Used 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Consumer Reviews
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So far, so good!
just got this a week ago, and absolutely loving it. previous owner of a 1992 saab. i just feel gorgeous driving it! my complaints? the cupholder is right above the radio, which freaks me out. there's not enough storage room in the front/sides...frustrating. can't see behind my right shoulder -- big blind spot, headrest for driver is awkward?, car dosn't "roll" automatically on "D" (i think this is a safety feature, but i just need to get used to it), the cloth interior looks like it'll be tough to clean.
My First Car
Honestly, I like it much. But i dont' feel the power of my 1.8T Engine yet :( need some mileage for brake-in. Overall, it is a nice car but I would like to have it to lower its price a bit. One more think I wanna tell, my front windshield get foggy easily.. :(
- GLSMSRP: $2,450423 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: $1,799690 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $2,999862 mi away
vw rocket
it is fun to drive and has very good handling for the money the car has a lot to offer need to drive it to see
Big wheels, lotsa gear and even more fun
I've had this car for a month and have over 5000 miles on it already. I traded in a 2001 Maxima SE with the 225HP V-6 and don't fell like I gave up much performance. This one is smoother, quieter and more fun then the Max was.
MyJettaGL2.0
I recent bought this new 2003 jetta GL 2.0L. I am satisfied with its performance. Fun to drive. String. Reasonable acceleration considering the fact that it is V4. I had a hard time finding the 12V outlet, but it was hiding "nicely". Music system is good. Wish they have MP3 support too. Man this is file swapping era. NEway, The only problem that I see this is a fuel consuming car. I dont thisnk that I drive that bad, but I am getting even less than 20 mpg city. Their test rating itself is 23. So expect yours to be close to +/- 20.
Average Car
I bought this car 2 years ago. I wish that i would have researched the engine sizes available, the 2.0 is a weak engine and doesn't get very good gas mileage. I wish that I would have gotten the 1.8T. It comes with the same estimated mpg. The build quality is very good. The styling inside and out is the best i've seen. reliability has been pretty good, sometimes gets flooded. Uses a special synthetic oil that is hard to find and expensive. And at 60,000 yo need you timing belt and water pump replaced. Costs around 800, I got lucky and only payed 450.
Wolfsburg Again
I really do love my car. I used a seller in Watertown,Connecticut and my seller was a great guy yet when I brought the car in for its first service, the car was late in being returned, they charged $30 dollars for am oil change and they returned the car unwashed and with Seagull droppings on it.
Fix the Window Problem!
My Jetta's windows have broken twice already. The problem is that the window is heald up by a tiny, plastic device that breaks CONSTANTLY. It's a real hassle to get fixed too! My friend also has a Jetta and all four of her windows have fallen into the door as well. The cupholders are in a rotten spot (the condensation on the cup drips right onto the radio). I think this would have been a great car for me if a bit more $$ was spent by the manufacturer on the parts you don't see!
Nice advertising not so nice car...
Good luck with this car... Before you buy, take a look at the service hours. Determine if you can afford to take 1/2 - 1 day off from work to have your car serviced. Note: they do have weekend hours but only for certain types of service. They will not provide a loaner car for certain types of service. You guessed it, if the service you need done during the week does not fall into the right category they'd be happy to rent you a car! Poor automatic transmission. It audibley clunks when it is required to downshift. I would not purchase a VW again... My prior car a Nissan Sentra was surrounded by excellent service, good hours and lasted me 160,000 miles.
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.
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
Great
I love the car
quick, loaded with features, Fun!
I've driven my Jetta 1000 miles, and I am really having fun with every mile! The manual trans, excellent handling, braking, and turbo have made me feel like I'm in a rally car- with interior comforts and luxury. Performance is VERY good. City fuel mileage is not great at about 25.7 right now.... I rate the build quality so far as excellent, except some stray door rattles, and everything works great. Amazing features, attention to detail- gently dimming lighting, trunk release, and the unique remote key. This is my 9th car, probably the best overall quality. LOVE the interior lighting - I could drive this car all night long!
Worst Car EVER!
I have had nothing but problems with this car! The water pump, pistons, cylinders, locks, windows, suspension, (and the list goes on) have gone OUT on me numerous times!! I go to the mechanic at least 2 times a year, and average spending $400-$500 each trip. I hear a constant LOUD rattling sound when I drive on the freeway, and hear loud squeaking noises when i go over speed bumps, and make wide turns, & no one can fix it! I WOULD NOT recommend this car!
