Used 2001 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Consumer Reviews
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Still like to drive it after 11 years
fixit58, 07/11/2012
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bought new in 2001, now @ 160k mi. Averaging 31 mpg. Love the versatility of the wagon and the roof rack. Engine is anemic, despite very short final drive ratio of transmission, but car cruises comfortably at 80 mph. Engine has always used 1 qt of oil per 1500 mi, more in commuting, less with long distance travel. Everything is original except most sensors, timing belt, water pump, coil pack, plug wires (2x), horns, consumables like lamps, plugs, filters, brake pads (rear only). Had a few recalls, water intrusion into interior, the lower engine cover has taken many beatings from scraping on curbs, and that's about it. Enjoying a reliable car with no further depreciation.
My experience
Norma Rubin, 06/04/2005
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have 87,000 miles on my 2001 Jetta VR6 wagon. So far I have had the mass air flow sensor replaced, which VW refunded part of the money. And the coil also was replaced, but what really flip me out was that the rear brakes had to be completely replaced at 25,000 miles that cost $1000. I love the way the car performs, but not so crazy with the fuel economy; highway 22 to 25 mpg city 15 to 18. What I don't see other owners talk about is the stereo, I think it is the best car stereo a car manufacturer has installed in a car in its class. I also notice that with this five year old car that the imitation wood trim is cracking and it will need to be replaced
20001 Jetta Wagon
Tim Hastings, 12/22/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am very pleased with to car overall. The car has a smooth comfortable ride and is very dependable. The only thing I don,t like about the car is the fact that when we put our baby's car seat in the back, you have to put the front seat up close to the steering wheel to fit it in.
Really enjoyed this car
Christian Wade, 12/28/2015
updated 07/03/2016
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I owned my 01 Jetta Wagon for years and really enjoyed it. It was pretty trouble free but there was some maintenance that had to be done to keep it that way. The gas milage was great and it was fun to drive. Lots of room in the back of the car and that was great since I have a very large dog. I thought that the rear seat was fine for kids but tall adults would have a tight fit. Some of the coating on the interior parts was weird. It was rubbery and would scratch off. I also found that the sunroof drains are a constant trouble. They aren't hard to fix in the front but the rear are a pain. If you buy one of these cars know when the timing belt was done. Very important. I sold this car recently as I bought a Vanagon and didn't need two cars.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Never ever!
katysue81, 06/03/2015
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
I got this car just a few months ago. Ever since I got it, I have had nothing but problems. No skid plate anymore, 3 bent rims, it doesn't take potholes and dips too well. A newer clutch, the throw out bearing is already going out. It needs engine mounts, no matter which way you push your window button, it will go the way it wants to. In less than 3 months I have already had to replace alternator, serpentine belt (twice) battery, brakes and roders, 02 sensor. There is a short somewhere in the car. My lights will randomly flick on and off just driving down the road. It's fun to drive, and speedy. But unless you have a couple thousand saved up in the bank for repairs, don't get this.
Loved it
kristikrum, 09/15/2013
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sad to say I totalled my wagon last week. This was a very functional and reliable car for me. I haul lots of stuff to work every day, so it was great for the space factor although removing head rests to lay seats flat was a bit cumbersome. I received the car at 70,000 from and rode it to like 117 in 2.5 years. In that time I changed the impeller (seems common) on the coolant system and the front bumper shield thing rides a bit low to the ground so it was dragging and held up by duct tape in its last few months. The brakes were great, and I didn't mind the cup holders either way. This car saved my life in my accident where I hit the cement wall on the freeway, so I'm 4eva grateful.
There is no point in owning a gas VW
WriConsult, 06/16/2010
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the Jetta Wagon because we had just bought a Golf TDI and were impressed with the great interior and driving experience. Whoops! In two years we've had $6000 in maintenance. 22c/mile, more than twice any other car I have owned. And that's with just 100k on the clock. I've taken numerous Hondas and Subarus past 150k, and NONE of them has ever cost me more than 8-10cents/mi to maintain. Multiple cooling leaks, water pump (plastic impeller) failure (twice). Failed MAF sensor. Electrical, window and door latch problems. Last week a new ECU ($1000). It's not just the number of things, it's the parts cost (which Consumer Reports doesn't report). Example: cup holder broke. The PART was $180!
