Skip,
I'm looking for a commuter bucket too (25k miles/year). I value your insight and I just was wondering what specifically you like about the Jetta? I certainly have no reason to DISlike them, I was just curious what features the Jetta has that appeal to you...

 

[quote]Originally posted by Dave:
<strong>
If this is true, these cars must be perfect.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Actually, that is what I have read/heard. They are supposed to have ZERO common failure points.

 

Hey skip,

just in case you need some parts for one, cosmetic or whatever, just let me or mike adkins know. There is a load of them in the junkyards around here. You've helped us out, thought I would return the favor.

 

Skip ,I traded in a 98 passat that i owned for 7 weeks it was in the shop for something every week,one time it had to be towed,it did not handle very well either, all within 3k miles and it only had 25,000 total. My mech gave a big thumbs down on all vw ,his friend works at a dealership! traded it for a Volvos40 best thing I ever did!I also heard LOTS of complaints on thier cust service(check out vortex)a vw board.

 

**** (really?),

At 25k miles per annum you might be considering a late model used ('99 - on) or new Jetta. I like my '01 VR6, but if I were purchasing today, might opt for the 1.8T. That little turbo is quick.

The new VR has more HP and is probably interesting, but for the commute, you'll get better mileage with the 1.8, except, of course, when driving the car like it's a Porsche. Oh yeah, VW still hasn't managed to eliminate (or substantially lessen) the torque steer.

richard
'87 Carrera-3.6L
'01 Jetta VR6

 

Skip, I had an '83 Rabbit GTI, from new to ~90K, no serious problems, nad an '89 Jeta GLi 16V from 7K (demo) to ~90K, no serious problems. They're solid, fun, and basically great cars. The earliest 16V cars did have cam breakage problems, tho'. Neither of the above cars _ever_ stranded me, and I drove the **** out of them on mountain roads. Very little of the mileage was 'easy interstate miles'.

Jim, VW's forever!

 

I have a 90 8V (GL) I got it after the 1st winter I had a 944 and did about 6 rotations in the middle of the interstate in an ice storm in the 944. The 8V is good grocery getter, reasonably peppy except after I've been driving the 944S. It has been generally reliable and the only major problem I had (5-speed replacement) was not the car's fault as I neglected to replace a seal or monitor the transaxle fluid level. A nice modification is an E-Code Hella GTI (round lamp+driving lights) grill. If someone won't dim their lights, you have photon torpedoes to fire back! 90 was the last year for German made Jettas in this country, also some earlier ones were made in Mexico. Look for a "WVW" VIN if that's important. Non GLI seats are a little flat and I don't particularly like some of the passive restraints. Also the Heidelburg radio got deprogrammed last winter and I can't figure out hoe to reprogram it (no manual). To compound the problem when I tried to get a CD player I had installed to replace it was not compatible with the activ speakers and redoing the entire sound system was more than I wanted to do. Other than that I have been very happy with the car (45000 when I got it in 92 or 93, 115000 now) but I am getting a little bored with it. The final thing I don't like about the VW is that there's no RENNLIST for VW's!!!

 

I have had a 90 jetta 8v and a 90 gli 16v
(which i loved) they both were great but
If u could i would get the 16v gli 2.0
It only has about 30 more hp but it has a better
close ratio trans and rear disc brakes.

They where both fun cars but i have sense switched to honda for a daily driver......(crx)
Which i like more than both jetta's as they are easyer to work on and you have some many motor options for so cheap, not to mention
crx will spank a jetta at a auto-x, but if you want
to haul 5 of your buds around then the jetta would do just great.......

good luck

 

A good friend of mine had a '95 Jetta VR6- he had owned 3 different Corrado VR6's previoulsy- the Jetta was simly faster, although it was just a fast one period! It really shouldn't have been faster than the Corrados. Anyway, I really liked the car, as did he, but he diddn't have it long enough to find out the loger term probs. At this point, you MAY be able to fnid a VR6 for a relatively cheap price if you're interested...

 

Thanks very much for all of your responses!

Got one!...



