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The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI stays true to its roots.  Because going all the way back to 1984 it’s been considered a GTI with a trunk.  And that holds true today.

But what does that mean?  Specifically, it’s sporty, Euro-stylish, handles great and is fun to drive.  Moreover, it’s wildly affordable.  And definitely within the financial reach of every car buyer.

✅  At Ontario VW, every new Jetta GLI includes 3-years of zero-cost maintenance!  Check out your best prices.

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228 hp & 258 lb-ft of torque

Here’s what’s great about VW.  No other car company has as robust an ownership group.  Because VW enjoys sibling brands like Porsche and Audi.  Plus many others.

So it’s easy to understand how VW manages to pack so much value into an incredibly reasonable price point.  And that definitely holds true with the ’21 Jetta GLI.  You get far more than you pay for.

It accelerates quickly, is nimble to navigate, and exudes European luxury inside and out.  And all at a price that’s well within the reach of any new car shopper.

For 2021 Volkswagen keeps your GLI options pretty simple.  You can go with the base-model S or jump to the top-trimmed Autobahn.

Of course, with only two trims there’s a considerable difference between the two.  And the GLI that’s pictured throughout this post is a base model S.  It’s adequately equipped for sure.  But my pick would definitely be to go with the Autobahn.  And that’s because of all the extras you get including Volkswagen’s digital cockpit which is one of my favorites.

It replaces the traditional instrumentation in the dashboard with a digital monitor.  And that monitor is completely customizable.  So you can have a traditional view with your tachometer and speedometer.  Or, you can minimize that information while placing your navigation instructions inside the dash!

Length 185.2″ Height 57.9″

While keeping your trim options simple VW does the same with your engine and transmission choices.  Because you get nearly the same no matter what.

So, regardless of S or Autobahn trims you get a highly spirited 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder that turbocharged.  And it puts out 228 horsepower with 258 pound-feet of torque.

6-speed manual or 7-spd automatic transmission

When it comes to transmissions you can go with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic.  As much as I love manual, living here in Southern California almost always requires automatic for daily drivers.  Because manual transmissions and SoCal traffic is a recipe for frustration.  But, if you can control your schedule and miss traffic it’s doable.

But, that said, the automatic offers paddle shifters to keep the driving experience fun and low-maintenance at the same time.

When it comes to curb weights the manual transmission comes to 3,228 pounds while the automatic bumps up to 3,294 lbs.

18″ aluminum-alloy wheels

And GLI’s fuel economy keeps you skipping more gas stations than stopping at for certain.  That’s due to 24 mpg in the city for both transmission options.  While you’ll get 33 mpg on the highway with manual trans and up to 35 highway mpg with automatic.

It’s undeniably two things – European and a VW.  Sporty and stylish with great lines from all angles.  And again, that masterful design packed under a very affordable price tag is tough to beat.  Value, baby, value. :0)

*All inches 

And speaking of both great lines and value – the fit and finish of GLI is top-notch inside and out.  Which, being a Volkswagen, comes standard.

Up to 94.7 cu-ft passenger volume

And even the base-model GLI is sporty inside.  With red accent stitching and stainless steel capping on the pedals.  Plus a flat-bottom steering wheel and driver-centric dash.

37.4″ backseat legroom

Additionally, the Jetta GLI is spacious inside for an EPA-class compact vehicle.  It seats up to 5-adults with plenty of comfort space and cargo room too.

14.1 cu-ft cargo space with the backseats up

When you drop the backseats down 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is highly reminiscent of the Golf GTI in terms of the ability to open up space for your stuff.

* All inches

Both trims come with Volkswagen’s touchscreen infotainment systems.  The base-model S includes a 6.5-inch while the Autobahn bumps up to an 8-inch display.  Another notable feature inside when you go with the Autobahn is the premium BeatsAudio system.

Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on both trims as well.

Base model cockpit

In addition to a totally customizable in-dash monitor replacing the traditional instrument cluster, multiple digital cockpit profiles can be saved.  And this easy access is great for different driving types.  For instance, you can have a profile for your city driving and another for highway driving or road trips.

Available driver assistance and safety features include all the basics.  Such as blind-spot monitoring, front and lane assist, rear traffic alert, and more.

The ’21 Jetta GLI packs a lot into its barely $30k price tag.