GLX Wagen
tubs, 11/09/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Since bought as demo with 4k, front roters have been replaced, cupholder non-functional, power roof adjusted, then would not close completely, and the transmission is absolutely horrible, in that it upshifts too quickly when starting from a stop, then downshifts abruptly just to keep up a moderate acceleration. During this, the RPM jumps back and forth from 1500 to over 3k. Dealer has told me twice that the tranny is normal, but in over 500,000 miles and a lot of vehicles, I have never driven such a strange transmission. Next is to the VW rep, I guess, or lemon suit.
Review of 2001 Jetta Wagon
gbuccolo, 09/04/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Jetta wagon looks great, is fun to drive, and can haul a lot of stuff...but it is not reliable. It has spent 30 days in the shop in one year. The problems have been sensor malfunctions, failed switches (casuing the car to be unable to switch out of park), and transmission problems (causing 4th gear to fail and the other gears to malfunction). VW dealer and customer service has been terrible. I have serviced the vehicle at TransOcean VW in Pasadena. I would not reccomend them. In additional to the mechanical problems, they dented the car.
2002 Wagon rocks!
MarkAS, 02/27/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2002 Jetta wagon in Oct 2001 and I love the car. I got the 2.0 liter 5-speed manual transmission and this car has no problems accelerating with one person. The cornering is excellent and the ride feels like a sports car. The interior looks and feels great (esp. at night). Small size makes parking easy. The wagon gives you almost as much cargo space as a small SUV with much better gas mileage.
Jetta GLX VR6 - good but could be better
dco, 03/01/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Quality of material is excellent, craftmanship is less than perfect for the Mexico built models. Suspension too american and soft. Manual Shiffter too long and rubberry. Equipement of US car is unacceptable compared to european model which comes with AWD, 6 speed manual,201 HP and GPS for the same price.
The Best
jvfan, 08/20/2003
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This wagon is simple the best when it come to german engineering and is the perfect sub for those who are not wanting to buy a mini van.
Wow!
Brian, 02/11/2005
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a tight handling little car. No rattles going over bumps and very quiet at 70 mph. I love the room the car has especially with the rear seats folded. Totally reliabe with gas mpg that rivaled my old Neon. I'm getting around 27 mpg in town! What a cheap car to own. I've only had it for a month, but I can already say it is the best car I have ever owned. I am now a VW snob for the rest of my life!
The Best
marshn, 01/03/2006
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Volkswagen Jetta Wagon is the best. I am a musician and haul lots of instruments and gear. I loaded all this up in several wagons for a test drive and there was no question. This car held more equipment, drives much better (it's a blast to drive), is more comfortable for long drives, and the sound system is outstanding. The heated seats and sunroof add to the joy. I could not be happier with this car. I've got 115,000 miles and never had a problem. I have only had to make oil changes and 3 tune-ups. Fahrvergnuegen! Danke Volkswagen!
Bargain in a nice wrapper
Brian Reed, 05/11/2005
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have taken this car on two long trips and it has been everything I wanted and more. Everything works superbly in the car from the Monsoon system, cd changer, seats and cupholders. It gets fabulous MPG in town and on the road. I consistently get between 27-30 in town and 34-37 on the road. When the cruise is engaged, it has no problem pulling an uphill grade like the Grapevine in CA fully loaded. I love this car!!!
Hate It
hateit, 01/29/2006
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had nothing but problems with my 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS Wagon and VW dealership's and care for my car. Every month there is some new problem. I definitely would not recomend this car, or company to anyone. I have never seen such poor preformance and quality, from the vechicle to the people who sell and work on them.
Great German Wagon
robpsdhs, 02/06/2007
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car replaced a 2000 Beetle (I loved the Beetle but needed more useful cargo space). It has very few negatives: its mileage isn't great. I've used regular gas for three years. The mpg actually improved from when I used super. It has no knocks or pings. I had a problem with the coolant system when I moved to the desert. The coolant evaporates in this intense heat. Now, the positives: the car is great. Its handling after six years is still crisp and responsive. Its fit / finish are excellent. Even using regular gas the acceleration is excellent. I also have a '04 Mustang Convertible. My Jetta wagon is so much more fun to drive. I love this car.
