Used 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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Fuel Friendly
I bought this car for the fuel mileage. When I compared it to other fuel savvy cars this by far looked and handled the best. It might not win any races off the line, but in an endurance race it would blow them away. It's very fun to drive and it looks sophisticated, unlike other gas mileage vehicles. My only complaint is they could've used better materials on the interior, and bigger cup holders. I don't know what kind of drinks europeans use but most american cups are bigger than a soda can.
German Engineering
This is the second VW jetta I have had within 4 and a half years. At first i leased a 1999 new body style jetta gl...roll up windows, hub caps, tape players, the basics. I loved it!!!!!!! That is why i went and leased another one after my lease was up...a 2003 gls with the works. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA...everything about it is great! Fun to drive, easy to handle, and has some power to it as well for a 2.0.....
- GLSMSRP: $2,450269 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $2,999707 mi away
- GLS TDI Diesel SedanMSRP: $7,500789 mi away
Diesels are GREAT
Manual trans is fun. I feel like I am in control just like years ago with the standard transmission. The pick up is good working the gears.
Pray you live near the dealership
If it weren't for the near 50mpg milage, VW would not be able to give these pieces of crap away. You will definitely need the extra fuel economy to drive back and forth to the service department. The power windows have broken twice; some sort of "switch" in the brake system failed which refused to allow the car to be put into gear; the fuel filter sprang a leak causing the injectors to suck air. That's just the top three list! You'll also need to be ready to drop $800 at the 40K mark to replace the timing belt. I would *not* trust this vehicle on a road trip.
my view of a jetta
I think that the Volkswagon Jetta is one of the best cars ever made. It is in style and has great gas mileage. However, I have had troubles with the transmission.
So far darn good
I bought my car in July this year and I have nothing but praise for it. It looks cool,handles beautifully,has all those wonderful extras that you don't expect in the so called "entry level" model and then there's the German workmanship that you just cannot fault. A class act as far as I'm concerned.
Luv It
So far so good. I luv it. Luv the performance and gas mileage. Have had 1 problem with it and that was a humming noise from the front when you made turns. They replaced the transmission fluid with a synthetic fluid and the problem went away. There is a tech. notice on this for those of you who also have this problem. The delearship was good but their maintenence dept is the best I have ever been to. They keep you updated every 30 mins while you wait.
Speedy loves it!!
I love the VW. Had a 2000 Beetle but wanted more room so I got the Jetta. The 1.8T is the best. The gas pedal just says "go ahead". It has been great.
Second Jetta
This is my second Jetta. I loved my 1992 which had 200,000 miles on it when I reluctantly gave it away. I've already fallin in love with my new 2003.
Great Car for the Money
Good car for the money. I have traveled to VA a couple of times and it never gave me a problem. I had to bring my car back to the dealer 3 times for the brakes. The dealer realized it was a defect of the calipers. VW replaced the brakes at no charge. My fuel sensor went at about 35,000 miles. The paint on the car chips too easy. The cupholers are fine but need to be of a better quality than plastic. The interior is first rate. It is like having a BMW for $20,000 less! The blue and red dash always gets complements. Car has the best look in its class. Plus you can brag to your friends that you drive a German car!
Bad Decision
I think I completely made a mistake in buying my jetta......I have never seen as many mishaps with any other car (my family and friends included). The bumper is low to the ground and OFTEN rips off when parking.....my sunroof has also started to malfunction. In the three years I have owned this car (bought it brand new) I have already put $7000 in to it. However it is fun to drive, though not when you have to take it to the shop every two months.
car
the best car in the world if I had one car for the rest of my life this would be it.
BMW Performace, Volkswagen Prices
After owning various BMW models, including the market-leading 3-series sedan, I've come to own a Tornado Red Jetta GLI. I've found it to be an immensly entertaining ride, with a free-revving and torquey VR6 engine, a slick 6 speed which is a joy to row and pedals placed perfectly for heel- and-toe downshifts. The suspension readily absorbs road irregularities while being stiff enough to prevent excessive body roll. An all-around fun car to drive which rewards great drivers.
