Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

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Comments

  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    i have always been told that getting shocked has to do with rolling resistance of certain tires....nothing to do with upholstery.

    can't quote the actual scientific reasons, but something about tires.....i am almost positive i heard that somewhere. that said, Vocus, your tires couldn't be more different than mine, and i don't get shocked either. and i have leather as well. so maybe you are on to something...
  • chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    My old car did it to me almost every time I got out of it. I have yet to experience it in the Jetta after 6 months, and I do have cloth.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Everyone knows that Proteges generate a lot of static electricty compared to Jettas. You get what you pay for....
  • target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    all the time in my old Jetta - cloth seats.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    In my experience of reading every post on this and the comparisons board for the past couple of years, there seems to be a consensus that cloth seats create static and leather does not.

    Having had vehicles with both interiors, I have to say that has been my experience as well.

    So it is not a matter of car vs. car, it is a matter of leather vs. cloth.

    Okay??

    :)
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I wasn't saying car vs. car either. The Jetta is the first car I ever had with leather, so that's what I was comparing them by. Even my Bonnevilles and the rented Impala shocked the crap out of me when I touched them in the cold. So it has to be cloth vs. leather.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I know that vinyl seats create quite a bit of static as well.
  • galogvigalogvi Member Posts: 41
    Let me add that maybe it has something to do with the mats. My last vehicle - a Pathfinder w/ leather - used to shock the heck out of me. Haven't had one shock from my Jetta after over 10 months of driving it. I did, however, put rubber mats over the CHEAP carpeted ones that came with the car. Any comments?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I don't know about that. You might be onto something though. I have a set of those cheap Wal-Mart mats in my car, to keep stains off the factory floormats. I had them in the last car as well, but of course I had cloth seats then. Now, I have leather. Maybe because I don't rub my feet across the carpeting (the mat's there), and the seat is leather is why I don't get the shocks anymore.
  • balticjetta18tbalticjetta18t Member Posts: 146
    On my previous F150 Super Cab. It had cloth seats. When I installed a Tonneau Cover on the full size bed made of vinyl the shocks would kill me to wear my finger in question would hurt for the rest of the day. IN addition, I could see the spark so much more even at night and when it was low humidity out.
    My belief is that the vehicle is insulated from the ground by the rubber tires. A charge is built up on the metal body of the vehicle or a large slippery surface as my Tonneau Cover as you drive. When you get out and step on the ground you are creating a path for the static build up on the vehicle from your finger tips to your feet on the ground which is not always as insulated as vehicle tires are. If power lines are down on top of your vehicle you are safe inside as long as any tires are blown out. Airplanes have static discharge sticks coming out of trailing surfaces of the plane to rid of the build up continuously especially in stormy weather...
  • AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    In strong electric fields, rubber tires actually become more conductive than insulating. The reason you are safe in a car is because the lightning will travel around the surface of the vehicle and then go to ground. This occurs because the vehicle acts like a Faraday cage. Michael Faraday, a British physicist, discovered that a metal cage would shield objects within the cage when a high potential discharge hit the cage. The metal, being a good conductor, would direct the current around the objects and discharge it safely to the ground. This process of shielding is widely used today to protect the electrostatic sensitive integrated circuits in the electronics world.


    http://www.howstuffworks.com/lightning11.htm


    :)

  • kellankellan Member Posts: 9
    Hey everyone :)

    I'm a new driver, and I've been wanting to buy a '96 Jetta GLS for my first car. I'm buying the car with my own money, therefore I need something cheap (and ofcourse, being that I'm a teenager, something sporty :D ).

    I've managed to find a Jetta for about $4,000...and it has 105,821 miles on it. Which I know is quite high, but I heard Jettas have good mileage. The car I'm looking at also has an unlimited miles warranty on it.

    Anyway. I was just looking for some input. Do you recommend the Jetta, or should I be looking at something else?

    Thanks for your time :)
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    with a car over 100k the importance of brand may not be as important as how well the car has been maintained and how it was driven. with the warranty this car has i would go for it. good luck.
  • bpeeblesbpeebles Member Posts: 4,085
    There is some measure of truth in all of the above appends. Basically ESD must be controlled by discharging it in a controlled manner.

    However, the 'skin effect' of the Faraday cage (although interesting)cannot help reduce static shocks in your car. The Faraday cage effect comes into play if LIGHTNING were to strike your car... not for static electricity.

    Back when muscle cars were common on the roads and spinning the rear tires was almost inevitable. (Causing all kinds of static buildup and ignition source for gas tank explosions) The static buildup was often eliminated by the use of 'grounding straps' One would often see conductive straps hanging down from the frame to the ground on vehicles.

    There are other ways to reduce ESD. The most common is to make EVERYTHING slightly conductive. (10-50 Megaohmes per inch) In an automobile, you can use a spray (such as scotchguard) on all the seats, carpeting and other interior cloth items. This causes the static to discharge itself as fast as it builds up making the overall potential voltage very small... presto, no static buildup!

