Would you trade a four-course meal for a Slim-Fast shake? Seeing an epic movie for reading the Cliff Notes? Partying with friends for Skyping with them? Of course you wouldn’t. So why would you take the those same watered-down routes and choose the Prius over a torquey and delicious diesel. Millions have. The car above is what they should have chosen.

The car I’ve been given for a week is the VW Jetta TDI, and let’s not muck about -  it’s fantastic. You name it and I love it – and you will too. Trunk? Several ladies-of-the-night enormous. Backseat? Comfy as a best Western Hotel and without the bedbugs. Volkswagen should be paying me for this review because I frickin’ love this car.

Show me another vehicle that so deftly combines comfort, luxury, style, speed, AND fuel economy. You do that and I’m sure I’ll love that car too. And this isn’t just me, people have been lining up at dealerships  to step inside the leather wrapped interior and partake this Jetta’s pavement crushing torque.

On the road the TDI is like any other Jetta – planted and quiet. Add in the bonus of the 2.0 litre’s 236 lb-ft of torque to get you on your way and you’re left with a very capable machine. The horsepower figure of 140 may seem small by today’s standards, but you have to remember that horsepower’s important at freeway speeds – torque is king for getting your fat ass from 0 to 60. The steering is a little more numb than I like, but that’s true of 90% of modern cars I drive. Like every VW, the 6-speed manual is crisp and rewarding with every gear change. What’s it like driving a diesel? Total non issue here. It goes when I want it to go, stops when things get risky, turns sharply, and even rewards with little tire-chirps when you’re a bit too heavy-footed. The TDI engine is known for its lagginess down low, but this never pops up if you just equip the car with the manual transmission I have here. Having driven the automatic, trust me that row-your-own is the way to go on the TDI.

I’ll leave exterior judgments to the eye of the beholder; I found the curves and creases rather catching in the flesh. The Toffee Brown Metallic my car was delivered in may sound 80′s-esque, but in reality it gifted the Jetta some maturity that would be missed in your garden-variety silver. Overall the proportions are good and I never spied any awkward angles on the car.

Inside you’re greeted with that familiar VW cabin quality – great swaths of soft leather and upscale switches. You want negatives? Well the shift-boot frame was already broken on my car and the major let down with the interior is the hard plastic that covers all but the frequent touch points.

The back seats offer an enormous amount of room for your passengers/kids/hostages. The layout and grouping of the switches is fairly intuitive and I was able to figure everything out – including the unlabeled auxiliary music source feature – in my first two days without ever reading the manual. Overall it’s a classic VW interior, and you’re reminded why they are ranked as one of the best at this.

Somehow Wolfsburg has been able to package this lovely engine, good looks, and reasonably solid interior for $23K. I never did wrap my head around that low price. I’ve paid almost as much for a used car and the thought that I could’ve had this instead is staggering to me. Unluckily for me to TDI wasn’t on offer then. Lucky for you it is now. This is the kind of car you’ll love equally from day one to day 1,001. Given the fact that previous Jettas have aesthetically aged well, held strong resell values (although it’s too early to tell what the diesel engine will do for that) and the strong aftermarket support available – run don’t walk and get yourself a test drive. I mean unless you really wanted that Prius.

- Adam Kaslikowski

Webster’s dictionary defines the worst way to start any piece of writing as quoting Webster’s dictionary. What’s the best way? Science has yet to tell us. Just one more thing those pompous scientists have failed us on. Others include decent pop music, microwave meals that don’t suck, and a way to get great gas mileage without having to be inside a Prius.

The lab coats at the Volkswagen Group are actually coming along on that last one. The TDI engine has owned the diesel passenger car market here in the states for years now, mostly being led by the TDI Jetta – which has been killing the sales charts. But what if the lovely VW is not enough for your bourgeoisie tastes? How will you know if Audi’s entry into diesel locomotion can satisfy you? That’s why I’m here friend.

The A3 TDI takes all that diesel goodness – great fuel economy, buckets of torque – and wraps it in the svelte A3 silhouette. The A3 has always been a handsome car, and having an oil burner upfront does nothing to change that. The long hood and short rump hint at a sporting character that is not altogether absent. The large chrome grill is well suited for mowing down bugs and the proletariat alike. The LED running lights may no longer be unique, but I still think Audi has some of the best executed.