Maybe the fourth we looked at... 97 Jetta GL, Black on Charcoal velour, 5spd, 2.0l, 90k, excellent condition (two minor paint blemishes, curbed wheel covers), premium 8 speaker sound, Alpine CD, sunroof, new tires, recent clutch <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

Deal went very smooth - the lot was a VW dealer (lots of used late model 'dubs, Pignataro in Everett). Asking was $10k, landed it for $7k - they lost another $250 when I discovered the stereo volume buttons were not reliable, and their "45-point Certification Inspection" missed a broken upper dipstick holder. Other than that, it's looks completely mechanically sound.

Those looking for a good used 16V model - I wish you luck - I could_not find a decent example within 100 miles.

Some preliminary observations:
- it ain't a Porshey... thou shalt not compare.
- the fit and finish is about as good as can be for such a price range of auto - compared to the limited number of domestic and import models of the same range, this is tops.
- the engine is weak to start out, but does well in traffic and on the freeway. Very comfortable passing and merging.
- the clutch (all that I tested) has little feeling - feels a little mushy... but again, it ain't a porshey. Gear changes are positive, but fifth is in the passengers lap (I hate having to say "excuse me" when shifting gears)
- brakes, well, it's got 'em - surely they are adequate to stop the vehicle safely, but they certainly don't inspire me to take chances. Much better than the earlier models though.
- the interior comfort and exterior styling is very impressive for such an econobox... not nearly as nice as the "New Jetta", but certainly worth the comparative price of admission. Seats are very supportive, position and adjustment of steering column is functional. The only change I'd make is the cruise functions moved to the steering wheel (vice the signal stalk). Has ample room inside for the focus we have (2 adults, 2 small children).
- The trunk space in these little cars is amazing - I'm guessing there's enough room for 5, maybe 6, dead bodies in there.
- the engine compartment should have made better use of the extra space by storing the spare tire or something Seriously, there's enough room in there for another engine! (nice change of pace for me)
- the little things are a nice touch... the central locking will_not lock the driver's door (for idgits like me). When locking from door cylinders, you move it one way to lock all (and close the sunroof if open), then the other way once to open the door, twice to open the car. No power windows in this one, so I don't get that fun trick.
- mileage is rated at 24/31... we'll see how that goes after some tuneup items are covered.

All-in-all, very satisfied with this purchase - so far (~6 hours ) Thanks again for all the responses! Thanks for the Off-Topic Bandwidth.

Skip

 

Funny how VW name cars differently in N- America and europe. I used to have '95 VW Vento, which is excately the same car as Jetta.
Does Vento mean something silly in N- America ???Or what might be the reason for different naming?
Are these Jetta's made in Germany or are they "Heco i Mexico" ?

Olli
'88 951
'00 VW Passat Variant
'02 Skoda Octavia

 

Congrats on the Jetta. I personally have two of them myself (96 GLS & 98 GLX). If you are to do one thing to the car I would strongly recommend getting some Bilsteins sports and H&R Sports. New springs and struts will change the entire demenor of the car. Many things can be done to "enhance" the car but we can't take away from the 944 funds now can we By 97 they were all made in Mexico at least fr the North American market. Only a few of the early cars were from Germany due to quality issues with the plant in Mexico.

 

yep, shocks and struts. so you can get a little drop on it...

 

Hey, Skip! Congratulations! Looks like a real sweet basic daily ride!

Since it's mass-market rather than niche market, like the 944, just think of all the nice...uh, "rice" accessories you can get for it... fart-sounding coffee-can exhaust tips, under-body neon, light-up windshield washers... heck, I bet you can even get Alteza tail lights for it!!! And don't forget the "Type R" sticker ;-)!!!

Just be sure to leave a trail of bread crumbs when you venture into the trunk....

Seriously, It should be a great car. Enjoy it!

Jim, wishin' he had time to do some PhotoShoppin' today....

 

Wait, you can't do the cool windows-go-up-when-you-lock-it trick?? And you paid money for this car? VWs are great, rock solid in my opinion. I had a '79 Rabbit. We paid $150 for the car, $150 for a new windshield, $150 for a tape deck, and $53.75 for a set of junkyard GTI wheels, a plastic GTI emblem, and some red tape to go around the grill. Sucker would only do 90mph downhill, but it did it absolutely rock solid. Scooted around turns like a kart. Went through the snow like a sumbitch, too. Timing belt went at a gazillion miles on my way to the beach. I felt that loss. You can fit 5-6 highschool-sized bodies in a Jetta trunk...aks me how I know.

Side note: I once got 8 people in my 944 for a brief ride home.