Used 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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I've had too many issues
When I first bought my brand new Jetta, I was very excited, it was cool and new. The excitement quickly failed as I have had many issues with the car. First off, the car had a rattling problem, I have taken it in to be fixed about 5 times, it still rattles. The horn went out at about 500 miles, first time it was ever used. I have had lights stop working and bad service at the dealership. This past weekend the exhaust warning light has come on, I am not sure what it means but I have a feeling it is just something stupid because it is a Volkswagen, not well built. If i had a choice, I would not have bought this car.
Fun to drive, and Low cost to operate
I was looking for a low cost to operate vehicle, and I was not impressed with the hybrids. I bought this car, and was amazed by the 'fun-to-drive' aspect of it. The huge amount of torque available from the engine gives you a lot more 'zip' than you would expect from a diesel. Highway cruising is great, with barely 2,400 RPM turning at 70 MPH. Although I have only driven the car 5,000 miles to date, there has been nothing wrong with the car, and I'm getting over 47 MPG each time I fill.
- TDI Diesel Sedan (Midyear)MSRP: $2,995319 mi away
- GLS TDI Diesel SedanMSRP: $3,950386 mi away
- GL SedanMSRP: $5,950431 mi away
Fun car ! Looks nice...
Great car with many extras for not much money! Lowered suspension, 18" BBS rims, high performance tires, Recaro seats, 1.8 Turbo, Tiptronic auto, Monsoon sound system, great styling! This car gets looks and comments wherever I go (Lagoon Blue) and costs about 9K less than a BMW 3 series sedan. One thing is that it takes premium fuel, and gas mileage isn't that great around town, averaging about 18 mpg. That can get expensive fast with the price of gas.
TDI Horror
My TDI was great until I hit 60000 miles then a check engine light came on. Replaced sensors, cooling kit, thermostat and the intake flap motor 3 times. Check engine light still on and VW won't take any responsibility for faulty design on flap motors. I've spent over $2,000 already. Owners of TDIs beware!!!! Sell your car before it goes out of warranty because VW will not stand behind thier product.
Best Car to have and drive
Jetta Diesel SW w/auto, gets over 40 mpg in town and upward to 48 mpg on the highway. No problems, only been to the dealer for scheduled maintenance. Totally recommend, good on city and highway driving, could not recommend enough, great car.
Great Car, can't beat TDI-
Nothing but good things to say about this one. I have had four other VWs, and I enjoy this the most in terms of reliability and looks. NO major problems after 150k miles, TDI still feels like new, fuel filter does need to be changed every 20k, otherwise will feel loss of power. No problems with knobs, wiring, other than rear latch can be difficult to use in really cold. I guess the worst thing was engine sway mount did break, causing engine to torque more under load. Have hit 65MPG on highway-only driving doing 60mph!
Unreliable Lemon! VW won't replace!
For some buying a VW is great but it has been the worst experience ever for me. This is my first new car and it has broken down four times in six months. The worst part is that VW doesn't know what is wrong. The last time it was in, they just kept replacing things until the code went away. The problem is that the car will work fine, then when you stop and try to go, it won't go anywhere. You give it gas but it acts like it is in neutral. This has happened in the middle of intersections almost causing us to wreck. I told VW and the dealer this, they said they won't replace my car. The VW Customer Care line lacks care and contradicts itself. VW doesn't know how to repair their cars. Note to consumers, read the lemon law carefully!
2005.5 Jetta VE
The least "VW like" VW I have owned. It has been near stone reliable for 38K miles. Interior finish weak. Soft touch finish blistering off leaving white plastic. Switches breaking or pushing through dash panel. It does not have the Euro aura of its predecessors and looks and feels more plastic. Excessive oil consumption, in my opinion. Changed every 5K with synthetic and have consumed 3-4 qts. between changes since new. Though not as much fun as previous models, the chassis is superb. Great handling combined with great ride and on 15" wheels. It is roomier for passengers and storage as well as quieter. Its just not as spirited or visually pleasing as past models have been.
Don't Do it! Repair shop special!
