Volkswagen never really meant to trick anyone with the Jetta. The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is an economical little diesel sedan powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making a fun 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. However, this Jetta aint exactly the same thing that VW had in mind. This 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is not what you think. 

This Volkswagen Jetta TDI is literally a tank

According to The Drive, Eduardo Gou, Jr., a resident of Dallas, Texas, had to do a lot of driving between his home and Mexico City for work. After deciding he needed a car for when he was south of the border, he began on the wild journey of building a completely unsuspecting Volkswagen Jetta Tank. 

Is Mexico City safe? 

Like most major cities, Mexico City has its fair share of crime. Mirroring NYC’s population, Mexico City is home to over 8.5 million residents. Anywhere with that many people from all over the world will have some crime. Mexico City has seen a recent uptick in violent crime, like NYC. In fact, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory on May 2 warning travelers of increased homicides, kidnapping, car-jackings, and armed robbery. 

Instead of worrying about the possibility of being a victim of violent crime in Mexico City, Gou Jr. decided to take matters into his own hands. 

How to turn your car into a bulletproof tank? 

He purchased his new 2013 Jetta TDI in San Antonio and immediately sent it to Blindajes Alemanes in Mexico City to get the special bulletproofing mods done. The VW Jetta is fortified with Level IV armoring, which cost Gou $53,000. If you add the mods to the cost of the new Jetta ($26,000), the total price must make this the most expensive Jetta in the world. At least, it’s a good guess. 

Since Gou Jr’s work has allowed him to go to Mexico City less, he has decided to sell the VW Jetta tank. The modern workplace replaced commuting with Zoom. This means his pricy Jetta is now available on Facebook Marketplace. 

Although this bulletproof Jetta is extremely cool, something tells me Gou Jr. must be relieved that his work doesn’t demand the tank car any longer. 

The Drive says that in a text exchange with Gour Jr., he told them that one time in Mexico City, someone threw a thick, black, sticky substance on his windshield. The tar-like material made seeing out of the windshield nearly impossible. Since he was in his undercover tank, he pressed forward until he found a safe place to pull over. The idea with this trap is that when drivers get out to attempt to clean or even just inspect the tar, unsavory types emerge, and violence ensues. 

The Drive notes that ​​while he was never shot at directly, he said, “it’s one of those things in which it’s better to have a bulletproof car and never have to use it than to need a bulletproof car and not have it.”

Here’s to hoping that fewer people need bulletproof cars in the future. But while they are still necessary for some places, getting your Volkswagen Jetta kitted out isn’t the worst idea if you drive to Mexico City regularly.