Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

beanboy

The heavy feeling VW/Audi has going in their cars. Also don't like the bathtub affect (high window sills), especially in the older A4. It appears the new one is even worse.

-B

Anakin

On the other hand, I like all the things you just mentioned disliking.

What you consider "heavy" I consider "substantial." The sheet metal on my former Accord dented if you looked at it hard and felt a bit on the "tinny" side.

I like the "bathtub" effect. It makes me feel more like the car is wrapped around me. I totally dig the new A4. Wish I could afford one.

No accounting for taste, eh?

vocus

Thanks for the compliments.

"JDM" is what the person on EBay who was selling that antenna called it, so I just took their name for it. I actually put the stock antenna back on for now, because reception was real bad with the smaller one.

The letter is something I got from Vortex. I will chip the car, within the next year. My powertrain warranty is 60K miles, and I am in the process of getting an extended warranty anyway, so I don't care really what VW says about chipping. It's not hard to "find" a chip in a car though, but it can be hidden if you are good enough to figure out how.

vocus

I just read a mini review of the 4-door G35 in CR, and they mirrored my opinion that the interior looks cheap. I sat in a 4dr at last year's car show, and didn't really care for it.

I saw pics here at Edmunds of the Murano's interior, and it is very pleasing to look at.

On another note, I will be installing lowering springs along with the rear stab bar on my car soon, looking forward to the handling improvements!

adg44

It turns out I'm not the only one... Anyone else have this problem? You can read about it here: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=644816

And vocus, I hope you get some good Bilstein shocks to go along with those lowering springs. And what rear sway bar are you going to go with?

- Anthony

vocus

I am getting the Weitec GT package for $349 including shipping, and an Autotech or Neuspeed rear bar. The trouble's gonna be having it installed, it's expensive and I don't have the expertise to do it.

Next will be the APR 1.0, but that'll have to wait until the std. warranty's gone.

bpeebles

(vocus) depending on what you want to spend, there are all kinds of chipping options. The coolest one I have seen is one that incoperates the winsdshield-squirter switch and some existing displays on the dash.

You can use the winsdshield-squirter switch to "select" which programming you wish to be using.

• You can select a moderate tune for everyday driving.
  
• You can select a hard-edged, full power tune for a day at the dragstrip.
  
• You can select the "factory" tuning when your son borrows the car or it is in the shop for service (so they do not know it is installed 8-)
  

There is NO WAY for the dealer to know it is installed, even the factory computer codes have been carefully replicated.

newcar31

Is there a seal on the cover of the VW's ECU? If the seal is broken to replace the chip, wouldn't VW be able to figure it out?

blueguydotcom

Is there a seal on the cover of the VW's ECU? If the seal is broken to replace the chip, wouldn't VW be able to figure it out?

No seal on VW ECUs. The APR chip with the programming is the best because he can put the car into normal mode and a service tech will never even bother to check for a chip. That's why you get APR.

Vocus, so you haven't seen a G35 coupe...very different animal from the sedan. Much wider, lower and curvier. Pictures never really show the car's true swooping lines. It does need an etched character line down the center though ala BMW/VW.

ppower

golf going when he was hit by the truck?

Ppower

Anakin

VW Techs will check for a chip if there is a suspicious problem, like if you blow a diverter valve. Apparently the stock DV often fails if you have an aftermarket chip running extra boost. Lots of people replace them when they get a chip just to save a trip to the mechanic. Other people run chips with no problems on the stock DV.

I might get a chip someday, but probably not until my warranty is up.

vocus

I am going to replace the DV as well when I do the chip, to alleviate the problem.

vocus

The Golf was going 55 and rear-ended by someone who was going 80. Then pushed into a Jersey wall at about 65mph. I am still amazed that the driver walked away.

He also got $13,500 for a car that was 3.5 years old (1999.5) and that he paid $14,500 for brand new.

farrrell

an absolute electrical disaster. power windows, central alarm system. interior lights, cruise control, abs. the worst car i've ever owned

gsgman69

go to: http://www.abella.net/vw/autotech.html

for a how to on the sway bar install and everybody check out vwvortex.com for any install info on VW's.

flaca

vocus

Someone else on Vortex lost their Dub this week. This one was hit at 50mph by a stop sign runner, spun around 3 times, and hit a Dodge Durango. The car is totalled, the driver walked away shaken up but that was all.

http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=JettaDude&album_id=103437&image_id=21&courtesy=1

target3

Only $48. Westside Volkswagen, Minneapolis.

