Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

vocus

Only the cars with the Sport Luxury package came with Michelin Pilot Sports. And you won't be liking those tires when you have to go and replace them. I hit a curb a week ago and split the tire up the side like a pig. The cheapest price I have gotten thus far, out the door, is $212.50. The most expensive, was $325!

fish8

How about power steering fluid? Not mentioned in owners manual. I had to call the dealer to find out. My PS fluid was low from factory.

vocus

I can't remember when the Gen II started, because I was only 10 years old in 1988. Also, I don't remember when Gen I started, I think it was like 1983 or something. That's when they first started making the Jetta.

sarah233

according to the vortex, gen III was from 93 - 99.

anonymous, that's wierd that you didn't get your password back from the vortex, i'd try again. it's a really useful site.

fish8

I have a base '02 GL and it came with the Michelin Pilot's. I also got the Monsoon sound system. I think the factory messed up with the options or something. You are right....the pilots are expensive to replace, but they are good tires.

BTW The monsoon and Michelin's were not added to the price of the car. I guess I lucked out!!!

blueguydotcom

They must have changed their practices. Weird. The tirerack.com suggestion is your best bet. The Jetta's so old that they should have all the info on what tires work with it.

My car came with Goodyears - Eagles I believe. I'm gonna have to replace them within the next few months. Cheap, spongy, bad tires to say the least. I've only got 15.5k miles on the car and the tires are nearly bald.

fish8

Do you drive hard?

blueguydotcom

My friends with 17s and 18s are far harder on their cars and tires and still get 20k miles out of the tires.

I don't chirp the tires and I only get squeal on corners/on-ramps maybe once a day. I so wish the car had come with 17s. Oh well. 17s on 1.8Ts were not around in 2001.

Anakin

when I got my 17" OZs, I got Kumho Ecsta 711 tires. $78 apiece and they handle great. They even do well in the rain.

justin

are they Goodyear Eagle LS tires? My first Jetta had those. I had them replaced at the dealer for free at 12k miles. They were bald. There was a "silent" recall.....

Just FYI.

vocus

Which wheels do you have on your Jetta? If you have the GL, it has wheel covers right? I am curious. Sounds like you got a really good deal, with the Monsoon and the Pilots as well.

vocus

I got a call from the dealership about my car, about an hour ago. They said it was ready finally. They didn't say what they did to it or anything, and I didn't really have time to ask. They did make a comment about the spare tire on it, and offered to replace my tire for ~$230 or so. I declined, as I can get a replacement installed for around $215. I am going to get it tomorrow, so I will hope and pray it's right this time. If not, there's going to be pure HELL at the VW dealership come Monday.

fish8

I have the crappy wheel covers. But since I am leasing as well, I am not going to buy different wheels.

vocus

Well that makes sense. And you have the 2.0L as well, right? How do you like it and did you drive the other models before you bought this one?

mseals

Does anyone know if this is true, I heard that they will be offereing the 1.8t in the GL in order to try and reach a broader market. This would allow the car to have less standard features but still get the better engine.

fish8

So far so good......I actually think the 2.0 is a smooth engine. It tends to be a little loud at hwy speeds and could use a little more power. But overall it provides enough oomph for 115 hp.

My budget for a new car was limited. We just bought my wife a new '02 Chevy Tahoe about 1 1/2 months ago. So I was not in the matket for a new car. I was just going to drive her old car('98 Accord) for a couple of years. Then the trans went and it was not worth it for us to pay over $4,000 for a new tranny. So, I wanted to get something fairly cheap for a couple of years and then when my lease is up I will get something I REALLY want.

Overall, I really enjoy my Jetta, but under different cirrcumstances I would of drove the 1.8T or VR6.

Anakin

That is true.

Read this story for more 2003 info:

http://www.vwvortex.com/news/04_02/04_05/index.shtml

moparbad

CR recommends the VW Jetta, it recommends the VW Golf, it recommends the VW Passat. You can not use CR to question blueguys purchase of Jetta.

justin

yes, for 2003 the GL can be had with the turbo.

anonymous02

www.tirerack.com comes up with one choice: Bridgestone Turanza LS-H

anonymous02

The Jetta came with Goodyears.

The rode awful in the rain and snow.

I think Michelins are OK, but overpriced.

I don't want to buy tires online.

I checked the manual. No mention of tranny fluid, nor is there a fill cap or dipstick that I can see.

anonymous02

Still nothing since this morning. Anyone care to copy and paste my question for me?

Thanks if you do.

vocus

If you are trying to get a very specific size of tire, then you might have not a choice but to purchase them online.

I don't understand why they have not sent you a password yet, it only took me like a couple minutes to get mine when I registered. Weird.

anonymous02

I thought 195/60R14 was a pretty common tire size.