Inside the cabin you’re greeted by a sea of black leather. I hope monochrome and drab are two of your style points, because the A3 interior is not what anyone would call adventuresome. Despite it’s one-note appearance, because it’s an Audi you know everything is screwed and bolted together with a ruthless efficiency. Don’t expect any squeaks or rattles out of this cabin for sometime to come.

The gauges are bright and modern; I especially enjoyed watching the thin needles sweeping across the digits when illuminated at night. The HVAC controls are logically laid out, and the stereo had no problem destroying my eardrums. Despite the car’s small exterior footprint, it capably handled large and oddly shaped loads (there’s a porn joke in there somewhere everywhere), including  my bicycle. I’m glad it’s good at hauling cargo, because it is less well suited for handling passengers. The rear seats offer only enough room to accommodate short trips or gawky teenagers. Despite the four doors, I used this car as more of a two-door wagon.

And what of driving the A3 TDI you ask? Well that depends on how well socially adjusted you are. If you vote, pay your taxes, and don’t have homicidal thoughts at grocery checkout lines, then the A3 TDI will probably do you just fine. If none of those things are true – and thus you are like me – you will find the turbo lag utterly infuriating. Not just infuriating, but also dangerous. 0 – 2500 RPM produces nothing – I mean nothing  – in terms of forward progress. This makes jetting from light to light an awkward process, and jumping out into oncoming traffic a treacherous one. You might get used to the lag and be able to time your maneuvers out correctly, but over my week with the car I was never able to get used to it.

Drive the A3 like a spinster librarian and it is quite good. Get the TDI up and moving and it is quite good. It is just from 0 to 30 mph when the trouble lies. Is it enough to ruin his car? Maybe, maybe not. Look at your driving style now and ask yourself how often you got your right foot planted into the carpet when the lights turn green.

In the end this is a compromise car. Luxury inside and out, huge cargo capacity, and a pretty decent canyon carver. Day-to-day driving is a little worse off. Depending on how you drive, you’ll either feel ensconced in luxury and smugness from your MPG numbers, or trapped inside a post modern German prison. For your sake, I hope you drive more rationally than me.

- Adam Kaslikowski

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Route: Latigo Canyon Rd North from PCH to S Kanan Dume Rd.

Total Length: 10.2 miles

Directions: Turn onto Latigo Canyon Rd from the PCH and follow until it ends at Kanan Dume Rd .

Total Rating:

Let’s cut to the chase – Latigo Canyon is the best California canyon road we’ve ever driven on.  This is a high-precision “course” that requires full attention and shows you the worst and the best of your vehicle. Latigo is DrivingScene’s go-to test course for high performance cars and the canyon we pit our daily drivers against when we need to unwind. Close this browser and go drive it now.

Curves Rating:

The best canyon road for technical curves  we’ve found so far. Full stop. From hairpins to fast sweepers, Latigo has got you covered. It feels like the majority of curves are blind 2 lane switchbacks, which gives this route a complexity and repeatability I’ve found nowhere else. Given that the curves are tightly stacked upon each other, 2nd and 3rd gears are the weapons of choice here.

Police Presence Rating:

Unless this review sends hundreds of auto junkies up and down this route at high-speed, you’re gonna be pretty safe from prosecution here. Basically, there are very few places for a radar-trapper officer to hide and not enough traffic to justify the hours spent there.  The moral of the story is enjoy this road, don’t abuse it, and we can all continue to enjoy it at 10/10ths for some time to come.

Traffic Rating:

Traffic is fairly light throughout the canyon, but if you do run into another motorist you’re going to be behind them until they decide different. There are no overtaking areas or split lanes anywhere on this route. Fortunately the residents are quick to pull over and let you pass if they notice you charging up behind them.

Scenic Beauty Rating:

This is the consummate California canyon road. Stunning vistas, jutting canyon walls, green foliage and abundant wildlife. With few pull-off areas you have to enjoy the views while attempting to keep your sled on the road, but the quick glances are worth it. The canyon also features some fairly breathtaking houses mansions.

Population Rating:

There are houses and small neighborhoods dotted throughout canyon. Because of this, you have to be conscious of other vehicles suddenly exiting or entering your lane of travel. There is also one particular corner where it is difficult to determine which path of a fork is the road and which is a house’s driveway. There is no extended section of Latigo Canyon that is free of houses – consider the entire route populated.