Ontario VW

Thanks, as always to my friends at Ontario VW for providing the 2021 VW Jetta GLI for this review.  That’s your go-to dealer for all things Volkswagen – buying, servicing, or just talking shop!

All the latest Volkswagen news HERE.

Distracted driving can be tragic because the accidents it causes are 100% preventable. Want to know how? This distracted driving ultimate avoidance guide demonstrates what distracted driving is and how law enforcement like the California Highway Patrol is working to stop it.

Too often, when Officer Simone Yarbrough of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) South L.A. office arrives at a crash scene, the driver is already dead. It’s worse when he sees a cell phone lying on the floor, still blinking, with a message half-written out.

“Back in the day, DUI used to be the biggest killer of our drivers on the road,” Yarbrough said. “Well, not any longer. It’s distracted driving.”

Parents must set the example for their kids.

According to Yarbrough, our cell phones are a huge part of the problem.  But, by no means, are they the only part of the problem.

“Anything that takes your mind and your eyes off the road is distracted driving,” he said. “You can be drinking coffee, putting on makeup, shaving, eating food. People drive and read the newspaper at the same time.”

Even helping a child or adjusting a navigation system can be distracted driving, because it moves the driver’s attention away from the road ahead. Yarbrough’s given citations for eating in a car.  And he’s even pulled mothers over to educate them about the dangers of breastfeeding while driving.

When teens are involved in distracted driving incidents, Yarbrough extends some of the blame to the parents. Parents should never touch their cell phones while driving because their children will follow their example. They also need to be aware of where their kids are and who they’re with. Many teens who die in crashes are passengers of other teen drivers who were driving while distracted.

Yarbrough applauds parents who set rules before their children get licensed and then don’t let their children break those rules.

Cell phone use is one of the biggest causes of distracted driving. That’s partly due to social media. People want to take pictures and post them immediately, whether they’re driving or not.

“The bad part is it’s not just kids doing it,” Yarbrough said. “It’s not just teens doing it. You see adults doing it driving down the street and you’re like, ‘Come on now, if it’s that important to you, pull over and do it.'”

Yarbrough said if someone uses their phone and causes a crash, it’s considered manslaughter or worse. It’s expensive, too. The first-time fine for using a cell phone while driving is $200. It goes up from there.

Every year, an average of 20,000 drivers in California are involved in crashes due to distracted driving. The United States Department of Transportation listed 2,841 deaths caused by distracted driving in 2018. Of those deaths, 605 were passengers, 400 were pedestrians, and 77 were bicyclists.

“If you see something and you recognize something, it takes .75 seconds to just see it and recognize it, another .75 seconds to react,” Yarbrough said. “That’s already a second and a half, and you haven’t done anything yet. You’ve put your foot on the brake, and it’s almost a whole football field, if you’re traveling at 55 miles an hour, to come to a stop. So whatever stops in front of you at that kind of speed, you’re probably going to hit it.”

The CHP works hard on education and prevention wherever it can. This includes using a yearlong Adult Distracted Driving grant recently provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant money provides for both in-person and virtual training sessions on distracted driving. The CHP plans to conduct several distracted driving enforcement operations, too, and it’s partnered with Impact Teen Drivers to offer distracted driving training to teens during the pandemic.

These most recent efforts are backed up by several safety manuals that the CHP already had on hand. Two of them are specifically for teen drivers. Officers hope that these efforts inspire drivers to pay attention while driving and to stay safe on the roads.

“It’s stuff that can be prevented,” Yarbrough said.

I love the cornflower blue color of the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI.  Because it’s not at all quiet.  And reflective of the car’s potency.

But there’s more to what makes the overall package so enticing.   Because of what the car costs, it shouldn’t perform as well as it does.   Plus it shouldn’t look as good as it does.  And it shouldn’t be so darn fun to drive.

So my Top-3 for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI probably come as no surprise.

My friends at Ontario Volkswagen provided me with the gorgeous GTI pictured in this article.  And that is the Southern California Volkswagen dealership you want to work with – for sure!

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Ontario VW right by Ontario Airport :0)

For 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI offers three trims; the S, SE and, Autobahn.  The European carmaker indicates that all trims this year include special styling cues.  And these cues are to indicate the final model year of the seventh-generation Golf GTI.  For sure they are subtle.

