It looks like a car. The upholstery is nice.

Oh...where to begin. All the doors leaked - badly. I mean if one door leaks you think it's a fluke; if all the doors leak, that's a serious design flaw. Oh yeah, the trunk leaked too. Our car smelled like a middle school science fair project on "Molds of the South." Then the exterior door handles fell off, one by one. The interior knobs on the window handles and radio broke off so that we had a pair of pliars in the car for the purpose of changing the radio station. The heater began to emit noxious gasses into the car -- and I was pregnant at the time. Turns out it was the heater coil (which was later recalled, two years AFTER we'd paid $800 to have it replaced). Then mold began to creep under the paint, particularly on the roof of the car. When we traded it in I swore to the auto dealer that the mold was in the shape of the Virgin Mary and that if advertised properly the car might become a pilgrimage. He didn't buy it and our trade-in value was about what we would have gotten if we'd glued lego tires to a cinderblock.

Air conditioner went out -- $600 repair. We were in every six months for brake work. Transmission repair -- another $600 or so. Trunk light went out and could not be repaired. Locks on the back doors (with the child safety feature) became sticky and if you didn't SLAM the doors shut they would sometimes fly open when you were accelerating. Eventually one lock stopped functioning altogether so that we had to keep the door closed and always climb in from the other side. Glove box cracked and began to hang down from the dash. One of the rear seatbelts stopped working...there were so many more, small but infuriating problems. The car just bascially fell apart as if it had leprosy. Maybe there's a Volkeswagon colony for cars like this?

It was two years old when we purchased it and it's been nine years since we got rid of this car, but it's suckage was legendary. We still tell Jetta stories around the campfires. I can only pray that when we traded this car in for our WONDERFUL Accord that they stripped it down and sold it for parts, because otherwise I fear that my kharma will be tainted by the vengeful fury of another owner.

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Honda Accord, but it wasn't similar to the Jetta in any way.

I went looking for a 4 door, 5 speed, with enough power to be fun. I looked at VW on a whim, and was impressed enough to go for it. It's awesome: powerful, torquey engine, slick 5 speed, traction control (!), tilt-telescoping steering column, smooth, quiet, and that mad cool 'blurple' dash lighting.

Tight rear seat - but I'm only carrying my 18 month old back there most of the time. Tall enough to hesitate a moment before taking a set in fast cornering.

Too many manufacturers today seem to have decided that if you need four doors, you don't like driving. Or, if you're an enthusiast, you don't have kids or a general need for 4 doors.

Options:
Daimler-Chrysler - Neon
BMW - they get it - many options, but bring a big checkbook
Ford - Focus? Not my cup of tea, and weak anyway.
Honda - Civic, or Accord with the 4 cylinder
GM - Cavalier - I rented one once. I was unimpressed.
Nissan - Sentra, Altima, maybe Maxima (didn't check) - pretty good list
Lincoln (!) - LS, but with the small engine
Lexus - maybe the new IS300
VW, Audi - Put a 1.8T or VR6 in several models, and have fun.

Anyway, given the options, make sure to try a VW. The fit an finish are commendable. The feel is of a much larger car. The ergonomics are excellent. Safety is best in class (behind the New Beetle).

Look around, but make sure VW is on your list.

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Compared to 5 speed 4 door Honda Accord? Don't bother. 155 lb-feet from 1950-4750 RPM for the 1.8T; 155 lb-feet at 4950 for the Accord. Drive the Accord like you hate it, and then it might go. It won't be fun to drive, though - not like the VW.
I've owned an '85 Mercury Cougar with the 5.0 - torque is comparable. A better comparison is to the '91 Eagle Talon TSI AWD I had - 195 HP turbo with all wheel drive. That car had the same kind of almost limitless torque, but the Jetta has less turbo lag. The Jetta, however, has shown me that I never quite appreciated the advantage provided by the AWD in the Talon. Even with traction control, it can be tough keeping the drive wheels planted. Don't get me wrong though - it's tough but fun. :-)

Great styling; German engineered; solid road handling.

Oil drinker; smallish back seats; Mexican assembly (bah !)

After 16, 000 KMS. , oil has been added to this car 8 times !!! I am currently on a dealer monitored oil consumption study. I am reserving any judgement on the car until this problem is solved, either by the dealer or VW.

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I have had 3 new Honda Civics and a Jeep Cherokee before this Jetta. The Civics were VERY reliable cars - no problems whatsoever. If the oil problem with my Jetta continues I am going to be very pissed off - otherwise I like the car so far.

