Used 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Consumer Reviews
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I Love This Car!
Very safe, very solid. Drives smooth allows you to switch to manual transmission on the fly. Zero to 60 in manual in mid 6 seconds at 5800 RPM. My neighbor with a 2001 stocked Corvette loves this car also.
Just a fun car
I had a 12V VR6 before this and after the test drive could not justify spending the extra $$$. The turbo has great pull and a lot more top end power then you would suspect. At 75mph you are only at 2800rpm so you are right in the middle of the power band. The manual transmission is very smooth and I was very happy with the clutch as well. I don't have a lot of miles yet so I cannot speak to reliability. Traded in the VR6 with 60,000 miles with no problems.
- GLS 1.8T SedanMSRP: $3,991227 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: $2,900235 mi away
- GLS TDI Diesel WagonMSRP: $5,280305 mi away
Fun and Classy
Love the 1.8 turbo motor tied to the 5 speed Tiptronic transmission. My Jetta is a fully loaded GLS with the sport and leather packages. Gas mileage was disappointing at first (20mpg), but now averages about 24-25 mpg since the car now has 12K miles on it.
Nice step up from my 92 GTi
I bought the Jetta with every option available, except for the CD changer. The car rides great, has plenty of power and is very easy to upgrade. I had a chip installed to boost the stock 180 hp to 212 and added a cold air intake for another 5 hp. With the stock 180 hp the Jetta gets going pretty quick for such a heavy car, and with the upgrades it really boogies. Highly reliable and fun to drive, it gets an A+ in my book.
Stressless
I've had my 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg for a little over two years, and have enjoyed every minute I've spent in this car. It gets awesome gas milage in city and highway driving, speed, preformance, its all there. My car's reliability came into question when I discovered 35% of the parts for my car were assembled in Mexico and ~25% in the U.S. But, I'm happy to say that nothing other than the breaks, a burned out tape deck (lovin' the Monsoon stereo too much) and the occational oil change have put me back at the dealer.
I hate this car!
I've had 3 cars in the last 22 years, this Jetta is the only one in which extended time for repairs have caused me to lose out on jobs. I always wanted a VW but I HATE this car. The parts are too expensive, not always available, and it is hard to work on the car yourself. Pep Boys would not replace a water pump for me because the car was too complicated for their mechanics and the dealership mechanics are far from good. Everything about the car is hard. You must slam the trunk to close it, you must punch the horn to get it to honk. The doors are heavy. The seats are hard. If you drop something under a seat, forget it. The manual is complicated. And I could on and on..
So far so good
After 1500 mi., this vehicle has been good (keeping my fingers crossed). There are only 2 complaints. First, the sport seats are a bit snug, . My second complaint centers around the disingenuosness of Volkswagen. One of the selling points of this car was that it had a full-sized spare tire. The tire is full-sized all right, but it is a 16 inch tire while the other four tires on the wheels are 17 inch. I feel that VW should have been up front about this instead of giving the consumer the "stealth-silent" treatment.
1.8T
Purchased new in February 2002, since then it has left me stranded 3 times with a faulty ignition coil. There has finally been a recall on them, but it does nothing to restore my faith in the car. Nice car, poor reliability, first and last Volkswagen I'll ever buy.
Good Buy For The Price
About a year ago I was looking for my first car out of college and obviously didn't have terribly much money to my name. During my hunt for cars that could fit a sensible budget and still look good while performing well, it was clearly evident that the Jetta was the way to go. Coming from a lead- foot, the 1.8T was fun for about six months then I wanted the V6. Still a fantastic car though!
The People's car could be les pedestrian
the car is well made, but there are a lot of little things that annoy me about it... the rear tweeters keep rattling, the windows fall into the door..broken glove box, peeling interior and the worst part of all is the lousy service departments. The service department alone is enough to not want to buy this car. Sadly with all the things that go wrong there is no avoiding it.
LOVE IT!!!
When I still had this car stock, it was awesome, the sport suspension, the power. Even though only 200 ponies, it was still very snappy. I have since put a chip, exhaust, intake and some higher performance sport suspension and love the car even more. It is def a sleeper and no one has any idea what the little sedan is capable of. HIGHLY recomend it. And since it is a 24v VR6, and VW only made them for about 2 years.. should hold pretty decent value for enthusiasts.
