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Comments
I have a little cracking noise in the front end of my car when turning sometimes, but only at parking speeds and only when I first start the car. It's in the left front strut, because I can hear it when I turn. What do you all think it is? And does anyone else have this problem? Thanks.
BTW, anyone else have an issue with VW service letting the air out of their tires? Each time I have the car in they drop the air pressure until the wheels are so flat at a standstill my sidewall is crumpled. Needless to say this kills handling (sidewall's not rigid enough) and gas mileage (too much rolling resistance).
I don't plan to take my car back to the dealer for routine maintenance, since it's so expensive and not free for 2002 anymore ($29 for an oil change without tire rotation, when I can get both for $20). But if I have a service problem, my dealer will be the first to know. Too bad they don't give loaner cars when you drop it off for service. That does suck big time.
How do ya manage to trade in a new car that soon??? I spoke with a sales rep at VW to offload my 2001 Jetta for Passat (with the hopes to get the 2002 VR6 next year). He said that the buy back $$ was $26,000 and the car was now worth only $19 -20,000. It is a high end GLS, MSRP almost $24,000.
Anyone have any ideas for me?
How do ya manage to trade in a new car that soon??? I spoke with a sales rep at VW to offload my 2001 Jetta for Passat (with the hopes to get the 2002 VR6 next year). He said that the buy back $$ was $26,000 and the car was now worth only $19 -20,000. It is a high end GLS, MSRP almost $24,000.
Anyone have any ideas for me?
(I still like the A4 better but the savings would be too much to pass up.)
Drive them. Personally, the VR6 felt very nose heavy to me when cornering. Considering how sloppy the handling is on the Jetta 1.8T with a sports suspension, I couldn't stand the excessive nose dives with the six and sports suspension. too much understeer. But that's me. Some VR6 owners swear the handling is good. For a Buick.
As for "unhappy" with the Jetta...that's true but I'm too upside down to trade it in and unfortunately, I can't find a car currently that meets my needs - unless you can score me an M3 for 35k (I'd be willing to risk BMW's horrid quality and long term reliability for that performance). I settled on the Jetta in June because at the time I couldn't find a car that had enough luxury and fun touches combined. It won out over the WRX and Lexus IS300. I plan to retest the IS300 with a stick soon, but not at the nearest dealer as my last visit there resulted in a begging salesman dropping almost 6k off the MSRP and calling daily.
I've got about 6 - 10 months to wait for the new G35, Z, Mazda 6 and RX-8 to show up. Ideally one of those will fit the bill.
I'm seriously considering buying it after having driven one last night -- I was looking at an '02 A4 1.8T sedan, but this thing drives just as nice for a LOT less. My main concern is winter driving and if the sport package would hurt the handling -- I think it has all season tires but I would probably buy snow tires anyway. The only reason I didn't buy it on the spot was lack of AWD (I'm in MN) but I figure with the traction control, ABS, and added snow tires it can't be too bad...
And for whatever reason I just LOVE the look of the wagon with the big wheels...(my wife thinks I'm crazy)
From everything I have read, both the 40 series Volvo and the Golf/Jettas are good cars. Neither of them are the MOST reliable, but, BOTH of them have a little more pizazz than what else is out there, so it evens out.
Thanks
Justin, isn't your Jetta silver???
Congrats on the new Jetta. I bought the Tornado Red, but I think Galactic Blue was my second choice. :^)
vocus:
I did basically the same thing. My wife and I were considering taking advantage of the low finance rates right now. I took her 95 Accord in for an oil change, and I walked over to take a look at the new 1.8T Jetta. I drove it and I was hooked. I immediately called my wife and got into negotiations with the dealership. I bought mine for $700 over invoice as well, with 5.9% financing. I've had it for 6 weeks now, and over 2000 miles. I love it! :^)
I have 1500 miles and the car will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.
Also, my initial choice was Galactic Blue as well. I ended up with Cool White though.
