Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

alyssazmom

As a CPSC I can tell you that a rearfacing infant and convertible seat in a Jetta is next to impossible if both parents are in the car. You need to think about the person in the front seat being too close to the airbag because you can't put the seat back enough due to the rearfacing carseat. A baby needs to stay rear facing atleast ONE year AND 20 pounds and the longer they stay rear facing the better. I've installed many carseats in Jettas and I can tell you that they are not the most car seat compatible to begin with (very contoured seats).

I owned a Jetta briefly and my 5 year old daughter uses her booster seat (as all kids should until they meet the 5 step requirement to properly fit an adult seat belt- usually between the ages of 8-10 years old) and I had concerns about the lack of space between the front passenger seat (which was all the way up) and her head. In the event of an accident there is little room for the head excursion that would occur.

I took back my Jetta (for various other reasons) and purchased a 2002 Honda Civic, much more room in the back and better fit for carseats. I don't plan on having anymore (one's enough for me right now) so infant/convertible seats aren't an issue for me.

Just food for thought!

Carrie

vocus

Since I spoke of the Golf, I noticed something about the car. The side mirrors are not blue tinted. I thought that was a VW trademark. The Beetle's mirrors aren't tinted blue either.

Also, the dash vents in the Golf are wildly different from the Jetta's in appearance, looking almost cheap in comparison. I was surprised at that fact as well.

Guess the Jetta does have some worthwhile stuff on it compared to even its "twin".

blueguydotcom

Lighten up, it was hyperbole. That's all. I know it's not legit child abuse to put a kid in the back of a Jetta...I have to listen to DV stuff all the time, so I'm aware of the really twisted things people do (putting kid's feet in boiling water because the child wanders off once ibn awhile!).

I use that to make a point. It's so small in the back of a Jetta that someone from CPS might see him with two squished children and haul him over immediately. (joke)

bpi

"The doors creak pretty badly when hitting bumps in the road, or when the body twists (like going into a parking lot not quite parallel). I was really surprised, and glad I did not get a Golf."

Come on. That was a loaner. What if someone else drove that Golf and concluded all VW's would be that way? BTW, if a Golf hatchback twists more than a Jetta Sedan, then probably a Jetta Wagon will too.

vocus

I was not saying the car twists. I was saying when you go over an uneven surface (such as going into a parking lot or something, on an angle), the doors creak noticeably.

I don't care about the loaner, as long as my car doesn't do that. I was surprised to hear that, but I have read other posts here at TH about the Golf doing that.

I was also glad I didn't get a Golf because of the cheaper interior things I talked about, and the seats are madly uncomfortable as well. Maybe adding lumbar support would make them more comfortable, because the lower back is where it's painfully uncomfortable for me.

vocus

I have the Monsoon double-DIN radio in my 2002 Jetta. I was able to play a CD-RW in the player the other day. I know alot of players cannot handle them, but I put it in the slot to see what would happen, and it played just like a regular CD would. Cool!

mseals

Vocus: coming from a PC background I have a little knowledge on that. The older CD-RW's use to have a back color that was hard to read from other than PC CD-Roms, since they, industry has changed knowing the that use of the blank CD has not changed from just data to data and music. In doing this, I think they changed the back color to a blue or gold which makes it easier for Cd players to read them.

moparbad

The Golf weighs less than Jetta and handles better. No creaks, no rattles, (my car) and 18 cu ft cargo capacity compared to 13 cu ft in Jetta Sedan. The seats are EXACTLY the same in the Golf and Jetta if you have velour. As to the air vents. LOL I mean, how are the air vents cheaper? Since I am owner of a Jetta Wagon and Golf TDI I have the experience to compare them, and my opinion is very different from yours.

vocus

The air vents look cheaper to me, but that's not a big deal. Just something I noticed. They don't have the thumbwheels for both directions like the Jetta does. And I reported incorrectly that the mirrors are not blue tinted, my fault.

I do not have velour in my Jetta though, I have the leather with the lumbar adjuster. I got that because the seats in the velour Jetta were uncomfortable to me when I test drove it.

I do like the Golf as well. It doesn't seem a bogged down (this one is the 2.0) as the Jetta 2.0 I loaned before, and it does handle a little better I guess. But again, I have sport suspension and 17" tires too, so it doesn't handle better than my car does.

