VW Jetta vs. Toyota Sienna AWD - which would you take for free?

[flatlandhiker]

This may seem to be a very random question, but it's a very real choice for me. I'm graduating from college in the spring, and have been driving a very enjoyable 2007 VW Jetta Wolfsburg (18k miles). My mom is ready to move beyond her minivan days, and wants to trade in her 2006 Toyota Sienna AWD (32k miles) for a Highlander.

As both cars are now worth roughly the same, I get to choose my ride for graduate school (I'm going to med school next year). Any thoughts about which will be the better long-term option?

Considerations:
-Fuel economy
-Dependability / maintenance costs
-Winter driving

[Shpuker]

I'd take the Jetta, dunno why you'd want the Mini-van but to each their own I spose. Anyways, the Jetta seems more practical in pretty much every way, its gotta be more fun to drive, much better mileage I presume, and its not a mini-van lol

[flatlandhiker]

Haha no, it's certainly not the style. I'm going to school in New Hampshire next year, so the AWD might come in handy... and the reliability of older Jettas hasn't been stellar.

The more I think of it though, the more I think some snow tires on the Jetta wouldn't be a bad way to go.

[Shpuker]

Originally Posted by flatlandhiker

Haha no, it's certainly not the style. I'm going to school in New Hampshire next year, so the AWD might come in handy... and the reliability of older Jettas hasn't been stellar.

The more I think of it though, the more I think some snow tires on the Jetta wouldn't be a bad way to go.

Hell if I'm gonna give my honest opinion I'd sell both and find a good AWD car or small SUV in the amount you sell either the mini-van or the Jetta for, then you don't have to compromise for either one.

[syrne]

Keep the Jetta, you'll probably have electrical problems and some other things go wrong but unless you are routinely the DD for a large group of friends (do med school kids party much?) or are in a band hauling equipment you're better off with the car. My 99 Jetta does just fine in the snow, if it gets deep or icy toss some chains on it and it's no problem. I figure if the snow is bad enough that I can't get where I'm going in my car it's probably not worth the risk of going at all since the likelihood of another drive plowing into you in conditions that bad is pretty high.