Fast, comfy, lots of extras, great stereo, and its a VW!

Light in the back end, so even with stiff springs and a strut bar you get some body roll and a bit of fish tailing in quick turns.

I love my Jetta. Every car I have owned has been a VW, and this is the classiest, sportiest VW I have owned so far. Some extras have been put on the car. With new headers, a chip, lowering springs, racing pulleys, a better air filter, a short shifter, and a growling dual-tip tail pipe, and a front strut bar, this car is quite a performer. Like I said before, however, this isn't really a sports car. Tight turns will rock it unless you completely revamp the suspension. Even though it is front-wheel drive, it will still fishtail in hard turns. This might be prevented with 17" rims and fatter tires, though the back end is very light. The car is still relatively practical even with all of the impractical extras. On a warm day at consistent highway speeds I can get about 29 or 30 mpg. City driving in the winter gives me about 20 mpg (sometimes less). The VR6 will guzzle gas if you let it. Maintenence is relatively simple, though the oil filter is located in a very odd location and if one isn't careful, an oil change can be a very messy job. The VR6 seems like it was shoe-horned into the engine compartment. Some items are therefore somewhat inaccessible. (Keep an eye out for VW's V8 Passat--- a V8 that takes up about the same amount of volume as the VR6 coming within the next two years or so).

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Civic Si, Acura Integra Type R--> A well tuned GLX or VR6 GTI will smoke most well tuned Honda VTEC 4 cyl rockets. Integra has stiffer handling, Civic is lighter. Jetta has four doors, big engine, more torque.

Low RPM engine torque. Amount/types of standard features. Handling characteristics.

Power windows should have been a standard feature.

Paid 15,995 out the door for this basic, black 2000 Jetta GL I got for my wife. This auto makes an excellent driver around town for the both of us. The 115 bhp is plenty for such a light car with a 5-speed. Nice and torquey too. I have seen some who complain about this little useless option or that, but what matters most, HOW IT DRIVES, is where it really shines. It is a perfect example of German ability: taught suspension; cornering capabilities; competant drivetrain; very good brakes. And I cannot forget the supportive seats, thoughtful tilt/telescopic wheel, adjustable wipers, rear defroster and the ice cold AC.

This is easily a 5 star auto. Not every car we own has to have every option or the most power available. All it needs to do is make driving fun. I have another car most people can't even afford. Hell, they couldn't even afford the insurance on it even after one was given to them, let alone the possibility for the fine of doing 160+, and I can honestly say I have no preference over which to drive. Quite a compliment for that little Jetta GL in the driveway.

Those of you still stuck in that "if it's japanese, it's just gotta be great" have to check this car out. It's your choice, but it's time to stop living the lie. The German's just make them better.

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Pontiac Grand AM (one more plastic body panel ought to do it) Hondon't buy it, Toyota's belong in the toybox, Ford focus-forgetaboutit.

Fast! Very tight, confident handling. Reliable as all getout. Interior is well thought out. Premium audio BUMPS! I kept finding thoughtful little touches for months. Tilting driver's seat is one of many such touches. Not a rattle in the car to this day. It has an enormous trunk for a middlin-size car. There are too many positive things to say about this car. It was the best, nicest machine I'd ever owned and held it's value very well on trade. When I went to the dealership, I pointed and said "do you see that pretty green Jetta? I want a new one just like it."

Front cupholders too small and placed such that if you use them the cups will be in the way of the ashtray. Rear seat room not so hot but doable for a couple of passengers. If the speedo fails, forget it. There are 21 steps to get into the job and 21 steps to get out. Basicly you have to remove the entire dash, wheel, airbags..... Speaking of which, there is no glove compartment in the 96' model due to the late addition of the passenger airbag. That I got used to pretty quick and didn't really mind much. I did not like the fact that the second owner gets only a 5/50000 mile powertrain warranty versus the original owner's 10/100000 warranty. I felt this was arbitrary and it did not please me at all. Fortunately, there were no failures of any kind in this area and nearly none at all (but for the speedo).

I bought the car used with 13000 miles on it in 1997 - still in warranty. It looks great, is tons of fun to drive, gets good mileage while still being very sporty. Four doors are nice. It handles extremely well on our twisty mountain roads.

I've taken this car as far North as Ohio and as far South as Miami, FL. Nary a hiccup in 50k miles of owning it. The speedo failed but that was almost certainly due to the physical shock of a rear-end accident I had in which a taxi hit me at about 15mph. The car is FAST. I have a ticket to prove that - 125mph in a 70 zone. Still had more to go too! I belive the speedo's 140mph maximum but never took it above 125.