After cornering hard in this car, I am really glad I got the sport suspension. It makes a really big difference. No tire scrubbing and less body lean with my setup than the standard one. I can't wait to get the Neuspeed bar to see how good the car will handle corners then.

Also, the cargo area "looks" about the same size as the Jetta's to me, but I guess it is roomier. I hate the cargo cover making a noise though (it does in this Golf).

sarah233

yesterday i found 2 door dings in my car, and then today a rock hit my windshield and i have a small crack. can these be repaired without replacing the entire windshield? How much does a new windshield cost?

justin

when i was looking at my second Jetta, i looked at Golfs. i couldn't stand the way the vents don't seem flush with the dash. i will never understand why they messed with it. the other problem was that i couldn't get the VR6 GTI with tiptronic. and i didn't want the turbo golf GTI - they are everywhere in my townhouse development. i am the only one with a Gen IV turbo Jetta.

protege_fan

How big is the crack? Is it an actual crack or more like a chip in the windshield?

If it's like a chip, check out this product:

http://www.permatex.com/auto/autogr...m&item_no=16067

fish8

I have a '02 Jetta GL and I think it came with the Monsoon stereo system. Is that possible? When I turn it on, it says MONSOON on the display. I didn't think the GL came with this setup.

Everyone keeps ragging on the suspension and 2.0 engine in the GL. I think the suspension setup was well engineered. The engine, though pretty loud at hwy speeds, is a pretty smooth performer. Just my opinion. Yours is welcome as well.

sarah233

it's a small chip with 3 small "fingers" coming out of it--but it's really small. I'm just mad about it.

thanks for the info, i'll check it out.

protege_fan

Definitely check out that item then. It sounds like it can fix it for you! To me it looks like the same stuff that "Professional" glass chip repair places would use. I found some yesterday at a local Hardware/Automotive store (Canadian Tire) and it was $10.99 CDN, but that's only good for 1 single chip.

Kirstie_H

Very timely! I just got a "bullseye" in my Jetta windshield, and wasn't looking forward to a full replacement.

kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com

justin

my Gen IV 99 Jetta had a punture. the glass place came out and fixed it quick and easy.

vocus

While the 2.0 VW engine is loud in hard acceleration, I would have to say it's definitely pretty quiet in normal driving and when idling. It's alot quieter than the same size engine that I had in my 2001 Protege that I traded for the Jetta.

If your radio says "Monsoon" when you turn it on, then it's a Monsoon head unit. VW's website doesn't show the Monsoon being available on the GL though. That is weird.

fish8

I agree...it is weird. They had to get my Jetta from another dealer so my dealer never saw the car. When the car arrived and my sales women got in she noticed the stereo was a monsoon and said I had lucked out. What is the difference between the stock stereo and the monsoon? Is the sound that much better?

Also, when I saw my Jetta for the first time I noticed that it had beige pin stripes. I gasped for a breath. IMHO.....pinstripes on Jettas should be banned. Within 5 minutes of ownership, I had the stripes off. It looks much better without them.

My first tank full I got 28mpg. Not bad for sucha new engine. We'll see what I get during my next fill-up.

vocus

Which engine do you have, the 2.0? Just wondering. The turbo's fuel economy is about the same as the 2.0's, you know. I have driven both for extended periods (my car is a 1.8T, and my 5-week loaner was a 2.0 Beetle).

You must have lucked out the with Monsoon. The sound is a LOT better, I think. A lot deeper and richer than the standard radio. I like it alot.

justin

is great if it is free. not worth paying for though.

vocus

I am beginning to feel the same about my whole car. In the shop again (3 days thus far), no status report (I called), no nothing. Total of about 7 weeks (adding up all the time) in the 7 months that I have owned it. Calling VWoA later and asking for them to buy it back. I don't even want a new one.

ste5e

Is this because of a rattle? Hmm. To each his own, but I don't think I'd give up on a car I really like because it has a rattle. Hopefully, VWoA will take car of you.

I've got a 2002 Jetta 1.8T that has been perfect for the last two months. However, this morning I noticed a slight rattle in the passenger door when I was playing a bass-heavy song. This isn't too surprising since I could feel the bass through the doors. Oddly, it didn't happen when the window was down. I'll do some more checking tonight.

vocus

The same thing happens to my car when I turn a bass heavy song on. I don't think they can fix that actually. You might mention it though, the next time your car goes in for service.

