Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
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
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".
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)
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.
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.
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).
If it's like a chip, check out this product:
http://www.permatex.com/auto/autogr...m&item_no=16067
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.
thanks for the info, i'll check it out.
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Carrie
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!
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.
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...
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?
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
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
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.
"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?
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.
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?
"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?
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?
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.
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!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2630-2002Jun5.html"