I loved my 2000 TDI so much I bought #2
Other than having the AC not work after delivery in March this Car has been flawless just like my 2000 which I still own.The perfect car for someone that spends a lot of time on the road and wants to do it in a comfortable and cost efficient matter.My 2000 Sdn.has 120,000 miles on it and my 2003 Wgn. has 4,000 miles on it. What more can I say.The Jetta is the most underrated Car.
WHAT A CAR
I just test drove the Jetta GLI and all i can say is wow. The model i test drove had everything, leather sunroof and cold weather package. The engine performace even surpassed my big v8 i currently drive. The 6 speed is a blast and i WILL be purchasing my car SOON.
Poor Workmanship
My Jetta has been in the shop about 30 times in the year I have owned it. The plastic pieces in the interior have all peeled and had to be replaced. The replacements have begun their peeling now. My passenger side seat fell apart, and has been to the dealership and upholstery shop 4 times. The seat is still broken, and was inoperable for over 2 months. I would not wish my Jetta experience on my worst enemy. DO NOT purchase a VW.
Fun car to drive
This car is fast enough to take you safely to work. Driving this car makes me feel 5 years younger. The 6 speed manual transmission is amazing if you live in areas with no heavy traffic. Perfect clutch length makes it easy to switch gears. After three months of ownership I have to say that the perfomance and quality are outstanding. I'll be happy to update my review if anything goes wrong with my Jetta.
Love my 1.8T Jetta GLS
I bought this vehicle with great anticipation, and did it ever prove to be worth it. I drove both this Jetta and the Audi A4. For about $7K less I got a car that knocks my socks off every time I get behind the wheel. It makes the 100+ miles I drive daily a treat.
Best small car around!!
I've had my TDI Jetta Sedan for a over 8 mos. and 12.5k miles. MPG as high as 52 before I put a roof rack on it. I still get over 40 with a kayak & bike on the roof. I love the fact that there are studs for mounting the roof rack firmly already built into the car. You won't win any drag races with this car, but you can easily merge with traffic on highways & pass cars on back roads. The shifter is smooth & direct. With the back seat down, storage room is great. Handling & ride are great. Seats & ergos are the best I've had. Other than a blown fuse the 1st weekend I had the car, nothing has gone wrong. I am very pleased with my TDI.
I LOVE MY JETTA GLS 1.8T!!!
this car is sooo cool, i love it!! my parents bought a new 2003 jetta for my birthday. yup, brand spankin new!! i used to drive a honda; but unfortunately, it died out on me. practically everyone i know including my whole family all drive japanese made cars. but let me tell you, i 'do' notice a difference...the quality is sooo much better!!! .. i'm especially excited about the heated seats!!!..turbo! ..automatic daytime lights!..how the interior lights up blue!!..spacey trunk!!, i can go on and on ..aaaaah, i love my car!!! ^____________^ YAY!!!! only got 300 miles on it, and had it for just about a week now.. he he :)
Bad Decision
I think I completely made a mistake in buying my jetta......I have never seen as many mishaps with any other car (my family and friends included). The bumper is low to the ground and OFTEN rips off when parking.....my sunroof has also started to malfunction. In the three years I have owned this car (bought it brand new) I have already put $7000 in to it. However it is fun to drive, though not when you have to take it to the shop every two months.
GLI--Love the RIDE--hate the service
The 200 hp Vr6 is a great way to start your morning. Car pulls very hard--the 6spd manual is very percise. The monsoon radio (1300 option w/ sunroof) is what i have a problem with --the radio is not as loud/clear on the driver side. Car has 1700 miles on it and has been in the shop 4times. VW service can not fix the problem--and forget about squeezing a rental car out of them.
my jetta
Alittle more pricey than the rest but definently an all around better car.
1.8T is the poor mans Audi A4
I really enjoy my new Jetta 1.8T GL. The tiptronic makes city driving a lot more exciting; but has no real use for highway driving. The brakes are a little splashy, but maybe I've been driving too fast and have been using them too much. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the quality and appearance of this car. It has all the looks and features of an Audi A4, without the $35k price tag. I would buy a Jetta again.
Piece of CRAP - Lemon Law SAVE ME!!