This car is fun to drive when it is not in the repair shop! I have replaced headlights, taillights, an airbag wire harness, radiator fan, trunk latch, ignition key tumbler, the paint on the interior peels, and I have had recall services done. I implore you, even with the warranty this vehicle is not the one! You will be on a first name basis with the auto techs at VW! They are very nice but I would prefer to be on the road and not at the shop!
Jetta GLI 2005 1.8 Turbo 20 Valves engine
I bought this car from new. Have some problems thats was cover by warranty and others that not since the car does not have warranty any more. The car has around 90,000 kms. Since new the car gave me a lot of problems with the windows falling inside the doors. Plagued with Door Locks problems. Radiator fans damage, the fuse box on top of the battery got damage. Brake light switch has damage two times. The engines has some problem to start in the morning, coolant temperature sensor has been replaced 3 times. Rear brakes make awfull noise 1n reverse. The car spend more time in the mechanic than with me. If you get a VW, sell it as soon as the warranty is finish or you will go broke!
Needs Prius Style MPG guage
The Jetta TDI is a great car. My family needs booted me out of my beloved compact pickup, but this is a worthy replacement. If you're hauling children only in back, definitely remove and store the rear head rests...at least remove the middle (of three) for better vision when backing up.
NOT A RELIABLE CAR!
I have a 2005 Volkswagen jetta GLI. At 65,000 miles, my timing belt snapped and it left me on the side of the highway. Had major costly engine damage. Since then the fabric has been coming off all over the interior of the car. It constantly needs to be in the shop. It worked great but its not reliable due to the fact at 60,000 plus miles its a mechanical nightmare!
I was BAMBOOZLED!
I am a very unsatisfied customer! I would not advise anyone to purchase this vehicle! The window sticker implies that the gas mileage is 26 city and 36 hwy. This is not true! I'm lucky if I get 11 miles city and 15 hwy. Don't be fooled. The breaks on this vehicle are second rate. They squeal very loudly when the car is being backed up. When I took the car in for evaluation on both these two things, I was told that 1. Gas mileage depends on "how I drive"...and about the breaks, I was told that "there is nothing that we can to about the breaks squealing and that I would just have to live with it. Disk breaks will do that because of some element". Just say no to VW.
Great performance, zero reliability
Love it and hate it. Just name a few problems fixed on my Jetta 2002: - First week of ownership, rear passenger door couldnt open because cable fell down inside the door panel. - One piece radio got replaced three times. - Ignition coils replaced at four times. - Windshield wrapper loosened, ridiculous. - Now the front brake squeaks, I was told that there is no way to fix unless change the whole brake pads, disks, etc, I cant believe that.
Great car!
I love my Jetta! It has tons of great options, great quality, and great fuel economy. It drives like a much more expensive vehicle. Great safety and convience features.
Great car!
My overall experience with my first VW is great. I travel for my job which means I'm in my car for 3-5 hours everyday. Being 6'2", the electric leather seats with memory is a wonderful feature and very comfortable. The pickup and fuel economy mix is perfect as I like to take the corners quick and use the cruise control for the highways. Good looks and solid VW engineering. Purchased in Dec 08 and this review written in Sept 09 it's been great.
big improvement
I was surprised at the quiet ride and the suspension absorbs bumps with no problem. Best steering feel I've experienced--just the right road feel.
WOW! Best New Vehicle I've Owned!
My VW Jetta is everything I expected it to be. The fit and finish are first rate. No rattles or odd noises. The ride is right on target for a vehicle this size and the handling is great. The HUGE trunk is a very big plus. My fuel economy has been much better than stated on the sticker. Traveling through New England in October of 2007, and traveling on major roads along with the various State Police crusers at 80 mph, I got 34.5 mpg. The fuel milage was calculated from the last fill up and the amount of fuel needed to fill up again. I've owned Saabs etc., but for the money, you just can't go wrong with a VW Jetta. It feels like a very expensive car, but at a working mans price.
I'm All for It
When I saw pictures of the new Jetta i was not impressed at all but when it got to my local dealership this car was my salesman introduced this car to me I fell in love instantly and I traded in my old Jetta (2003) that day. I'm glad that the Jetta sort of grew up.
