Used 2004 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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OIL CONSUMER
This vehicle requires a lot of oil. Remember to check the oil frequently. Also when your battery dies they are more expenseive than a normal battery so be prepared. Oh and the breaks, yeah good luck, only the Volkswagon dealtership sells them. In the long run this car will cost a lot of money.
Go Euro - Forget the Asian cars!!
AWESOME car..not a single complaint..colors available are really sharp, extremely detailed..LOVE IT!
fun to drive
it is a pleasure to drive and it is great on gas
I love my Jetta
I've had Honda's, Chryslers, Cadillacs and all three of the big three pickup trucks. I have never had a car as fun to drive as this. I commute 90 miles a day and never get tired of driving this car......Not a single problem in the first 9,000 miles
Lemonade
Love to drive the car. But you got to be kidding me with all the repairs. Bought with 60ish thousand miles. Added a custom intake, and sway bar for some fun in the corners. New wheels and tires. Somewhere in 70k the transmission went out. I just passed 118k and the transmission went out again. Replaced leaking radiator, head gaskets, cam adjuster seals, tail lights going out randomly and often (sometimes every couple days). That's just off the top of the head. All i can say is buy the warranty. Mine's paid for itself 3 times at least.
Make them in Germany please
I own two Jettas: a 2003 sedan, and a 2004 wagon, both GLS 1.8T 5M. The sedan is made in Mexico; the Wagon in Germany. What a difference. I don't know whether it is coincidence, but squeaks and rattles are the norm in the Mexican-built, whereas the German- built is solid as an Audi.
Great, reliable, useful car!
I have had my Jetta Wagon TDI for 3.5 years now and basically would not trade it for anything out on the market. It was relatively inexpensive to purchase new in 2004, especially compared to other comprable cars on the market at the time, especially comparable WAGONS on the market (subarus and such). I drive it to work every day and have no complaints with 43 avg mpg. I carry my two 50 lb dogs in the cargo area regularly and they have more than enough room to be comfortable. The back seats are lacking in footroom but since it is just me, I have not been too concerned with that. Don't know how well carseats do in it yet either. My husband plans on using it as his commuting vehicle in future.
Excellent!
I think the TDI Jetta is the most inovative practical design in a long time! Really a wonderful car to own and drive.
Worst car ever purchased-dangerous car.
This new 2004 jetta with less than 300 miles failed completely.In the middle of driving-i lost all power -lights- power steering-engine bucked-finally stalled-scared me to death-will seek to give this car back to the dealership tommorrow-Really disappointed in the car-If i was in traffic on a busy highway -it could have been disasterous.
Best in Class
One gets all the bang for the buck more than any other sporty sedan $25,000 and under. Just about everything is standard (ABS,traction control,AC,security system,power doors,locks,windows and trunk) Options selected:turbo,tiptronic transmission,ESP,heated leather seats. Turbo 1.8 mated with tiptronic is a blast to drive. Paint and interior are flawless. VW has outdone itself with this model!!!
jetta gls
surprisingly i have found this to be a very smartly designed car. without a bunch of high tech gizmos, this car delivers reliable and economical transportation. with the turbo and sport package, it delivers performance to equal cars costing twice as much.
I LOVE my Jetta!!!!
So far my experiece with this car has been awesome! I come from driving a '02 Saturn, which did not give me the value in return for the care put into it. The Jetta gives the features I want and all the power I could want. Once I start driving I don't feel like getting out. The drive on it almost feels like a V6 even though it's not, the driver's side is very roomy and provides plenty of comfort. Overall, from the day I walked onto the VW lot until now I have had nothing short than a great experience!!
Just as Great as my BMW 330ci
I love my Jetta, I have a BMW 330ci also, The BMW is no better! I think that the Jetta is the best car!
Great Car-LOVE IT!I l
My family of 3 has never been happier with any car ( and we have owned Hondas, Toyotas Fords,etc ). We can always rely on it to get us anywhere we want to go, and in a hurry too.