Not only inexpensive, but I waited for the car and was out in an hour.

venus537

mine was $96. what the hell, i was out in a hour too.

8u6hfd

target3:
$48, Syntec or GTX? I believe you got the 5w30 Castrol GTX oil change.

venus537:
$96, I believe you got the Syntec 5w40 oil change

justin

at my upcoming 20k service, is it advisable to switch to synthetic, or it is too late to do any good?

does OIL actually come in contact with the turbo/turbine mechanism?

target3

Mine was 5w30 Mobil. Probably not synthetic.

I do not think it makes that big of a difference. My previous vehicle was running strong at 212K when I sold it, and I never used synthetic oil.

vocus

Changed to synthetic in my 01 Pro at 20K (waste of money for an economy car engine). Didn't feel much of a difference, but once you go syn you can't go back.

Oil runs directly through the turbo. Some say changing to syn will help the turbo last longer. I read some oil test in CR a couple years ago, and they said syn helps a little, if I remember correctly.

newcar31

"but once you go syn you can't go back."

Why not?

vocus

That's what I have had several people tell me. Someone on another board said it's because different degrees of expansion.I don't know though, not educated enough in the way engines work inside.

Care to take on the subject? I figure you would know, since you used to work at JL.

sarah233

Just got it done on my '02 Jetta. Cost $56 at Volkswagen Santa Monica. They also replaced the driver's side window cables and the passenger side window clips. I guess there's a recall notice going out, but I hadn't received it yet. The only bad thing was I turned my car in yesterday at 7:40 a.m., and it wasn't ready until 7:30 p.m., but which time I didn't have a ride so I picked it up this morning. They seemed pretty busy yesterday though.

vocus

They didn't give you a loaner car?

sarah233

No, they don't give loaners at that place, at least for the kind of service I was getting. They have "rental cars" available for $25/day, but I'm not going to pay that. I bet if I made a big stink about it I probably could've gotten a loaner, but I don't care that much. I've taken it there before for service, and had my car back by 1 p.m.

mdaffron

... a "waste of money for an economy car engine?" Isn't it beneficial for ANY engine?

I assume you're also meaning it's a waste for the Jetta too, since the Jetta is Edmunds' top-rated "economy car?"

Meade

justin

i agree - Synthetic oil in a Kia is probably a waste of time. that is a lower cost economy car. a TURBO Jetta is a higher cost economy car - if i saw PROOF that synthetic worked better, i might use it. the actual turbo mechanism does take a lot of abuse from me

mdaffron

If you change regular oil at 3,000 to 5,000 miles for 10 bucks yourself/20 bucks at a shop, and you change synthetic oil every 6,000 to 10,000 miles at 20 bucks yourself/40 in the shop, it sounds like exactly the same money for engine lubrication either way.

Meade

8u6hfd

The biggest factor is when you shut off the engine. The stability of the conventional is lower than synthetic. Heat from the turbo beating on oil that is not circulating will break down the oil carbon-type residue (coking) decreasing turbo performance and turbo Life. Imagine how much it costs to replace a turbo, parts and labor -- it's not cheap.

In the combustion chamber, turbocharged engines, have higher pressures than a normally aspirated engine -- increase the pressure, you increase the temperature. For simplicity, pretend it's an ideal gas, PV=nRT. In the real world the ideal gas law equation gets much more complicated. Again the properties of synthetic oil is worth the extra money in protection and performance.

Try reading the synthetic oil threads in the Maintenance and Repair section

vocus

That's what I am saying. When I had the other car, I did the oil changes every 7500 miles anyway because that's what the book said (the Jetta says 5K, and that's what it gets as well). I didn't feel comfortable going 15K with oil, and didn't see any increase in fuel economy or easy start-up in the cold, but I was stuck using it because I was told you couldn't switch back. Since I changed to synth at 10K and traded the car at 20K, it was only one change anyway.