I just pray the Better Business Bureau will help me out of this one. Car has had numerous problems since purchased 2 months ago. Bad sensor in the steering column, heated seats not working, dash incorrectly installed, Monsoon system malfunctioning, gears grinding, brakes whistling, Car revving itself. It is in the shop for the NINTH time (16th day). The service center is horrible and VW corporate needs to care about their product. Have already filed complaint w/ BBB. I just want this car out of my life forever. Buyer Beware.
Do Not Buy This Car
I've had my Jetta for 5 years and haven't been able to go 5,000 miles without something failing. I love the car dearly, but it is so unreliable that I've sworn off VW/Audi for life. Struts were replaced at 30K, warning lights fire off even when there is no problem, coolant temperature gauge had to be replaced, coolant leak at 15K. Even after the recall in 02, the ignition coils failed in my car at 52K miles, 2K over the warranty. VW refused to pay for any of it, despite the fact that they sold me the car promising that the coils were not defective. Save the money and get a Civic. I wish I had, but I'm stuck with this one for a few more years.
Great Car...
My jetta has served me well but have had a couple little issues with it...Whats up with the noise while the car is being turned???Need to get it into the shop...and what about it being really loud at 75mph and up...its screaming for a 6th gear. But the Car is fun and lots of compliments...especially abuot the dash and outisde appearance. I do love the car but my eyes are turning towards that 2003 Toyota 4 Runner
1st class little car
Great car. 59500 trouble free miles. Would like more MPG however anything this fast won't deliver that.
Jetta GLS TDI
This Jetta TDI has the most supportive seats of any car I have owned. I log a lot of miles in comfort and style.Oh yeah...did I mention the 50mpg with the TurboDiesel. Don't be fooled by the Diesel name, it has plenty of power and will cruise with the best of them. This is the first VW I have ever owned.....but not the last.
Fun drive - Mediocre reliability
Bought this car for my son back in May- 2003 and I must admit that it is very fast and a blast to drive. The car handles and performs well except for a bit of turbo lag. Interior is adequate. Having been spoiled by Japanese quality, I was dissapointed with unreliability of the car. Since buying it 5 months ago, it has been in the shop 5 times - 3 little things like a broken trunk lock and twice for dead batteries. The volkswagen dealer's been very good throughout however, providing loaner cars, etc. Overall we like the car, but would suggest you consider the trips to the service dept.
Nice, Very Nice
Hi have a 2003 Blue Lagoon 1.8T, its a fabulous car. I would recommend spending extra for the sports package-- 17" wheels and firmer suspension. Con: My only concern is long dealership service waits, and the Jetta has no back seat room at all, however if you ever sit back there it is very comfortable.
Jetta is great!
My biggest helpful hint would be to wait until November if you can hold out. The TMV has gone down almost $1500 in one month since August - so you have a good chance of it going down even further. Also, print out your Edmunds.com info. and bring it to the dealer with you. Don't pay MSRP or dealer invoice again! I got mine at $500 below the TMV at the time. Best of luck & enjoy - the Jetta GLS 1.8T is a great choice.
It's a Turbo
great car... the turbo is sweet... goes fast... kinda slow at a stop light... i've been very dissappointed with the engine. when cold it sounds like a lawn mower. tiptronic is a joke, it has to think about it before it acts and doesn't let you do much, other than gear down - a useless feature.
great car
MUCH BETTER THAN HONDA CIVIC!!! I drove a civic, a lancer, a cavalier, and volvo v40, and they dont match up to the jetta. I have had this for almost a year and i have had no problems and i have 48000 MILES!! I drive around 50000 miles a year and i hope to keep it for a while.
Satisfied
It is a great sport car with right size and powerful engine
Do Not Buy....:(
There are serval issues that will come along with a owning a Jetta. The car is one of the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Malfunctions-power windows, transmission, water pump, sound system, engine coil. I hope this review will help you choose your vehicle wisely. I wish that I would have done more research. Do not be fool to believe that all VW owners are truly happy. Ask the opinion of those that are near the service department of the dealer you may choose to visit. They will speak the truth and not steer you in the wrong direction, since they have first hand experience.