But like any artwork, you have a greater appreciation, once you know.  So, what are they?  Simple gloss black painted side-view mirrors and rear lip spoiler.  Nice. :0)

No matter which of the trims you go with your engine will be the same.  It’s a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Additionally, regardless of trim, you have two transmission options.  And that’s either a fun 6-speed manual or an almost as fun 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.  My advice would be to let your commute decide.  So, if daily gridlock is your reality then go automatic because it also includes Tiptronic.  Which is basically a clutchless manual.  So, you get most of the fun without the work of the manual.

But for me personally, I still love manually shifting sporty cars like GTI.

Manual: 23/26/30

Automatic: 24/27/32

*City/combined/highway

GTI’s curb weight varies only slightly.  And that’s due to the transmission option.  So a manual transmission clocks 3,133 pounds while the automatic weighs 3,210 lbs.

The final model year of the 7th generation VW GTI is unmistakable in appearance.  It’s pure Volkswagen.  And pure hot hatch.  Especially in the cornflower blue color with the trademark red GTI accents.

VW first introduced the cornflower blue in the 2019 Golf GTI Rabit Edition.  And I was immediately captivated by the color.

Cornflower blue!

Thankfully, the good folks at V-Dub wound up with a few extra gallons of this gorgeous hue.  It’s in high-demand and tough to find.   Other, more readily available ’21 GTI colors include; dark iron blue metallic, deep black pearl, pure white, and tornado red.

*All inches 

A flat-bottom steering wheel and a driver-focused cockpit are expected features for an enthusiast’s vehicle.

Fit and finish = detail-focused value!

And like the outside, the inside of the 2021 GTI is clearly a VW.  But a marginally educated car-gal/guy could slide into the driver’s seat blindfolded and know it’s a GTI.  Why?  Massive, contouring and confidence-inspiring seat bolsters.

Contoured seat bolsters.

Of course, the GTI’s interior highlights Volkswagen’s detailed fit and finish.  And the carmakers legendary engineering maximizes interior space even though it’s a small car.

*All inches – front/rear 

The original hot hatch, GTI seats up to five adults surprisingly comfortably.  And four adults can definitely road trip in the 5-door – minus luggage.  Or too much luggage anyway.

Up to 24.8 cu ft cargo space

Because with 17.4 cubic-feet of cargo space with the backseats in use, you still have room for stuff.  And with the backseats down, Golf GTI offers 24.8 cu-ft of stuff-space.

VW’s MIB infotainment touchscreens are included in all trims.  An 8.0″ with navigation is standard in the SE and Autobahn.  With a 6.5″ standard for the base-S trim.

And if kicking (or simply crisp) sound is on your must-have list.  Then you’ll appreciate the Fender premium sound system included with the Autobahn trim.

Plus GTI comes with a solid line-up of driver assistance tech.

Standard:

Available:

So, back to my Top-3 reasons to buy the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

If I had a Top-4 instead of only Top-3 the interior could easily slide into position too.

For your 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI in cornflower blue (hurry) connect with my friends at Ontario VW.  Southern California’s family and enthusiast driven Volkswagen dealership.

Ontario Volkswagen

As more people use marijuana in the COVID-era it’s important to remember that legal pot still results in DUI if you drive high.

In 2018 it became legal to buy and sell cannabis in the State of California. But changes to the law brought up questions and concerns about safety, particularly about legal marijuana and DUIs. Driving under the influence of marijuana is as much an issue as an alcohol-related DUI because marijuana use can impair judgment, too.

“If you’re going to be taking part in using cannabis, do it responsibly,” said Sergeant Oscar Chavez of the California Highway Patrol’s Impaired Driving Section. “Don’t Drive.”

During 2017, police officers prepared for the legalization of marijuana with 52 hours of training. The training program, called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), taught police to detect people driving under the influence of cannabis. ARIDE includes a two-day course in recognizing the signs of sleep deprivation, drug use, and alcohol use.

Unlike alcohol, there’s no breath test for marijuana use. But technologies are evolving, and could soon include mouth swab tests. However, when marijuana was first legalized, blood tests for finding cannabis in a driver’s bloodstream were the best bet.

Chavez said that the training program brings in medical experts to teach police officers about all forms of impaired driving, from sleep deprivation to prescription drugs like Xanax and Vicodin.

