Used 2008 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews

MY New 08 Jetta

This is my second Jetta and I absolutely LOVE it. I originally had an 04 Jetta and the improvements since then are amazing. What a stylish car it has turned into! I love driving it and it's got a lot more oomph since with the 2.5 upgrade. definitely a great car worth looking into.

From MB to VW

My wife was driving a 1995 C220 sedan. We had a good one, but decided to trade it in on a new VW with FWD and way more safety features. This 20K sedan is far away a fantastic value for the build quality and level of equipment it offers. Seats are comfy, and the trunk is huge. Performance is average with the 2.5 motor. the tiptronic trans works great! I only hope we got a good copy of the Jetta and it proves to be as reliable as the MB was.

First VW

Love It! Bought it for my wife, but haven't stopped driving it at every opportunity. Fun to drive, fast, comfortable. Only problem is the DSG transmission. Wish I bought the manual. The DSG shifts smoothly but is awkward at a start, and is difficult to start on a hill. It's kind of like driving a manual shift without the benefit of controlling it with a clutch. The dealership says it's received many complaints but "that's the way it's supposed to work". BUT they extended the DSG warranty ;) Bottom line is that there's a problem, they don't know how to fix it, so they extend the warranty to calm the masses. Poor solution. BUT Would definitely buy it again. Most fun car to drive ever!

V Dub 4 Life

WOW!! This is my 5th jetta and I love it. I have owned a 97 trek, 98 wolfsburg, 03 gls sedan, 03 gls wagon. When I leased this car i went out and looked at other brands and ended up with another VW. That commercial said it all, "VW, it gets into you," totally true. Everyone that I know likes this car and compliments me all the time. True the brand does have a few minor quality issues, but have you seen some of the other car brands out there? I would much rather be riding in a VW, a car that is FULL of safety and security features. Why do you think it VW is Europe's #1 selling brand? It is the peoples car. Before you buy a new car, test drive a VW and you will know what I am saying. VW

Mini Passat

I love this car! I own an 04 Jetta and an 08 Passat, as well. Other than missing the navigation upgrade, we often mistake it for the Passat. In- fact we call it the Mini-Passat The ride, comfort and road noise compared to the the 2004 Jetta is hands- down much better.

Econo sport sedan

I leased this car for my daughter. Sign and then drive $279 per month 10k per year 36 months, only out of pocket was motor vehicle fees. This car is well equipped, power Windows, locks, a/c, Sirius radio and all safety features and good crash test ratings. The leatherette looks and feels like leather. The car has a nice ride, good acceleration and very good handling. The transmission has a manual mode and a sport mode. My only gripes so far is the engine takes about 30 seconds to warm up and the am radio is staticky. This is my first VW and so far so good. As long as it remains reliable I would recommend this car. Also this car has a huge trunk and all the seats fold down.

Love my jetta

Just bought a new 2008 jetta se. My first one and so far I have enjoyed the car. Great ride, enough power to get me where I am going and fast if I need to. The interior is comfortable, the access to all the controls is handy. The handling is great.

Excellent buy for the money!

I drove the Mazda 3 Touring and sport and originally wanted to purchase the VW GTI but after driving the Jetta, I loved it! The interior of the VW Jetta blows away the Mazda 3 since the Germans just pay so much more attention to detail. The gas mileage on the Jetta is about the same as the GTI so why not get the extra room? The car drives great, has room, looks great and should last forever! I LOVE IT!

High End German Feel

I bought the 2008 Jetta SE with the charcoal exterior and dark grey interior. I really like this car. Has the look and feel of a much more expensive vehicle at an affordable price. I think the biggest criticism I've heard about the car is the exterior styling being too similar to the Toyota Corolla. I think the roofline and silhouette of the car is more sophisticated compared to the Corolla. The new tail lights for 2008 also have a new look (VW darkened the perimeter of the tail lights, giving it a more distinctive look). I think the interior is also top notch. Quality materials and lots of features you won't see on the Civic or base model, midsize cars (i.e. Camry, Accord, Altima).

