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Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

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    bimmer4mebimmer4me Member Posts: 266
    but a friend told me about this site and said I should check it out...don't know what to think!


    http://www.myvwlemon.com

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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    That site is full of nothing but whining people who should have to spend their life in a Honda.
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    justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    definitely steer clear of VW. you WILL NOT be happy. either save your $$$ for the BMW, or get a Toyonda.
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    newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I don't understand your attitude. If someone is having serious issues (serious enough to start thinking lemon) with their car, they are whiners? I mean, come on. These people are not having fun. If anything, I feel really, really bad for them. They spent a lot of money on their car and now it's causing them severe headaches. And don't start with the B.S. about "they should have known better". It is not their fault that their car is a POS, yet you blame them for it and call them "whiners". Weak. Really weak.

    BTW, I know some people enjoy complaining, but most people don't. Most people would not find the "lemon process" enjoyable.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Hello, I went through the lemon process!! I know it's not enjoyable. I went through part of it, and that wasn't even fun.

    What I was referring to is some people who hit curbs with their Jettas and pulled the bumper off, then complain it's a POS. That's weak. I feel for the people with major problems though. I only had rattles, and it made me hot. I could just imagine having engine/tranny problems in a new car. I would be hot.
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    target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    Make up your own mind about whether a VW is right for you. Personally, I have owned 3 VWs, and have never had problems with any of them.

    Just remember to not put too much stock in someone else's opinion. Some people love VW no matter what. Others trash VW no matter what. Vehicle magazines can also be biased. I would recommend test driving VWs and also talk to friends/family for their opinion. But you also might not want to believe what I have to say. :)
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I took my car in last night, because the center dash vent broke and had to be replaced. The part came in about a month ago, but I haven't really had time to do it. That's the only issue this time, all the other rattling problems I had have been fixed already.

    I got there last night, and the dealer didn't have any loaners left. He called Enterprise. I knew I was going to get shafted, and boy did I. They gave me a (for fleet sales only) 2003 Ford Escort! :( The car doesn't ride too badly, but of course the power sucks. And the seats are only foam padding I think, because you can feel the seat frame when you push back far enough in the driver's seat.

    I hope they are finished with my car today, and not tomorrow. I miss my car so much right now! :(
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    newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I guess I am just sick of hearing all of the stories about how bad Jiffy Lube is. Fact is, they change hundreds of thousands of vehicles' oil every day and they do most of them right. Mistakes are going to be made and to be honest if you're really that concerned about your car, you wouldn't even think about Jiffy Lube OR the dealer for oil changes. Either pull up your skirt and change your own oil (it only takes 15 minutes), or take it to the dealer or Jiffy Lube and risk the possibility that someone might screw something up. I don't try to sell myself stuff I don't need, I don't spill transmission fluid on my bumper, I don't forget to put oil in, I don't double gasket the oil filter, so I change the oil myself.
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    target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    I agree, but at least if you take it to the dealership, any problems that arise due to a mistake will be more easily covered (at least in the case where you bought the car from the same dealership, and have taken it only there for service).

    Sorry, I should have said "stealership".
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    newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    That's true, but remember, they don't have heavy line mechanics doing oil changes at dealerships. The guy who changes your oil at the dealer probably used to work at Jiffy Lube or some place like it. Two of the guys that I used to work with now work at dealerships. One at Sears imports (BMW, MB) and one at a Mazda dealer. So when people think that by going to the dealership for oil changes they are somehow getting more expertise, I just have to laugh. I asked a tech at one of the local Mazda dealers how much oil my car holds just to see if he knew anything. He said: "We put 4 quarts in all of the 4 cyl cars". Uh huh. Right. I'm changing my own oil.
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    target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    I totally agree that they may be morons. At least in that case, I can say "hey, you guys did this, fix it."

    I always used to change my own oil, but it can be a bit of a hassle. With my new car, I decided I would have everything done at the same place.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Aren't you the one that went from the VR6 2001 Jetta to the 2002 1.8T? I can't remember if you did or not..
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    mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    They gave you a 2003 Ford ESCORT???