Alcohol enters the human system through drinking, but weed intake happens in a variety of ways. People can smoke it, eat it, and even rub it on their skin. Differing strains, THC levels, and even the individuality of the drivers can impact the information a police officer has to work with.

“With cannabis, we have to take into consideration the user,” Chavez said. “Are they a long time user, short time user? We have to take into consideration how they ingest it. Is it edible? Are they using a sativa strain? Are they using an Indica strain? Sativa’s going to have some effects on a user, versus an Indica strain, or a hybrid strain, a combiniation of both.”

Chavez said when a DUI suspect is pulled over, officers determine whether an arrest is necessary. If the driver is arrested, officers use a Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) to figure out what’s causing the impairment. The DRE is a process that uses standard roadside impairment tests, as well as in-depth tests.

The in-depth tests check problems such as pupil size, pulse rate, and blood pressure. The DRE can help rule out alcohol use and zero in on the possibility of driving under the influence of pot or other drugs.

It’s legal to purchase 28.5 grams of green, leafy marijuana. This purchase size is about the size of a filled sandwich bag.

Buyers have to be 21 or older to purchase marijuana. However, if they’re caught with more than the legal amount, they’re only given an infraction charge, rather than a misdemeanor or felony charge. Infractions only include fines and citations.

Chavez said the important thing to remember is that the laws and the DUI training for officers are there to keep people safe. Marijuana use is up to the user, but users shouldn’t drive while under the influence.

“Just do it safely,” Chavez said. “Don’t get behind the wheel.”

Move over, Detroit. Southern California is the automotive capital of the United States and the world. And among many other reasons, Southern California deserves this moniker because of its plethora of world-class automotive museums.  They range from life-size Hot Wheels collections to Bugatti and Ferrari exhibits and much more.

*Please note!  Since recording the podcast and originally writing this article.  The Mullin Automotive Museum has closed its doors forever.

iDriveSoCal’s (opinionated) contributor Clinton “The Professor” Quan created a list of his top five favorites.  But there’s more for sure.  So you can listen to me and the Professor debate his Top 5.  And or continue reading below for even more Southern California Automotive Museums.

The Marconi Automotive Museum – Tustin

The Marconi Automotive Museum is the only car museum in Orange County. It’s open Monday through Friday, with some events on the weekends. Besides a yearly open house, this museum hosts fight nights and private events, and it donates profits to children’s charities. The car collection includes several Ferraris, as well as other race cars.

The Automobile Driving Museum – El Segundo

The Automobile Driving Museum is one of the most unique Southern California museums. It was first located in West Los Angeles. It later moved to the South Bay in El Segundo, near LAX, because it outgrew its former location.

This museum stands out because every Sunday, three different classic cars are brought out of the collection, and car enthusiasts can ride in them. The museum is located in a garage because all of the cars regularly take a turn for those weekend drives. There’s a separate building where this museum hosts Hot Wheels weekend events, which includes real life-size versions of Mattel Hot Wheels cars.

The Petersen Automotive Museum – Los Angeles

The Petersen Automotive Museum showcases its collection of more than 300 cars in over 60,000 square feet of exhibit space in the heart of Los Angeles. It’s one of the largest car museums in the United States. This museum is well known for its events and for its unique exhibits, such as the classic Japanese car collection or its low rider collection. The exhibits change often, so visitors never get bored. This museum is also developing programs to help attract children toward future jobs in the automotive industry.

The Nethercutt Collection – Sylmar

The Nethercutt Collection is a hidden gem with more than 200 cars on display. This collection has won the Best of Show award at Pebble Beach more often than any other collection.

All of the cars showcased here are Concours d’Elegance caliber.  This museum has two sets of buildings. One allows car fans to take self-guided tours, but the other building requires reservations and guided tours, and it’s only open a few days per week. Besides vintage cars, this museum also displays musical instruments and furniture.

Mullin Automotive Museum – Oxnard

Sadly the Mullin Automotive Museum has closed its doors forever.  It was located in Ventura County.  Featuring all French cars in its collection.

The former museum’s location previously housed The Vintage Museum.  And that was founded by Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler.

Because you cannot leave out a few other Southern California Automotive Museums here’s the list continued.  Each with its own niche.