For the VW with a turbo, it would probably be more beneficial. My next VW 30K service is free anyway, so I might get them to use synth and just pay the difference from dyno.

vocus

Another reason you should let a turbo car sit for 30-90 seconds after stopping before shutting it down. To let the hot oil out of the turbocharger. I have done this with mine since day one.

Driving the car hard before the turbo warms up is not good either. I always wait until the engine coolant gauge is up to 190 before going over 3000rpm.

sarah233

OK, so yesterday while driving home I looked up and noticed that there are greasy stains on the BEIGE headliner that weren't there before I took my car in for its 10k service. Should I try to get the stains out myself, or take it back to the dealer and try and get them to do it? The grease looks REALLY bad. I don't want to take it back there and have it come back looking worse, but I'm mad that there are stains in my car. Any thoughts?

vocus

Same thing happend with mine. I took it back and pointed it out, they cleaned it right up. Since they messed it up, I would personally make them fix it.

target3

I would take it back.

I am also going to check mine.

cards28

This is my first VW of any kind. I've had it just under a month, now. What can I expect in owning one? Previously I drove a 1990 Plymouth Laser 2.0L, 4 cyl, 190 HP, 5 Speed Trans. It really liked to take off, especially at or above 2500 RPMs. The gear shift lever had too much play in it, though. I haven't driven my Jetta very much because I'm trying to sell my 92 Camry first. When I do, I use the manual feature on the trans. The sales person told me that VW made it destruction proof. If you rev it up too high the trans would shift into the next gear for you. Yep, I found that to be true.
But, what can I expect from owning a Jetta? I've read on message boards that door rattling was a problem. I don't have more than a couple hundred miles on it. Reading about the doors made me a little nervous, because I'm a little picky about things like that. I will drive the dealer's service dept "nuts".
There was also a discussion about adding sway bars for better handling. Has any one added sway bars? Front, back or both? And, what do sway bars actually do? And, what do they cost? Why didn't VW include them in the sports package? Thanks everyone. Happy motoring.

blueguydotcom

The sales person told me that VW made it destruction proof.

There's an old saying, "Every time they make something idiot proof the world makes a better idiot." Nothing is indestructible. The salesman fed you a line...

If you rev it up too high the trans would shift into the next gear for you. Yep, I found that to be true.

It's best not to over-rev a brand spanking new car. People will debate the whole break-in period but if you plan on keeping this car for more than a few years, I'd advise against tormenting the engine that way until you're north of 1000 miles on the odometer.

But, what can I expect from owning a Jetta?

Fun, style, comfort, & safety offset by weird problems and a growing appreciation for vanilla bland reliability.

I've read on message boards that door rattling was a problem.

Most dealerships will handle that in a snap with some tape around the door frame. It's a simple, seamless fix.

Reading about the doors made me a little nervous, because I'm a little picky about things like that. I will drive the dealer's service dept "nuts".

Vocus and you will get along just fine.

There was also a discussion about adding sway bars for better handling. Has any one added sway bars? Front, back or both?

I installed a Neuspeed 28mm rear swaybar on my Jetta in March of 02.

And, what do sway bars actually do?

Swaybars essentially attempt to keep the vehicle's body from rolling during cornering. On a normal Jetta setup a car sans swaybar will exhibit quite a bit of body roll (as you go through the corner the car leans more and more) even with the so-called sports suspension. A swaybar on the back will help negate that effect, increasing your handling capabilities, thus allowing you to take corners/twisties at higher speeds and if you desire induce oversteer (something one doesn't see often on FWD cars).

And, what do they cost?

I paid about $220 for mine and installed it with a friend in my work parking lot in about an hour.

Why didn't VW include them in the sports package?

VW's sports package is little more than different springs and shocks. It makes the car handle better but it still understeers considerably in corners. With a larger swaybar on the back (like my 28mm) the Jetta will have oversteer tendencies and quite frankly I don't think VW trusts many motorists (most weaned on FWD cars) to drive cars that behave in a fashion that might scare and probably endanger motorists. Get in some slick weather with performance tires and a sway and the back of the Jetta can pop around in a split second. I even know BMW owners who freak out the first time they get a little oversteer or fishtail. LOL

Enjoy your car.

newcar31

"The sales person told me that VW made it destruction proof."