Jetta SE 2.5 A

Was really looking for SE manual - but hard to find. Only driven 700 miles so far, but am very happy with choice. This car has the look and feel of a luxury vehicle, but the economy of a compact.

Greeeeaaaaattttt!

I Bought this car for my wife (her 3rd Jetta) and I've been driving it since the very first day, I have a 2002 BMW 530i Myself and told my wife she can keep it until I get bored of driving the Jetta;...It has been 3 months and I'm still driving the Jetta and I think I will never get bored of driving it. This car is awesome

Wolfsburg 2.0T is a no brainer!

This is the third Jetta that I have owned and by far the funnest. Have been looking for a new one for some time and had settled on SE model. Then drove into the dealer and they said that the new 2008 Wolfsburg edition was out. The first thing I saw on the car was the 2.0 T tag on the back. Then I saw the 17" wheels and then I saw the sticker price. Only $400 over the price of a similar SE Jetta sitting next to it! This is an awesome deal for the difference in price. This car really moves and looks great! I got black with manual trans. My dad liked mine so much he bought the same car only in grey and DSG auto transmission. These cars are very limited so check with your dealer!

Jetta Wolfsburg

Just Leased the Jetta Wolfsburg. So far and it has only been 2 weeks, this car has far exceeded my expectations. The MPG is awesome (28mpg) the car has great pick up when needed. The interior is very well built and looks and feels like it should be in a $30k vehicle. It has a few faults that I have noticed. The biggest is there is no room for anything. Center console is way too small and having the aux jack in there is not the most well thought out feature. The passenger and driver seat adjustments are a little difficult. Other than that fit and finish on this car is great.

Wise choice?

My wife and I have owned this car for about 3 weeks now. We wanted a car that is fun to drive but also gets good gas mileage. I traded my Toyota truck for this car. Some would say that was a risky move but we were looking for better economy. I think we succeeded there so far. We're averaging 25 mpg so far. This is our first VW and we like the experience so far. The VW is very well equipped for the price. We also considered the Camry, Accord, Civic and Corolla. Each have their pros and cons but none are equipped as well as the Jetta for the same price. I think the VW has the most bang for the buck.

Great car for the money

Amazing what you get for the money paid. The car is fun to drive and interior is solidly built. Exterior is a little bit unimpressive, but with some aftermarket parts and accessories, it wil look fantastic.

2008 for the commuter

I just picked up a year end 2008 Jetta 2.5L stick for $15,200. I was on the fence between a Honda Civic & a Camry for a comfortable, yet long commute (90mi ea way). Although I read mixed reviews on the Jetta's gas mileage, and that may be why I didn't consider buying one. However, I've been driving the car and getting good gas mileage, 29mpg mixed driving. I recommend this car if you want a well-engineered car that's responsive, handles like a much more expensive car and is fun to drive.

WOW did not expect this

If you wold have told me i would be driving a vw a month ago i would have said you're nuts. I am coming out of a BMW and was looking at the usual suspect luxury cars - there all nice but nothing made me go wow. When i test drove this car on a whim i knew in 5 minutes that i wanted it. The 2.0 turbo is a rocket! I chose the wolfsberg over the gli just because i wanted something that looked a little more grown up - and the rims and tires on this car make it look very nice. For the money there is nothing that can even touch this car - its super fun to drive - great styling- ton of options - well built -and did i mention its super fast! Only 12.5k sent to US- pick one up if you can find one!

Excellent but not perfect

VW produces 5 Jetta models, the S, SE, SEL, Wolfburg, and the non-Jetta GLI (with the 4T engine). The S manual being the base, the SE Auto the most popular coming in at $21,000. For that hefty tag you get quite an impressive list of options including heated seats, satellite radio (not satellite ready!), 6sp, auto trans, full auto up/down windows (all 4) and a nice sun roof. Remote electric heated mirrors and remote trunk and fuel door. Heated washer nozzles and the newest I-beam wipers. Some say it's expensive but do a hard side by side comparison and you'll see that the Jetta is just a little more. You may not like the Jetta if: you like cushy seats, sloppy steering, need excessive legroom

Loving it so far!

