Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

Anakin

I've had my 1.8T since September, and I have almost 9000 miles on it. I have had no problems with mine.

Scheduled maintenance is not included in the warranty since VW switched to the 4/50k. I think most dealerships give loaners.

I have been impressed with the general quality of my car. My friends comment on how solid it feels compared to other small cars.

Good Luck.

blueguydotcom

Um, in San Diego, no dealership gives loaners that I know of. Every dealership has the same arrangement, leave the car in the morning, get it at the end of the day. Check with the dealers in your area.

As for reliability, it seems to have improved over the years. I don't think i've read of any O2 sensor problems, window regulator malfunctions or other such bugaboos in awhile. The only vexing thing still seems to be those nasty rattles.

target3

No problems, of course only 1500 miles so far.

target3

Took 394 east to 94 west in to work this morning. There is a ramp that goes up high and arches. Due to the fact of snow yesterday and temperatures around freezing, the ramp was glare ice.

So I come flying up the ramp, around a slow SUV (you know, people buy them to drive 45), to see a car cockeyed with brakes on. I figure traffic jam and hit the brakes - and just keep on going (first slick spot in 8 miles of driving). Like I was on a hockey rink. I drop it down to 2nd. Didn't help. Hitting the brakes, and all that noise, etc. comes on (must be the ABS and traction control and all that stuff). I proceed to brake and steer my way by 8-10 wrecked vehicles. Thankfully, most of them hit each other and went off to the left and the right. I did have to steer between two where there was probably only an extra 2 feet to spare. There was even a state trooper in the mess.

Well, I got through it without any consequences. Went to the health club and came out to inflated tires (that was my other worry, considering all the crap on the road). And I almost drove the old Jetta, which I am going to sell this week for $500. It would have been all over had I been in that car.

I am definitely pleased with the way the Jetta handled that situation!

coolwhite

Recommend using the GM Silicone as stated in post #4145 to help quiet those nasty rattles.

ste5e

I posted a few days ago with concerns about the low-profile tires (40s!) and sport suspension on rough city roads and increased road noise at high speeds.

Well, I drove a Jetta with the sport lux package Friday night I didn't notice any appreciable road noise at 65 mph. Also, I hit a few potholes at 50 on purpose (sad, I know) and the car felt great. It's amazing how the Jetta can transmit road feel without a rough ride.

I'm picking up my silver 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8TA with monsoon, gray leather, and sport luxury package tonight!

Steve

vocus

Glad you liked the car alot. Check the car that you are picking up for rattles before you take delivery. You will be sorry if you do not.

newjetta3

Does the Jetta turn off it's headlights automatically after the car is turned off?

vocus

No it does not turn them off automatically. It will cut the power to the headlamps, but the switch, parking lights, and dashboard lights will still stay on.

newjetta2

There is an option to the dash cupholders (poor location). VW sells a plastic insert that fits into the center armrest for about $25. The insert is in the shape of two cupholders, and creates two extra cupholders in the armrest (with top up). You can order the insert through the dealer or on-line through the accessories page from vw.com

vocus

It's $14.95 for that thing you speak of actually, but that's a pain to have the cupholders in the armrest. I use the storage for stuff like chewing gum, cell phone accessories, etc. I still hate the cupholders though, but am learning to live with it.

rlui1

Does anyone know how the turn signal light cover attaches to the Jetta? Mine got ripped off last week and I can't tell if they snap in place or are glued in.

blackjetta18t1

hey y'all, got back today from DC after spending an extra ngiht there, and gotta say it's a great city. We ended up taking my cousins car and boy am I glad we did. I am envious of all you with the 1.8T, especially the 18hps version. Going down there, rpms were excellent considering we averaged 85 got to 110 at one point. Ride was smooth and nicely hushed and there was always power avaialble for passing. Man o man it is a sweet car, but the roads of DC increased some rattling in my couisns car. But the ride with the sport package was very good. On another note, there are soooo many Jettas in DC, more than up in NYC/NJ area, and alot of hubcaps and also the 17's. Up hear, almost all are the 15" alloys. I am very glad we did not take my car. The 2.0 would have been way to loud and unable to pass and maintain the speeds we were going on I-95. Now I gotta make another appointment for my car since mine was supposed to be this morning. when I saw mycar I was not as happy asusual considering I was getting out of the drivers seat of a 2002 Jetta 1.8T, silver, black leather and sport lux, with some rattles, and getting into my 01 Jetta 2.0, 15" alloys, many a rattle, and some funky suspension problem....ah well, this concludes my looong post.

justin

blackj - yep, around here in DC, I think Jettas/Golfs might be as popular as Hondas and Toyotas. Not quite - but almost.

vocus - your headlights don't turn off automatically? check that out. mine turn off when i turn the motor off - the parking lights, rear lights, and gauge lights stay on - but that is not near enough to kill the battery. yes, i know first-hand. "headlights-on" chimes/reminder bells do not work on Justin. haha.

vocus

Yeah, this area is loaded with Jettas. They sell like hotcakes down here. At my company of 100 employees, there are 5 people (including me) that have a Jetta. From a GLS 2.0, to a GL, to my 1.8T GLS, to a GLX and a GLS VR6 (2001). We have the bases covered.

boobmbl

So, are you saying that your headlights do turn off when your car turns off. . but your other lights stay on? And you say, that isn't enough to kill the battery? I'm guessing this happened to you, huh? How long did you leave the other lights on?

vocus

Yeah, the other lights probably wouldn't be enough to kill the battery.

