My thing is, everyone on here drives basically a new car. I'd much rather just stick with my GTI than have a car that's a couple years newer but a worse car to start. The Jetta we have is engineered for Americans. It's a lot more of a boat than a GTI. Power isn't that great if the chasis stinks.
Modding a base car to handle as well as a GTI/GLI will probably use all the savings anyway, and it still has a smaller engine.
SO I agree with all of that.
McQueen, I mean look at facts. Your GTI has <40k miles it is still good for at least another 2 years while it is under the 5 year 60k powertrain.
It is a much faster and more fun to drive car. You'd give all of that up to be in a "rental status" Jetta. Granted it may provide you with marginal better MPG, two extra doors and pleather, but at a HUGE price. As of right now it is about 8k more than your GTI, unless you lease...
Getting the 2014 jetta makes no sense yet. Maybe after your powertrain is u., Since your GTI is currently depreciating at a really slow pace I'd drive that until it becomes too much of a burden due to lack of rear doors or because it has real reliability concerns.