Speed Rating:

Get ready to abuse your brakes, and boil your transmission, because even maintaining the posted speed limit is a serious challenge here. While the posted limit is low and there are very few straight sections that allow you to build up great speed, it’s not much of a concern here. Keep your lines and concentrate on hitting apexes and you’ll never want for more speed.

Safety Rating:

The biggest danger on Latigo is either you or an oncoming vehicle overcooking their entrance speed and bleeding into the other lane right at the apex of a blind corner. The canyon is largely populated by these blind curves, especially the decreasing radius curves that catch drivers off-guard and create unsafe situations. Keep control of yourself and your vehicle and you’ll be relatively safe. Lastly, the road is populated by deer and rabbits once the sun sets, so unless you want to redecorate your hood/face with entrails drive aware.

The original premise of this review was to see who did the VW family 2.0 diesel better, the Jetta or the A3. Fail. This engine, in either application, is a thing of beauty. It can also be a terrible piece of junk. Let me explain.

This 2.0 liter diesel engine is great. It is utterly clear why the TDI Jetta is cleaning up the sales charts and moving diesels engines back into the mainstream of the American car buying consciousness. The engine is smooth, dynamic, fast, full of effortless torque, and quiet – although it is quieter in the VW for some reason. It pulls really well at freeway speed – where horsepower is more important than a diesel’s tsunami of torque – and is punchy whenever you need it to be.

Like I said, the engine itself is great, but as I learned over the week with both of these cars, it’s the transmission that makes all difference. You see, turbo lag is still a very real and unshakeable part of this modern TDI engine. In the automatic A3, it feels like 1975 all over again when turbochargers just began to hit the market in the form of the 930 Porsche 911. Until that snail-shell breathed its fire on the engine it felt like the accelerator pedal wasn’t connected to anything. You’d mash your right foot into the shag carpet and have enough time to think that maybe a linkage was broken or maybe you’re out of gas or BAAAAMM an explosion of thrust and wheel spin and oh god why am I pointed that direction now? Those bad old days are back with this engine when paired with Audi’s S-Tronic automatic gear box.

Now given modern technologies and the fact that both cars are front wheel drive means only slight wheel spin (chirps if you will) and some mild torque steer instead of face and roadside hedge rearranging amount of chaos. No, the danger lies when you want to merge with oncoming traffic. I repeatedly punished the accelerator only to creep into some barn-storming Merc’s path rather than charging ahead of it. The moment always passed and torque pulled me out of danger, but I never quite got used to the change of timing this engine requires of the driver.

That said, If you drive like less of a maniac than an auto journalist does you’d probably never even notice. When I stopped trying to go 0-60 in 3.0 from every stop sign or set of lights the A3 was extremely capable. Calmly merge into traffic, gently accelerate like a well-adjusted human, always pay our taxes, and you wouldn’t want for more than the A3 TDI. Great looks – the Monza Silver is understated and classy, great gas mileage – 30/42, plenty of cargo room – 38.85 cu ft, and more luxury than you can shake a peeled mink at.

If for some reason you wanted to actively choose to drive like a sociopath, then you need the manual transmission only offered in the far cheaper Jetta TDI to do away with the lag-monster’s effects. In truth, the Jetta is far better a car than it has any right to be given its price range. Stacked up against the A3, it comes out the clear winner. The VW is roomier, just as luxurious feeling, smooth, and fast – more Autobahn cruiser to the A3′s athletic canyon carver.

Yet for all the greatness of the VW, when I had keys to both I consistently kept choosing to drive the A3. It’s the badge snob in me. Blame my weak self-esteem, the fact that I’m a young aspiring yuppie, or my upscale Santa Monica neighborhood. I wanted to be behind the wheel of the Audi more than I wanted to have a faultless driving experience. You are now thinking what every girlfriend I’ve ever had thinks – I am sufficiently and completely broken. I know.

The Jetta is objectively the better car when judged on interior space, comfort, drive train, and especially price. When the VW arrived at my doorstep, I thought it was sexy and especially catching in its Toffee Brown candy coating. The yuppie in me was very happy, excited even. But then the Audi arrived the next day. That deep grey little hatch with two-toned alloy rims had me hook-line-sinker. Once I had the option of which one to drive every day, I didn’t really have an option anymore.

