My local VW dealer has a very good service department. No problems with VW reliability/service with any of my cars. Styling is smartly conservative. No gimmicky styling cues that look dated in 2 to 4 years. 5-speed manual FWD This car needs to be taken care of. If you know how and enjoy taking car of your car, this car will return the favour and take care of you too. 6-speed automated manual FWD I owned a 2000 TDI Jetta and loved it. I just wanted power windows so I sold it to my brother and bought a 2006 TDI. 5-speed manual FWD I imagine people will be looking at this review thinking they might buy a used TDI. I'm fully in favor of that. But I have a few useful thoughts: - This engine needs to run. Short-hop driving will keep the engine from warming up and that will cause premature failures and some expensive repairs and you won't get the mileage everyone loves. If you can do the maintenance yourself PROPERLY, this car is a heck of a deal.
But if you want to cut corners on repairs or have to pay someone to maintain the car, you'll spend more money than expected on the car. TDI engines commonly go 300,000 miles. However, atthis point this model is 13 years old and it will not escape the issues of a 13-year-old car. You may have to address some body rust, some grounding/corrosion issues, and some cheap parts and maintenance at the hands of a previous owner. 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD Mainly the cost of maintenance and repair. 6-speed manual FWD I owned a 79 VW Scirocco, and my wife has a 2004 Passat. VWs have their nice German driving manners, but they just are not screwed together like a Japanese car. 5-speed manual FWD The cost of regular maintenance especially oil changes outweighed the fuel savings when compared to the Corolla I drove after. Rear seat is way too tight on leg room. 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD No luck with VWs for me. I also owned a 1989 Jetta sedan. It was a disaster. First repair shortly after purchase was for the leaking sunroof. 750 I believe. The major problem with this car was the engine. While driving the engine would choke itself off and stop completely. The first time it happened I was right in rush hour traffic! Can't recommend the experience! This car must have been a lemon.
This supplemental restraint system deploys airbag curtains from the roof liner to cover side windows for added protection of both front- and rear-seat occupants. The Jetta 1.8 T is standard- equipped with four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake pressure distribution. Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) full-time traction control is also standard. An Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) is available as an option on other 2004 Volkswagen Jetta models. ESP uses sensors to monitor driver input and vehicle dynamics and works in conjunction with the ABS and ASR to automatically aid control when the car is operated near performance limits. ESP is constantly engaged and works to counter over- and under-steer conditions for optimum control during even normal driving conditions. New for 2004 Jetta models is the available option of OnStar Telematics. All 2004 Volkswagens come with a standard four-year/50,000-mile (whichever comes first) bumper-to-bumper warranty, covering wear-and-tear items and adjustments during the initial 12 months or 12,000 miles of ownership, whichever occurs first.
Additional coverage includes a five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, corrosion perforation coverage for 12 years with unlimited mileage for all fully galvanized Volkswagen vehicles, and four years/50,000 miles of 24-hour roadside assistance. By turning up the pressure in the Jetta's turbocharged and intercooled induction system, the 1.8-liter DOHC 20-valve four generates 180 horses and 174 pound-feet of torque versus 150 hp and 155 pound-feet in its previous Jetta installation. Just as important, the torque curve has an upper plateau roughly the size of Kansas, peaking at 1950 rpm and staying there all the way to 5000 rpm. This is the most powerful four ever offered by VW, and it makes the Jetta formidable in straight-ahead performance, a stout ally when the driver pulls out to pass and wants extra haste. As the test began, the Jetta looked like the winner with its newfound vigor, exceptional build quality, excellent materials, quiet interior, and creamy ride quality.
But when the roads developed kinks, our enthusiasm began to wane. We discovered the Jetta's supple ride was the result of soft springs and modest roll stiffness, which made its progress around the Hocking Hills loop and the Nelson track more adventurous than one might wish. Whether it will get around corners as well is another question, because even with the Sport Luxury package, the Jetta delivers too much rock and roll for our tastes. The new 4-banger called the 1.8T got the 3,000-pound test car moving quickly. There was a strong pull right from a standstill that set me back in the seat. The surge didn't fall off quickly, either, since the engine has a long, flat torque curve that runs from 1750 to 4200 revolutions per minute. The output comes on so cleanly, so smoothly, I suspect many drivers won't bother differentiating that this is a turbocharged engine, not a naturally aspirated one.
