Jetta owners advice please.

[AlCzervik]

OK, i've mentioned before that my car was stolen, 3 weeks now, 1 more week to go before it's declared gone for good. I've narrowed down my list of cars to 3, Beetle, Jetta or Altima. I haven't driven a Jetta yet but i like the looks of it and scored the best for safety out of all of them. I have an almost 10 year old that has to sit in the back seat so i need to know if it's pretty roomy and how it is on road trips. My VW dealer has a bunch of 04's and the the 05's come in next month so i can get the 1.8 turbo 5 speed with all the goodies minus leather seats for about $20K. Any imput would be appreciated. Thanks

[Don_G]

1. A Guy I Know

That runs a small business bought a Jetta, another for his wife and a third for his son.

He's very happy with his.

[Bruce McAuley]

2. Maybe a turbo diesel instead?

The savings will make the diesel cheaper after a year or so, and the potential for using biodiesel are increasing. Also, you could get diesel delivered to your home(heating fuel) cheaply, and then use it in your car. Heck, the thing would run on old french fry oil, if properly filtered.
:hi:

Bruce

[jmowreader]

21. Do NOT run home heating fuel in a car!

It works fine, but no road tax is paid on it. They dye non-highway fuel so that they can tell easily what you're using.

If they catch you with dyed fuel in your tank (it will stain the filter media in your fuel filter too) and your vehicle doesn't say "John Deere" on the side, the fine you will receive will make you rue the day you decided to run heating oil in your car.

Not sure what they'd do if you started running homemade biodiesel in your car, but you probably wouldn't run it straight so the tax man would still get most of his.

[HuckleB]

3. Sorry, I could never recommend a VW.

I've rescued far too many friends stuck on the side of the road over the years. They're just too well-known for how much time they spend in the shop.

I'll stop now.

[AlCzervik]

6. Even the new ones?

my Dad owned 5 differnt VW's over the years and drove them till they were dead, now for some reason he tells me "They aren't reliable". He's trying to sterr me towards the v6 Altima or a camry, no way i'm buying a camry, no stick shift available.

[HuckleB]

20. Especially the new ones.

The old Bug's were great, because anyone could fix 'em and do it cheaply. Not so with the new ones.

[Iris]

7. Click & Clack agree!

We were considering a Passat wagon until we heard some stories on their show!

[eaprez]

4. Passat!!!!!

I upgraded to a Passat...I got 1.8 turbo, 5 speed, luxuray pkg, winter package...$23k. Oh and buy on the last day of the month...it helps if they haven't made their sales quota. And get a price off of Edmunds.com....I got a salespersons card....went home...figured out a price using Edmunds...called the salesperson on the phone and made him an offer. He called me back in 10 minutes accepting the offer. I never negotiate with them on the spot.

[AlCzervik]

8. I like the Passat as well and i have looked at edmunds

The dealer is actually pretty nice, he's new, the guy before him sucked. I have never owned a german car so i'm a tad weary because people either love them or hate them. I'm going to have this car for a long time so i really want to like it.

[eaprez]

11. My Passat came after owning 3 Honda Accords...

...and I loved my Hondas. I was a bit worried about going from a V6 to a 1.8 turbo....but have noticed no difference in performance. The only difference I noticed is when you accelerate quickly with a turbo it doesn't suck up a quarter tank of gas like a V6 :). I love my Passat and will be tempted to get another when the time comes. I've never owned an American car....always had Toyota's and Honda's and was happy with them both. But I REALLY love this car.

[gristy]

13. Me too.

I had owned two Honda Accords over the span of 17 years, and then bought my Passat, which I still have. It's been ok. It's a good looking car with excellent performance.

Be sure to read Consumer Reports.

[Renew Deal]

5. I am not an owner but

I have looked at them recently. The GLS 1.9 gets 46mpg and I think it uses regular gas. It's the:

2004 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI 1.9l

[bucknaked]

9. Practical car... another Jetta... fun car...Altima!

...SE, supercharged Altima, that is. That car would give my two Mustangs a good run.

6 -cylinder mileage, with the performance when you need it. Get the SE Altima!

[AlCzervik]

10. I drove the v6 Altima, the dealer can get me one with a stick

and i have to say that it was one fast car and nice inside, not overdone. I have owned 2 nissans in the past, in fact the 2 i had were stanzas which are now the Altima. The v6 with a stick and no leather will be around $24k, the jetta 1.8 turbo 4 cyl with the same stuff will $20K. The upshot of the altima besides more horsepower is that it's roomy, i havent sat in the backseat of the jetta yet.

[Enraged_Ape]

12. There is no leg room in a Jetta

If you have a child of 10, then you are going to have a hard time fitting him or her in the back comfortably. I wouldn't call it roomy by a long shot. And I won't add to all the mechanical/electrical problems others here have mentioned.

Of all the cars you list, I'd go with the Altima. We have friends who have one and they love it. It actually does have some room in it and the repair record is relatively good.

[AlCzervik]

14. That lack of leg room is probably going to be

the sticking point for me. We take roadtrips about every 2 months and if my daughter isn't comfortable then it's not worth it. The Altima is plenty roomy. I take my daughter when i test drive any car. I also like the beetle which much to my surprise was roomy in back and being a kid of course she loved it, but again the whole family road trip thing could be a problem in a beetle.

[Nite Owl]

15. If reliability is important

then stick with the Japanese brands like the Altima. Volkswagons have problems. My son has an Altima and it's been good.

[donco6]

16. My coworker called her Jetta . . .

the "Shitta." If that gives you some idea of her impression.

[AlCzervik]

17. lol

i'll keep that in mind. Looks like the Altima v6 may win the day.

[sbj405]

18. My bf recently got a Jetta TDI Wagon

The wagons are apparently still made in Germany, thus don't have some of the quality issues of the sedans. The TDI is great for mileage, but depending where you are it may not be an option. They are not available in most New England. As for the backseat, it's not too roomy. I imagine that soon your 10 y/o would find the backseat a bit cramped.

[AlCzervik]

19. yeah, she's already 5 feet

i figure i'll sit back there, i'm 5'6 and check it out. I checked the door sticker and the sedans i've seen are made in mexico but the parts are from Germany. I'd rather the whole thing be made in germany.