    Um, the Escort was replaced by the Focus in the 2000 MY. In disbelief, I checked Ford USA's website. No mention of an Escort model being available. You might want to check that model year again ...

    Meade
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    target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    I wish. I went from an 88 Jetta to an 02 1.8T
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    chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    The Escort is for fleet sales only, even Ford knows how much it sucks!
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    chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/ford/escort/index.html
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    AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    When I went to Pignataro VW in Everett WA, I had just bought my car and I was taking it back to get the clear stone guard stuff put on it. They tried to stick me with a Geo Metro rental and I griped about it until they upgraded me to a Stratus. I think they should at least have to give you a car in the same class as the one you're having serviced.

    After one service visit at Pignataro, I decided to take my car to Campbell-Nelson. Much friendlier service and they actually seem to care about me as a customer. Plus, they're open on Saturday so I don't have to rearrange my schedule to get my car serviced. :)
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    newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Has anyone here driven a GLI yet? How does it compare to the 1.8T?
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Rode in one, but didn't drive it. The power is more linear, and the engine still has some of that great "turbo whistle" too. Nice ride, but I hated the seats in the GLI. One of my co-workers already has one though, and she loves it. No problems in 2000 miles so far.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    2003 Escorts are fleet sale only vehicles. The link at Edmunds is for the ZX2, not the Escort sedan that I had.

    When they rent you a car at the dealer (all that I have been to), they get the cheapest thing they can get. You have to pay ~$10 for an upgrade if you want it.

    I took the Escort back anyway, because my car wasn't ready today, as expected. It hurt my back terribly, so I got an 02 Lancer rental instead now. Until tomorrow that is.
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    fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    The temp here in Atlanta is around 55 Degrees and boy are my doors creaking. I am bringing my car in next Tues again.

    Yesterday in the mail I got a gift package from VW Credit. It was car cleaning supplies: Car wash,, window cleaner and interior cleaner. Pretty cool. I believe the products are provided by Eagle One.
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    justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    my passenger heated seat light is flickering. the lovely dealer did not make the "connection" like they should have when they worked on it. if i "tap" the button, it turns on.

    anyway - have to take it in on Monday for them to pop it out and connect the wire. i might just do it myself - take 30 seconds.

    it is annoying at night time. out of the corner of my eye, i see a flashing light.

    i looked at Mini's on Monday. cute little cars. not worth the money they are asking.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You are just having bad luck all around with those heated seats, aren't you? :) And the new MINIs have a Dodge designed engine in them. You still wanna buy one? :)
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Something called "stoppers" will fix that (I think that's the name of them). Mine used to do that as well. Tell me, do the doors creak at the top part around where the door handle is? If so, the "stoppers" will fix it.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I went today to get my car, and to my surprise, they aren't done yet!?! I am surprised it's taking them this long, but oh well.

    Figure since I drove all the way to the dealer (15 miles), I would be productive while there. So I test drove a new 2003 GLX 200hp V6. Hated the engine's response! It's really slow to respond to the pedal, compared to the 1.8T and even the 2.0. I will keep my turbo, thanks. :)
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    98jettavr698jettavr6 Member Posts: 47
    My '98 VR6 has begun to have serious difficulties shifting into 5th gear (manual trans.). Anyone else experience this type of problem w/the Jetta 5-speed box? Thanks.
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    justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    you gotta drive the VR6 for a bit. you never know, the person that drove it before you could have driven it slow. the tranny takes a little time to completely adapt to your new driving style. i HATE getting in my car after my mom has driven it. LETHARGIC city!
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I didn't know that. And it had nothing to do with the tranny, it seemed you had to push the gas pedal way down in order to make the car move. In the 1.8T (I am sure you can attest to this), it's right there as soon as you hit it. I am used to that now.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You car is still under the powertrain warranty for 10 years/100K. Take it to the dealer and let them fix it up for you.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    My neighbor has a 2002 VR6 Jetta (174hp one), and I ran into her at the dealer the other day (too funny). She said both her front window regs went, and she got her car after I got mine. So I am waiting patiently for mine to fall one day. :(