I drove the new 1.8T and though it was fantastic...I drove the VR6 (12v) and thought it was smoother and quieter.
the new MKIV jettas are a super improvement over the MKIII ones (early 1999 and younger)....BUT...
with the automobile market freakin out...i took the deal for a Lexus IS300 (loaded!) for $389 a month...just a few bucks more than the VR6 GLX.
my point is that...VW is taking things for granted...they need to revamp their service...and also bring more quality control to their products (i.e. rattles, squeaks)....Lastly, i feel that their $$$ could come down a bit more.
anyways, i still love VW...and i MIGHT come back in a few years.
good luck with all your car hunting.
You are implying that Proteges are junky cars. Your statement is somewhat humerous when you consider that the Protege has historically been a very reliable and scrappy little car while the Jetta enjoys the opposite reputation. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. You are statistically more likely to end up with a POS when you buy a Jetta; they don't exactly have the best track record. I know that these two cars technically don't compete with each other, but when you make a statement like that about the Protege, I just can't help but respond.
P.S. What brand new car for $16K has tons of highway power? Certainly not the 2.0L Jetta.
Thanks for moderating the discussion. The fact that you were the one to step up and enforce the ethics and integrity of VW Jetta board is really swell. Your fairness and compassion for all evident ....
Keep it up and you may be promoted to online_host someday.
Hey, can we all GET OVER IT and talk about the Jetta again? Thanks. :^)
Perhaps you guys could discuss that in the Protege forum?
Meade
Their jetta's trunk lock broke when they closed the trunk.. less than a few months old. Would I say the car was crappy? no.
I test drove the Jetta before I bought an Altima. Loved the 5-spd, but the Auto, IMO, didn't have any highway power at all. Would I call the Jetta a crappy car? no.
I wonder what model and what yr Flaca rode in. the DX's are woefully underpowered yes, but crappy car? I think not. Or I could say the same of a Jetta, which I won't.
Don't you have anything to do?
noteworthy: I picked my new jetta up on the 13th, the first mile I put on my car was it's 13th.....
Car will hit 2000 miles today on the way home....still running perfectly.
As far as the Protege/Jetta thing. I don't think anyone out there really thinks that they are in the same league anyway....so it is not relevant to discuss here in my opinion. Protege is a fine car when cross shopping with Civic and Corolla and Focus, and maybe a VW Golf or base base base 2001 Jetta. I would still take the safety and style of the base Jet/Golf over a loaded Civic or Sentra or Corolla though...;)
Oh, and you are going to have to replace the whole mirror. I have lost several mirrors on 3 different cars due to carelessness of passersby, so I know from experience.
Thanks
Does the Protege have heated seats? No.
Does the Protege get 49 MPG? No.
Does the Protege have 180 HP? No.
Does the Protege have ABS standard? No.
Does the Protege have a 5 year warranty? No.
Does the Protege offer leather interior? No.
The Jetta offers all of the above features depending on model. Yes the Jetta is in a different class than Protege and the demographics show that it sells to individuals with higher income and education level overall.
This is a Jetta discussion and not a Protege discussion. I do not know where the host of this board is, but last week on the Protege topic the host declared the Jetta off topic. Funny how in the Jetta topic the host allows a great deal of Protege discussion.
BTW, it was a Jetta poster (flaca, post #2684)who incited the Protege owner's to come over here :
I rode in a Mazda Protege yesterday - my gosh, what a piece of crappy car. It rattled, made loud noises every time it turned and it had no power on the hiway. It just plain sucked big time. You made a very wise choice with the Jetta!!!
Now maybe it was a bad car. Every company produces lemons, EVEN Volkswagen, even Mazda. He did not say what year the car was, the trim level, etc. despite being asked by others.
Questions have been raised that are perhaps better suited to a comparo topic, however, don't think that you can bad-mouth a car (ie. the Pro) and not expect owner's who feel passionately about their cars to respond.
What flaca said is his own opinion, but it is the opinion of many others that he is wrong. So be it. If you want to stop talking and comparing the Jetta to the Pro then I have a suggestion:
Stop doing it!
Pro_fan
Anyone who is interested in pursuing this, please feel free to hop over to the Comparisons - Sedans vs. Sedans Board and start up an appropriate place to continue.
Thanks.
Pat
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