Used 2008 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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Just get one!
What a awesome car. After having a company van & having to give it up, I decided I wanted a car. My wife's car is a great Jeep grand Cherokee. This little car surprises us everyday. What a awesome car. I can't say it enough! Just go get one. I had a 84 gti... The best VW ever made... First VW in 20+ years
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.
Wolfsburg in Sheep's Clothing
The cleverly disguised Jetta is packing the coveted 2.0T engine & DSG tranny from the VW stable. This is probably the cheapest car from VW/Audi with this fun-to-drive engine and transmission combo. For a few hundred more than a SE, this is a no-brainer choice. The 200 hp is available around 1800 rpm, so you truly get use of the power without having to floor it. I have about 1500 miles to date and have my fingers crossed that there will be no issues down the road. But, the fit and finish of this car are remarkable. The panels are solid without that Japanese tin can sound or feel. The Jetta WE is definitely a viable contender in its class.
Graduation Present
I bought my daughter a new 08 Jetta SE as her collge graduation present. I picked it up on Wednesday, delivered it to her in Philadelphia on Saturday, it was dead on Sunday and in the shop on Monday. The electronic engine fan would not shut off and it drained the battery. It was towed to dealer where they diagnosed a faulty fan controller module. Took 2 days to get the part. Hopefully this fixes it and it is the only thing that goes wrong with it. I have an 2007 New Beetle with the same engine in it and I love the car and I have had no problems. I also have a 2006 Passat and have had only minor problems like faulty gas cap. So you see I am a Volkswagen person.
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.
Wolfsburg- A very, very fun Jetta
The Jetta Wolf comes with a 2.0T and has an amazing DSG strapped to it's back. The two amount to a very zippy car that will destroy 80% of the cars on the road. The body is rather bulky, and hardly resembles the Jettas of yesteryear. I gave it a lower rating for reliability because the car spent a total of 14 days in the shop within the first 10,000 miles, but no issues to speak of there after. The interior is beautiful and high quality, but begins to make some squeaks when the temp drops. The standard tires get noisy after 15k. Some of the stitching on the arm rest and steering wheel is coming undone, may have something to do with 6 hours a day in the car. Overall a great car! get one
Fun,stable, affordable
We have had high end cars prior. With the price of gas and traffic, we wanted a comfortable, fun, quaility, yet affordable sedan. Well there are not too many out there in this price range. This car has it all. You may not get the bells and whistles your used to. But it has enough without lacking quality, safety and its cute.
Glad we bought the Wolfsburg
Only have had the car for 3 weeks (500 miles). It's fun to drive, looks great, and is roomy inside. Looks like a car that costs $1,000's more than it does. We were going to buy an '08 Malibu LTZ but decided on the Wolfsburg instead. (More standard features and cheaper price.)
Nice power and no problems!
This is my third VW and the best so far. I have been driving my Jetta since July 2008 and haven't experienced any problems. The car has nice power and many features (e.g. power everything, nice stereo) are standard. The only negative is the gas mileage isn't great but not much of a problem for me because I take mass transit to work.
Excellent car for the money
I've had this car for about 6 months after having an Infiniti G35x. Considering this car was almost half the price of a new G, it's shockingly nice. I love the look with the 17" wheels. The stereo is just OK but coming from the G it's hard to compete. The ride is smooth and the engine is outstanding. After 6 months of using 89 octane, I'm averaging 28 MPG in mixed driving which is GREAT. Much more than I expected. I've had tanks where I've had 60% highway driving and gotten 30 MPG on the entire tank. They are selling this car very short with the EPA ratings.
Love my VDub
Great car, very safe in the snow. Coming from a sports car to this wasn't very hard because it has so much pep. Bought this car March 2008 and 2 years later I have not had one problem with it.
Don't Buy the 2.5!
Do NOT buy the 2.5! If you do, you are selling yourself short. I owned one for 8 months before realizing how awful the gas mileage is: 21mpg in the city/hwy. NOT COOL! I traded up for a Wolfsburg 2.0T and absolutely love it, not to mention it gets much better fuel economy. Another thing i didn't like about the 2.5 was the loud engine, especially at start-up, that sound isn't even heard in the new TDI. Another positive note: i drove this car for 12 hours to Fl. and did not feel tired and worn out when i got there. This car is way comfortable.
I love my Volkswagen.