Reliable & Extrodinary transportation
Great overall performer. With the five speed and the turbo-diesel engine I can zip up and down the mountains of Colorado and still approach 50 MPG. Comfort, (I am 6'2" tall and have plenty of leg and head room), performance, handling this jetta with the GLS option has it all.
04 Jetta is a piece of junk
This car is a money pit and Volkswagen (both the dealership where the car was purchased or the headquarters) does not stand behind their cars. Ours has a cracked manifold which the mechanic said is due the car being a lemon. He said there is not reason for this to happen on a car with only 60K miles and that has had all maintenance performed since day one. This car has been treated very kindly since day one but still one costly problem after the next and all Volkswagen can say is "sorry". Don't buy this car! Buy a Honda or Toyota instead and save yourself the headaches!
Hot Ride
As a retired law enforcement officer, I find this the most awesome ride I've been in. Its exilerating, solid, fast, and a drivers car. Not many cars are going to catch this one! Its lights are incredible for driving in critter country, the high desert, and so bright in fact I get flashed alot on low settings, no need for additional driving lamps. Catch me if you think you can! It,s great fun to blow by the ringy dingy young Honda, Neon crowd with their so called hot whatevers! Really looking forward to getting it on a track. If your in Oregon, go to Carrera motors in Bend, they are the best to deal with ever. See Mark Pulver.
My Jetta
Overall I enjoy the car, in a market that seems to be geared towards SUV's. The car is fun too drive and performs great. The only thing about the car that I don't like is that it doesn't have a spoiler. But that's just me. It gets excellent gas mileage, and handles well around corners. And even though I just got the 4 it's got some fight in it out of the pocket.
It's great, but...
Two days after I picked up my Jetta, the battery light was on. I took her in, and was told the alternator was already bad... Four days after that my fuel gauge was screwing up, so I took her on in once more. This time I was told the fuel sender was bad, that was replaced. Currently the low gas light is broken. I haven't gotten around to getting that checked out yet. I love the car and all, but really didn't expect this outta a VW. Owned a 2003 Beetle also, and LOVED it!
Excellent Car
I have always driven Honda cars, but to get the quality and injoyment from a vehicle, I have found it in the volkswagen Jetta. The quality and performance I get from it than the honda accord has been a comfort for me to know that I own something that most people would like to own themselves or has not have the pleasure of knowing anthing about volkswagon (cars) company.
LOVE This CAR
This is my first VW, also my first OWNED vehicle, but it's a GREAT car. Gas Mileage is the best. Trunk has lots of room.
Nice combo of performance and comfort
It's a really nice ride. It's typical European firm but comfortable. Engine is strong. It runs so easy to 85 and 90 miles per hour you don't notice how fast you're going. Nice handling. Leather seats, firm, sporty, and very comfortable. Tranny isn't silky smooth...first gear spins the tires on demand. Traction control is very nice and so is the antilock brakes...Back seat a little cramped but not important for me. Really nice sounding stereo. Getting 23+ in city and 28+ MPG on highway going 75.
I love my Jetta
I too researched the new cars and I was sold when I drove the Jetta. I love it more and more each time I drive it. My husband was impressed with the interior, since he is a large man, he fits in it nicely.
Buy a Jetta!
I already owned a 98 Jetta and an 83 Rabbit, so I bought this car for my wife who always wanted one. She said it was love at first site. I cannot get her to shut up about how much she loves the car. She is always bragging about her fuel economy and how the car will run forever (which it will). She said she is going to drive it until the wheels fall off. We got our car with 25,000 miles on it and now have 40,000. We have not had any problems what so ever. I would suggest changing the oil your self to save some money. You can buy entire oil change kits (filter, oil, o- rings and drain plug) for $50 including shipped.
Sweeeet...
