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Yes, don't let either of those things influence your decision too much.
My wife bought this version of the Jetta in it's first (1/2) year, 1995. We have been happy with it. We do not drive a lot, so we have only about 28,000 miles on it.
It did have a number of, mostly minor issues, the first year...but that was kind of expected with it being a new model.
VW Golf Plus
After the first VW, a Bug, was ok but repairs were had to get done correctly. It took me close to eight years to get my second VW. The reason I took the second leap was because of the loyalty of other VW owners. They swore to God VW had improved and I decided I just had to have a Karmin Ghia. What a joy to drive but sooner or later I had to have some minor things serviced and once again it was a pain in the behind. I found a good independent mechanic and that allowed me to keep the Ghia a bit longer but sooner or later it was time to get a new car. My mistake was getting a Mazda Pickup between my second and third VW. The Mazda ran like clockwork and service was straight forward and done on time and correctly. Are I'll be darned if they didn't carry parts in the parts department. The loyal VW people I knew once again convinced me VW had improved and changed so I got a Rabbit. VW hadn't changed with parts and service and this was in three different counties. And the Rabbit took more servicing than any car I have ever had.
All that being said I looked long and hard at VW before I bought each of my last two new cars. Each time it came down to two or three cars and the VW was most often in the top three. However as I slept on the thought of getting a new VW and how much I liked the looks and handling. But the nightmare of VW parts and service kept coming back to me. Before I got my PT or my Focus I happened to read a comment by the head of VWOA that he realized VW had a image and service problem and I decided to pass on VW. I keep looking at JD Powers to see if VW gets rated higher in dependability, so I won't have to take it to service, but alas they are still rated at close to the bottom of the dependability list. So my "experience" with VW is what keeps me from getting another VW. If however they ever get in the top half of JD powers I might take a second look at a VW. I would love to get a small diesel. I simply don't trust VW.
I don't know about JD Powers, but CR has rated the new Jetta and Rabbit as average or better.
It seems to me diesel has become a losing proposition, gas here is about $1.80, diesel is about $2.80. I think diesels get about 50% better mpg, but the fuel cost is now 55% higher.
But I never had a big problem with my VW engines, well the Rabbit had some strange problem with some idle meter but that happens. It was electrical problems and small part breaking that had to be replaced. Not something that could be repaired but things that had to be replaced. So I have been consulting JD powers for the last few years before I open my wallet for several things. Their survey covers three years of service and owners are responsible for the reporting of their problems. KIA, Suzuki and VW have lost my business more than once because they can't get off the bottom of the JD Powers list. It isn't the only tool I use but if two or three cars are in the running and the price is about the same the VW would have to be a "lot" nicer for me to take the risk of dealing with VW service.
The specs listed seem to be for the old design, as it indicates 115 HP.
(As an aside, I have this theory that VW putting out the new Jetta as a 2005 and causing this sort of confusion was intentional. In this way, they could work out the initial bugs during the short 2005 run and hope to look great as of 2006. The former model was a disaster on reliability ratings so throwing the initial run of the new model in with it, could really not make it look any worse than it already did.)
MSN shows good reliability for the new model, with the 2.5 engine: http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/reliability.aspx?year=2005&make=Volkswagen&mod- - el=Jetta
One more piece of data, I recently checked with my credit union on putting an extended warranty on our 2005. I was told the cost would be about $1500 for zero deductible, equivalent to the factory bumper to bumper warranty, if 80,000 miles was needed, or about $2000 for 100,000. In either case, the warranty runs 5 years from the date of purchase and must be purchased before 36K mi. We do not drive a lot of miles, so we will be approaching 36K mi at the end of the 4 year VW warranty. I could add 5 years to that for $1500. Therefore, my total expected repair costs are likely less than $1500 in the first 9 years and, if I choose to, I could buy coverage to limit the cost to that amount. Alternatively, one who drives a little more would be looking at less than $2000 in expected repair costs (I say less because there is certainly some profit built into the $2000 price) during the 1st 100K mi.
Back before we bought one in 2005, of my reliability indicators was the price of an extended warranty from my credit union, which I would presume to be working with a reputable warranty company. The difference between an Accord (which I priced as a barometer of reliability) and a Jetta was about $500 for 100,000 mile coverage. Note that this was before the new, more reliable, Jetta had any reliability track record.
The question I believe was directed at what kind of experience we have had with VW and just in my case it was not a good one. I can still say the Ghia was a great handling little car but the dependability issue would make even that car a weekend driveway queen if I still had one. I do have a very good friend that has a clean two tone Ghia convertible, but it spends most of its time inside and under a cover unless the sun is bright and there is nothing going on that he might "need" to drive to as opposed to like to drive to. I just don't trust VW as a daily driver.
what type of vw and year do your friend have?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Anyway, if you buy now they have free maintenance included for the first 3 years or 36K mi.
It essentually says that you do not have to take to dealership for routine maintenance to keep the warantee intact. Anyone who pays $400 every time DESERVES to pay that much by not taking the time to understand their Federal rights under the law.
READ all the 'paperwork' which comes with your car... be 'in the know' so you do not have to pay thru the nose.
At the very least... dont use ignorance of the law as an excuse to NOT purchase a particular brand of automobile.
HOWEVER: I would agree that some dealerships are CROOKS... that can happen with any brand of car.... not just VW.
Warranty costs, for instance, have fallen every year since 2005, VW says."
VW eyes expansion, lets customers have their say (Detroit News)