I bought my 2008 Wolfsburg during a 0% financing promotion. Out the door I paid $23,770. I have been so happy with the Jetta so far. My only complaint is the cost of oil changes! $75 for my first and $80 something for my second. Are you kidding me? Then I was told I might lose my warranty if I take it to a discount place or had a family member do it for me. The Turbo is fun to drive and the car is small and zippy.

Dissapointed

When I first drove the car I fell in love with it and immediately bought it. The very responsive engine coupled with 18" performance tires made this car fun to drive. Just two months later and the clutch has way too much transmission feel and the gas consumption is not even close to the quoted technical specifications. Unless my dealer can solve the consumption issue I am estimating that this car will cost me $400-500 more per year than I should expect based on quoted estimates. In terms of the clutch, the feel has drastically changed from when I first took delivery. My dealer is claiming that it is operating normally. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Brand new Volkswagen Jetta SE Automatic

Reluctantly I had to trade in my Saturn VUE. I test drove several different sedans that would fit my narrow garage driveway opening. I needed a vehicle with moveable mirrors just in case. I was also looking for safety features and the Jetta had great crash test ratings for front and side. I loved the Jetta SE and it suited me. For the first time in awhile I actually felt the car hugged the road and I felt safe making corners and on freeway curves. It handles beautifully and the interior is so comfortable. This is the second Volkswagen I've owned and again I'm impressed. The sales experience this time was one of the best I've encountered.

The Jetta SE Delivers

This little beauty is fun to drive, attractive and stylish interior, the car handles turns and corners well. Slightly sluggish on acceleration at times but overall is a great value! I feel very safe with this vehicle. Fuel economy is about average. I think it will improve as the car gets older because that usually happens once you break a car in. I have the leather interior and I love it! I've usually gotten cloth interiors but I love the fact I can just wipe it clean! I'm so excited about the iPod port feature! I love my sun/moon roof and I'm enjoying this car.

So glad I waited to get the 2008!

This is a fantastic car. I previously owned a 2000 Passat V6 GLX, and the 08 Jetta is just as big and roomy. I really enjoy the +20 boost in horsepower (2007 was 150, 2008 is 170). It's a nice balance between performance and gas mileage. I certainly wouldn't want any less muscle, though. Road noise is minimal and the car feels solid in tight turns and quick maneuvers. I love the 4 year bumper-to-bumper warranty and road-side assistance. The exterior looks sophisticated and classy - head and shoulders above the competitors in its class.

First Day of Driving

Just got the 2008 2.5 170 hp (up from 150) Jetta SE (mid-line) w/ tip. Charcoal with dark "leatherette" with optional sound system package. This is my second VW. I drove the 2007 2.5 manual, and this has substantially better performance. I did not drive the 2007 tip, but I think this runs as well as my old 2000 Passat V6/tip. I looked at the Mistu Lancer, Ford Fusion, and Hyundai Sonata. For my money, this is by far the better buy. The packaging has been changed up, and you get more as standard for the money compared to 2007. Definitely more than "A to B" tranportation. Very classy interior. Can't tell the gas mileage yet, but I will update as I know more.

Nice city car and city hopper

Great car to drive around the city, peppy engine, whats with the handle bars in the front console, whats with the 5in radio console. mpg could be a better, noisy engine, leather seats on the inside (side towards brake) is cloth ???.

Best bang for the buck!

