Look of it-different & cute Excellent on gas Dashboard lights are really cool Lots of trunk space Great in the rain & snow

Problems with the brakes, service lights come on for no reason, parts cost a fortune,cup holders suck(fell right out the 1st week,overall-its not worth the price

My lease is up in a few weeks & I could not be happier! I fell in love with the look of the Jetta;but just like people, you can't just look at the outside. This car has been nothing but a nightmare. From what I hear, it seems as though they really messed up with all the 99's. I've put in well over $5,000 for parts/service. German parts are so EXPENSIVE & reason alone to never buy a Volkswagon.

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This was my first car. I'm now looking at the Mitsubishi Galant, Honda Civic, ^ Toyota Corolla. Any suggestions?

- Purple backlight and switchblade type ignition key are cool. - The exterior design, minus the front bumper. It scrapes everything, especially coming off an incline. - Many items come standard with the car, i.e. floor mats.

- VW's attitude towards the consumer. - Unprofessional Dealers - Oil Consumption problems that they refuse to own up to. No engine should consume more than 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles. - Problems with the oxygen and mass airflow sensors. - The brakes/pads/rotors rust. - The cloth seats and matte dashboard are difficult to clean. - The car is noisy! So many ticks and rattles.

I WILL NEVER BUY A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN! I had to have a Jetta the first time I saw the car and the key. Beauty is only skin deep! DO NOT BUY A 1999 or newer Volkswagen. Volkswagen has seriously dropped the ball with the new designs. They look great, but they have serious design flaws. The older style Jettas had issues, but overall, they were dependable cars. My car has had an oil consumption problem that VW refuses to acknowledge. The front left tire wore out prematurely, and the the exhaust system had to be replaced at 22,000 miles. Too many other problems to list with a character limit. Save yourself the headache, buy a Honda or Toyota, and make sure the Dealer has a reputation of being courteous, honest (as they can be), and professional before, during and after you purchase the car. GET IT IN WRITING!

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1994 Honda Accord 1992 Nissan Sentra 1990 Jeep Cherokee

Looks good Good gas mileage

Cost Structural and electrical problems NO room in back seats

Got my car brand new in 2000 and have had a series of problems from the start.First came the creaking noises which emenated from the two front doors. Every time I made a turn they would creek as if the doors had not been set properly in the plant. 5 visits to the dealership later and it was finally fixed.Then electrical issues began to appear. Engine coolant warning light would constantly go off even though all levels when checked were fine. Now the locks on all my doors are malfunctioning, and of course my waranty is now up.Perfect timing!Thing that got me though, was when i asked the finance dept. about why the jetta after 2002 came with a 4 yr. warranty as apposed to 2 for my year, there response was " they've worked the kinks out of the plant in Mexico" can you believe it!? Nice to know i bought a melon year! Would never purchase a volkswagen again. No wonder people buy civics and corolla's so much. Quality and dependability.

styling, comfort, all standard features, the care has a wonderful motor, great acceleration, unbeatable mileage, pricing

We don't particularly care for the cup holder placement, as it hides the radio! When the seats are reclined it would be nice to have an arm rest attached to the seat.

This car in our opinion is spectacular! It is a real joy to drive and own. We purchased this car 8-02 after ordering specifically what we wanted, including the luxury and leather package. The sunroof is refreshing and the heated seats in the winter feel good before we get out of our driveway (1/4 mi long). It is compact enough to clean up in a jiffy, but large enough that we can use it to pick up supplies for our farm. The design and styling are timeless. Running is quiet with little wind noise. The rear hatch gives easy access to loads. The keyless entry is wonderful in rainy incliment weather before you reach your vehicle and we are fond of the security system as well. It is without a doubt, the best vehicle value for the money. Enjoy yours and have fun.... The car has great power and pulls strong at low revs. Fuel mileage comes in at 46mpg in the mountains and 62+ on the highway.

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Saturn SL sedan, Honda Accord LX, Buick Skyhawk

Good gas mileage. Large trunk space for a small car. Looks sporty.

Parts are very expensive. Uncomfortable on long trips.

I bought my '98 Jetta in '99 - it had 28K miles on it. Over the past 4 years, I have replaced just about everything I consider to be wearing items - brakes, tires, battery, belts, exhaust/muffler, etc. I replaced one item just last month that I am still bent over. Being as I bought it used, the warranty had long since expired. If I had bought it new, this repair would have been covered under warranty to 100K miles. Currently my Jetta has 90K miles. I was told by a mechanic that VW's are notorious for having a pin/bolt come loose inside the transmission and when the car is started, that pin/bolt is thrown around and causes all kinds of havoc inside the tranny. My transmission was completely destroyed. If I still didn't owe for the loan on this car I would have donated it at that point. The repair between parts (tranny $1600, flywheel $150, clutch $500 - and other misc parts that were damaged) and labor ($450) was quite costly - and that doesn't include being in a rental car for 3 weeks while it was being repaired. Believe it or not, my tranny was on the low end of the price scale. Of course, since the mechanic was already there, I had the clutch replaced just so this labor would not be paid again anytime soon. One of my complaints of the VW is the cost of the parts seem to 3x as expensive. I love driving this car around town - the steering is tight, the stick shift is great but the same reasons I love this car around town I hate on a long trip. The seats are hard, you feel every single bump. This car is not made to be in for longer than 3 hours at one time. Oh, one more thing, the molding down the side of the doors.. out of 4, I have one left hanging on. I was told it was going to be $100/each to put them back on so I am going without molding. I have noticed many other Jetta's around town with this same problem. My dashboard light just went out that was above my speedometer - it cost 2 hours of labor at the dealership JUST so the mechanic could get to the bulb to change it. This was my first VW purchase and it will be my last. However, I will drive this car until it drops -- or until I have to replace another tranny, whichever comes first.