Cute, Peppy Car
The new Jetta's engine is more peppy than the previous one, but could always use more power. With the transmission in "sport" mode, or in Tiptronic, the power was fine. Interior design is genius, and the outside is attractive, especially in black with that chrome grill.
New Jetta in Orlando
This New Jetta is awesome. Performance is unbelievable. Its German design is unique and pleasant to the eye.
Nice Car
I just bought this car today and had to write in. I really love it. The interior looks and feels like an Audi. More expensive now but I think it is worth it. Will write in again after a few months have gone by tell let everyone know what I still think.
Germans do it better!
This was my first brand new car and I've been completely happy with it. The base line model (GL) doesn't feel very base line with remote key less entry, power windows/locks, CD AM/FM and cassette, cruise control, chrome trim accents and those cool purple dash board lights. It's comfortable, reliable, nice to drive and gets good mileage. Servicing is reasonably priced and so is the car itself. I don't think the signal lights staying on were manufacturer default, but operator malfunction. Here's a tip, turn the lights OFF and they won't run your battery down. Good luck backing up in that ION. (that's a bad shape)
Solid car, MSRP pricey
This is third Jetta we have owned, Bought new body style, $28K MSRP 5spd chosen to try and improve power of 2.5 and package 2 which puts it near to entry level luxury vehicles but so does the price. Interior design is superb, tops in class I would say, high quality plastics for most part, with a few cost cutting exceptions. Black exterior with beige interior and real wood accents, very impressive. Leather seats have held up well, no wear apparent after 64K miles. Reliability problems have been minimal with exception of stereo system which has been disappointing. Overall a nice vehicle, plan on moving to a used Audi A4 in next few months to upgrade handling and power
Why buy anything else ?
47 MPG, A real hoot to drive, and gobs of room for stuff. Great build quality, great, fit and finish, and it looks great! Too soon to say anything about the reliability. Monsoon sound system is really nice. Was looking for a base GL, TDI, 5 sp Man. Not one to be found in TX. I think I got the last 5sp. manual in TX. $5,000 off for slight hail damage & hard negoiating. No trades, my own financing. Scion XB was too small, Ford Focus Wagon was just too vanilla, PT Crusier was going to be it, but I drove this Jetta Wagon later that afternoon. NO WAY was I going to buy the PT Crusier after driving the Jetta TDI. Both 5sp Man.... We will be driving this car 10 years from now, still grinning...
Overall a very good economy car
The Jetta is a great car. The base model doesn't have a ton of power, but it will get out of its own way for sure. The front seats are comfortable for a small car. The back seat is very tight. Kids and small adults fit fine, anyone larger will have a hard time. The automatic trunk release is a nice feature also. The cruise control works great and isn't 'jerky' like some vehicles. There is some road noise when driving but the great monsoon stereo will cover that up. There should be more pockets or storage areas in the Jetta, the cup holders are placed in a weird spot and are not very convenient, but there are 3 in the middle and two more in the glove box (not sure why).
The 4 Cylinder Jetta Sucks!
I have not had this car for a year yet and I'm already having problems. Like other owners, I have electrical problems with check engine lights coming on, coolant lights and all seem to be "fine" when checked by mechanics. Also the transmission sticks when driving. It sometimes jerks when trying to accelerate going uphill. My driver's side door squeaks when I open it. I've lost a hubcap and on a rainy day the tires slip. Also the fuel economy sucks on the highway as well so I'm left wondering, why did I buy this car?
Regret it
A nice car but a week later I really regret not buying the Mazda3 sedan we looked at. The Mazda was more fun to drive, bigger inside and a lot less money! I definitely know what I will be trading my Jetta for as soon as I can. The Jetta is nice but not worth the price.
Love this!
Even though we bought the value package, it still has some great features. Power windows and doors and remote entry are really great! For a 4 cyl. it still drives nice. It fits our three kids in the back with one booster seat. Lots of trunk space!!! We bought new and have had no problems. It is the perfect small car for us. My husband is tall and I am really short and it is very comfortable for both, unlike the Honda. I felt like I was in a Low rider. The Jetta makes me feel taller and more comfortable. Would (and have) recommend this car to others.