The rattle is a big deal, because this is a $25,000 car we are talking about here. I am paying for this car every month, and it's been in the shop at least once per month since I have bought it. It's just starting to wear on my nerves. I like the car alot, and the service is great, but this is just getting to me now. I am tired of dealing with it.

alyssazmom

I'm so sorry that you have had the problems with the Jetta! Every day I read these posts just solidifies my decision in choosing the Honda Civic EX sedan over the Jetta 1.8T I had originally wanted (and still lust for, lol). So what car will you be buying next?

Carrie

vocus

I am not buying any car next. If they decide to gimme another one, I guess it would have to be another Jetta. I don't wanna trade this car in right now though, because I just got it and don't wanna have to deal with negative equity again. I like the car itself alot, but it's just maddening having to take it back all the time for stuff.

Hondas have problems too, so no car out there is problem free. They just have a better chance of not having a problem.

I know the problems (workmanship: read rattles) could be alot worse, but it's maddening in a brand new car to have rattles. That sucks!

ste5e

I'm really sorry to hear of the rattle troubles. I tend to notice them when no one else does, so I know what it's like.

Carrie: unless you go for a lower-end Civic, it's not worth the money. $18k for a Civic EX with the same cheap materials as the base model?! I know because my wife had a 1994 Civic DX when we met. It was very underpowered, but otherwise fairly solid for an economy car.

I was interested in buying a Honda Civic EX this time around for our commuter car. So we test drove one right after test driving the Jetta. The difference was amazing. The Civic, while very large inside, was anemic, noisy (my wife mentioned it before I did—and this was at 40mph!), had very numb handling and drum brakes on the rear. Most disappointing, though, was the poor quality interior materials. (I thought the parking brake was going to come off in my hand.) It was obviously much cheaper, and more hollow than the interior of the 94. On the positive side, the new Civics have great cabin capacity and great fuel economy.

If you drive a Jetta, you'll see and feel a huge difference for a few additional $k—a difference that was obviously worth it to us. We bought the Jetta without hesitation.

I can also tell you that her old Civic and my old 95 Acura integra both had what I consider serious rattles. The Integra had a few bad ones early in its life. The fact is, some people are more sensitive to them than others, and most people aren't at all.

sean50

Vocus why did you pay 25K for a jetta to begin with????
For an extra 1 - 2K you could've got a much better car like a maxima, with the same features as your jetta, plus a V-6 and about 255-HP...

justin

I don't know of a single Nissan that is better than even a BASE Jetta. A Maxima MIGHT be a little faster than Vocus' Jetta, and it has more room. That is it. But have you seen the outside of a Max? It just BEGS for aftermarket wheels, gold packages, running lights, and silver tinted windows The inside is nicer than the cheapo Altima interior, but not by much. Nissan is doing well, but still playing catch up in the look and feel department.

Seriously, though Vocus, the car has been in the shop because YOU have put it there. It did not REQUIRE service except for the radio, right?

I think with time, you will learn to "pick your battles" with regard to cars. This Jetta is a demon for you now, so you have to get rid of it on principle. I know, I have been there. As you get older you will find that if your car starts, performs well, is safe, and looks good, that you are satisfied. After all, this is not a Mercedes Benz. It is a VW.

Not being mean at all. Just giving another opinion

I wonder, if you had the $25k to spend again, what would you get that you think is better?

vocus

There is apparently nothing out there better for me, because I bought the Jetta. I like the car alot still, even though it's given me all these workmanship issues. I say that, because if it were something else major I would be totally mad and upset. Since it's only rattles, it's annoying but still there. I do not want another Jetta though, because of my experience with this one. I don't know what I want yet. I will decide when the time comes, if it does anytime soon (I don't plan it to though).

vocus

I had a rental Maxima actually. I have always liked those alot, until I drove this one. I HATED the driver's seat totally. Also, it had alot of power but used gas like mad. And it spun pretty easily (alot of power, like I said) when accelerating. I didn't like that though, and would have preferred traction control. TRAC (the ASR) is standard on the Jetta 1.8T, but a costly option on the Maxima (you have to purchase several other things just to get it). So I like the Jetta better than the Maxima, totally.

alyssazmom

Vocus: I agree that every brand has its lemon cars. God knows my Ford Escort was!

