If an effort to bolster slow sales in the 1990s and rebrand itself as a fun-loving alternative to the rest of the modest budget alternatives, Volkswagen rolled out a new marketing campaign and several special editions of the popular third-generation Golf and Jetta. Probably the most famous is the Harlequin, but there was also the Jetta GT and the Wolfsburg Edition. But the ones that really struck a cord with college students were the K2 and Trek editions, as they came not only with your Fahrvergnügen driving experience, but something to do when you got there as well.
In the case of the Trek Edition, you could get alloy wheels, front fog lights, special interior trim, a sunroof, and a rear spoiler. But the most important part of the package was of course the Trek mountain bike that came mounted to the roof rack. It was a silly marketing gig for what was neither the best car nor the best mountain bike available, but it was fun and cool. And today, it’s pretty rare to find them still attached to one another:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Volkswagen Jetta Trek Edition on eBay
Year: 1997
Model: Jetta Trek Edition
VIN: 3VWWB81H8VM112747
Engine: 2.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 131,000 mi
Location: North Las Vegas, Nevada
Price: Reserve Auction
1997 Volkswagen Jetta TREK edition. Special TREK bicycle model. Comes with original Jetta Trek roof rack with original TREK VW bicycle, ski rack with skis and TREK VW mountain bike jersey L.
New timing belt, water pump, tries, brakes, shocks, control arms and radiator. Has 131K miles. Clean inside and out. AC works good. Needs heater core. If you like older VWS and bikes, this is a unique collector car.
The Cool White exterior looks in decent shape and is set off nicely by the “Flyer†five-spoke wheels, and the GLX-style spoiler, blacked-out tails, and fog lights help to make these otherwise basic Jettas feel a bit more special. The interior has the signature Trek-logo sport seats and a few other nice options. But the big deal is that the Trek bike is still there. I say ‘big’ in that it doesn’t really matter, but is notable and pretty rare to find. You won’t win any beauty contests, races, or trophies with this car. But if you want a talking point at the next Radwood show and you’re on a tight budget, here’s your ride. This one should change hands for short money and is an interesting footnote in 90s VW history is cheap to buy and run. And when it breaks down….well, it comes with a back-up plan.
-Carter