Insane
I would have never imagined so much from a diesel. At 3,000 rpms I was doing 90 mph getting 42 mpg with plenty of pedal left! Thats just insane. This car is great for anyone commuting daily more than 25 miles, its fun, safe, and economical.
My Jetta
Over all I love my New Jetta. It drives great with lots of pick-up. I have fun driving it. the interior is awesome and it makes driving at night fun with the red and blue vw lights.
Good car
I love the style and feel of this car. It's very fun to drive and speedy. The only thing I'm not crazy about is how noisy it is at first starting the car. It's much roomier then the old version with an upgraded sound sytem... I love it.
Great Little Car
Just purchased a dark blue 2006 Jetta 2.5 loaded with leather, sunroof, heated seats, rain sensing wipers, etc w/ 27k miles. Great little car, classy and clean looking with a lot of pickup and go. Very fun car to drive. Compared with used Camry, Fusion, and Malibu - definitely the nicest quality and drive of all, followed by the Fusion. Also looked at the new Passat, but found that the drive wasn't nearly as fun as the Passat and the dash layout was a little too complicated for my tastes. The Jetta is just right...
Great car... But BEWARE!!!!
Bought this certified pre-owned car with 25,000 miles. Although it was 3 yrs old... It seemed new. Friends and family love this little car. I have gotten many compliments at stop lights. Here are a few problems I have experienced. Some rattling sounds. Have taken it to dealer twice to fix, but panels keep coming loose. Cold start is very load and diesel like... They say its normal. Wiper come on for no reason. There was one occasion where trunk release did not work. Had to replace the gas tank release mechn. Word of advise... I have extended warranty until 74,000 mi. Do not be afraid to take it back to get fixed. Every is great at the dealership. They know me by name.
Nothing but frustration
This vehicle is enjoyable to drive and not bad on the design. However, as far as quality, I have had nothing but problems since I drove it off the lot. Between the recalls and the other problems I've had with it, it is in the shop more than on my driveway. The list of problems is extensive ranging from the latch on the trunk to the wiring and the brakes. I would not recommend purchasing this vehicle.
Driving the new TDI
we bought the new Jetta TDI just last week. It was the second the dealer has received and they sell on the spot. We had to put down a deposit in order to have a chance to buy it. This is not a small car anymore, we bought it as our family car (family of four). We already own the TDI wagon which has been great for the last 3 years but it got a little tight in the rear for the kids. Once we took it on the road we decided to buy it that day. It is the TDI with package 1 which includes the moonroof and the premium sound system. No need to have the package 2 or 3 unless you want wood trimming and leather seating. The leatherette feels like real leather but it is more durable.
Love It!!!!!
I'm LOVIN the new Jetta!!! I used to have a 2000 Jetta and I loved it for me, but my passengers hated being cramped. The 2005 Jetta is AWESOME!!! I was able to pile 3 adults in the back seat and they weren't too cramped! I was shocked!!! The transmission is great! I love the sports setting! I didn't like the faux wood trim in the top of the line Jetta and didn't want the satellite radio.
My best car yet
My 05 TDI has 112000 miles. I purchased it new. It gets up to 60 mpg but averages 45 mpg. I'm 6', 250 and find it very comfortable and fun to drive. Maintenance is expensive but I never had any major problems. I also had a 04 Passat TDI but only got 30-32 mpg. Would love to have another Jetta TDI like mine.
Very nice!
Traded in my 2001.5 V6 Passat for this car. Excellent build quality. Fun to drive. The tiptronic 6 speed transmission is a marvel of modern engineering. It works better than the manual transmission on my Passat. Fuel economy is also great for a 5 cyl. car. There is no difference in mileage between the manual and the automatic with tiptronic. Although from certain angles it does resemble the Corolla a little bit, if you see it from the front, there is no mistaking the chrome grille.
