Second glances

It was the summer of 1993 when I went through the rite of passage granted to millions of teenagers each year. That rite of passage signified, at least for me, my first real taste of freedom: a driver’s license. 

I was also fortunate to have parents who, after years of shuttling my older siblings from lessons, to malls, to friends’ houses etc., were ready for a break from their thankless jobs as chauffeurs. Consequently, once I managed to pass my driver’s test, I was given my own car. But not just any car — I got a five-speed, four-door, sparkly gold 1985 Volkswagen Jetta, which I immediately swathed in dancing bear stickers. 

Oh, how I loved that Jetta.  I drove it to Florida and back. I crisscrossed the Midwest as I followed my beloved Grateful Dead. For nearly two years that car was my boyfriend, my best friend and my sanctuary. Then I moved across the country to go to college and my folks sold my car. I’m still working on “letting go” with my therapist.

As part of the letting-go process I decided to commemorate my 15 years as a licensed driver with a visit to Volkswagen Pasadena to see if the Jetta had matured as much as I clearly have in the years since we were together. Unequivocally, the answer is yes. In fact, with the launch of the 2009 Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel, I now feel completely immature, outdated and terminally stuck in the ’90s with my less than eco-friendly SUV. 

While the Jetta is not available as a hybrid model, per se, this fall the Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel will enter the marketplace. Volkswagen Pasadena has a test model on its lot already, so I obviously needed to check it out.

My first reaction was one of relative indifference. Sure, the Clean Diesel is a cute enough car. There are no obvious bells and whistles, so it’s not as if I did a double take on seeing it. However, when sales consultant Arsalan Baig offered me a test drive, I admit I got butterflies. The engine was quiet, the interior roomy and, best of all for accident-prone drivers such as I, the Clean Diesel is laden with safety features that include six airbags — all standard equipment. 

But the Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel won’t just protect me and my passengers from bodily harm. It seems that owning one would protect my wallet too. The sticker on the test model indicated that it gets 29 city miles per gallon and 40 mpg on the highway (according to the EPA). However, according to Volkswagen’s Web site, the Clean Diesel will actually get 38 city mpg and 44 highway mpg.
Because Volkswagen Pasadena didn’t yet have any printed literature available on the Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel, I turned to www.goodcleandieselfun.com. This is where I ultimately found the answer to my burning question: Why would I buy a diesel when, according to the Energy Information Administration, diesel prices in California are currently nearly 60 cents more per gallon than regular gasoline?

My answer came through loud and clear. In addition to getting better mileage than the gasoline Jetta (21 city/ 29 hwy, per the EPA) the Jetta Diesel reduces emissions … a lot. In fact, according to www.goodcleandieselfun.com, the 2009 model will run on ultra-low sulfur diesel, which has 97 percent less sulfur content, “radically reducing emissions — plus, its “common rail” direct injection reduces 95 percent of sooty emissions. Of course I have no idea what a “common rail direct injection system” actually is, but the reduction of sooty emissions sounds good to me.

Suffice to say, a lot of things have changed in the 15 years since the Jetta and I went our separate ways. Still, it pleases me to no end to see that my high school love has evolved into a mature, responsible addition to our society. (Even though I, paying upwards of $70 to fill my soot-emitting truck, have not.) Plus, the Jetta’s still got those classic good looks. Not to mention, he’s already experienced a second rite of passage that I’m still working towards; becoming more environmentally responsible. And that makes him more attractive than ever. 

Contact Jen Hadley at jmhadley624@yahoo.com