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What the VW (hers is a GLS - midline - TDI) has that the Saab doesn't:
-auto-locking doors - at 10MPH, the doors lock. Pull the inside handle, and the doors open (while unlocking). I like the first part, don't like the second - seem's like a carjacker's friend :(
-headrests that tilt slightly fwd in addition to vertical - I'm guessing that in order to have the ASHR, Saab didn't do this. Fair trade-off, IMHO.
-no obnoxious upshift light. ;) Mine will die soon.
-more (bigger) storage - the center jockey box in the Jetta has much more room.
-tilt _and_ telescope steering wheel (the wife didn't even know hers telescoped until I showed her last night :) )
-window controls on the door, vs centralized in the Saab. While I like this, I can see the cost-saving values, esp for a smallish company like Saab, that then doesn't have to make a separate door panel for the UK and one for everybody else. Same goes for the locks. Jetta has a nice assembly in the door for this.
-eerie (but cool) "pool blue" lighting. If you've never seen a new VW's dash after dark, take a look. I like the green in the Saab fine, though. Anything's better than the (may it rust in peace) Pontiac I left behind with it's RED lighting.
-Some plastics seem to be of a higher quality (i.e. less shiny), specifically the glovebox body and interior door handles. See leather counterpoint below.
-8 speaker cassette sound system with a little more depth, and little better balance (Monsoon) (CD was optional, and added)
-tight, German manual. very hard to shift the wrong way. The Saabs, while not sloppy, is much more "freeform"
-ridiculously tight brakes (they're great - but I'm always afraid I'm going to get myself rear-ended). The Saab's are great, and more forgiving of late braking.
-standard mid-rear headrest - I hate it. Glad it's optional on the Saab. If it was there, I'd feel like I had to remove it. As it is, I feel like it's an option I don't want. :)
-One touch down AND one touch up (with pinch protection) front windows. Miss that already.
-cool "slow spring" "oh $hit handles" - roof grab handles, that is.
-a keyless remote that works from more than 10 feet away.
-key-operated up & down windows (hard to explain - but if you've seen the Jetta commercial, you know what I mean)
What the Saab has that the VW doesn't:
-Night Panel (nee Black Panel). Love that.
-trip computer, CD player, automatic climate control. Not on the wife's, but almost all available on the Jetta GLX.
-Leather that seems of substantial quality. Versus, after one year, we may need to make a warranty claim on my wife's Jetta that only has 10K miles.
-Kick-butt seats.
-ASHR, and several other safety innovations the Jetta is missing. Interestingly, both _do_ have side airbags - though the Jettas are one bag, and the Saab, of course, had them first.
-Well integrated interior. Everything matches, and components talk to each other. The VW single-CD in her VW is okay, but doesn't integrate well - specifically, it doesn't remember track info.
-Power antenna, steering wheel controls (which are now optional on new leather-equipped Jettas)
-OnStar (I think I like that - not sure yet)
-Power seats (let alone memory). No power seats on the Jetta - no matter how high up the line you go.
-Higher quality headliner, trunk trim, and overall trim.
-fog lights. Only high-end Jettas get them, and as they are integrated into the lens assembly, you can't add them w/out spending a fortune.
-standard CD
Both have:
Heated seats (Jettas have a setting 1-5, Saab is just on/off) & heated mirrors, sunroof, power mirrors, windows and door locks, keyless remotes with lock/unlock/trunk & panic features. Alloy wheels (15" Jetta, 16" SE) - BTW - did anyone elses 9-3 come with Goodyears?!...
With the rebate, my 9-3 was only $4K more than her Jetta was last year, putting them in _near_ class comparison - but I doubt many Jetta customers shop (troll? ;) ) Saab dealerships, and vice versa.
There - more of a feature analysis - but interesting, I think, when you consider what's important to one but not the other...
, Fri, 30 Mar 2001 20:19:38
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