    And my next-door neighbor just bought a used 2000 Beetle with 40K on it, 2.0 auto in silver. She loves it too. She had hers in the shop that day too! She said 2 vacuum hoses went, and made the CEL come on. They fixed it for her though.
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    98jettavr698jettavr6 Member Posts: 47
    I bought the car used, so the powertrain warranty was shortened. I can't remember if it was shortened to 50k or 60k. Anyone know?
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    98jettavr698jettavr6 Member Posts: 47
    Replaced the driver side rear regulator. Passenger front motor seems to have died, does not respond to the button. New motor costs $250+, labor to install around $70.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    The shortened powertrain warranty is 5 years/50K.

    And the passenger window might be a regulator problem too. And VW will pay for all those reg problems, no matter the year or mileage of the car.
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    98jettavr698jettavr6 Member Posts: 47
    Could a window regulator make the motor stop working? Since I'm outside of the bumper-to-bumper warranty, the VW dealer told me it would cost 2+ hours of labor just to diagnose the problem, and didn't even hint that VW would pay the tab if it were a regulator.
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    protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    Can't you take in your car and get them to do the window regs/clips BEFORE they fall in? I mean, it sounds like it's inevitable...why not get them to do it before so it doesn't happen at an inopportune time?
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I asked them to check the windows, and they said they didn't hear anything. They will wait until they fall in, and it will just cost them another car rental fee for my loaner car. Makes no sense to me either.
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    protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    I think they should just put out a recall. It really sounds like it's happening on almost every single car.
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    coolwhite_wecoolwhite_we Member Posts: 7
    My dealer replaced the clips without my request the last time I had it in for service. I guess some dealers are proactive while others are not.
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    anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Some see a potential future sale to customers they take care of (at VW's expense) while others are blind.
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    fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    The creaking noise from my doors sounds like it's coming from the upper edge of the door where the body and door met. It actually sounds like rubber on rubber. They will also look at this next Tues when I bring my car to the dealer.
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    justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    one word - FOILS. that is EXACTLY where my noise was. all fixed for over a year now :)

    in case you are wondering, foils are thick see-through tape. applied to the doors. easy as pie. if your dealer needs any assistance on exactly what to do, have them call Alexandria VW service dept at 703-684-8888.
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    fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Thanks Justin....I'll see what they say.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    They put something called a "rubber treatment" in my car. I don't know what it is, but my car sat in the shop for 4 weeks until this part came in from Germany. Whatever it was, it stopped the noises I was having.

    Speaking of which, the shop still has my car. They need to bring it, I am tired of driving this lowly (compared to my car anyway) Lancer around.
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    protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    You're in a Lancer now? Just out of curiousity, how does it compare to your previous car. Acutally, I think a better place to post a response is in the forum of your previous car....I believe you know the way there.. :D
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    chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    So I went for my first Autocross in the TDI, it was a fun time. The weather was pretty rainy, but not so much to make us miserable. I placed 4th out of 10 in H-stock, and 31st out of 108 overall (with the PAX factoring). If you've never tried it, you definitely should. Its a lot of fun, and you learn alot about the handling characteristics of your car in ways that would not be at all safe on the road. Check out the pictures below, they are kind of distant, but still cool! :-)

    users.wpi.edu/~pbaxter/autox01.jpg
    users.wpi.edu/~pbaxter/autox02.jpg
    users.wpi.edu/~pbaxter/autox03.jpg
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    It's there right now.
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    They called and told me my car is finally ready (thank God!). They checked the brakes upon request, and there is 90% front, 80% rear pad left. (I had the brakes checked not because I was having a problem, but I have heard of Jettas eating rear brake pads and wanted to save myself the expense of the rotors.) They fixed the dash vent as well. I pick the car up tonight. Can't wait to get my turbo back! :)
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    anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    Where was that? Sterling airport? Orange airport?

    It definitely looks like an airport to me.
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    chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    Well, you are correct about the airport thing, it is Devens AFB. Most SCCA autocrosses for the Northeast Region are held either there or at NHIS.
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    newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Autocrossing in a diesel, that's unique. Did you "smoke" the competition?

    Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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