Justin, how the heck does someone get out of the car with a beep as loud as the Jetta's going and not hear it? I am curious to hear this one..

justin

i only have ever left the lights on overnight. it is weird, because i almost left them on two nights in a row, because one night i got home, left them on, and came out to my garage the next morning, and started the car. well, it was daytime so i couldn't see the interior lights, and never look at the back lights, and the headlights always come on when i start the car anyway. it wasn't until it started raining that i went to turn my lights ON, that i realized they had been ON the whole time from the evening before

unfortunately, i do it often. the beeping that the car makes doesn't phase me. i am always worried about other stuff like gathering CD's, books, keys, etc.

ever turn the car off and wonder why you can't get the keys out of the ignition? for some reason, the VW requires that you put the car in PARK before it releases the keys! what is that all about??

and no, my automatic cars have never died, or rolled away.

vocus

You just need some help, don't you? I have never wanted to take the keys out of the car before shifting it into Park. I always put the car in Neutral, put the parking brake on, release the regular brakes, then reapply and shift into Park. I do this so the weight of the car rests on the parking brake, not the transmission. I hear it makes the car's rotors last longer. Also better for the tranny, I would think.

I gather my stuff when getting out of the car too, but start gathering after I turn off the car and have it in Park, with the lights OFF.

blueguydotcom

I gather with the engine running but that's to let the 1.8T "cool" down for 30 seconds or a minute.

vocus

I put the car in Park, then grab my cell phone and stuff like that, then turn off the car. So it ends up sitting about 30 seconds before it shuts off.

I parked the other day (one of those real hot 90+ days we had last week), and walked in front of the car. I heard the engine fan running, even though I had turned the car off. So does the fan run to cool the turbo, even after you park, if it's still hot? I wonder...

justin

you so crazy. all car fans run when the engine is off. they actually START to run when you turn the engine OFF. since the engine is off, and it isn't running coolant through it, the fan has to start, to regulate the temp until it reaches whatever the desirable temp is.

and you say I need some help!

vocus

Well I didn't know that! I just happend to walk past the front of the car and hear the engine fan running.

newcar31

You so crazy!

"all car fans run when the engine is off"

No they don't.

"they actually START to run when you turn the engine OFF."

Actually, they run while the engine is running too.

justin

well, put it this way. if the fan needs to run when the engine is off, it will. or, it SHOULD. if not, you don't have much of a car. and yes, i actually do remember my old 1980 Volvo tank. the fan ran on that car anytime it was on. the harder i pressed on the gas pedal, the louder and faster the fan got.

none of my newer model car's fan's operate based on engine speed. they come on when needed only.

galogvi

I guess you 2 are just too young to remember "Fan Belts.":} Before electric fans, cars came with belt driven fans. They only worked when the car was running. This would explain your '80 Volvo's fan sounding louder the harder you depressed the gas pedal.

johnny282

After shopping and researching for over a year, I've decided to order a Jetta GLI. I was leaning towards a WRX, but my wife thought it was ugly and not very comfortable. She likes Jettas, I like the 200hp w/6 speed, everyone's a winner :-) I went to my dealer here in Tucson and asked them to call me when I can order one, but I haven't got a call yet. What's the word back east? Are they available yet or not? Also thinking of having the dealer install the VW/Eibach springs on the car, anyone have these installed? Finally, has anyone been quoted a price on a GLI yet? I really don't want to pay sticker unless I have to. Should I try online or perhaps an autobroker? Thanks in advance for any input and advice, I'll keep posting and let everyone know when I order, probably May 15 or so. My wife and I just have to decide: Tornado Red or Galactic blue......
J

vocus

The only GLI I have seen thus far was at the New York International Auto Show. I don't think they are for sale yet. I know the GLX 24V automatic is though, because someone on this board bought one already. Good luck with the purchase.

blueguydotcom

You've got a couple months before the GLI shows up. I sneaked a peek at a salesman's folder the other day and it showed the GLI coming in July.

vocus

Have you decided to buy another Jetta or a G35 yet? Just curious. Also, would the low crash test rating of the Altima affect the G35, I wonder?

blueguydotcom

According to links posted at Fresh Alloy the G35 in Japan's more stringent tests was top notch.