Ste5e: To each his own opinion regarding cars. I feel my Civic EX Sedan was worth the $16,504 I bought it for and I don't feel the interior is cheap at all. My engine does not sound whiny nor does it lack power in the least. I have found my Civic EX to be a spunky quick car and at 5K no problems so far (knock on wood). Again, each brand has a few lemons per x # of cars produced...

Carrie

vocus

Very good way of looking at the criticism of the Civic. It was the right car for you, and that's all that matters considering you are making the payments on it.

sean50

i guess i disagree with justin...
first of all
if u read my post i only metioned the maxima, i never said anything about the altima or any other car...
furthermore i think it's pretty crazy to say that the base jetta GL is be better than a maxima

2nd of all the maxima has 255 hp which is a lot more than the 180HP jetta has…the ride in a maxima is also better than in a 1.8Tjetta (that's what vocus has i think), and the maxima is a v-6 and the there is a lot more space in the front and back

I don't know what you have against the maxima wheels..they are 17 inch alloys (on the SE)…what more do you want?…if you need running lights you can just turn the headlights on during the day…

The maxima doesn't rattle or have quirky electrical problems like the jetta and the maxima SE comes with a phat bose stereo system with 6cd in dash changer (way better than the jetta monsoon)…honestly I don't think a maxima SE and a high end jetta are comparable, although the prices are…which is my whole point., the high end jettas are nice, but too expensive... and not as good as a maxima...

Anyway i don't mean to start a feud, vocus liked the jetta so that is fine enuff

justin

...about the base Jetta being better than a Max. I would take a Max over a base Jetta in a second. I am saying that it is sad that a $15k Jetta has a better, richer look and feel than a $25k Maximan.

Of course the Maxima is going to be faster, and offer more room. The cars are in totally different classes. Passat shoppers would look at Max's, maybe. Jetta drivers want small and sporty. The Max is not small.

Don't get me wrong though, it is a lot of car for the money I think.

Vocus - maybe you will do what i did, and just go get a cheap car and drive it for awhile.

bpi

June 6, 7:10am #5424
"Calling VWoA later and asking for them to buy it back. I don't even want a new one."

8:58am #5428
"I am not buying any car next. If they decide to gimme another one, I guess it would have to be another Jetta."

10:57am #5432
"I do not want another Jetta though, because of my experience with this one."

So have you called VW yet? What happened to the superb service - calling you every other day to give you an update?

vocus

I might be changing jobs soon, and this new job is within walking distance of my house. If so, I will be selling my car and waiting a couple months before getting something else. I will see what happens with the interview though. Also, I have to get my car back from the dealer first before I sell it. I should ask them to put it outside on their lot, it spends more time there than it does with me.

blueguydotcom

As for dealing with poor quality Justin appears to be a car company's dream come true. Maybe Justin's satisfied with a poorly constructed car, but most of the population feels that after spending ANY amount of money on new car, said new car should be flawless for at least a year.

vocus

If VWoA would buy this car back, am I going to get a choice of what I get? No. It's going to be another Jetta. If I did not have a choice, I would have to take another Jetta I guess.

However, if I have to keep this car (they do not buy it back), then I am going to get as much as I can out of it. I cannot afford to trade the car right now, so that would give me no choice but to keep it.

And as far as the service, I don't know what happend. I guess I am going to have to call them and make a stink about this. I don't really wanna, but they are seeming to give me no choice.

vocus

I totally agree with you. You know, like 7 people in my office have Jettas, and not one problem. Then I buy one, and BAM!

I am not going to deal with a car that rattles, not a brand new one anyway. That's not acceptable to me. They are either going to fix it right, or gimme another car.

Do you think I am wrong in this, out of curiousity?

bpi

June 6, 7:10am #5424
"Calling VWoA later and asking for them to buy it back. I don't even want a new one."

8:58am #5428
"I am not buying any car next. If they decide to gimme another one, I guess it would have to be another Jetta."

10:57am #5432
"I do not want another Jetta though, because of my experience with this one."

So have you called VW yet? What happened to the superb service - calling you every other day to give you an update?

anonymous02

My wife has a 1996 Jetta GL 4 cylinder.

We brought it to the local tire/repair shop for new rear struts.