Best Car I've Ever Owned!
Brian, 10/27/2007
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
What can I say? I am now forever a loyal VW buyer. This car is absolutely amazing. I have the 2.0 with a 5 speed manual. Plenty of power even when fully loaded. I can set the cruise at 70 with people and gear in the car and pull the Grape Vine without losing speed. Awesome. The torque is also amazing. At 1800 rpm in top gear, it will accelerate. Not bad.
My jetta wagon
rasool, 05/13/2003
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car is joy to drive.Great handling,braking(though ABS cylinder has a manufactuer defact that fails in first hard braking).Good warranty coverage and company that care about its image,will respond to your complain right away.Overall, proud to own this car.
I should have waited
J***, 11/20/2002
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my wagon 18 mo. ago and wish I would've thought twice. The wagon is cute and decent to drive, but it has its share of problems. The Mojave Beige is hard to see in certain light. I replaced child window locking switch due to malfunction. When we were hit on the passenger side at about 50 mph (guy blew through a red light when we had a turn arrow), NOT ONE of the safety features which I bought the car for, engaged. After a dealer check, they show that heated mirrors are functioning only part-time (but of course they wouldn't fix that while it was in the shop!) It has lost way too much in resale value. Over $10K!
Love and hateful relationship
schrum, 05/05/2015
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got my Jetta in 2011, and it did good for a while but in a year it started having over heating problems. I loved driving it but then in 2013 the coil pack went out, so I just parked it in our yard and drove my 95 Nissan XE. Finally in 2015, I put a new coil pack in it and drove it to the mountains, on my way back the tire blew out and destroyed the front left side Love it and hated it at the same time
favorite car ever
dynakit, 06/02/2003
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the best car I've owned. There were a few initial ticks, child window lock broken, seat fold-down retainers broken. I expect a couple issues with a new car though, and these were minor and taken care of right away. If power is your thing, might want to step up to the 1.8T or the VR6, but I find the 2.0 to be adequate for urban and interstate.
Works good for some but not for everyone
Erica, 02/06/2016
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's very costly to repair and once it breaks down once will break down multiple times in a year. A bought this car when it had 50000 first thing that went out was my transmission, had to replace my radiator, starter cranked, my started melted on to my battery, cooling system, my air conditioner. My advice is get it check first to know what's wrong before you buy it I have spent $6000 in repairs have only had it for 4 years it's not a good buy. Bumper is too low also!
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
expensive German lady
Rhoda sagun, 08/10/2016
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Good car when taken care of properly
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
VW FunWagen
Brian, 05/01/2008
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the BEST car I have ever owned. Where do I start? The seats are so comfortable. I can drive 500 miles and be as fresh as a daisy when I arrive. The mpg is amazing. I drive 75 most of the way and still get 34 miles per gallon. My old car would get 28 at that speed. I can fit a ton of stuff inside. I am tall (6ft 2in) so my seat is back a bit. When the rear seat is folded, I am still comfortable. I am not jammed against the wheel trying to drive. Then, the space back there. With the seats up, I can fit three loaded golf bags back there. With the seats down, I was able to fit furniture inside (kitchen table and chairs) when I was moving. Awesome car, highly recommended.
Worst Car I Have Ever Owned
Ron Franks, 07/27/2005
2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLX VR6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
We bought this car for my wife and intitially we were thrilled - it was very cool and a lot fun to drive. After about two years and 20,000 miles the fun began - rear brakes, oxygen sensor faults, airbag switch faults, windows falling in the doors, cracked ignition coil harness (?), bad fuses, frozen doors in the winter, etc., etc., etc. I have owned many cars in my life and have never, ever experienced this sort of ongoing maintenance nightmare. I take care of my cars and never have a problem with investing $$$ to keep them running properly, but give me a break! Half of the things that went wrong with this car I had never heard of (and one of my other cars is a Saab)! Toyota's from now on!