I bought an automatic 2006 VW Jetta brand new. I was looking for a car that had a 5 star crash rating and something that was going to be dependable. I was also looking for a car that had decent gas mileage and would handle well in the snow. My aunt and several other family members had VW Jetta's before and loved them, so I gave them a test drive. The car handled well upon testing it. I was impressed with its ability to accelerate and how it drives in the rain. After purchasing the car, I really got a feel for the car. First, when you need new windshield wipers, you need to purchase them from the dealer because they're special and the part that attaches is unique to VW. Also, not all VW Jetta's come with a tow hook. So if you need to be towed ever, you need to purchase that separately and then have it attached to the car. The Jetta I purchased had a manufacturer's defect in the side airbag and they had to replace the entire passenger seat, some of what I was financially responsible for. It handles fairly in the snow. I've never lost control of the vehicle, but it does tend to skid a bit. It is tolerable. The radio console paint peeled off this past year. I was somewhat disappointed about that. I feel like it should not be showing significant signs of wear after 7 years. However, the radio sounds great. Nice bass, can get super loud. It's pretty fantastic in that regard. There is a lot of trunk space and the back seats fold down to make even more trunk space. It's pretty great at storing stuff. Overall, it is a good car, just not as good as I would like.

I have a blue Jetta. I love the great gas mileage on my car, and I love that the car is standard. It has performed great so far considering it was my first car. I love how small the vehicle is considering how much I can fit in it. I love that it is low to the ground.