My First German Car
I bought 2.5 Jetta couple of weeks back. Love the car. It's fun to drive. I drove Focus for 5yrs before buying used Jetta. The car had 78k miles, hoping to drive for another 80k. Since I bought it from Ford dealership, the dealer didn't give any warranty on my Jetta. This is a great Winter car. I live in Michigan and this year it's snowing really hard. The car got ABS and traction control. It drives great in snow and slippery roads. The car is small, but heavier than Corolla and Accord. Very Solid !
The last of a dying breed...
Good overall vehicle. Decent gas mileage, plenty of available power, smooth opertation. It's a heavy car that needs more power to compensate.
Love it...
The new jetta is such a great car... I just traded in a 2001 1.8t Beatle for it. And i LOVED that car as well. The new style takes a little getting uesd to but the interior is sooo worth it. Over all i give ths car a 9.2... i love it....
I love this car!
I am thrilled with my 6-speed manual Jetta GLI. The only negatives I can think of are the lack of a center console and the very short first gear that almost makes you want to start out in second. However, it is without a doubt the most fun driving experience I have ever had in any car, and I love hearing the turbo whistle after 2000 rpms. it looks awesome with the ground effects, 18-inch rims, and Recaro racing seats-all of which come stock with the GLI. The clutch is extremely smooth, the breaks are perfect, good air conditioning and easy-to use controls, and an excellent stereo system. I would definitely suggest this vehicle to anyone who wants a good blend between power and practicality.
Love this car! Will not be my last VW!!
Bout this car from a private party, July 2010. It is NOT the tdi, the 1.8l. I am 20 years old, so you can imagine how I drive my car. Fiance and I are both active firefighters, this car goes through it all. I drive it to work and college every day, also on shopping trips over 100 miles away. Car runs wonderfully, you can't even hear it running. I did hit a deer, was very impressed with the durability of the car. The driver door held up beautifully, and the window shattered just like it was supposed to. There are no problems with anything on this car, must say it is the best investment I have made. I will be buying another VW, just not the turbo diesel! Too many problems with those.
Best Car In Class - Period.
I bought my Jetta 2.5 a few days ago and I must say that I am amazed with this car's overall quality, fit and finish and attention to detail. The interior design is excellent and all materials are top-rate. The AT is smooth shifting and includes 6-speeds. There's every feature you can possibly want (with package #2) in a car in this class. No other car in this class is as well equiped or has the same attention to detail for the price (~$26k)- period. The performance of the standard 5 cyl. is "good", but it's slightly noisy; brake performance is very good; suspension is slightly firm but not too much (and absorbs bumps well); the steering feels slightly light; and the seats are excellent.
Vdub
First European car, super fun and super safe to drive. Bought it for pregnant wife and she fell in love with it. Certainly won't be last VW we own.
Why buy anything else??
Gobs of fun to drive! 40+ MPG. Holds a bunch of stuff. Very good fit & finish. Too soon to tell much about reliability... Only problem so far, I look down at the speedo, Hell! I'm doing 80 again... Really smooth, quiet for a Diesel.
Expensive Fix
The first 5 years I had the Jetta I absolutely loved it. Performed all routine maintenance as recommended and had no issues other than normal wear & tear (tires & brakes). Hit 90,000 miles and problems have not stopped. Exhaust check engine light came on, $1000 to fix vent fans for engine. Didn't do service and two weeks later check engine light went off and problem ceased. 1 month later airbag fault light came on, trunk won't lock and opens when I am driving! Passanger side window will not roll up, stuck about 6 inches down. Appear to be all electrical issues but fix is very expensive.
Can't find anyting to dislike
Very quiet on the highway. Solidly built. Great stereo. Fantastic interior quality. Great paint job. Too soon to tell about reliability.
New Jetta Rocks!
I love this car! I've had my New Jetta for 3 months now, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. The handling is outstanding, and the interior wouldn't be out of place in a luxury car. I used to have a Ford Explorer, and was looking for a fun car to have; something nice but affordable. This is it. Anyone looking for a luxury car without the price; this car is for you. The build quality is amazing. Just feeling the texture of the materials, and the way the car handles and rides on rough roads is amazing.