Anyone with insight on a VW Jetta

[cop1211]

Wife wants a VW Jetta. Its going to have to be used. Probably 20-25 thousand miles. Looking at going with Carmax.

Are Jettas dependable? Any issues-problems?

[kmrtnsn]

I recommend that you avoid the Jetta (Mexican made) and if she really wants a VW then to look at the Passat (German made). My wife had a Jetta for a couple of years. When it ran, it ran great. When it would decide at random (three times) it wouldn't run at all and would require towing back to the dealership for repair. We tried really hard to like the car. It was zippy, frugal on gas, comfortable and quiet and gave the impression of being a car of greater worth; a real bargain but being left stranded, waiting on a wrecker three times just ruined it for us.

[armakraut]

Avoid all VW's at all costs.

Maintenance and parts run at least double on VW's than Japanese or American cars.

Get a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, or Ford Fusion.

[Business_Casual]

I had two and never had an issue that wasn't easily fixed by the dealer under warranty. That said, if I were on my way to CarMax, I would buy a Camry or a Accord. Particularly if the wife in question views it as basic transportation.

B_C

[YVK]

I recommend that you avoid the Jetta (Mexican made) and if she really wants a VW then to look at the Passat (German made). My wife had a Jetta for a couple of years. When it ran, it ran great. When it would decide at random (three times) it wouldn't run at all and would require towing back to the dealership for repair. We tried really hard to like the car. It was zippy, frugal on gas, comfortable and quiet and gave the impression of being a car of greater worth; a real bargain but being left stranded, waiting on a wrecker three times just ruined it for us.

Fully agree. I had one since 2003, bought brand-new, and, while fun to drive, it spent more time in shops for repairs, recalls etc. than all my other cars combined. I gave it to my son when he turned 16 and then sold it last year when he left to college. At that point I was just cutting my losses. Got 92K out of it, but it killed VW as a brand for me.

[chadbag]

I've been driving VW for over 20 years. Having said that, I have not had a Mexican Jetta.

My VWs have had very very few problems. Most of my cost has been normal replaceable items like brakes etc. A fuse now and then. Tires. oil changes.

Our current one is a 2006 Passat. I really like this car. My previous one was a 1997 Jetta GT which I just recently sold for $2k. I did eventually put a new starter motor in but that was probably related to the car having sat for almost 2 years with only 20 miles across a few jaunts around the neighborhood, sitting months at a time before starts (daughter was born and wife was on leave about the time registration came up for renewal and then I never got it reregistered).

I've had good luck with my VWs.

See if you can get a Passat.

[orionz06]

Avoid all VW's at all costs.

Maintenance and parts run at least double on VW's than Japanese or American cars.

Get a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, or Ford Fusion.

This is not true at all, at least around here, and most places. The normal wear and tear parts are roughly the same with nothing being any different than the Japanese or American counterparts. I dont understand why people still perpetuate this when you can walk into a Sears and pay the same price for most work (driveline, suspension, and brakes) as you would any other car. The only thing that is generally more are the batteries, you will pay a $20-$30 premium.

OP: What year Jetta are you looking at?


I am on my 3rd VW, with around 300k miles between all of them.

[chadbag]

The only thing that is generally more are the batteries, you will pay a $20-$30 premium.

And I solved that by going to Wal-Mart and finding a battery about the right size and using that instead.

---

My dad is a Honda guy and he has had more issues with his Hondas than I have had with my VWs. Granted, not a lot of issues but has had more issues than I have had. (Small sample, etc. not worth anything scientifically etc). His Hondas have had more recalls as well

Again, I don't know anything about the Mexican Jettas of late. I think my 97 Jetta GT was Mexico made and it had very very few issues and my 2006 Passat is German made.

[orionz06]

I spent 7 years working in a few different garages during college and if there is one thing I learned, it is that Honda's have piles of electrical gremlins. Toyotas have the least issues, but for some unknown reason half of their cars have an oil filter, that when removed, drains a quart of oil all over everything. American cars are generally nice for a year then they begin to fall apart.

Car longevity is all about what you put into it. Keep good oil in it, change it at the correct intervals, keep it aligned, and run the tire pressure as indicated by the manual-door jamb-or gas cap.

My Jetta was Mexican made (2001 Wolfsburg) and was pretty flawless.

[lethal dose]

General stuff (tires, brakes, struts, batteries, air filters, etc.) aren't much more costly then any other car. Other things (power window regulators, power door lock motors, vacuum lines, head gaskets, timing belts, water pumps, axles, ball joints, tie rods, etc.) Are a bit more. If you have money to burn, get it. But I would not put it anywhere near the same class as a civic, camery, fusion, or malibu.