He said there is an arm coming forward from the axle which attaches to the unibody under rear doors, which has a worn bushing. He said the bushing is probably around $12 or so, but he does not have the means to remove old one and replace with new one. Is there a special tool required for this? What is this piece called? Do you who carries it? Do you have special instructions for doing it? Or does the whole assembly have to come off?

newcar31

If you really want to get rid of the Jetta, I'd check out the new Mazda 6. It seems to be very promising based on what I have read about it. The interior is a big improvement over the Altima or Maxima (although not quite as nice as the Jetta's IMO) and Automobile called it one of the most neutral handling FWD cars they've ever driven. BMW is also supposed to be coming out with a 1 series. I saw a picture of the 2 door and it looked pretty sharp. I really like that Mazda 6 though....

mseals

To comment on the suspension question. When you change your stuts you should always change your bushings as well. Sometimes it is a little extra, i.e. $12 per bushing or less even, but this should always be done. This is because a even though it may look good has taken some abuse for the previous strut. It is normally rubber and it has started to break down to to heat and moisture. He from kinetic energy of absorbing the struts up and down forces and moisture from heating and cooling in the ambient temperature. What can happen if you don't replace them at the same time? My father found out the hard way. You will eventually have to go back, replace the pushing, possibly the strut and possibly have the housing bracket repaired as well. This is way more expensive than just pay the $12 up front.

mseals

Man, I really feel for you. You are right, you should not have to accept any rattles form a new car. You have averaged your car being in the shop 1 week a month and that just isn't right. I fellow co-worker bought his wife a 2001 Beetle 1.8t. He had problems with the MAF, oil problems, not burning though. He had so many problems that eventually they bought it back from him. They actually got back what the car was worth, plus the amount he put down on the car, plus a pro-rated amount of his extended warranty that he had purchase. Needless to say, he was real soured by the car and wasn't too happy with VW until they did that. He said his wife did everything she could to keep the car until 6 months in when she realized that she never had the car. I believe they made payments for 1 yr and 3 months and had the car in the shop for 9 months of that.

vocus

I don't wanna get rid of the Jetta theoretically, I wanna get rid of THIS Jetta. It would put me into negative equity, and I don't wanna do that right now. The only way I would get rid of it would be to have VWoA buy it back and gimme another one.

It's that I probably will be working alot closer to home soon, and don't need a new car to drive for pleasure only. So I will probably get an older beater to run around in.

vocus

At this point, I would even take another Jetta to replace mine. But I don't know if they would do that for me, since my problem thus far has only been rattles. They have kept my car a long time though, and it's rediculous.

fish8

Someone in here stated that ALL cars have problems and even Hondas. I can attest to that first hand. I drove a '98 Honda Accord before I got my Jetta. At 84K miles the transmission was was diagnosed at bad and I was told I needed a new transmission. The cost that I was quoted from the dealer.........get ready for this...............$5,100.00 for a factory rebuilt. Needless to say I contacted Corp Honda and asked for a new trans. NO can do.

justin

i am not saying that people should accept cars that don't work. i am saying that people should NOT expect a car to be perfect.

again, VOCUS put his car in the shop for rattles. the reason he doesn't have his car to drive is because it is in the shop. he put it there. more than once. i understand his emotions. he is mad and frustrated. i would be too, and i have been in the past. it has nothing to do with the car itself now.

what i have learned through much experience is that life is far from perfect, cars included. there are cars that cost $100k, and cars that cost $25k. how and why people think that a $25k car should be 100% silent is beyond me. my opinion only. not saying Vocus doesn't have the right to put his car in the shop. just saying it all seems pretty pointless, and now he has to make a decision. he has raised such a stink about some rattles that he can, 1. save face, and continue to hate the car, and trade it with negative equity for another crappy car. or 2., he can keep it, live with it, but then all of the angry and mad (get even with VW) emotions won't have accomplished anything either. he is stuck with that disgusted feeling either way. there is ONE solution. it is called - GET OVER IT!

that is why i say now, don't take your car to the shop, unless it is mechanical issue. if you do, you take the chance it will come back to you worse. is that bad? of course. but, it is a reality. and like Vocus said - there are 7 other Jettas in his work parking lot. others don't have his rattle problems. but it all related to who drives the car. one persons horrible rattle is another person blessed silence.

it is not, nor will it ever be, a question accepting or not accepting a non-perfect car. you accept it everyday. there is no choice. that is why i say spend your energy on something else cars are not investments. we use and abuse them. they break. we get new ones!

vocus

Check out the link to this article that was in the Washington Post today about license plate prices in China. It's shocking.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2630-2002Jun5.html"