Biggest mistake ever
Great looking car and fun to drive when it is moving but this car has been a hassle from day one. Gone through 2 radios, the ignition coil problem that VW of AMerica has finanlly acknowledeged caused it to sit in the shop for 2.5 weeks one time and has broken down 4 more times.The computer, oxgen sensor, 2 other sensors have been replaced. The passenger side door sticks. The exhaust system was damaged while driving in the snow. Doesnt it snow in germany? All this under 17000 miles. Good looking vehicle but cheap parts and poor engineering make it big regret.
1.8T spirit
First new car I ever purchased - after test-drive speeding up a long hill with the 5-spd, just had to have it! Winter package great for MN. Dealership replaced ignition coils on recall w/o problem; now seat heater is on recall. This car "floats" on highway, is smooth in city, turbo kicks in at low speed. Gets respectable gas mileage - up to 39- 40 highway on cruise control. Love the nighttime lights and overall look. Large trunk w/pass-through. Only real issue is fuse on windshielf fan-blower that blew twice in two months last winter - dealer couldn't find cause.
Overall, love it.....but...
This car was my pride and joy until some jerk ran a stop light and put her out of commission. Sad day, indeed. I'd warn anyone against buying used. Can only assume every other moron out there drove the crap out of this car like I did. I mean, if the speedo says 160, shouldn't you make sure it's legit?
WOW
I love this Jetta. I have recommended this car to a lot of people. It is so smooth and comfortable to drive. I have even taken it to my other home which is 10 miles up a dirt mountain road, it did great.
Jetta 1.8T
Just a lot of fun, we liked that we got more features then on most cars in this price range. Also the tiptronic is great, he gets the feel of a stick shift, I get the ease of an automatic.
Three Days and Really Surprised
I've only been driving my 03' Wolfsburg 5spd. for a few days, but I must say that I am pleasantly surprised with my initial impression of the car. The build quality is very tight, and the materials are of high quality. I was/am definitely nervous about Mexican build quality, but initially it's great. The seats are fantastic, the engine performs strongly, it's quiet, and the standard stereo sounds great. This is my first "European" car (I've only purchased Japanese cars before), so I'm definitely nervous about reliability. Hopefully, I will be lucky!
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love everything about this car, great teen car!!!
Jetta is a lemon.
The 2000 Jetta we have has been in the shop about every six to eight weeks for something. The engine is noisy, the ride is harsh, the radio is tinny sounding. A real disappointment.
So far ,so good
Ive only owned it for 3 months, but so far so good. Gas mileage is very good, around 28mpg, city/highway. Saved a whole bunch on insurance due to all the safety features it came standard. Car is fun to drive, but not very roomy in the backseat. Wish it had a 6th gear, but i guess its there so you can pass cars easly when your going 80 in 5th gear.
Great little package
It's easily your all-round performer. It's a compact car. It's a sporty car. It's a luxurious car. It's everything at the same time - that's why I love it. Need to dress up and hit the town in style? The Jetta's shape and form is classy enough. Want to enjoy some sporty driving? Put the strong little 1.8T engine to work, and it responds. Need a family hauler? The Jetta does the trick there too. Everything seems almost perfect, from the placement of controls to the feel of the trim. Everything works as you expect it to work, not how some funky engineering team designed it. Smart design, excellent execution. Try it - you'll love it too!
The Little Car That Could
This is my 2nd Jetta. Ever since my 1st Jetta was totaled when an idiot ran a stop sign (Yet not a scratch on me!!), I couldn't wait until I could afford a brand new Jetta. The 1.8 Turbo is the perfect size for this car. The pickup is great, the brakes and steering are nice and tight. The shifting is smooth. Spacious trunk. The sport seats give you a nice snug fit. Great for long distance rides. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
awsome vehicle
fun to drive , handles the road very well. feels like a solid vehicle. awsome sound system and hardly any out side moise.
I still cant believe this car is mine!
