What's Wrong With This Picture: "Proven Technology" Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

China’s FAW-Volkswagen joint venture is celebrating twenty years and two million units of the Volkswagen Jetta III, with a “2 million” special edition featuring “special paint and a more luxurious interior” according to thetycho.com. But will the Two Million Edition swath the aged Jetta with even more luxury than the Jetta Millionaire Edition?And when, if ever, will they stop making the old MkIII Jetta? Actually, considering that base versions of the brand new Jetta feature drum brakes, torsion bar rear suspension and ancient, underpowered engines, FAW-VW might just keep the original cranking out for a good while longer.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Emro Emro on Mar 08, 2011

    It's pretty cool that the mk2 (A2) platform just keeps going in China... that interior is an amazing mish-mash of parts from many other VWs old and new! I still have my 88 Jetta coupe, would love to park it next to a modern Chinese Jetta to geek out on the differences!

  • Bimmer Bimmer on Mar 08, 2011

    A friend of mine who owns three houses refuses to give up his 1988 example. Now that his heater core is gone, he is saving car for thr Summer. It's a tough car, they (VW) don't build it (current Jettas for North America) like they used to.

  • Krhodes1 Krhodes1 on Mar 09, 2011

    Two of the best cars I ever owned were my '85 Jetta 2dr and my '90 Jetta GLI 2.0l 16V. Simple, reliable, cheap and easy to fix and you could see out of them. Especially the '85 Jetta - 85hp, crank windows, no A/C, no power steering. Roughly as complicated as an anvil. I think in 4yrs/120K miles of college student abuse it needed a starter, a wheel bearing, and front brakes. And this was a car that I picked up dirt cheap in '88 because it was "flood damaged"! Only evidence of that ever was the starter motor and a slightly funky/swampy smell if it was parked in the hot sun with the windows rolled up. That car got sold around my circle of friends for 15 years. The 16V was not as simple but a whole lot faster! Still pretty bulletproof.

  • Diseasel Diseasel on Mar 10, 2011

    I know that you can buy a new XJ Cherokee in China, although you have to wonder if the build quality of it (and this Jetta) is any good.

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