2 for 1 and a warranty too
Traded in 1997 Jetta Gls 2.0 with chip and k&n air filter. Better performance and smoother ride. Haven't figured out where to put TV/DVD/and GPS system from old car.Traded two cars for one with 1.9% financing. By the way diesel gas smells if you get some on your hands.
really great!!
near perfect, except tail lights, they look ok
First Review
The Jetta GLS Wagon is an excellent family economy wagon with great performance for very enjoyable driving. It's low cost compared to the Passat makes it well worth the sligthly less room inside. The only downside is difficulty with freezing-up doors and difficult windshield frost in the extreme cold(minus zero temperatures.
You have to drive it to believe it!
The title should really read "I LOVE THIS CAR!!!". If you want a fun-to-drive car, then this should definately make your short list. There is just something about good solid German engineering that just screams "drive me". I used to hate driving, but I actually look forward to driving in my Jetta. But, lets be honest...the ride is not BMW-like. I have driven the 3-Series, from the 325 to the 330, and the handling is much better. But, look at the price difference...is it really 10k-12k better? Probably not. Also, there is a certain feeling you get when you drive a VW. Its like your "in". With the BMW, its more of a feeling of superiority. My advice: test drive one, but get the 1.8T or VR6.
So far so good :)
I got this car not that long ago for school and its pretty fun to drive so far I've had no problems with it, the clutch is smooth and so are the gears on it. Its a really good buy i would recommend this car if it's your first time buying a car or want a smooth car that's good on gas!
JETTA GLI
FUN CAR TO DRIVE, GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY
Love my '03 GLS 1.8T, with reservations
After looking at Mazda Protege, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, and Honda Civic, I decided to buy the '03 Jetta GLS because it was true sports sedan. The 1.8 turbo gives it great accelaration and the sports/luxury package with the 18" allou wheels and performance tires provides awesome handling... although the tires generate a little bit of tire roar on some pavement types.
My Wolfy is Great
I bought my Jetta Wolfsburg last week. I just love it. The engine has torque in any speed if you are over 2000 rpm. It is really fun to drive. I tried the 2.0 engine version too, but you can't compare them. The 1.8 T is great. Please don't buy an automatic transmission, the fun to drive will drop 50 %.
Easy drive
Love this car, never worry about falling behind. enjoy the driving.
so far so good
Had this 1.8T since March of 2003 So far the only problem has been a "cracking" sound when ever I start the car and proceed to turn right or left for the first time. Apart from that no other majour problems
A Real Treasure
After getting a doctorate in late model car shopping my wife and I thought we were just too picky - until we stumbled upon our shiney black 1.8T Jetta with tan leather interior, monsoon sound, and sunroof. I'm sorry but this thing is Fine! A vacation on wheels! The Jetta is safe, peppy, wellbuilt, classy, great looking, and more fun with every mile...(just like my wife!)
Chosing VW won't be a wrong decision.
Have a 2000 VW Jetta VR6 auto but as the GLS 1.8T is the best buy. Besides turbo lag, more noticable on the on auto the car is great fun and with some practical sides. Rear seat room are made for long torso bodies and not for the long legged. Great features throughout, creaking and signs of wear become more and more apparent as months go by but not to the point of annoying. VR6 is a blast but a notible hesitation on pedal to wheel delivery. VR6 get manual. Both still eat up gas which VW should work on. The TDI is the best car though. Great gas mileage and no question a car that can easily put on nearly 200,000 miles and more! NO JOKE!
Good Car
Good Car, Great engine. Cool Interior.
A contradiction
I fell in love with the Jetta 1.8T when I first drove it. After owning one for several months now, I am no longer in love. While the Jetta performs well and is still fun to drive, the quality of the car is just awful. There are creaks and rattles galore. The front rotors needed to be re-machined after 1000 miles. The stereo was wired incorrectly and one of the speakers was blown. One of the air conditioner vents fell off. After driving a problem-free Nissan, this just makes me mad. Don't be fooled by the test drive: this is not a high quality car. Search some discussion boards and VW enthusiast sites and you'll see what I mean.