But that’s me. You’re more mature and intelligent than me, right? Of course you are. If you are in the market for a Teutonic diesel sled you’ll choose the logical option and go with the Jetta. And you’ll be very pleased.

Either way you’re going to get excellent gas mileage, be coddled in leather and serenaded by great stereos. Either way you’ll be able to smugly look down on Prius and Volt owners for choosing such compromised rides when they should have gotten a diesel instead. Either way you’ll be quite happy.

The question you have to ask yourself is: Would you rather drive like a maniac and wring pleasure out of every last mile in the Jetta, or would you prefer to lord above the peasant folk and drive in a mobile announcement that you’ve arrived into the upper class. Choose wisely.

- Adam Kaslikowski

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Route: Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica Pier to Point Mugu.

Total Length: 37.9 miles

Directions: Join the Pacific Coast Highway from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Stay on the PCH for 37 miles until you reach Point Mugu. A turn around area is available at the highway junction just past Point Mugu outside of Oxnard .

Total Rating:

Tell someone you’re a driving enthusiast in California, and they will inevitably ask about driving the famous PCH. We’ve all seen movies and posters of fast cars next to ocean cliffs and though “me too!” Don’t bother. The LA to Oxnard section of the PCH is a crowded ticket trap with scant opportunity to enjoy those ocean views. There are so many better places to drive in this state, you are cheating yourself if you spend any of your gas on this section of tarmac.

Curves Rating:

The PCH is not a driver’s road so much as a world famous scenic route. Any and all “curves” are high speed sweepers following the coastline. You’re not going to get any rush or push your car’s abilities on any of them.

Police Presence Rating:

The Polizei are omnipresent and very happy to give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. Speeding is highly verboten on the PCH and there seems to be a couple of motorcycle cops speed-trapping every 2 miles or so. Behave yourself or pay the $250+ price like I did.

Traffic Rating:

Heavy. Always heavy. You’re not going to find any time of day or any day of the week where this stretch of the PCH is anything resembling empty or even slightly non congested. Be prepared to move around traffic if you want to make any forward progress.

Scenic Beauty Rating:

There are some magical moments when the condos cease and opposing traffic clears just enough to allow peaks at the surf breaking on the beaches of Malibu. These moments are serene and wonderful and life affirming and over very quickly when the minivan in front of you slams on its brakes. This generally brings you back to the present.

Population Rating:

The road is alternately lined by ocean vistas and condos. Population is high near Santa Monica and Malibu, then thins out as you approach Point Mugu. Houses or not, traffic is always around.

Speed Rating:

The PCH is a fairly fast road with normal highway speeds, but good luck maintaining that with all the traffic. And don’t be tempted to exceed the posted limit either. Stick to the posted MPH and the Sunday drivers and you’ll be traveling at a decent clip.

Safety Rating:

Only danger you face driving the PCH is getting into a fender bender. Guardrails and parked cars  protect you from going into the ocean and steep hills flank the other side of the road. Stay aware of other drivers, and you’ll be perfectly safe.

This story is continued from Part 1 here.

The Alpine White BMW 1 Series I’m currently racing might be gaining distance on me, but I’m sweating and swearing more – and thus having a hell of a lot more fun. Up and down the mountain, the confident and agile line the newer bimmer cuts is followed by my little silver bullet screeching and sliding through lanes behind them. This is what my car was built to do. I hope it’s happy, because I sure am. Though our mini BMW race felt like it lasted an hour, I’m sure it was actually 20 minutes or less. Just as the 1 finally lost me around a set of stacked corners we both rocketed up to an ancient Rav4 and were stuck patiently waiting (read: chomping at the bit) to continue our pointless competition.

Thankfully the Toyota pulled off and we enjoyed another mile or so of me just trying to keep up when we again hurtled up behind two aging bikers on their massive be-chromed Harleys. They quickly pulled over to let us by but now I was loosing my taste for this. The 1 series rocketed through the most technical hairpin on the mountain while I chose to more deliberately make my way through. Let the young machine take this victory, I’m sure the owner needs to justify their chariot a lot more than I do.