The Altima is on a completely different platform, thus the Altima's performance in crash tests has zero bearing on the FM-platform based G35.

No, decision yet. I've gotta deal with my house, finish my thesis by May 10th, and decide about law school before I buy a new car. If I go G35 coupe, I have to wait until November/December anyway.

justin

have you guys seen the 2002 Miata SE in dark gray metallic with saddle leather interior?

about the only car worth trading a beloved jetta for.....

blueguydotcom

If you don't need the space or if you can afford a weekend car, there isn't much on this planet more fun than a Miata.

vocus

What's the cheapest way to get a CD changer into a Jetta? I don't like them, but my co-worker has a 2001 GLX and he wants the ability to play MP3s in it. What's the cheapest way? Thanks.

protege_fan

Hey all,
what are your opinions of the mid 90's level Jettas (ie. 1996 and up)? I'm helping my brother look for a car and was considering the Jetta...the only thing that shakes me are the electrical problems that I often hear about.

What kind of engines did they offer back then? Which ones were better? Any particular trim recommended? Thanks.

vocus

Back then, all the Jettas except the GLXs came with the 2.0 engine. They did have electrical problems, and also this thing where the bodyside moldings would fall off over time. They do not make the most reliable used cars though.

protege_fan

No VR6 or TDI? What did the GLX have?

vocus

My fault, I forgot about the TDI. Not many of those were sold I don't think though, because they just debuted in 1998 I think.

The GLX had the VR6 engine, the same as it is today. However, most cars were the 2.0 models. There are some feature models like the Golf Music Edition, the Jetta GT, and the Wolfsburg models. They all had the 2.0 though.

protege_fan

Uh...ok. Would you recommend any?

blueguydotcom

I dropped in a the OEM 6 disc Panasonic for a total of about $225, but that thing certainly won't play MP3s. Check crutchfield.com for the best info and of course, try VWVortex.

vocus

There is this one system on http://www.phatnoise.com that sells for $900! That's what my co-worker was looking at, but that's too much money to spend, he says.

I was thinking about the CD changer, but I already have the in-dash player. Also, I hate the idea of opening the trunk to change discs. That's a pain in the rear.

blueguydotcom

It's a pain to change your discs once every week or few days? To each his own.

6 discs is a good 6 hours of music. I don't think I listen to that much music for it to matter to me.

As for the price of the system, check www.mysimon.com. Odds are good he can find it cheaper.

vocus

I have alot of CDs, but I only usually listen to two or three songs off each CD. So I would have to change the discs every so often. Besides, I have an in-dash CD player already. I don't need a changer as well.

justin

you can find plently of gen III Jettas/Golfs out there that will be good dependable transporation. just keep in mind that the maintenance costs for them will be higher than your typical Honda. they older GLS models did seem to have power window issues. but, oddly enough too, the pre-99 2.0 don't seem to have the bad oil leaks either. for the gen iv Jettas VW did some minor tweaking to the 2.0. i don't know if that is why the later model 2.0's have problems. other than that, they were fine. they do have body side molding issues, as lots of cars do that are assembled with less sophisticated materials and processes. obviously, the new Jettas are much better at that

honestly, around here, i see quite a few Gen III Jettas that look good as new. and I still find them very attractive, inside and out. they were the last real "european" feeling car made. i guess that is why i am the only person that still likes the Cabrio and it's interior. i am NOT looking forward to the Beetle Convertible.

good luck. as with anything, a good German car mechanic can be your best friend.....

newcar31

One of the problems these generation cars had were dash lights burning out constantly. I know a bunch of people with these cars and it seems to be a common problem.

ponm

Can't believe someone passed up a wrx for a jetta. My wife drives a vr6 jetta and I drive a wrx. My wife also hates the looks of the wrx but loves the way it drives, I hate the way the jetta drives and like the way it looks. But I would never drive a car because the way it looks, and thats where my wife and I differ.

blueguydotcom

What about for the interior? Driving dynamics are important but if one's stuck in traffic or just driving, one may desire some measure of luxury for one's money. I know that was deciding factor for me. The WRX's interior just felt too civic-like for me. Had the car sported an interior befitting its 25k price, I'd own one.

vcjumper

Sony's 10 disc CD changer Sony CDX-757MX/Sony CDX-757MXRF is coming out in a month or two, in RF and Sony unilink form. So 10 CD's filled with MP3s = lots of music (also will play regular CD's).

tulanekid24

Does the Jetta GLX have ESP? The car I test drove did. It had the button right on the dash. But everything I read on the internet, says that the Jetta has ASR? What gives here?

8u6hfd

The VR6 and 1.8T Jetta/Golf/New Beetles have a ASR button on the dash.