My wife and I were looking for a car that could do it all. Fun to drive, good gas mileage, high quality and comfort. Looks like we might of found it! We have been test driving cars for two months (Prius, ugly, slow, cheap plastic interior, over 30,000 for leather, corolla 158 hp, solid, slow, good looking, boring to drive, 21-29 mpg, 29,000 for leather, Honda fit, roomy, ok looking, real slow, feels cheap when driving) The Wolfsburg with the leatherette seats and the DSG transmission made me feel like I was driving a BMW 335i (I also test drove) just not as fast. As far as gas mileage, we bought the car in Scottsdale AZ. Drove through Flagstaff AZ, over to Fullerton CA (670 miles) got 31.4 MPG.

I am wow'd

A "career move" put me in the market for a commuter car. My 02 SS Camaro is not fuel efficient (Dont worry, I still have it) I had come to terms with purchasing a New Honda Fit. The deal did not go smooth, so I started to look at other options. I stumbled across an 08 Wolfsburg w 5k, priced at $16.5k on the internet. The next morning, I headed to the dealership and fell in love with it after the first drive. Loved all of the Wolfsburg add ons, especially the 2.0 Turbo! I never thought I would love driving a Jetta, but I do! I find it more fun to drive than my Camaro. To add to that, I have been averaging 30 MPG hwy as well. My only issue is an annoying rattle from the dash moulding.

Jetta

Overall - a great car. Power of a V6 with gas mileage of a 4 cylinder, tons of room, feel very solid. Great value for the money - lease is very affordable If you feel like there is not enough power - just shift the transmission to S mode, and it flies.

Very Pleased

My first VW, the 2.0T Wolfsburg is comfortable and well crafted, I feel like I'm driving something costing $10k more. A very solid car, the suspension and steering are excellent. The engine delivers a satisfying rush of acceleration when you want it. DSG transmission's Sport mode changes the car from a sedate cruiser to a growling animal - lots of smiles. Trunk is huge, with fold down seats can carry lots of cargo. So far 9K miles, no troubles. Very happy all around.

VW, where have you been all my life?

Bought my Jetta Wolfsburg in July '08 and have put over 1,500 miles on it. I must say, this is absolutely the 'funnest' car I've ever owned - 6 in the last 10 years. Aside from the '02 BMW 330Ci, all my other purchases have been Japanese made. Looking back, I wish I'd only discovered VW's earlier. The handling and performance of my Jetta Wolfsburg reminds me very much of that BMW 330Ci I once owned, but at less than HALF the price of the Beemer. The Jetta is truly the best VALUE; I've never been so satisfied. I'm getting much more for the price I paid. This car really shines on the highways, as the power and acceleration of the turbo-charged engine is very responsive. Love this car!

Not a solid car

Bought this vehicle in hopes for its reliability and gas mileage. This car not only disappointed, but I asked Burnsville Volkswagon to buy it back. It had clutch problems right from the word go. It was in the shop more than it was at home. I almost forgot the color of our car. My wife and I live in MN and traded in her jeep for what we thought was to be a gas improvement since we had two four-wheel drives at home. I would not recommend a jetta to anyone. I put on Bridgestone Blizzack tires to try to improve the terrible winter performance to no avail. You would think a car from Germany could handle some snow. The traction control system is a joke and noise maker. Terrible vehicle.....

Bad ergonomics

Trying to downsize from a minivan, my husband picked out this car. I did test drive the car, but what can you tell in 15 minutes? It is totally ergonomically incorrect for my size - 5'. If I ran the world, all cars would have adjustable pedals, as they are a godsend for short drivers. The telescoping steering wheel is not enough. The gas pedal is very stiff and is causing knee pain. The seating arrangement - you have to recline - also causes me back pain, even though the seats are nice and supportive. I am not looking forward to driving this car in the snow - too much zip and no all wheel drive. All that said, my husband loves the car. He is a normal size and loves racing.