    BOTTOM LINE: One cannot prevent static electricity, but one can discharge it before it builds up to a potential that may cause a spark.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    thank you, you are 100% correct.

    the "skin effect" is the fact that the current is circulated only on the thin outer layer of the conductor. Unfortunately, the thickness of the skin in invertly proportional to the square-root of the frequency of the excitation. Lightning almost happens instantaneously, therefore the frequency contained in the lightning is extremely high -> thin skin depth. Electro static has only zero frequency (by definition), thus the skin depth is infinity. There is no such thing like Faraday cage for static electric or magnetic.
  • chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    Is it the VR6 or the 2.0 (4-cylinder)? Assuming it has been well maintained, that should be a great car for you!
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    No, I would not recommend a '96 Jetta as a first car. Specially since you probably don't have an abundance of money to fix and maintaine such a vehicle. Jetta's, especially older models, are not the pinnacle of reliability. I can almost guarantee that you will put more money into this car than tha ctual worth of the Jetta in about 2 years. Also, any car with over 100K miles will incur some major maintenance costs.

    As stated previously, I would look into the maintenance history. That would actually be the deciding factor. Also, get a private mechanic to look over the car. This will cost you about $100, but it is well worth the money....TRUST ME!!! Good luck
  • target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    can anyone provide some advice with respect to child seats that fit in the Jetta? Will probably have to put it on the passenger side with the seat all the way up, but there must be something out there that works. After all, the Jetta does specifically have a place to attach them.


    I eagerly await ridicule!

  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    You obvioulsy mean the BACK passenger side right? My son's car seat fits in the middle in the back seat....
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    My best friend has 2 car seats (both toddlers), but I can't remember what kinda child seat she has. Hers fit rather well in my car though. I know the brand name is "Century", but don't know what model...

    Also, these seats are a little older, since her kids are 3 and 4 and she got the seats when they were first born.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    We're expecting in June, and have some second hand seats from my brother. Haven't tried in the Jetta or the Wrangler yet (no back seat usually, and no doors in summer).
  • jphdxljphdxl Member Posts: 32
    We actually have gotten 3 car seats in the back of the Jetta -- a VERY tight fit, but ok for very short trips around town. With only the two toddlers (16 mo olds) in the back of the Jetta (we have Britax car seats) there is plenty of room as long as you don't need the front seats all the way back. In our case that means my wife drives and I don't go along (works out well for me at least). More often the set-up is one front seat driver and the 5 year old in a booster seat (Century brand, I think) in the back right with the front passenger seat moved up (although it doesn't need to go up all the way, maybe half way to give her some leg room).

    With both of these types (front/back convertible seats for the toddlers and booster seat) there is plenty of room and the tether anchors make installation very easy. I can't think of any reason a particular brand wouldn't fit.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    When my best friend and her kids go out, I stick the taller one behind me, as her legs can bend (I am 6'3, so I can't move the seat up alot...). Both seats fit without a problem though, and there never is anyone in the back seat but them anyway. I move the passenger seat up 2-3 clicks, but my friend is 5'6, so it's not a problem for her.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    .....and had SIX full size adults in my car for about 15 minutes. three in back, me in the drivers seat, and two in the passenger seat. not very comfy, and certainly not safe, but all i remember is laughing a lot.....;)

    toddlers in the backseat? bring it on - i have a feeling that would be cake compared to this past weekend...haha.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    The most full-size adults I ever had in one car was the Bonneville, and that was 8. It was for a short trip, about 10 blocks or so. It was pretty funny though... :)
  • chmeeeechmeeee Member Posts: 327
    12 in a 7 passenger Nissan Quest. Needless to say, the handling and acceleration were subpar. :-0
  • target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    My issue is that when driving my seat is all the way back. I guess I will just have to check a few out to see what works best.


    How about 7 in a Chevy Monza?

  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    4 in an RX7?
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    You do realize that it is against the law to place a child seat in the front passenger seat if the airbag is not able to be deactivated...as in pickups. Were you really going to put a child seat in the front????

    That si one of the most dangerous things you could eever do to your child in a car...
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    I am surprised no one else has picked up on that......maybe I read the post wrong...I hope.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    I think target meant the rear passenger seat, not front passenger seat -- reread both of his messages.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    What if there are no rear seats, or you have more kids than the rear seat can handle?

    (stupid laws!)
  • target3target3 Member Posts: 155
    I did mean that I may have to move the front passenger seat all the way up in order to facilitate fitting a child seat in the back (behind the passenger seat.


    Middle is ideal, but may not work, considering I need the drivers seat all the way back.


    Now if I could only put the child seat in the trunk - just joking.