By now they were lengths ahead of me and on to a section of straights and wide bends before the canyon ends by joining with a congested highway. I gave one more full-bore blast up to 5th gear to catch them up in a wide sweeper. Again we danced our dance with my heart only half in it (sounds like my prom) and I stayed with them without having to try too hard. As my adrenalin wore off a vicious smell hit me all at once. The brakes. My cardboard brakes were roasted and crying for relief. I applied some pressure on the next bend and they had indeed given up the ghost. The final intersection then came into view and I stood on the brake pedal and downshifted like mad from what seemed miles away just to stop in time. The intersection came, the 1 series went left, I went right, and not so much as a wave was exchanged between us. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

This is the first full stop I’ve come to all afternoon and I quickly realize how much effort this drive has taken. I am exhausted, the 2002 is exhausted, and I quickly realize I haven’t eaten all day. Thus is the appeal of this car. Driving it means merging with it to a point that your wants and needs become secondary to the team you have joined. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Forget the hunger and forget the brakes, I’m only halfway and I’ve got another canyon to conquer on the way down.

On to the highway, through a small town of old strip malls and new gas stations, then turn right into another mountain road. This half of the course isn’t nearly as technical, or free from traffic, so I get my thrills where I can when a passing lane appears. All these yuppies are shocked when a machine from the Pleistocene era rockets past them with a momentum they couldn’t hope to match. This is the more beautiful canyon, affording views of mountain’s and Justin Bieber’s 3rd home, but my eyes are still glued through the upright windshield and over the short hood of my time machine.

Dusk is here and I’m not relishing the thought of being in a canyon at night with 1970 headlights. I pile on some more speed for the final climb, then it’s all downhill and brake management. They’re still not very pleased with me, and the slow-moving traffic we’re stuck behind isn’t helping matters. Civilization slowly begins to pop back up as I reflect on how great this vehicle is. In a world of launch control, ABS, airbags and brakes that actually work, I wouldn’t have anything else. I love this 2002 and want it badly. Sadly, it must be returned to its lucky owner tomorrow.

As night falls I leave the canyon to the modern cars whose headlights and other safety equipment work normally. As I re-enter the civilized world there stands a lonely stoplight amongst the dried grasses and dive bars. This is the gateway back to real life, and with its suddenly yellow light I’m once more hard on the loud pedal. One last time for the frightening jolt of speed, then on in the darkness to the PCH and on to home.

- Adam Kaslikowski

UPDATE: This car is now for sale and a full description is available here.

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Route: Old Topanga Canyon Road to Mulholland Dr. to North Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Total Length: 14.6 miles

Directions: Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon Blvd (4.3 miles). Left onto Old Topanga Canyon Road (7.4 miles). Right onto Mulholland Hwy (0.5 mile). Turn Right onto Topanga Canyon Blvd (6.7 miles). Rinse. Repeat.

Total Rating:

This route is a quintessential California mountain road, packed with tight curves, long straights, scrub brush, stunning vistas, and of course traffic. Nestled between Malibu and Woodland Hills, we jumped on off the PCH and just ran the loop over and over for a few hours.  I recommend this loop for lower speed cars/bikes – vehicles and pilots more worried about enjoying the journey than achieving outright speed.

Curves Rating:

Plenty of curves of all radiuses on Old Topanga, plus straights and long sweepers on North Topanga. Just great. Unfortunately many of the tight curves on Old are utterly blind and thus require fun killing caution or life killing insanity.

Police Presence Rating:

Didn’t see a one. Despite driving like a jackass, I was not hassled beyond getting honked at by one concerned citizen. Hopefully this holds all of the time.

Traffic Rating:

Soccer moms and late model Accords abound on the second half. They will halt your progress and there is a big absence of passing areas. On my pass I ran into roughly one car every mile on Old Topanga, and was stuck behind a line of quick moving cars on North Topanga .

Scenic Beauty Rating:

Ocean views pop in and out, and on the latter half of the route you get long looks at the mountains and canyons of Southern California. And apparently Justin Bieber’s third house. Wish it was a little more green, but that’s just nitpicky.

Population Rating:

Houses and small neighborhoods are dotted around the mountain, adding to the traffic load and the ever present threat that someone is going to pop out of that next driveway that joins the road.

Speed Rating:

Traffic notwithstanding, I was never wanting for more speed. I generally stayed within the speed limit and found maintaining that through the twisties was challenging enough. The high speed second half of the loop is a nice release after staying in second for the majority of the first half.

Safety Rating:

Guardrails abound, but beyond are deep gorges you would not walk away from. The road itself is mostly 2 opposite lanes separated only by 2 solid yellow lines. Keep in your lanes and stay out of the gorges.