I want to buy a 2003 Jetta GLI, but.... the reviews are bad!

i sure many people have problems, just like there will be reports on models
of EVERY MAKE and model, geez nobody make a 100% failure free vehicle, sure
maybe a honda or toyota will on average be slightly more reliable, nobody
will argue that, but you pay the price by having to drive a boring vehicle
everyday

...

Well, as someone who just had his '03 GLI totaled by a guy running a red light...witnesses say he was flying - 50-60 mph when he hit me...I'm in mourning. I live in Atlanta and don't have goo dripping from my doors. My '96 did though. It looks like Geico is going to be fair so I'll get a decent check - now I just need to find another one. Suffice to say, I love my Jetta. In my opinion, the worst VW's are any with auto transmission. If you're going to get one - GET A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Of course, not a problem on the GLI which only comes in manual. Anyone know of another model - of anything - that comes only with a manual?

I've had 5 Jettas, 1992 GL, 1996 GLS, 2000 GLS, 2001 GLX, 2003 GLI, and I've loved every one of them... Never had any major problems; let me remind you that the Jettas were the best car for the money in Cars Magazine for 2 years on a row in 2002 and 2003... I still have my 2001 GLX and 2003 GLI, bot with over 100k miles and guess what? ... They still drive like new!! ... It's going to take at least another 5 years to replace them... with a MKVI Jetta, of course!!

I have a 2003 Jetta GLI (original owner) and must say that it's a fun car to own but I have had to pay quite a bit for faulty parts. Funny that the "goo" is mentioned here, I have seen this on the panel below the door and had no idea what it was but just wiped it up with a paper towel and forgot about it, it hasn't damaged the car in any way that I can tell.
As fair as faulty parts go, here is what I have had to repair/replace so far:
both radiator fans + radiator fan control unit ($1002)
spark plugs (under $100, but these were probably just normal wear+tear)
coolant temperature sensor (known bad part, I did the work myself but parts were $60)
radio (just died one day, replaced free under warrenty)
coil packs (free warrenty recall)
front passenger window regulator clips (latest problem [April 2009] but was fixed free under a recall...this window was shattered last fall though when my car was broken into so this bad part could have been due to the glass repairman not replacing the window correctly)

Things currently "wrong" with the car that I have yet to fix:
Squeaky front sway bar bushing that I plan on getting replaced sometime in the near future.
Gas cap cord has broken off from its anchor (minor problem)
Trunk is very hard to shut.
The cargo net in the trunk broke many years ago (minor issue, I abused it by resting golf clubs on it)
3rd gear grinds when I try shifting into it when accelerating hard.


Well that sums up my problems I suppose. Since this is my first car, I can't really compare it to any others in terms of how reliable it has been versus a toyota, etc. Over the years I have driven some of my friends and parents cars (including a 2002 and 2008 corvette) but I always enjoy getting back into my GLI.

Oh, one last gripe I have with the car: why is 6th gear geared so close to 5th? When doing 70 on the freeway in 6th gear I'm pulling about 2700 RPM's which makes this car sorta bad on gas milage. I wish they would put a larger gear for the 6th gear to get the RPM's down to 2kish range when doing freeway speeds.


Anyway, I love the car, there certainly are more reliable machines out there but probably very few in this price range that gives you such a fun and enjoyable driving experience.

Martin,

First of all, your information cited is wrong. So far, the 2003s are using
an updated window regulator which has ended the window problem. Stuff
dripping from the doors, usually occurs in a hot climate. What this is, is a
wax sealing compound the factory applies to fight rust. My '90 Jetta drips
the same stuff.

All Jettas and New Beetles are built in Mexico, as they have been since
about 1993. Early on, issues with quality were of great concern to
Volkswagen, but now, parking a German built Jetta next to a Mexican built
Jetta, it is hard to tell the differance. BTW, the only German built Jetta
you can get is the wagon.

The Mexico plant gets blamed for alot, when truthfully, it's not their
fault. They are assembling cars from parts that are shipped to them from
Germany or anywhere else. If they are getting crappy parts, than they are
going to build crappy cars. Simple as that. When you blame Mexican
assembly, your comments are really unfounded. So far, all Mexican built VWs
seem to be holding up just fine, even if the engineering that goes into the
car is poor.

- Peter
...