Its like my own personal luxury german car... hell, its not LIKE it, it IS it. Its awesome. The 1.8t is glorious, and the car is feature rich. A car enthusiasts dream.
2002 VW
Has been a great car, tail lights burned out at 15K, but otherwise wonderful. Dealship was horrible!!! Shop around for dealers.
invoke the lemon law
the only thing worse than the car was the dealership. After 3000 miles the jetta misfires on all cylinders when you first start it up. The dealership refused to deal with this issue and i was forced to have VW buy the car back under the lemon law. In all, a huge, unsatisfying hassle. interior fabric hard to keep clean. trim deteriorates quickly. Dealership was extremely unhelpful and the VW customer service did not follow through or return calls. All i wanted was a car that was reliable when brand new. what is the point of a 4 year warranty when it sits in the shop the whole time.
03' 1.9T
Great car fun to drive! With this car you gotta be careful when you wanna stick it to the floor. The car is light,powerful and fast! Just what I need, and more to merge on to the beltway. Gas is good, so long as I don't lay into the turbo too much. Great Monsoon sound system. I just love the car. Not much room for those in the back seats,however, no ones rides back there anyway!
i love it
i have had my jetta for 2 years now and i love it. it is fast smooth and drives awesome. no matter how hard i drive it i still seem to get 30 miles to the gallon. yeah, it is premium fuel but it is such a small price to pay.
Great car to own
great car at a great price. Our third Jetta !!!!
Sweet Car
Went from an Acura to the VW... No regrets!
Great little car
Have had the car for 6 months and love it. Extremely fun little car to drive especially with the sport package. Have had it in the shop for 2 minor issues that were warranty related and were taken car of very promptly.
Jetta Gli
Great performance for the price. All aroung great inside and out. the hp boost for the 2003 yr (25hp) is wonderful and leaves 02 owners wondering why im so quick. also with Esp (electronic skid protection) standard for 03, i have more confidence driving here in the wet weather.
This car rocks!
I absolutely love my car, It is fun to drive and peppy. Its got plenty of pick up which is pretty handy when getting on a freeway, or when you just want to drive around town. I would absolutely recommend this car to a friend, as a matter of fact my husband bought one shortly after I bought mine.
VW Lover
Bought my Jetta after owning the Accord, Camry, Mazda 626. Outside of the fact that I had a minor problem with my drivers side window, it has been perfect. Of all the cars in it's class it is bar far the most exciting to drive. I have driven friends Audi's and BMW's and although they are better (I can't lie) for the dollar this car holds more than it's own. Great car.
VW JETTA! 2002
Leased the VW Jetta 09/2001.Jetta is a 2002 GLS automatic. Great car! Also had a 1999. They have got to raise THAT FRONT END! Way to low. Had plastic window clips replaced. Windows would fall into sleeve. Really my only problems! Great car. Looking into a 3rd in less then a year. Will trade ths lease. Ya gotta drive one! The faster you go,th better it drves! What handling!
My Year old jetta
I don't know about anyone else, but I love my Jetta 1.8T. I test drove the standard engin, and (Blah) no power. I tried out the turbo, and (WOW) never more fun. I have only have one warrenty problem with my windshield washer things. Other than that Nothing. I love my car! Everyone should go buy one, but not all in the same color (ie. reflex silver, I can never find my can in a parking lot right away).
I regret buying my Jetta
Upon initially purchasing my Jetta there were no problems. But by the winter, it started giving me problems and hasn't stopped since. The only major problem that I have encountered is that gear sticks. When I say stick I mean, will not shift into Reverse or Drive until it feels ready, which could be 5 or 65 minutes. Taken it to the dealership 7 times and they cant figure out what it but assume its the brake light switch. So they keep replacing that. I wouldn't recommend this vehicle to anyone unless you have a very good warranty.
Smart car for Power lovers!!
Nice car with nice stable handling and smooth ride . The interior well designed and color schemes great! Engine no problems at all ....
A joy to drive, very happy
I've had my jetta for about two years now, and I've loved every minute of it. Only problem that i've had was the transmission had to be replaced at 16000 miles -- I'll chalk that up to a fluke, the replacement has been running perfectly ever since. Handling is great, good power, I have no complaints.