I just graduated college, so I wanted the best bang for my buck without killin myself. All my research (which is what I do for a living!) lead to the GLI. You cannot buy a quicker, meaner car with so much luxury for less that $30,000. Mine was $27,000, completely loaded (spoiler and changer too) which compares nice to $37,000 for a comparable BMW 330i. All power and performance numbers are under reported as I can get 0-60 in 6.9sec vs the reported 7.9sec!
german is better
I used to drive a japanese car, i thought it couldnt get anybetter, but as soon as i stepped into this thing i was just wowed. All my friends now want to trade in their cars for something german.
vw
Fine auto, great mileage and more power than expected in a Diesel
Great Value
This new Jetta replaced my old '98 Jetta. The physical difference between the two could not be greater. The level of refinement and power I have in this car compared to its predecessor is amazing. And the sticker price on them were virtually the same! VW made truly amazing strides with this generation.
VW owner
This is a fun fun car to drive. The VW Jetta is a great all around car to to drive for the person who would like a loaded great featured car for a bargain price. This car has tons of safety featues that you don't have to pay extra for. They also are a great handling car. VW puts all the metal where it counts for structure rigidity. Unless you are looking to pay for a BMW the VW line offers great products for the money. I have had my Jetta 1.8T for almost ten years and I have not had any real problems with it. They have a great warranty if your worried.
Can't Stop Redlining!
I have had the car for a year. I have had only one problem, the front rotors were replaced (wrapped). Thats it. I have had no electrical problems at all. I do have ratles in the doors though. This car is fun to drive and really holds on the turns. Also, this car's ECU can be reprogrammed to increase the HP. So if your looking for more HP for cheap.. it can be done. Doing this completly changes the car. It's still a beautiful car even today.
Sporty, reliable and quality
I had this car for over a year, and The only problems I had were with the headlights (like most of VW). The handling is great, as well as the stability. Is strong builded, and gives you a sense of firmness. I Preffer this car over a Sentra I had, and a Infinity G20t my Father has, and an Audi A4 my girlfriend has.
2nd VW and still lovin it
I just traded my 2000 JETTA GLS TDI for you guessed it a 2004 JETTA GLS TDI. Yes, I had the typical Jetta problems, the windows and the cupholders. Both were warranty items and only a minor inconvenience when you look at the overall picture. In four years I drove my Jetta across country TWICE, with the only major problem being a faulty mass air flow meter. Otherwise oil changes are the only maintenance I've had to do in 60,800 miles. I hope my new Jetta gives me as al times I've opted to save money great of gas mileage and miles of pleasure that the first one did! By the way the ONLY reason I got a new one is because I HAD to have a moonroof!
I bought a second Jetta hoping it would be a better vehicle
I was under the assumption that these jettas were more reliable than a regular JDM car that had high KM. Problem with this thinking is, you don't think about the wear and tear on all the other parts OTHER than the Diesel engine. I've owned two TDI Jettas for approx 2 years each, both had P0401 Check Engine code for EGR Valve. This was incredibly annoying. I've also had the famous clicking dash from my turn signal, the car interior creaks and clicks, drove me absolutely insane. Incredible frusturating. 12 year perforation warranty is great, I received a new fender and trunk before I sold my jetta, These hold their value very well.. but I don't want to buy anymore of these TDIs
GLI VR6 is the Way to Fly!--No Regrets!!
Having previously owned a 2000 BMW 328i, '02 WRX, and '98 Audi A4, I wanted a sedan that had a sporting feel, was powerful, well-built, and had that "German feel" without the huge repair and maintainance costs associated with owning a BMW or Audi. The Jetta GLI VR6 feels and drives like a 95% BMW or Audi at half of the price. Jetta GLI is a perfectly rounded package......
vw jetta-better value for you money @vw
car is amazing...even with the 4 cylinder....i have no complaints...it's my 7th VW...had the VR6 and 1.8T...how often do you have to go 0-60 in less than 7 seconds...quality is superb
Best car ever.
This one makes people rethink spending all there money on a 3 series! The sound system is awesome. Many safety features, and the best warranty I've seen.