What would be a size wider than that with the same height?

larshagenjr

Hey guys,

I remember reading about this a while ago but now that it's happening to me I can't seem to find anything on it. I've got a yellowish gooey waxy stuff coming out of the bottom of the doors on the passenger sides. Do any of you know what it is? I'm in Texas and I remember it having something to do with the heat... anyway - thanks for any response.

Lars

vwguild

It is secondary to a process called *Hot-Wax Flooding*...one of the reasons that your car carries a Best in the Business 12Year/Unlimited
Miles Outer body rust thru Warranty...

justin

no worries. let me guess, yours is a 99-2001 Jetta?

my 99 did it as well. nothing to worry about. it is normal, and it cleans up easily. it stops after awhile.

justin

...consumer magazine result and studies - this is from the JD Powers APEAL study for 2001 cars:

"Three Volkswagen cars—the New Beetle, Jetta and GTI—captured top honors in their categories for the third straight year, and one VW—the New Beetle—again edged out the Chrysler PT Cruiser in the compact-car segment."

http://carpoint.msn.com/Browse/win_2879.asp

Three years in a row people liked the VW's more than other cars.

Rest easy everyone - Vocus' rattles and Blueguys bad attitude (just messing around) don't diminish the fact that we got the best deal for our money!!

Of course, I knew all along that the VW's offered the most for your money out there, but now all of you car mag nuts should just be nice. I don't know if it will help you to sleep better, but there are plenty of other people that made the same choice you did, and bought the Jetta/GTI/Beetle.

Of course, they might all be rattling and leaking oil This isn't a reliability study I don't think. But, it says something that for three years, they have picked the same cars. No amount of bad VW press seems to matter. I have a feeling most people are like me - they have a good car and are satisfied.

bpi

"Altogether, the APEAL study examines 15 vehicle categories. Results are based on responses from vehicle owners after three months of ownership."

It was also nice for them to put the Jetta in the Entry Midsize Car category, more or less the same size as an Avalon but less expensive.

P.S. The Aztek was also "highly-loved".

venus537

i'm still in love with my red jetta. no problems no regrets (i do like how the 2003 accord sedan looks though). best car for my priorities at 23k. i'll take it over any nissan or subaru. can't deal with their cheap interiors and workmanship.

vocus: i feel your frustration. you pay a substantial premium for a new car over an used car (even a slightly used one) and your new car experience has sucked. i hope they finally get your car fixed! save your money up for a passat.

blueguy: funny how you lumped the cl with the accord and corolla. c&d says (and they're never wrong you know) the cl (type S, 6 speed) has the best front wheel drive system ever at any time. still lost to the bimmer in the comparison test though.

winter is finally over in wisconsin (i hope). now it's bug season. i hate bugs. i think i'm going to lose the battle with them in keeping them off my front bumper.

justin

most loved in the first three months is better than nothing! the funny thing about VW is that they can break, and they are STILL loved. can't say that about the boring alternatives. at least the car that is in the shop for rattles is a nice one!

imagine paying a monthly payment for a car in the shop (honda/toyota) that you never really wanted but bought because you were "supposed" to! that would suck!

princess786

i test drove the jetta 1.8t 2 months ago, because i am shopping for my first car.i am turning 17 in january, but we are getting my car a few months early.my dad and uncle are into cars and said there were alot of reliability problems with jettas, just like i read on edmunds, but i love the car.i'm just scared to be by myself and have something go wrong.any suggestions??

Anakin

most of the problems you will read about with Jettas are small annoying problems, but not the sort of thing that will leave you on the side of the road.

Good luck with your decision.

mseals

The Jetta has increased its reliability each year it seems since the current A4 platform has come out. I still love the look of the Jetta. I remember the first commercials that came out where the couple was driving down the street and everything was in rhythm with the car. You are right Anakin in stating that there doesn't seem to be any problems with the car just stopping and now that the Window regulator problem seems to be resolved, the main problem you hear about is rattles.

vocus

MSeals and Anakin are right. The window regulator problems have been fixed. The only problem with my 2002 Jetta has been the rattles in the dash (except the radio and climate control lights). Nothing that would make the car die on me or anything. Mazdas are suppose to be really good cars, but my 2001 died on me at 9850 miles when I had it, left me stranded in an underground parking garage. I was HOT! And then to find out there was nothing wrong with the car anyway? Yeah, ok.

Be glad the problems with 9/10s of Jettas is just the rattling thing. And you know as soon as I post this message, someone will come in complaining about their Jetta fell apart as soon as they left the dealership. Whatever.

justin

if you are concerned about the Jetta, i would recommend buying a car that DOES NOT concern you. that is all you can do. don't buy a Jetta if you think it will break down. you will find things wrong with it.

buy the car that makes you feel confident you made the right decision.

mseals

You crack me up sometimes. It seems like every time I read your response to someone inquiring about getting a Jetta you are telling them don't get it. It is almost like you are trying to keep there numbers limited so yours will be worth more or something.

anonymous02

My wife's (then girlfriend's) Jetta GL died, leaving her stranded on the side of the road with a dead fuel pump. Fortunately she was in a nice neighborhood at the time.

anonymous02

My ex brother in law used to take his used crankcase oil, put it in a pump up bug sprayer, and spray the underside, rockers, wheel wells (avoiding brakes), etc. with the used oil on his truck and his SAAB. I never did see them rust.