  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    didn't kellan say the car has an unlimited miles warranty. not sure what this all covers. i never hear of an unlimited miles warranty though.
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Yes, Kallen did say that. But, I would find it hard to believe that any warranty would provide unlimited mileage coverage. Sounds like a lose lose proposition for the warranty company.

    target: Gotcha...now I understand. I put my 16 mo old son in his child seat in the middle of the rear in my '02 Jetta. It fits fine. Though i do have to pull the front passenger seat up guite a bit so his legs don't get crushed. Also, I don't push my drivers seat all the way back.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was thinking about that unlimited mileage warranty as well. I know some insurance companies offer mechanical breakdown insurance, but even it's got a limit! I would think the warranty company would go bankrupt fixing cars for no amount of mileage, but who knows...
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    especially fixing jettas.... ;-)
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    How often do you all try and wash your cars? I try to wash mine once a week. Couldn't get to it this past weekend and I feel like my car drives better when clean...
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    i think the dealer that is offering the unlimited mileage warranty is banking on the inexperience of a 16 year old.

    i would say buy the car if you like it, but don't bet on the warranty being there when you need it. i personally would not buy any car, except for a Miata or LS400, with over 100k miles on it, unless it was like $500 or something like that.
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Are you implying that a dealer would take advantage of an inexperienced young customer? ;-)
  • AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    I feel like my car drives better when clean too.

    Or at least, I'm not embarrassed to be seen in it.

    My wife NEVER cleans her car, and I hate driving it. It makes me feel icky.
  • anonymous02anonymous02 Member Posts: 1,538
    I think the last time I washed the cars was maybe back in September/October.

    They are pretty salty now.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I try to wash the car every week or two, but hate going to the drive-thru carwash. It's too cold to do it outside lately, and it's too cold to go to the hand-wash place, because they have been closed. So I run it through the gas station carwash. Haven't seen any scratches from it yet, so that's cool.

    I hate when the car gets really dirty, so I have to keep it looking clean.
  • chuck_s99chuck_s99 Member Posts: 8
    I'm sure our kids/grandkids are safer with current car seats, restraints, etc, but I'd guess every single one of us reading this discussion grew up riding in a flimsy plastic carrier sitting on the front seat (not strapped down in any way) at best. It is amazing we are around to even contemplate the issue!
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    I'm sure our kids/grandkids are safer with current car seats, restraints, etc, but I'd guess every single one of us reading this discussion grew up riding in a flimsy plastic carrier sitting on the front seat (not strapped down in any way) at best. It is amazing we are around to even contemplate the issue!

    The car seats today seem like they could withstand re-entry into earth's atmosphere from space. We had my niece strapped into a top-of-the-line one this weekend, smack dab in the middle of my dad's Excursion and still my sister worried that the torrential downpours in northern california made travel unsafe. If you can die in an 8000 lbs Ford Excursion while in the very center inside a car seat somebody was out to get ya...somebody in a tank or an Amtrak train!
  • kellankellan Member Posts: 9
    I guess I should have mentioned that it has an unlimited mileage warranty for ONE YEAR, hehe. Oops, I thought I said that - guess not!

    I went and saw the car over the weekend for the first time. It turns out that it's a '96 GL (not GLS) and I don't know HOW - but has like 115K miles. My dad and brother checked it out with me. I was suprised how incredibly clean the interior was, and everything under the hood as well. Alot of the parts were fairly new looking. I drove around in it, and I think my brother said that the only concern was the suspension, but it wasn't anything major. It also turns out that it doesn't have power windows...that's good right? I've seen complaints about broken windows here.

    And fish8, thanks for the suggestion. My uncle is a mechanic and we're going to bring him down with us probably tomorrow to see the car again.

    This whole process is starting to aggrivate me
    :-/ lol
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    You guys ever post here and you get a response that makes you scratch your head because people seem to be getting the wrong idea? You go back, re-reard your post, find typos but are still clear about the driving theme, so where does the confusion stem from? Weird.

    I posted on my test drive of the Mazda 6 ( blueguydotcom "Mazda 6" Dec 17, 2002 7:54pm ) and now people are saying I'm a shill for of all cars the ungodly altima! I don't recall ever endorsing the altima.

    Please tell me I'm not the only one...
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    well you know...on many boards you get the people who love one car or brand so much, they have their heads up their [non-permissible content removed], that they refuse to take criticism about the car/brand. Even if they don't own the car nor driven the car...they still get offended.

    You just gave them an honest review of the car. It's not your problem that they don't like it.
  • justinjustin Member Posts: 1,918
    ...you know my biggest beef on boards like this. you get people that come in, offer their opinions about the car in question. when you ask what model/year they have, low and behold, they DON'T ACTUALLY OWN ONE/DRIVE ONE DAILY! that just blows my mind.

    when i am in another discussion group, the only thing i do is ASK QUESTIONS. not offer stupid and completely unfounded opinions on something i have no real-time experience with. and no, a car that you have seen at a car show or at the dealer does not mean you have experience with it! PAY MONEY FOR IT, then come talk! ;)

    but, these boards are for everyone i guess. even people with a questionable amount of integrity.
  • hoodornamenthoodornament Member Posts: 114
    Anyone remember how the dealer supplied you with the lug-key to take a wheel off? Did the dealer give them to you or were they stored somewhere in the car (eg - near the spare)?? Thanks much

    HO
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