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.
Bigger - pocket rocket!!
Own a 2003 GLS 1.8T for 3 weeks now. Love the drive. Even more standard features. Just remember it's a compact car, not a luxury car. No complains while I still have the new car warranty.
Awesome!
So I just bought the car at the beginning of the year and I have to say this is best car that i have driven. I had a 2000 nissan pathfinder that was a really good car in terms of reliability but it had a lot of miles on it and this car was on sale and only had 40k miles on it. Drove a lot of different cars that were in the same price range, and this is by far the best car that i have ever driven. The only problem that I had was I drive aggressively, the roads in Jackson Ms are terrible so I had to put new tires on the car after about 10k miles. The tires are pretty pricey because of the rims. Other than that I have not had any problems what so ever. I love this car!!!
Too many problems to mention
The car is really fun to drive and looks great, but build quality is terrible. The A/C went out the first week I bought the car and still doesn't cool properly. Heater smells like it's burning something. Door locks rattle (only when locked). Power windows "pinch protection" makes the window reverse and go down when you try and roll it up (and nothing is is the way). Engine cuts out when started cold. Floor mat retentions broke off. Center console latch broke off. If you rub the plastic inside it will rub off too.
JETTA GLI
FUN CAR TO DRIVE, GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY
Great little car
I traded in a Mustang Bullitt for this car and am not disappointed. Although I miss the 275HP and 315torque, this car makes up for that in character. I have 10k miles and haven't had any major problems yet! The only problem I've had so far is a small squeak coming from the glove box. The gas mileage is alright, but could be a little better for a 6 cylinder. The materials used for the interior are light years ahead of US car makers and everything fits snug. My ears actually pop when I roll up all the windows! The only annoying thing is having to pull the headrests out when you want to fold down the rear seats. Overall this is a great car and I'd recommend it.
Just drive it.
All you have to do is drive this car, seriously. I went from hell bent to owning a WRX to driving off the lot 20 min. after I sat behind the wheel. It balances perfectlly comfort and performance. It's almost uncanny how weel this car just does what you want it to.
Most for the money
I looked at Accord, Altima, Camry, and others when researching this car and none of them could match the options, quality, performance, or style for the same price. The only drawback is the Jetta is a slightly smaller car than the others. The interior is comfortable and beautiful, the optional leather is very good quality, and I love the cool blue gauges. Don't get the V6 unless you really want it - the 1.8T is nearly as powerful, gets better mileage, and you'll save money. There's plenty of power and torque over the entire rev range, passing and merging are a breeze.
Holy Turbo Batman!
I just purchased this vehicle, so I can't address the issues of durability. I can tell you that that if you drive this car you will buy it. It took me all of 50ft of a test drive to say "I'll Take it" . I was not expecting so much power from the 1.8 T engine. Man, is this car fun to drive, manual trans is very smooth and easy to master. Many safty features not available on any of the competitors.
Watch out for Certified USED-Jettas
My car is the reason why certified used cars should be included in the Lemon Law. But beware... they are NOT! With 3000 left on the certified warranty my car has been in the shop every month since purchase. Included..5 window regulator replacemnts, 2 Mass airflow meters, 3 transmission removals/adjustments, and 25 days in the shop within a year! what a P.O.S...
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.
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.
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.
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 :)
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.
I am screwed
I have a 2002 1.8t. While I have no complaints with the handling of the car I am concerned about its reliability. I have had to have a linkage replaced on the tiptronic transmission. My monsoon stere system kept shutting itself off or wouldn't go on at all. The finish on the drivers door handle has all but peeled off. The cup holder is a mess and whats with no cupholders in the back seat at all? The A/C is anemic. My first VW and my last.
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
I Guess I Got the Good One
So far, I have not had any major problems with this car unlike others that seemed to have lemons. I've only had to replace the spark plugs (40k), water pump (60k), and timing belt (60k). However, this is standard maintenance for Volkswagen cars. The interior lighting is amazing in this car. It feels like I'm flying an airplane at night! I agree that this car is not built for a tall person b/c there is little room in the back nor the front, but I'm only 5'5", So its perfect for me. The turbo is great in this car. It never hesitates when you punch it. Guess I got the good one.
Awesome Car!!