Ended my winter worries

We exchanged our 2008 Mazda 3i in because as fun as it was to drive, it floundered on even the shallowest hills if there was snow on the road. My spouse was terrified getting to work, so our New Year's resolution was to drive a safer car. We bought this pre-owned Jetta to replace the Mazda. WOW WHAT a Difference! This car is solid and we now realize what "hug the road" means. The stability of this vehicle is complemented this winter by the toasty-warm heated seats which almost makes me reluctant to get out of the car. Volkswagen clearly takes Pride in their Jetta and its design. Inside and out it is a wonderful choice. It could stand more storage space up front for CD's and such.

'08 VW Jetta 2 year Review

D suspension is ok. Car feels sturdy + looks good. Engine power is ok, n has always turned on. D brakes are good for normal driving. D interior is well appointed and designed but d plastic grill covers on d front doors side speakers rattle with music. D 5 speed manual shifter's clear plastic cap is a little loose and makes noise when handled. D windshield wipers jolt after turning off car + d motor quit working at 21973 miles on d odometer. After proper procedure, reverse gear is a little tricky to engage. In Vigorous driving when shifting from 5th to 3rd gear, 3rd always gets denied at 55mph or above. Tail light burned out at 21352 miles on odometer. Minor electrical glitches from time2time

farfrumworthit

I am a 3rd time VW owner and have to say - I think VW has done a fantastic job on the new Jetta 2.5 BUT; the quality lacks in so many ways. My first VW was a fox - I have seldom ever admitted owning one but there it is. Nice car. My 2nd was a Jetta 2.5 L 5 speed - the vehicle had a throw out bearing issue in the trans at 2500 miles. I traded it and got a new black automatic one. Since owning it, I have found the transmission can at times be unresponsive or indecisive, the air conditioner condensate drain line was never drilled at the factory and had to be drilled at the dealer after the vehicle's floor pan got soaked. The center cap fell off in the car wash and broke. -farfrumworthit

Awesome "upgrade" car!

I recently upgraded from a Mazda 3s sedan to my Jetta SEL. I am very pleased with all the features you get at the lower 20k price tag! The drive is so smooth with this car. My mom has a A4 Audi and the Jetta provides a very similar driving experience. Some features that are included in the SEL are sunroof, leather seats, upgraded superior sound system, 6 disc CD player, Sirius satellite radio with 3 months free subscription, pretty red lights shining down from front ceiling and blue lights in the instrument panel and music player, huge trunk with inside trunk release as a safety precaution. The Jetta also comes with a 5 star crash test rating. A lot of thought went into building this car.

Great car

Luxury for little $$$

After looking around at many of the comparable vehicles, none could compare and I bought the Jetta. I see a lot of this is great, that is great here so I'll focus on a couple of real quirks I've noticed, but don't get me wrong, I love everything everyone else loves about this car. First off is the visors/rear view mirror. How cheap! While the interior has THE nicest materials in this economy class, the visors are cheap plastic non-sense. The mini- vanity mirrors, with the quirky sliding door and the 1/2 matchstick light bulb are worthless. Center console room front and center is very tight. The rolling knobs for the seats and dash lights are difficult to adjust while driving.

jettas rock

I love my VW jetta its fun to drive handles like its on rails and runs like a cat especially when we go driving in the mountains

first jetta

I drive a lot. The car does everything it should very nicely. When asked to work hard something is lacking. There is to much body roll,the peddles are a little to close together and a little more power would be nice. That said the car is a very good bang for the buck with all the standard features you could ask for. The 16 in. aluminum wheel upgrade is a must.

2008 Jetta SE

Only had car a couple of weeks, but I really like it. Everything seems to be well put together. Car handles great for a sedan. Trunk is super huge and interior has quite a bit of room for a compact car. Through first 3 tanks of fuel, I have averaged 31 MPG. Engine has more than enough power for my driving style. All controls seem to be laid out very well.

Wolfsburg Edition = Great Value

For the price of a loaded Civic, purchased a loaded Wolfsburg with a far more sophisticated and powerful drivetrain (engine & transmission). The turbo 4cyl and DSG six speed transmission are the same used in the Audi A3, TT, and A4, as well as the VW GTI and GLI.

