'd buy one as my new work car. Does anyone know if they are ever going to offer a 2.slow stripped out Golf?

[VDub2625]

Is it one of those deals (like with the Versa) where they order a bare stripper model so that they can advertise the low number. When they sell it fast they get all of the other people in the showroom looking for that price, but having to settle for more. Bait and switch

It's not really a bait and switch because you can order them new. They don't have to have them ready available on the lot.

I did notice, these were stickered at 14,900 (and advertised at 13,800). But VW's cheapest price on the website is 15,995, and as far as I can tell, includes at least the radio and power mirrors.

[carpathian_basin]

Did the door panels have speaker grilles/cutouts? Sorry for the stupid question.

[Cooper]

Not a stupid question. Most cars do have radio prep from what I understand (I saw a Versa at the auto show without the radio, it still had a roof antenna and radio prep). I know back in the day 9when my Mk2 was new) you had the choice of "radio prep" or an actual radio. No cars came without a radio harness.

Yup. My '87 GTI 16v came with the radio prep package. You bought your own head unit and installed it.

[VDub2625]

Did the door panels have speaker grilles/cutouts? Sorry for the stupid question.

I believe they did, but I'll check.

[Ben.Reilly]

Without a nice interior, VW has nothing going for it...

[PA_Dub]

I don't think we'll be seeing many of these base models at dealers. This is not the "S" trim, which comes standard with AC, AM/FM radio with aux input, and the 2.0. The VW website shows the S trim as the lowest trim level, so this stripper base model must be a fleet configuration. The MSRP on the S is 15,995 and this base model is $1000 less than that.

It is indeed strange to see two of these at a dealer showroom.

[mike02467]

http://www.crutchfield.com/

for all your car stereo needs. As for the AC, I drove a mk3 with no AC all summer and I'm still alive. It's not bad, and the price is extremely low for a jetta.

[addicted2vw]

I can't remember the last time i have seen a VW without a radio....they have had so many "Standard features" such as Radio, AC and "power everything" for the past few years.

If I'm not mistaken, the last Golf available without a radio in the US was the Mk III Golf CL.

[VDub2625]

If I'm not mistaken, the last Golf available without a radio in the US was the Mk III Golf CL.

The Golf and Jetta City had no radio or AC, like these cars. They didn't advertise those even in brochures though. We didn't get the CL in the USA. That was a Canadian 1.8l Monoport injection model.

I don't think we'll be seeing many of these base models at dealers. This is not the "S" trim, which comes standard with AC, AM/FM radio with aux input, and the 2.0. The VW website shows the S trim as the lowest trim level, so this stripper base model must be a fleet configuration. The MSRP on the S is 15,995 and this base model is $1000 less than that.

It is indeed strange to see two of these at a dealer showroom.

That makes sense. I wonder how they got there. I'm tempted to scan the lot and see if there are more. Anyone who wants to know where they are, they're available for purchase, just contact me

[rimtrim]

VW doesn't list this model on their site, I guess they're too embarrassed But it is listed on the pricing sites like Edmunds. It's not a fleet-only model...fleets probably wouldn't want it, they usually want a popular level of equipment so they can resell the car after a few years.

If you think this is crazy, you can get a new Nissan Altima equipped this way too! I think Nissan is the only company that will still sell you a midsize/fullsize sedan without radio or A/C.

-Andrew L

[Benjamin.]

That's interesting to me that there's a basier-base model than what's shown on the website. I love the concept, it never hurts to have options. Sub-$14k for a brand new Volkswagen is territory (when inflation is taken into account) that VW probably hasn't been in since the Fox.

[MatchStick]

II would totally buy one if I had 13k to blow, and wanted a track car. There are a ton of SC and turbo kits for these engines that give them very respectable power, and the decontenting would be good in this case. Throw a fun suspension on it and I'd rock it! Yes, even with the solid rear beam

you know when someone posts something like this, they're deep into the kool aid. and by that, I mean spends a couple of hours daily in the sensory deprivation tank filled with kool aid.

but hey, whatever floats your boat I guess...