I've had this car for almost a year now (purchased Dec. 07) and have put almost 17,000 miles on it and I still love it as much as the day I purchased it, maybe even more. When I went in to test drive, I really had no intention of buying it, but after the test drive I was sold. I got an awesome deal on it, bought it for $19,300, which is an amazing deal for all the features that come on this car. My favorite thing about the car is definitely the interior. The car is easy to clean, it's really comfortable. Prior to owning this I had a Honda S2000 and I never would have thought I'd love having a VW as much as I do.
Who Knew
I am driving my 5th VW and have owned a lot of fine cars, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercedes just to name a few. I have been driving for 45 years and have owned more than 25 cars. I still think the VW is the finest car ever built for the price. Notice that I said for the price. You can buy more expensive cars that have everything you could ever want, but for my money I love VW's. As for the one guy who wrote there a piece of junk, maybe he truly got a lemon, that's why there are lemon laws. I have never paid for anything other than normal maintenance items for all 5 of my VW's. Forever faithful to European excellence in manufacturing.
Quality design over other sedans
This inline 5 cylinder out performs all other sedans I test drove. It's just a fun car to drive even though it doesn't get the greatest gas mileage. The interior layout and speaker system is another great advantage over other makes out there. This car looks more sporty that the rest of the pack as well.
Fantasic Value for the Money
There is nothing on the market for $21,000 that compares. I've owned a 1990 and a 1997 Jetta and they keep getting better. I was worried about not getting the turbo but the 2.5 inline 5 with the manual trans has great torque and performs really well. I've only had it for 4 months and no problems at all yet. I got the black with black interior and it looks pretty refined. It is hard to justify buying an Audi A4 when the Jetta is pretty similar for $15K less.
Still unsure
The guy who said "love it, hate it" had it right. Love the car, but at 35,000 miles, I've had a LOT of costly warranty work on the transmission and issues with oil consumption that the service writers refuse to talk to me about. Its suspicious but apparently a common problem- Google it. The trans is going to go out again and already has signs of wear a tear.
Awesome car
Less than six months and less than 6K on the car but wow. What a fun car. Talk about bang for the buck, I drove a GLI the day before, knew I wasn't getting that, and also drove the 5 cyl. When I go back the next day, all they have, in Jettas, are Wolfs. Wow GLI performance for the SE price! I love the fact that this car costs less than my two year old car did when it was new, and has way more features. This won't be my last VW.
My 1st V-Dubb
Waited 4 months for an '08 Accord coupe. Walked into the v. W. Dealer, drove the auto and made the deal for the 6 spd. Love driving the car; feels like a lot more expensive car. There should be more creature comforts on this quality of build. Just picked the car up on 7/28 so haven't really "driven" the car yet. The couple of time I've gotten on it a bit lets me know the car surely feels a lot stronger than I thought it would. By the way, my reliability rating of 5 is because I haven't had the car long enough to rate it fairly. Oh, how I wish I could "rate" the dealership too!
More Fun than an Accord
I was *this close* to buying a Honda Accord. I didn't even look at a Jetta at first because of disastrous reliability - then I found out starting in 2007 things had turned around nicely. I drove the Jetta and dropped the Accord. On the "fun" scale, it just blows the Japanese and American cars away, imo. I also test drove the Audi A4, basically the same car for a lot less money. I noticed very little difference in the pickup and handling. Surprising amount of room - about the same as the old Passat. I have 4 kids, ranging from 9 to 15 and can fit all of us quite comfortably. One annoying thing - my power window switch acts up in the cold. Besides that - I love the car. Recommended!
Love my car!!!
My first car was a Jetta. I've had several other cars since then and was recently in the market for a new car. I couldn't deny the quality of the VW cars and saw it in the comparisons among other makes. Once a VW owner, always a VW owner.
Best car I ever bought
Buying this car was one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm extremely happy. Quiet, smooth, quick, reliable, safe. I can go on and on.
Poor Interior Design
Overall, excellent car. However, there is a tight fit for the driver's hand around the ignition and little space between the gear shifter and console. Interior design could be better, it's a little disappointing from a VW.
Awesome Car!!
I was a former Jetta owner. The biggest mistake I have ever made was trading that Jetta in on a Ford Mustang GT. I have learned the biggest lesson of my life! Never again! It's unbelievable the torgue this little car has. You better hang on or she'll get away from you. I love the tiptronic transmission. So whatever mood I am in I can adjust the shifter to what I need, making it very fun to drive. The sport suspension gives it a great handling ride. It offers everything I need, from the sunroof to the 17 inch wheels. Stylish car inside and out. I love this car. VW I am so glad to be back!