Get yourself a Wolfsburg

Have only had our Jetta Wolfsburg 2 weeks and so far it has been a blast to drive. Interior and exterior quality are the best I have ever seen in a new vehicle. (And I have been driving over 40 years. First VW). Several people at work asked me when I bought a BMW. When I tell them it's a VW Jetta they can't believe it. Great car for a nice price.

08 Jetta Manual trans

The 08 Jetta has very good, solid build quality, good power, excellent interior, and a huge trunk at this size of car. Mileage is so so, mine is right on the EPA estimate of 21-22 city, and 29 highway. Ride is smooth, and steering precise. Just enought road feed back to be useful to the driver. Driver seat should be wider, it is a little narrow in the seat, and I am not fat, just average size. Radio could be a bit stronger, and the ipod connector should be on the dash. If the Jetta just got slightly over 30 MPG, and slightly higher mileage in town it would be one of the best small to mid size cars. Plenty of interior space for 4 persons, 5 is a reach. The trunk is longer than my Camry.

Lot of Bang for the Buck

We just traded in our 2008 Jetta SE for the 2008 Wolfie to get the financing deal. We were planning to just swap for another SE, but when we saw the Wolfsburg with its rear spoiler, 17-inch sporty wheels and the turbo for only a little more, we had to drive it and all we could say was WHEEEEE! Lots of power and it's quieter than the SE. Effortless acceleration where the SE would buzz like a moped to get up to speed. One thing we did not realize, though, was that it takes premium gas -- ouch! Fun ride, awesome fit/finish and we had no problems with our SE so we expect none here. Styling is decent in and out. Roomy and comfy. Trade did hold pretty well. Excellent value.

Buy one you WON'T regret it!

Well I originally wanted to purchase a two year old Audi A4. It would be in the price range I was looking for. I came across the Jetta and actually thought it was the Audi. Doing some homework on the Jetta revealed that it has one of the highest safety ratings, is a cousin of the A4 and is an overall excellent value. The Jettas prior to 2008 were more expensive and was not crazy about the wheels and tail lamps. 2008 VW changed them and lowered the price. I now own my Jetta and get compliments everywhere I go!! The car has almost every option I could need and it only cost me $20,500. every car in its class doesn't even come close to the Jetta in Value. AND it's German..

2.0T is a great, great package!

I was actually looking at a Rabbit with the (Canada-only) Sport package, which ended up being more expensive than my Jetta 2.0T. (I would have considered the 2.5, which was considerably cheaper, but they only had it in beige.) My mother drives an 08 Eos with the 2.0T/6-speed manual combination, and that combination was undeniably the most fun I had ever had driving. The 2.0T/6-speed manual is wonderful in the Jetta as well; combined with 17" wheels, black bumper trim, huge trunk. Loving it. Traded in my Mazda3 Sport - which I loved - for this Jetta and have not missed my Mazda for a second. Class-leading power, comfort, interior materials, fun-to-drive quotient.

Great bang for the buck

I test drove the Wolfsburg Edition and the SE model at the dealership, and those two trims don't compare when it comes to driving excitement. The Wolfsburg just exudes power even with just a light touch of the gas pedal, while the SE just felt limp even when wound up. If you're looking for a practical car that can really pull when you want it to, consider WE Jetta.

1st VW

Well, this is my first VW and if it is reliable, it will not be my last. I picked out the Black w/black interior for my wife and to hand down to my daughter in a couple of years, but I have to admit, I look for reasons to drive the car. It handles great and gives good road feedback. Updated 2.5 engine has plenty of power for my taste.

New: Impressions by a Civc and Jetta Own

After a few days with my Jetta, I'm amazed at the detail of the interior and exterior compared to my Civic. Too early to really gauge the fuel economy, but the performance of the car in handling, power, and braking is superb. Besides all that: it is super comfortabl to drive and the stick shift is easy and smooth. I'm looking forward to many years with it.