The BMW Performance Center in Thermal, California is a driver’s paradise.

Because the driving school in Riverside County basically lets you go nuts in real fast, real performance vehicles.  Plus you can take your skills (or lack of) off-road too.

So when the offer to experience the track arrived the answer was simple; when should we arrive? :0)

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The Professor & Me – COVID-Style

Unless you’re very lost and/or off-roading in the desert you’re unlikely to find The Thermal Club.

Well, there’s one other exception, and that’s if you’re a very rich auto enthusiast.

Because The Thermal Club is tucked away in Southern California near pretty much nothing.  And that’s exactly what makes this car-guy country club perfect!

At this club, you can hop in your car and drive it as loud as you want all day long.  In fact, that’s what you’re supposed to do!

And BMW is the biggest club member.  So if you don’t have the $1.5M to drop on club membership, no worries.

Because you can still get a taste through the BMW Performance Center West.

In case you’re wondering, yes, there is a BMW Performance Center East.  And that one’s been around for 20-years.

While The Thermal Club location isn’t quite 5-years old.

On the day Professor Quan and I went the Center was thankfully quiet.  It was just us and a couple of women from San Francisco.

Plus our instructor, Dave McMillan.  He’s the professional racecar driver who masterfully ushered us through the entire experience.

Pro racer, Dave McMillan guided our class.

And while we were driving solo almost the whole time, Dave stayed in touch via radios in each of our vehicles.

Dave was great throughout the experience.  He was eager to share his passion for driving and his expertise behind the wheel.  Moreover, he was an encouraging and patient instructor.

And I would know.  Because I was probably the worst on-road performance driver in our group – by a longshot.  Yes, even the girls were faster than me.  (Sigh!)

So, the BMW Performance Center offers a number of driving experience options.  You can head out solo or, you can bring up to 600 of your closest pals.

We were given the introductory course which costs just $299.  But a single driver can drop thousands on multi-day experiences.

While there’s not much nearby the BMW Performance Center, we stayed in Indian Wells at the Hyatt Regency.

That’s only about a 30-minute drive to and from.  And the hotel was perfect. Because while I hit the track my wife and son enjoyed the lazy river and waterslides at the resort.  (Everybody wins!)

The package Professor Quan and I received is called ‘Performance Drive’.  And it’s a sampling of the various experiences that are available.

It’s an entry-level course but a blast nonetheless. We started with classroom instruction – COVID-style outdoors.

Dave laid out how the session would proceed and covered some basics.

Sure-footed X7

Then we hopped in BMW X7s and headed through The Thermal Club to the off-road course.  That part of the session was slow in actual speed.

But it was also cool because it was technical driving.  And, I can state my performance was quite good with this part of the session!

But then came the on-road track driving.  And my lack of speed skills was displayed in all full splendor.

Because I was barrelling into corners way too fast.  Then trying to muscle my way out of the terrible position I put myself in.

I was literally sweating and grunting and grunting during my first lap.  But I was having a blast!

Our launch site.

Finally, it was time for our hot lap!  That’s where you get in the car with a professional driver and they show you how it’s done.

And wow, Dave did not disappoint!

So the below pic shows Dave sliding sideways around the track with the San Francisco ladies in our class.  Clinton and I were next.

Hot lap: by Dave McMillan

As part of the hot lap experience, Dave turns off all traction controls and driver assistance features.  Allowing him to own the car.

And what a car!  A BMW M5 Competition retails for around $130k.  And it’s basically a racecar with leather seats.

But, The Professor and I had our hot lap cut in half.  Because Dave literally burned the rubber off the wheels!

Tread = gone!

However, half a hot lap was all we needed.  The ride was incredible.  Better than any amusement park ride I’d ever been on.

And Dave controlled the car in a way that I’ve never experienced.  It was incredible, I was literally howling with laughter!

Midway through a sideways slide he’d slap the gear shifter or tweak the wheel and the car would respond sending us in another direction.  So cool!

All in our experience was less than 2-hours of driving.  And while it went by quickly I felt spent at the end.

My adrenaline had pumped plenty.  Plus, being such a terrible on-road performance driver didn’t have helped my fatigue factor.

But without a doubt, we’ll be back to the BMW Performance Center West.  It’s a killer venue and experience.  If you haven’t been – go!