Window regulator problems are hopefully a thing of the past
(fingers crossed). Most of the problems are not due to Mexico
but rather the crappy parts that VW is sourcing. They end up
spending a dollar to save a dime, and pissing off their new
car buyers. When will they learn?

Jeff

rkleem - I have a 2003 Jetta GLI and it is the best car I have ever owned! I love it! Have never had a problem with it. It is FUN & FAST! Would be willing to sell it.... look on autosellernetwork.com

I can only add my VW experience. It's at:
http://reesphotos.com/VW/
John Rees

2003 VW Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg Editon

I bought my VW over a year ago, with 40,00 miles on it...
I am now up to 81000 miles, and the only problems I have had are regular maintenance stuff. Such as Mass Air Flow, Break Rotors, head lights, and an Oxygen Sensor. Oh and my battery finally gave in last month...

Otherwise the only real problems I have had two speeding tickets.
It is snappy feisty little car and has great pickup even at 95 Mph, no problems passing people on the interstate.
Get to 90mph before I realize how fast I am going?

Taking care of your car I believe goes a long way, such as changing the Oil regularly and this car take’s Synthetic oil,
Keeping the proper fluid in it, (takes G12 anti-freeze-not dexx)
The Alarm system will drain the battery if left for a long period of time. There is a solar panel that comes with the car to keep this charged.

If one reads the Manual that comes with the car they might know this as well.
There are some quirks to this car, if you let it idle for a long period of time in the summer (especially in the south) it will over heat, most people start their cars and let it warm up, VW specially says not to do this, but start it and go.

I test drove a whole lot of cars, new and used, passats, jettas, mini cooper, etc…
Then I got to this one and bought it. I typically drive 100 miles a day and drive to fla from ga at least once a month, 358 miles one way

I once owned a 1989 Jetta and I loved that car, wish I still had it. (It had the best heater I have ever had in a car)
Which is why I looked for another jetta when I bought this one?
I have owned several cars (saab, Toyota, bmw, etc), and this is one of my favorites, for the money it can’t be beat.
Honda and Toyota make very reliable cars, sure they do, but drive one a long distance. Drive one fast around a corner, and well I think they are ugly to top it off.

I once had to go to a Kia dealership to repair a machine; every time I went there they always tried to sell me a car... (very annoying)
One day I offered them a challenge.
I told them to pick a car and a driver and I will pick a road, if I don’t reach the end of that road first I will trade in my car for one of their junk Kia’s...
I still drive my VW……….

What reviews?

4/80km warranty should ease your mind.

The only thing that I really don't like from the new GLI is that rear room
in unacceptable for a sedan. I hate when somebody asks me to forward my
seat. In that aspect, I see some kind of regress.

...

I could stand a few trips to the shop to have a GLI fixed for whatever-- That
GLI is really nice and really performs-- drove one but my wife was emitting her
happy face (mine) meltdown look (hers) when I spoke of it. Wish I still had
my '90 GLI and that new one is leaps ahead in performance and quality. FWIW
Pete

<snip
That "goo" is rustproofing. Given you live in the salt capital of the
world (I do too) that rustproofing is a *GOOD* thing. Cross that one
off the list of "problems".

Cross off the power window problem too. As others have said they are
using a new part now.

Dead wrong. The window problem was a matter of poor design, and had
nothing whatsoever to do with assembly quality. Understand that VW
*assembles* cars in Mexico. The parts (like all auto parts, I work in
that industry) are globally sourced.

--
Remove preceding and trailing X from username for replies
(Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...)

I hate it when I have to ask a back seat passenger to get out of my
car because they complain... ;-)

--
Remove preceding and trailing X from username for replies
(Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...)

...

Sure, when it remains applied to the intended surfaces. Doesn't do much
good when it's dripping out, does it?

--
Mike Smith

...

So the GLI is generally free of the vast number of problems associated with
Jettas that I read about on the internet? That would be good news. Still, I
find it a bit discouaging that buyers have to contend with sealing compund
dripping form the doors. I think this is something that consumers shouldn't
have to contend with. More questions: How much wax drips out? What part of
the door does it drip from? Does it get on the inside of the car? Does this
happen with other car makes?

So what I am learning here is that it is a parts problem, not an assembly
problem. Good to know. You suggest that the new Jettas are generally holding
up fine. How do you account for all of the nasty reports I read on the
internet? Are Jettas misrepepresented in these reports? Are they biased in
that more people who have problems are filing reviews than people who aren't
having problems?

Thanks for your time,

Martin

- Peter