In short, I loved this car like my own brother. Faithful, reliable, inexpensive to run. It looks and drives as though it should cost 10,000 more than list. I loved it so much I traded it in on a 2001 Jetta just a couple of weeks ago. I got $6900.00 in trade and I bet they'll sell it for $8500 to $9000 to the next proud owner. CHICK MAGNET - my wife'll be the first to say it.

The only thing I have to say in the negative about my experience with this car is that the VW dealer here in town is shady, reluctant to perform warranty service, and my bodywork after the two accidents (neither my fault) was shoddy and imperfect. New paint cracked and flaked and some parts weren't repainted at all (fix what shows), leaving bare metal/primer in view. The dealer (Deal of Asheville) would not address my complaints about the work. I found a MUCH better dealer in Greenville, SC (Steve White Motors), but it still irks me that I had to drive ninty miles to get good service and a fair trade value. Deal offered me $4000.00 for the car and SWM offered nearly $7000.00 for it and a better price on the new car I wanted to boot. I did go back to Deal and speak with the manager who appologized profusely, but after two bad body fixes and reluctant warranty service, I'm done with them for the rest of my natural life. Please, prospective VW buyer do not take this as a VW problem but only a Deal of Asheville problem. I loved the car enough to drive it 90 miles for a fair deal from an honest dealer.

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Makes a 96' accord look like an oxcart for handling and sportiness.

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too popular, hard to negotiate a good price

i would highly recommend a jetta for anyone in the market for a new car. i test drove other cars but as soon as i got in the jetta i knew i was going to buy it. the car is loaded with safety feature and beyond that you feel very in control while on the road. the car is well built and well designed. i driving at night is fun because of the unusual color of the dash, the remote key works great, and i love shutting the door because it just feel solid compared to other asian or american cars.

who should buy this car? anyone. as for price, negotiating is going to be hard...my GLS (no options) $17,100...good luck, you're getting a great car.

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ford, honda, nissan, and mercedes: best car i've ever driven

Fit and finsh is excellent. Almost "Audi-like". Time will tell if the longevity is as good. The Diesel is getting me 930 km's per tank with the 5-speed manual with agressive driving. The black leather is rich looking. Remote key works well. 3,000 RPM at 140 km's on highway make it geared well for long distance cruising.

Without the Monsoon system, the tape deck is underpowered junk. Have upgraded to the Blaupunkt Toronto (red lights just like the Jetta). The motor is slightly agricultural, but outside of the Merceded E300, the best we can get in Canada. The back seat is on the small side. The way the doors seal is excellent for collecting leaves and debris in the top weatherstripping. There is too much body roll in corners.

I paid under 30K for the loaded GLS with leather and every option but Monsoon. I would recommend this car. Buy it and you will have a car that is everything a German sedan should be. But don't expect the dealer to treat you like you are buying an Audi TT coupe. This car is in demand, and the dealers are not afraid to let you know they have the upper hand. A far cry from 5 years ago when they were begging for sale. Times change.

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Ford Focus - no comparison - this is a lower end copy.
Honda Civic - nice to shift, but bland and buzzy.
Passat VR6 - previous car - better back seat, more power, more $.

Its all good. Good lookin and drives well. Very responsive and quite powerful.

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I paid just over a dollar and I'm loving the awsome stereo and the interior is great. I have added 6 15" Cerwin-Vega Woofers and this car really shakes! Its great.

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1934 Ford Model T, The Jetta wasn't even close to the awsome speed and the Model T had an exceptionaly good system on it, too.

Nice acceleration, quiet engine, lots of torque, monsoon stereo sounds sweet, folding key is awesome (for stabbing people!), comfy heated seats, blue glowing console, big trunk, nice styling, nice handling, quiet interior, odor filter seems to work well...

Little bit of body lean on corners, it's -very- hard, if not impossible to keep within the legal speed limit

With leather interior, 1.8L Turbo, heated seats, 8-speaker monsoon stereo, sunroof, cd player, and the time it took to wait for the silver painted model, it cost around CDN$29k, and into the mid $30k's after taxes and financing. That's quite a bit less if it were american cash.

Cool dealer, sweet styling, small quiet powerful engine, luxurious interior... it totally wastes the Honda Civic, and all other cars in the price range which *try* to compete.

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Fully loaded, 4.6L 260 hp V8, 2000 Ford Mustang (faster, but not mine!)