Lol. Like blueguy said, nothing is destruction proof. Give me your car for 2 minutes and I'll bet I could "destruct" that transmission. I'm sure Acura salespeople also told TL customers that Acuras are bulletproof....until the transmission bites the bullet. But I'm sure the transmission in your VW is pretty stout.

cards28

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer all of my questions in a very organized way. It was very helpful.

Can you take another question or two? Is the Neuspeed fairly easy to find at a local speed shop? Can they install them?

Sorry, one more question. I understand that the 2003 Jetta is in it's 5th year of this style. Have you read or seen a style change in the near future? I would prefer to buy after the new style is introduced. That's OK. My friends call me "anal".

Anakin

The Neuspeed sway can be purchased almost anywhere, but sometimes you can get a good deal by participating in a group buy on VWVortex. Here is one for Neuspeed sways.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=658248

A "Group Buy" is when a bunch of people organize a large purchase of a single item and the supplier will offer a discount because he is moving a lot of stock.

The Jetta isn't due to be updated for at least a couple of years. Expect to see the new Mk5 Golf next year, but probably no US models until the 05 model year. The Jetta will follow later.

cards28

Thanks for your comments.....
Sure, just about anything can be destroyed. My point was that when I test drove the Jetta 1.8T while in the Triptonic mode I started in 1st gear and continued to shift up when the tack reached a certain level. If I didn't shift up the trans did it for me. The sales person just implied that the engineering would take over.

I didn't really punch the gas to max out the tack. That feature sold me on the auto trans, besides, my wife didn't want another manual trans in the garage, because she wants to drive it sometimes, also. My Laser had a 5 speed manual and she didn't like driving it, so I had to compromise.

Remember, always keep your hands on the wheel!

Thanks for your comments, though.

vwguy2002

Hello, I have a 2002 Jetta GLX and I wanted to share my transmission story. I was coasting my car down a mountain here in Nevada to save on gas. I had a few of my friends in the car so they were distracting me and when I went to shift back into drive from Neutral I accidentally put the car into Reverse @ 75mph. The car didnt do anything but make a very light surge and then a ding noise that came from the dashboard to alert me. I quickly put the car back into drive and that was 4 months ago and I have had no problems.

adg44

You can switch between synthetic and dino oil. The "once you go synthetic you can never go back" is a myth.

For 2004 the jetta gets a facelift and some different tailights and a few other minor things.

2005 is when the MkV comes out, 2004 is when you will see it in Europe.

- Anthony

blueguydotcom

I'd suggest buying the swaybar online unless you get an outrageous deal at a local shop.

As for the install, you and a buddy can easily do it in under an hour. You need a few wrenches, a few jacks and that's about it. It's a snap.

Dunno when the new ones are coming. I'm off VW for life after my car. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...

cards28

Blueguy:
Are you saying that when you change cars again it will not be a VW? From previous chats that we have had, I thought you were a "lifer" because of your product knowledge. You told me to LOL. And now you are leaving the pact.
From your tip about the sway bars I was able to find the Neuspeed at VWvortex online for about $205 to $220. So, I put my order in this day.
Again, thanks for the tip.

adg44

I was in the first sway bar group buy from SPP back almost a year and a half ago. I got my 25mm rear sway for 160 shipped, now THAT's a good deal.

For $205 shipped where you can get it for $235 shipped anywhere else, I wouldn't wait the extra time that it'll take to reach 30 people and such.

Just my $0.02 - and I'm really impatient which is one reason why that was the only group buy I did.

blueguydotcom

Are you saying that when you change cars again it will not be a VW? From previous chats that we have had, I thought you were a "lifer" because of your product knowledge. You told me to LOL. And now you are leaving the pact.

My car's been in the shop 8 times in 19 months and I need to take it back again for an electrical bugaboo. VW lost me. No big deal. Others probably won't have the same issues or take it so personally.

gregthomp

Edmunds is reporting here that VW has "$750 Dealer Cash" incentives on all or most Jetta models. The last time VW had this going (when it was $500)a VW saleswoman I spoke with poo-poohed it, said it wasn't right, then finally said it was only if you financed through VW. Since VW already has APR incentives going, I wondered about that.

Anybody know for sure? Is that $750 mine for the negotiating? (I'd like to pay cash for the car and not mess around with the financing.)

--Greg T. (in L.A.)