Love at first sight
Not only is this car beautiful from the outside it has a great interior. I live in a climate where it snows half of the year (basically) and I have never had a car that handles so well in the snow/ice. This car almost handles like a 4 wheel drive vehicle on the road at the worst of times. The Germans know how to make a great vehicle!
2008 VW Jetta SE 5speedM
This is my 2nd Jetta, previously driving a '00 Jetta GL 5speed. I'm very impressed with the extras that come standard with the '08. I put 193,393 on my '00 and I'm thinking I might do the same with this one. It's a great car to drive! Gas mileage is a bit less than my '00 since its a 2.5 and I had been driving a 2.0. I think the experience of driving this car will be worth the few extra dollars I'll spend in gas. I highly recommend taking the VW experience and going for a Jetta. The '08s have so much more room that even my 6'7" son fits comfortably.
Don't hesitatte, This is the one!!!
DSG, black on gray interior. Very solid build, improvement noticeable even over 2007 model (wife has 2007 wolfsburg). Great response and performance from engine and transmission both. Nice sounding engine. 2.0t is much quieter than 2.5 unless you like to hear it growl...it can be somewhat tricky to find right driver seat position, knees tend to hit center console, but i have been able to adjust the seat to minimize the discomfort. find it very hard to stay off the accelerator. can be driving 100 and not notice it. car is very solid and you can feel it. Was able to get a very good price for it. not quite a GLI without all the extra stuff but for 7000 less, you can't beat it.
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.
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.
Get the 2008
This is an awesome car! Test drove many many cars before ending up with a Jetta. The 170hp is awesome for this class of car. I enjoy all the standard safety and upscale options at such a low starting price.
"Wow"
Drove 5 hours to DC area to get color combination 5spd I wanted; traded in '07 Civic, best 5 hour drive back I've ever had! Power, torque & handling are incredible! This is the way a car is supposed to handle! Getting 25 mpg, just like I anticipated the 5 cyl would. This my 8th VW, but have not had one in the last 5 years; this one is the "best of all the rest!"-- Don't need a GTI!
No Regrets with 08 WE Jetta
I've only been driving this WE Jetta for about 1.5 months, but, I've been very satisfied thus far. The exterior is growing on me, but everything else was a hit from the start, Especially the power. I look forward everyday to drive it.I test drove over a dozen vehicles. The 08 Saab 93, and 08 Honda Accord(to big)were the only competitors, but the Jetta was 5k cheaper.
Very pleased Jetta Owner
Well I bought this car a few months ago and so far I am very pleased with it. It is the first car I have owned in a long time that I can actually say is fun to drive.
Wow!!
I just purchased a VW 2008 Jetta S automatic. From the moment I test drove it I was sold. I test drove every other compact sedan just to make sure but the Jetta is head and shoulders above the competition. Not to mention that you get sooo much for your money. Many standard features on the VW are options on the other vehicles. This is a classy car with great performance and comfort. The boost in horsepower in the 2008 models is definitely nice to have. The trunk is huge! Great interior design and layout. I can go on and on. IF you haven't test driven one yet... it's a must!!
Can't find a better car
My first day with my first v-dub, it is easily the best car (for the price) that I think I've ever driven. The balance of power and fuel economy is perfect and the styling of the car is gorgeous inside and out. I got the 5 spd SE with leather, cold weather pkg and the premium sound system. Can't say much about the reliability because it's only been 1 day. If you're looking for an affordable car that performs across all categories you can stop looking, the 2008 Jetta is it.
2008 S Model Jetta
This car rides quietly and has some pick-up, however, I feel it gets below average gas mileage that is one of my biggest complaints. I can go about 320 miles before I have to refill the tank. I drive a lot of highway miles and they advertise that the car gets 28 or 29 mpg highway, however, that is not the case. The air conditioning works pretty well and I like the ipod adapter in the car. I have a sunroof on my car but noticed that when it's open and I drive there is a considerable amount of air noise, it's kind of annoying. I love the amount of trunk space in the car - very roomy! Also it can comfortably fit 4 adults in the car. I believe there is even 3 seat belts in the back.
Jetta Wolfsburg is the best deal around!
Excellent value and features. Wasn't a big fan of the 2005 redesign (looks are too Japanese...), but the 2.0T and 6-sp manual sold me! You get the GLI/GTI powertrain and top-notch build quality for not much more than Civic money. You'd have to spend thousands more to find a car with comparable performance, features, and quality. Herbie made me a VW fan. And owning 25+ VW's over the years have only made me more enthusiastic about the brand.
Best purchase.