TDI- unbelievable
I have owned my 2003 Jetta TDI wagon for 7 months now and I have to say its the greatest thing I have ever purchased. I get 45-50 MPG average with a Lead Foot! FUEL prices are as low as $1.45 at local truck stops and with a 700 mile range in the tank its easy to shop around. The car is well built with very little interior noise and a great factory radio. Overall Looks great, uns good, nothing but smiles here.
Just the Details
This is my second Jetta. Purchased the first on in 2000 and the product and service I have received has always been top notch with Volkswagen. Minor problems were alway repaired quickly and to my satisfaction. My next purchase will be a Volkswagen.
This car rocks!
Very roomy and the 1.8T never get's old. I think the VR6 is not worth the price.
i love my jetta
The car is great for zipping around town. For my first car while learning how to drive i think i picked a great one. Performance wise it comes with many great parts so you don't need to change any.
best buy for the money in small cars
best buy for the money where as other cars charge extra added extras on the jetta they are standard equipment for an example the corrolla le or s modal with the same eqipment ended up beeing $4000 more
What a relief!
I purchased a 2004 Jetta after I was in an auto accident that totaled my other car. My other car was a 2002 Kia Spectra. Talk about night and day! I literally had problems with my Spectra from day one and after my accident, I found out the Spectra did not hold it's value at all. I feel confident (and very safe) driving my Jetta. I look forward to my morning commute because I enjoy driving it so much. What a great car!
Diesel Jetta
My 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI is a great vehicle. It is fun to drive, incredibly fuel efficiency, and oh yeah it has pick up. It also has a good sound system, rich interior and oh did I mention that it is fun to drive!
Best Wagon for the Money!
Compared a Subaru Outback Wagon, an Audi A4 Quattro Wagon, a Volvo V70 Wagon, and a VW Jetta Wagon. I eliminated the Subaru because Japanese cars are just to plastic on the interior. I narrowed it down to the Audi, Volvo and VW and compared everything- from quality of components, performance, comfort and space and decided on the VW Jetta. The diesel engine has great torque and sips fuel. It is solidly built, good looking and was $10k less (paid $21k) than the Audi or Volvo. It is identical to the Audi A4 Quattro Avant Wagon, except that it is front-wheel drive and not all-wheel drive.
Fun to Drive Car with low Gas Mileage!!
I love my TDI. We consistently get great gas mileage, plus the car has so much power it's like a little sports car.
Check this out.
I bought this wagon because I was sick of paying $300.00 for gasolone. I drive a lot to the Cape and round trip is a seven hour ordeal. The VW has made life easier. Excellent mileage at 45 on a gallon of fuel, ride and comfort is unbelieveable. Plenty of power at 90 HP :) Love to drive the car too.
Not very reliable
I had many problems with my car, i.e. electrical problems as well as problems with the windows and the catalytic converter. It was very disappointing.
The New GLI 1.8 Turbo ( ture GLI roots)
This is not your usual Jetta. The new GLI is a performer. With its true lowered suspension, 18 BBS wheels and aggressive looks, its sure to turn heads everywhere. The New GLI is what VW should have been in the beginning. I owned a 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8T 5 speed Sport Package, let me tell you guys and gals out there thinking of getting a GLI 1.8T. The new GLI 1.8T is like a night and day difference. Since supposedly this is the last year of the MK4 body style, I hope VW has repaired all the bugs. Im for sure going to enjoy my New GLI 1.8T, thanks VW for finally listening to us.
Love that TDI !!
I never considered owning a VW until reading the rave reviews for the TDI engine. TDI is quiet, starts quickly even in severe cold, plenty of torque. Fabulous fuel efficiency. Chose Jetta TDI wagon over more expensive Volvo V40. Acquiring the exact car I wanted was extremely difficult given that TDIs are on limited allocation and dealerships wanted to tack on unreasonable markup.
Love the jetta......
Great deal and great car.Love the thing.....