Fast VR6, very expensive looking - high status car.

Service too expensive, upholstery attracts EVERYTHING

Always dreamed of owning a Jetta! Bought one and the dream was a nightmare! Looked GREAT, but the Check Engine light was always on, the EPC light was always on...spen over $2,000 on repair in the first year. Replaced serpantine belt, mass airflow sensor, front and rear breakpads, ignition coil, spring, and wires. The tail lights blew out all the time and I had to buy stock in bulbs. Traded it in for a new Mitsubishi Eclipse. VW dealerships blow you off and make you pay for everything out of pocket!! NO MORE VW!!

The 1.8T motor: first rate internals (forged crank, etc.), easily modified to get 220 hp or more, if you want it. Tiptronic transmission-- love the flexibilty. Lots of standard features for the price, quality materials in the cabin. Brake performance and feel. IMHO, the styling-- conservative, but with a distintive edge.

Stock supension too soft (compromised in favor of ride comfort). Back seat a little tight (so I'm told). Front cupholder placement (see other reviews)-- I don't use 'em much & they work for the brief periods when I do. Not a big issue for me. The '03s have changed that, anyway (hand brake moved toward the driver's seat to make room on the floor).

The engine is what makes this car a blast to drive. Had never owned a turbo before, but I'm a convert-- the lag is minimal, the motor will pull strongly from just off idle, and when the boost comes on, the sound and rush are exhilarating. The tiptronic transmission was my choice, because my commute in DC traffic involves a lot of stop-and-go; when I'm feeling lazy, can use the auto mode, and leave in D. The auto mode "remembers" your driving style, so if you feather the throttle a lot in that mode, it it can seem a little sluggish after awhile-- I use the manual mode for hard acceleration. Great to have the choice. With the tip in manual, highway passing is a breeze-- flip the lever for 5/4 downshift and go. Other plusses: seats are firm and supportive, and the steering feel is well-weighted compared to other cars in this class. Fit and finish inside in out very good overall-- occasional buzzing from a dashboard vent, but nothing I'd call a rattle, so far. Lots of trunk room for a car this size. Gas mileage a pleasant surprise: 31-32 mpg on the highway, 27 overall. The car hums contentedly at 80 mph, and feels stable in all kinds of weather. Overall: no problems with my unit (a late 2002), with only routine maintenance trips to the shop. Recommended to anyone looking for a quick, fun, yet practical, car for around $20K. If you do buy one, drive it gently during the 1000 mile break-in period-- then have fun!

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1986 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 1996 Honda Civic EX 2000 Oldsmobile Alero GLS (V-6) 2000 Honda CRX EX

corners well powerful stylish great gas milage

minor repairs can be expensive at dealership no glove compartment

My Jetta is great. Since I bought it I've only had to replace the muffler, which rusted due to the salt on the roads. I travel frequently between Maine and Pennsylvania and haven't had a single problem. The car is powerful (it's a 5 speed) and accelerates quickly in the mountains and high speed (90mph+) driving is not a problem for it. I've taken it to several VW dealships and they have all been very helpful and friendly.

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1986 Jetta 1994 Jetta 1985 Honda Accord

Fuel economy Safety features and rating Loaded with standard features

Air conditioning could be a bit colder. I will find out if it is fully charged and operating to maximum output.

Details: Wagon, GLS, 5 Speed Manual, TDI, Leather & Luxury Package, Side Curtain Protection, ESP So far this car is great. We have 3 kids (8,6 and 3) and they all fit very nicely in the back of this car. This is a vehicle for young families. My 6 foot 200 lb. frame also fits very comfortably into the front, heated leather seats. The drive and handling is extraordinary for any car let alone a wagon. The fuel economy of the TDI is amazing and it honestly has adequate power to haul my family of 5 with a full load in the back. It’s not a racing machine but it was not designed with that in mind either. It is quiet on the highway with RPM's around 2600 at 70mph. Everybody’s pet peeve, the cup holders, is now in the console, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear seating area. One thing I would also like to mention is something I initially thought was gimmicky is the ability to put the power windows up (or down) and close the sunroof with the turn of the key in the door. My kids are always putting the rear windows down and sometimes before I realize it we are out of the car. It's a nice touch. Our dealer has been excellent and service is fantastic.

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1998 Mazda 626 LX V6 - reliable,good car 1990 Ford Probe - mine was not good 1984 VW Scirroco - fun car

Superb diesel engineering. Nice clean appearance. Outstanding milage! Monsoon Sound (8 speakers with 200 watt amp!)

Small back seat...dim trunk lighting.

This is my return to VW, my first car was a '67 Beetle. My Jetta TDI is equipted with leather, heated seats, Monsoon Sound, automatic trans, sunroof, etc... has been flawless in performance. I even tow a trailer with it without problem. You take of the Jetta TDI and you will reap the benefits of 40/MPG city and 43HWY... oh yes, 38 MPG when towing a 1000 lb utilty trailer. Presently at the 50,000 mile mark... and no complaints.

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Nissan Stanza, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Sentra