I had a Gray '06 Jetta 2.5 5-spd w/Package 1 (6 CD/MP3/Sat, leatherette, heated seats, etc.) which I purchased new. I brought it to the dealer in June for some warranty stuff (w/44k miles). As I'm waiting for the verdict, I stumbled into the showroom. Of course the inevitable happened & the sales manager approached me. So, I ended up test driving a 2.5 and a 2.0T WE which I absolutely fell in love with. Got a fantastic deal, a lower APR, a fresh warranty & more. I like that Monster Mats & Gorilla Gear were included too :) Black w/Anthracite, 6spd...plus it has the features my '06 had, for less $.
A Luxury at an Economy Price
I got the black, and feel like I'm in a luxury car. VW gives you lots of bang for the buck. I have an '04 Jetta, and all my research I did, I couldn't find anything better then another Jetta. The performance is second to none. You cannot go wrong with a Jetta. While I was shopping, we talked to one dealer who was looking for the same exact car that I got for an executive for a local large corporation. Does that tell you something or what. You will not go wrong with the 2008 VW Jetta.
Great Car - Questionable Quality
This car drives great, interior design is outstanding. Loved it until I discovered that the A/C was draining into the cabin floor. 3rd trip to the dealer might get it fixed. Had a couple of other fit/finish issues with the build quality.
Wolfsburg 2.0T: quality, fun, value, safe
Looked for a commuter car that is not boring to drive. Tested all Honda's, Toyota's and Hyundai's and used Mercedes and BMW in the under 25k range. They had nothing to compare to the Jetta drive quality and feel. Bought mine in June 2008. Initial climate control malfunction which I had to contact the CEO of VW USA Mr. Jacoby, since dealer Bob Baker was clueless. Dealer in Escondido Classic is awesome and fixed problems 100% with the help of factory engineers. It was a faulty temp. sensor in the left vent. Driving over hills to work, 35 miles with 15 miles city driving I get 28-29 MPG at 70-80 and 30+mpg at 65MPH regular gas. Loves the responsiveness at any speed. Handling like Porsche.
Fantastic car and very nice lease!
This is an overall very nice vehicle. The black on black is a sleak color choice and the standard cloth seats are wonderful. The heated seats are nice as well, and I rarely have mine turned off. nice standard features as well including the heated side mirrors! However I got the base model, and to my surprise...no floor mats??!! Yes, if you get the S model be prepared to accept delivery without floor mats. You'll have to order them seperatly which will run you about $120 for the cloth, 70 for the heavy duty rubber mats. I got the 5 speed manual and it is fun to drive. The standard stereo system sounds good for what it is and overall I'm happy with my lease!
A Lot of Bang for a Little Buck
We bought this car with 5000 miles on it for $17,000. It came with 19" VW wheels and was packed with all the great equipment the Wolfsburg comes with. We cannot believe how amazing of a deal we got. No problems at all. The blue lit up dash interior is great. The heated seats are fantastic and I am 6' tall and the car fits me perfectly. The turbo is smooth as well as the transmission. Plus the 6 disc/satellite radio system is amazing! I love this car!
Mileage problems
Definitely an improved car from what they were in the past years. I am enjoying the rides.
My Second VW
I am also an outside sales rep and chose the '08 Jetta Wolfsburg fully loaded which replaced my '02 Jetta GLS. What an excellent choice for someone on the go. I've racked up 6100 in 3 months and use 91 or higher I'm getting great gas mileage, I love the Sirius radio and the more mature look. I did considered the BMW but thankful I stuck with VW. We are the most loyal owners and I love eating up the traffic as I fly by with my 6-speed triptonic. It's very fun to drive if you need more from your car I suggest stepping upto the Passat. Seriously you can't beat the quality and standard features that most other luxury vehicle build into there series upgrades. Test drive one at your local VW dealer!
Great Car for Great Price
I purchased the 2008 Jetta S a month ago. So far it has been a great car. I like the fact that the basic model looks practically the same inside and out. I opted for the "Titanium" package, which included the 17" wheels and rear spoiler, and it was definitely worth the price because the wheels really make the car. You would never know that it is a base model when seeing it drive by.
Very Happy with 2008 Jetta
My wife wanted a BMW. This car is as close as u could come without the price. Jetta is tight, quiet and quick. the 170 hp 5 cylinder is quiet, fast and fun but i can get 37 mpg on highway. Wife and I are very different is likes and dislikes. This car came as a GREAT compromise for us. It fits any occasion we have come across so far. I am very happy so far 12,000 and no hint of any problem to take it back to the dealer.