A year and a half in review
The GLI offers a lot in a small package.Sporty and fun to drive. Car is tight on the turns and loves to be pushed. Car feels stable at high speeds and is up to almost any task. I have 14k miles and after some early monsoon radio issues I havent had a prob in 10k miles.18 MPG in the city 25 on the highway-bit low for a car in this class. If i had to do it again I would get the leather package (cloth attracts hair) . All in all a good car that is fun to drive but beware this is no Honda Accord
Jetta
I've had the car for only four days and I really love it. The fit and finish is is superb, the materials are all high quality. The monsoon sound system really kicks. The ride is taut and the steering is tight and very well balanced. The suspension is sporty and it stays surprisingly flat on turns. This is a fun car to drive, it handles like it should cost another ten grand.
Great Car - Service Sucks
I love my car. Everytime I get into it I love it more. However, I have had to take it in for service 3 times in the 2 months that I have owned it. There is a rattle in the door window that they just can't seem to fix. Thank God for the Monsoon sound system. :o) I do not like the service people and I think that their level of service leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately, I love the car enough to make up for their shortcomings.
Fun, comfort, performance, and style
After 12 years in an Acura Integra, the Jetta felt very strange to me. It was taller, roomier, and more quiet. The GLI VR6 engine was very powerful yet quiet--I sorta missed the whine of the Integra a high RPM. I chose the Jetta GLI because I wanted a car with performance but also a car with some refinement. It's a car that you can dress up or dress down. The only reservations I have are that: 1) it doesn't have the peripheral visibility of the 1991 Integra, 2) it's a little bit harder to park b/c it's wider and taller, 3) it's a little clumsy on corners at higher speeds and, 4) the arrow on the fuel gauge seems to go down fast--the car is very thirsty!
fun, reliable,safe and attractive
Have a 2002 bought in december2001. Wonderful car to drive. The turbo is very peppy and fun. The car is very nice in the city and on the road. My kids really love the car and are are comfortable in the backseat. Car radio is great, wonderful storage space and nice uncomplicated and clean looks. This car is more thn a car for the younger set. The car is a great value. The dealership has been great
Awesome Ride!!!
I was originally going to buy my Jetta with a mind to use it as a commuter vehicle. With that in mind, I was looking at the TDI as a powerplant. When I went to test drive at Frema Motors in Goldsboro, I fell in love with the VR6. Wow!!! What a ride!!! With a 6-speed manual transmission and 200 ponies under the hood......well lets just say it was an unbelievable experience. The ride was road hugging with the sports suspension, with plenty of acceleration for needed get up and go!!! Simply stated, it was the best experience overall I have ever had on a test drive! Two thumbs up for the GLI VR6 Jetta!!!!!!!!!
I love my GLI, but ...
I don't understand why the GLI doesn't have steering-wheel controls for audio like the GLX. I had them in my last Jetta, a 2001 GLS 1.8T manual. I moved UP to the GLI, which has more horsepower and is still manual, but now i have to reach to change tracks and manage one extra gear, too! It doesn't make sense. Also, I loved my 2001 cupholders that tucked away into the dash. Stupidly, VW redesigned them, putting a bottom in them, thus ruining the original bottomless design. I HATE my console cupholders - they are practically under the emergency brake. NOTE: your cupholders ranked a 2 in the survey.
MY KIND OF A RIDE
WELL MY FATHER JUST GOT ME A BLACK 2003 JETTA GLS W/MONSOON SYSTEM,POWER SUNROOF,AND HEATED SEATS.I LOVE THE WHEELS ON THE CAR. ITS VERY BOLD FROM OUTSIDE, AND THE INSIDE IS TERRIFIC. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A COMPACT SIZE SEDAN FOR YOUNGSTERS.
real race car
If you're looking for a race car, this is it, cant go wrong with 2003 JETTA.
If you love to drive, you'll like Jetta
First things first, this car is fun to drive. It's comfortable and quiet on the inside but has power when you need it. It's not a sports car if you drive it stock, but for what I was looking for, it was the perfect balance. The only thing I wish it had is more rear seat room, as there is not a lot if you're tall.
03 Jetta GLI
My first new car