This was a graduation present from my parents, and I couldn't have asked for a better car. The pick up is great, awesome interior. Its a sporty car, but still practical. This car is a definite head turner and worth every penny.
A costly piece of junk
Jetta has lot of mechanical problems. We bought ours(brand new) in march 2002.Since then it has been in the dealers workshop 7 times for repairs. The car did really well for the first 2000-2500 miles. After these initial miles it has given us all sort of problems. It started with door rattling, followed by the left view mirror cracking, followed by complete failure of the audio system 2 times in a row(within 10 days) . Yesterday the drivers side window fell into the door and won't go up. Guys, think twice before buying this car.
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.
Loving my car!!
I love my new Jetta. I have the GLS 1.8T with the sport package. I had such a pleasant experience with it, starting with the dealership (Bertolet). They were very friendly and helpful and HONEST!
Great
This car looks great inside and out and it drives awesome. My favorite car was the jetta, and after i got it i loved it even more.
Worst Decision I've ever made!
I heard so many great reviews about the Jetta. So, I decided to get it, without a test drive (WHY!?). I'm so dissatified with the car. It's very noisy, loud engine, doesn't accelerate quickly, no leg room, cup holders are a nusiance, defroster does nothing, etc....
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.
1 Year of Pure Bliss
I wish the rest of the motor industry would take a queue from the Volkswagen Jetta. What a wonderful vehicle. The interior fit and finish of my '03 Jetta beats that of even some $50,000+ vehicles and my VR6 has plenty of power. If this year's vehicles turn out to be as reliable as they are functional, it could very well be my favorite of all time.
my jetta
Alittle more pricey than the rest but definently an all around better car.
look out svt
near perfect, very little turbo lag
really great!!
near perfect, except tail lights, they look ok
Fit to Finish
I have had the car for quite some time now 2 years and the car continues to give me that same feeling I had the first day I brought it home. German quality shines through wish interior fit and finish. The engine is stout with its great power. I have not encountered problems that others have posted, but I have always taken care of my cars. The window has not "fallen in", but the did perform the recall on the window free of charge. This is my forth VW in the last 35 years and I will continue to be a VW man!
Should be a Ford fix and repair daily
Constant repairs only 20,000 miles and most of that to repair shop been towed three times now the Windows fell out looks good just needs lots of glue and bumper to bumper for life would not recommend this car.
ROCKET SPORT SEDAN
IF YOU ARE LOKING FOR A FAST,SPORTS SEDAN YOU SHOULD LOOK HERE.FEATURES TO RIVAL MORE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES.COMPARABLE TO A BMW 3 SERIS,AND LEXUS IS300 AT $10,000.00 LESS.LEATHER INTERIOR,200 HP,6 SPD TRANS,SUNROOF & TRACTION CONTROL OR ABOUT $25,000.BEST QUALITY IN ITS CLASS.
What a beaut!!!!
Yes, the windows do "rattle" a little when you hit a bump...yes, the cupholders are in a bad place...but if you are looking for the perfect car, it is not going to come at a $25000 price tag. The car handles wonderfully, the seats are comfortable (not to mention heated), it looks better than any other small sedan and has low maintenence and the highest resale value in its class. You are not going to find a better car for the price. Oh, and to the person who said the doors are heavy...THAT IS A GOOD THING...it means it is a quality, solidly built vehicle. I highly recommend this car to anyone considering it.
Lots Of Fun To Drive
I don't know what others are talking about! This car is great. I just bought it and really love it. It is very fast and comfy. The leather is awesome, and I really like the heated seats. Sure it is a bit pricey, but well worth it.
Fun but not very reliable
This is a very fun car to drive, however, I wouldn't buy another one. First, I've had way too many problems with my power windows. Second, the interior materials peel. There is a slight covering on the interior surface that peels off. Third, I"ve had all kinds of problems with the clutch in my vehicle. What makes it worse is the dealership hasseling me over the work. Between the car experience and the dealership I will never buy another Volkswagen.
Lemon
Within 6 mos of ownership: the driver's side window fell into the door and the driver's side tail light burnt out, suspension started making creaking noises, coil pack went out, computer burnt up, sub-frame bolts were stripped and needed to be replaced, as well as other parts on the suspension. Been to dealer 6 times to correct creaking noises, but to no avail. Vehicle has spent more time in service in the past 3 mos than I've seen it-total of about 40 days. Not my idea of reliability. Appalled by the level of rudeness received from the VW Customer Service Department.