Anakin

What model/year Jetta was it?

hoodornament

Well, my girlfriend finally took the dive and bought a 1.8 auto, luxury, leather ... All and all its a nice little ride.
What I dont understand though is why couldn't VW have just made the car like 2-3" longer in the backseat? Would this add THAT much cost to the car or change the cars design? Right now, only a midget can fit back there, and, for around $23k you would think they could find a way to make this happen. The Passat would have been the perfect choice for features vs. price, but since I own one it was kind of hard to buy 2 identical cars. Anyway , Ill be hopping on here once in a while , you guys have a busy board here !

justin

it is not that i don't recommend the Jetta. from reading and posting here for a couple of years i have learned a peculiar few things about human nature.

if people are coming in here, and reading that the jetta is bad (from the same 4 or 5 people), and those complaints really worry them, then i figure they shouldn't buy the Jetta. not that i think the Jetta is not a great car, but some of these potential Jetta buyers have other issues. worrying about a car shouldn't be an added stress, ya know? it should be fun.

of course i recommend the Jetta! 100%. but it is not a car for anxious people, or for people that will allow not even 1% of Jetta owners complaints to scare them off those are the people that read about 4 or 5 complaints on the Jetta board, and get worried, buy a Civic or Corolla, before reading the plentiful number of complaints on the Toyota/Honda boards....

and i am NOT talking about anyone specifically. not referring to princess or anyone else. just my general observations over the past couple of years.

anonymous02

It was a 1996 GL 4 cylinder automatic transmission.

mseals

I was just messing with you, you just crack me up. But you are very passionate about your car and I think that is good. I am a true car guy, I love most cars for what they are. I happen to be ready to make the most to more luxury, more comfort and shed the boy racer image my Civic Si has. Not to say it isn't a great car, it is and it was worth every penny considering I paid $16,900 for it and I hope to get $14100 2 1/2 years later. That is pretty good depreciation and knock on wood I have never had a problem with the car except replacing the crappy, expensive stock tires and the regular oil changes. Well, I would like to tell all that I just got back from the VW dealership during lunch. The dealer was stuck up and annoying, I think I knew more about the cars than he did. I wanted to test drive a car so bad, but they didn't have any manuals, just automatics.

mseals

I know it is slower so don't jump on me, but what is the 0-60 time for the TDI? I am looking between the TDI and the 1.8t. Right now the 1.8t is leading due to the fact that I can get the sport luxury pkg in it and I can't with the TDI. But I am still haunted by the 49 mpg that the TDI is boasting and if all I have to do is chip it to make it a 7 + sec 0-60 car then I am so there. I can do the other upgrades myself later(i.e. 17" wheels and swaybars and springs and shocks.)

justin

i know that the tdi is supposed to be a great engine, but i would stick with the 1.8T. the tdi says 49 mpgs, but most of the time, what car really gets what the sticker says? not many.

it seems like getting the tdi would be a waste. get the 1.8T from the factory, perfect. don't go spending more money on a tdi and aftermarket stuff.

blueguydotcom

I have that yellow goo too. So it comes from the door? Weird.

Justin, the best part of telling people not to get a Jetta...I haven't had a major problem with it. It's just not an impressive car for the money. I've begun to tell people either save up for a real car or buy something nice used. Plus there are too many of them on the road.

Venus, the CL...rofl. It's a boat, IMHO and nothing more than an accord with 17s. I could care less what CR says about a car's performance (in terms of handling, acceleration, testing, etc) as the those boobs think that all cars should have cupholders and drive like a freaking minivan. I trust CR's ratings (the actual responses from owners) not their "reviews" or even their reccomendations.

fish8

I don't I have ever heard Blueguy say a good thing......ever Mr Negative

vocus

I drove both the TDI and the 1.8T, and the 1.8T, hands down, will KILL the TDI. Also, you would have to buy another ECU for the TDI if you decide to chip it. If not, all the techs at the dealership have to do is go inside your ECU and pull the turbo boost readings. If they do not match the factory settings, consider your warranty void and null. Also, if you are really concerned with performance, you are going to want the 1.8T.

VW says the TDI takes 12.4 seconds or so to do 0-60mph, while the 1.8T takes 7.7 (both stick).

8u6hfd

I get 54 mpg...a co-worker who has a 2001 Jetta TDI gets 50 mpg (we both drive a 5-speed)

For the chipping, as far as I know, and read from the vortex & tdiclub, for the Upsolute chip, you don't need to purchase a new ECU when you want to chip the TDI.