Jetta Owners Club UK

The History Behind The Name
The Mk2 A2 Jetta

Developed this time as an integral part of the Mark 2 range, the Jetta launched in January 1984, was conceived as a two-door or four-door saloon in its own right (of which the four-door would prove to be more popular), rather than as another Golf with a boot. It did, though, share much of the Golf's mechanical specification and was offered initially with a choice of all three sizes of carburettor-fed engines available for the Golf (1.3, 1.6 and 1.8) as well as a pair of 1.6 diesels, one being turbocharged.

The grafting of a huge 23cu ft boot onto the back of the car increased its overall length from the 398.5cm of the Golf to 431.5cm - another 13 inches in the parking bay! Although the boot gave the Jetta a somewhat heavy appearance, its aerodynamic superiority over the Golf surprised many.

Although the Golf and Jetta had much in common from the doors forward, the new saloon was instantly recognisable by a smoother grille and rectangular headlamps. Four levels of equipment were offered with the C, CL, GL and GLX, the latter being the equivalent in some markets (particularly the USA) of the Carat.

Although the base model the C included useful (now more standard and expected) items such as reclining seats, head restraints, halogen headlamps, reversing lights, intermittent wipers, parcel shelf and cloth seat and door trim. The CL provided in addition a centre console, radio, clock, trip meter, extra air vents and door bins, while the GL added such items as remote door mirrors, additional side mouldings, rev-counter and door operated courtesy light with delay switch.

At the top of the range the GLX or Carat offered metallic paint, power steering, electric windows all round, central locking, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, velour upholstery, radio/cassette, multi-function dashboard computer, rear head restraints, rear centre armrest and ski hatch.

The performance profile of the Jetta was raised considerably in October 1984 with the announcement of a Jetta GT powered by 112bhp 1.8 litre engine of the Golf GTI, or a version with a catalytic converter and lambda sensor mixture control developing 107bhp for the USA and other emissions-conscious markets.

Identified by an extended front apron and discreet spoiler on the bootlid, it was a great success. Its combination of refinement, performance and practicality, including a respectable 0-60mph acceleration time of 9sec and a top speed of 117mph in 112bhp form, proved an attractive proposition. The GT came with disc brakes all round, ventilated at the front, a load sensitive brake pressure regulator and a brake booster servo, a rear anti-rollbar and five-speed manual gearbox. For 1987 a stereo radio/cassette player became standard equipment, along with height-adjustable drivers seat, trip computer and heater vents for rear passengers.

The most important Jetta development in 1987 was the introduction of the 16V version to sit above the 8-valve GT, which in the UK was rebadged the GTI. Like the 16V Golf the Jetta's ride height was lowered by 10mm. With nearly 140bhp on tap the 16-valve Jetta was a car with a performance that belied its discreet appearance.

In 1988 the Jetta was given a few cosmetic changes - a bold new grille of just 3 horizontal bars, and subtle changes to the bumpers and body side mouldings. Detail specifications were raised on the lower priced models and a realignment of model designations meant that the range started at the Jetta (the C suffix had been dropped) followed by a CL (available from 1986 as the Syncro), the GL, GTX and GTX 16-valve, the last two being fuel-injected.

In 1989 the Jetta range was simplified from five to three models, the GT, CL and GL, with were a number of changes to the standard equipment of all three. The Jetta GT 16-valve delivered 129bhp, only available with four-door bodywork but could be easily identified by the red grille badge and the electronically powered aerial at the rear of the roof, and continued to be fitted with softer springs, dampers and anti-rollbars.

The 4WD Jetta Syncro, for which the standard engine was the 1781cc 90bhp with Digifant fuel injection, was available to either the CL or GT specification, but with the addition of ABS, a folding rear seat, lateral turn signals, a rev-counter and digital clock.

From 1990 all Jettas had redesigned bumpers, and black wheelarch and body sill extensions along with a remote-control nearside mirror and 6J x 14in steel wheels. Diesel versions had their engines uprated and "cleaned" by charge air-cooling, previously only available on Passat models.

By now the MK2 Jetta had almost run its course, and the MK3 Golf was imminent, which meant that production would almost certainly be scaled down - in Europe certainly, although the Jetta remained a strong seller in US markets.

Over a production life of 7 years though, the Jetta had enhanced its reputation as much more than a "Golf with a boot". It had sought and had justly earned recognition as a car of considerable merit in its own right, later leading to the MK3 or otherwise branded Vento in European markets