My dad is offering to buy me a new 2008 jetta as a graduation present. I'm considering a turbo, but I've heard that VW turbos crap out pretty fast.

Anyone own a jetta that's had any major issues over it, or should I push for a different car?

8/26/2007 11:13:25 AM

Your dad is trying to tell you hes gay

8/26/2007 11:48:14 AM

my sister has an 06 or 07 GLI turbo, its had no problems over the last 45k miles, except those expensive oil filters and difficulty level of an oil change

8/26/2007 12:54:42 PM

you're better off getting a civic. Si preferably.

8/26/2007 1:25:36 PM

Get a Turd-bo diesel.

8/26/2007 2:13:09 PM

the tdi is cool.. but i dont know if they offer it in the 08 (they didnt in 07, iirc)

the 2.0t is a good engine..

8/26/2007 2:22:08 PM

new diesels are showing up in the spring... 60+mpg

8/26/2007 3:11:09 PM

Go TDI. Failing that, the GLI's are pretty cool, but IMO you'd be better off with a GTI. Just have to get over the fact that it's the Rabbit bodystyle and not the Jetta. Hatchback is probably more useful anyhow.

8/26/2007 6:43:26 PM

Quote :

"you're better off getting a civic. Si preferably."

if you want an want an econo-boy racer mobile with no real power, sure. you are absolutely correct.

don't fret over an short life turbo, you shouldn't run into a problem. the 2.0L FSI motor is absolutely fantastic. go for it

8/26/2007 8:37:41 PM

^even if she just get the regular civic, it's still a better choice due to the resale value.

8/26/2007 9:42:32 PM

Quote :

"Your dad is trying to tell you hes gay"

I have no idea what that's suppose to mean. (I'm assuming you think I'm a boy?) I told my dad I wanted to get a Jetta when I was 18, but he told me I had to get my own 1st car...so I got a '95 Dodge Neon.

So now, 5 years later, he's getting me the car I wanted originally for finally graduating.

My other choice would be a used C-Class Mercedes...but why get used when you can get a new car. I would like to hold out for a BMW 335I...but that's never going to happen and I have to stay within a $25K price-range.

And a civic Si...no way, I'm no ricer.

8/26/2007 10:36:39 PM

what's a new a4 2.0T run, like 35k ?

8/26/2007 10:40:57 PM

Eh, not an Audi fan. My b/f's dad let us borrow his for a month, and I just didn't care for the way it felt. Plus I practically gave my friends back problems from the uncomfortable back seats. They feel like cement.

8/26/2007 10:45:39 PM

VWs are known for electrical issues. Reading consumer reviews on Edmunds, you see the occasional complaint about them even on 1-2 year old Jettas, so the problem seems to still be there. Buy one at your own risk, but more than likely you'll be perfectly happy with it. I would also recommend a Civic. They are not "rice" unless you turn them into it.

8/26/2007 11:08:02 PM

the shop i work at has seen several of the newer VW's come in over the last few months and ive been able to talk to some of the customers about how things are working out for them on the car after a year or so of ownership; and basically what i hear everytime is that theyre really happy with the cars, the power is there, havent had any issues other than the simple routine maintenance and some have even warily traded up from civics and now say theyll never go back.


overall theyre still damn good cars, the 2.0t as mentioned before is a great engine and if you want one go for because there really isnt enough negative evidence to come up with not to.

8/27/2007 7:27:04 AM

You won't find a new TDI until next year. I'd go with a 2008 Jetta GLI...or better yet, get a GTI. I haven't really heard of any rampant problems with the MkVs as there were with the MkIVs.

8/27/2007 12:14:56 PM

only problems i have heard about is a clunk in the steering that develops around 15-20k miles

8/27/2007 3:47:49 PM

own two of them 1 w/ 155k and the other w/ around 45k no steering issues at all. have had a couple of electrical recalls like the seat heater and some brake light switch

8/27/2007 4:11:51 PM

civic si is still a good alternative to consider. it doesn't have the torque but it's way lighter

8/27/2007 5:26:16 PM

Quote :

"own two of them 1 w/ 155k and the other w/ around 45k no steering issues at all."

you have a mk5 with 155k miles?

8/27/2007 5:34:06 PM

Quote :

"I have no idea what that's suppose to mean. (I'm assuming you think I'm a boy?) "

lol way to go meatstick

jettas are awesome BTW

8/27/2007 6:15:37 PM

^^^which is exactly what id go for in a new daily driver, lightness!

[Edited on August 27, 2007 at 6:16 PM. Reason : dah]

8/27/2007 6:16:18 PM

I just wanted something fun. The dealer said there were no '08 TDI sold in the US because of emission standards not met by VW...I was looking forward to diesel too.


And though Asian, I'm really not into Japanese cars. I just don't feel like I'm really driving. I know honda's are built to last, but I prefer the finesse of German Engineering.


I test drove a '08 2.5 SE 5-speed. It felt pretty good. Dealer offered me it at 20k. Is that a good deal?

8/27/2007 8:48:42 PM

Quote :

"only problems i have heard about is a clunk in the steering that develops around 15-20k miles"

sooner if you drive moderately hard. yeah i heard about that from a mechanic at leith vw. i believe they have a warranty fix.

they have some quality issues still. i mean it's all covered under warranty and they have absolutely no problem with fixing them, but you still notice small things.

that said, i would still drive one b/c the levels of comfort and refinement are there. not such a big fan of the passat quality though. it's very bad.

Quote :

"Dealer offered me it at 20k."

counter with $17.5k

8/27/2007 9:21:05 PM

^^have you compared a solid japanese sedan and a jetta with a test drive? i'll be damned if i can tell any real difference in engineering/quality. imo, it's not until the more upscale models that a difference can be seen. even then, it's mostly in the details. the germans no longer have any glaring advantage that i've experienced.

as for the price, it doesn't really matter if it's a good deal or not. if that's the first price they offered you, you can bet your life it can be had for less. unless it's one of those gay "no haggle/hassle" dealers. don't be afraid to insult them with a wild lowball offer and go from there. 99% of them don't hesitate to do the same thing with high prices.

[Edited on August 27, 2007 at 9:31 PM. Reason : .]

8/27/2007 9:28:34 PM

VWs have damn nice interiors and a very solid feel for the buck

8/27/2007 9:35:54 PM

The best japanese I've driven was an '97 Evo Lancer for about a month. A little past the Jetta, but I still have a love for German cars either way.

8/28/2007 1:42:28 PM

You should wait for the 1 series.

8/28/2007 1:47:06 PM

the new vw's are having a/c, steering, and gearbox issues (and by issues i mean complete a/c failure, etc...).

i'd wait for the 08's. they'll be worked out then.

also the available paddle shifting option is rather neat. launch control is interesting.

[Edited on August 29, 2007 at 12:49 AM. Reason : eh]

8/29/2007 12:47:54 AM

have you even driven a mk5?
they drive nothing like a honda.
actually it felt more like my co-workers new tl if anything from that company.
i guess solid is the way to describe it.


anyway a 2.0t w/ direct injection is fast and fun... go for it.

yeah and try to find a honda w/ dsg.


[Edited on August 29, 2007 at 1:01 AM. Reason : .]

8/29/2007 1:00:20 AM

Are you going out w/JB?

I would recommend your orig. idea of the jetta (nothing wrong w/that), or:
(slightly) used 335
used e46 M3
or wait for the 1 series, that appears to be quite the sharp car.
Ahmet

8/29/2007 1:38:46 AM

Get a loan for a new 335i , that thing is sweet.

I think if you ask your dad for money to buy a 5-10 year old BMW he will send you back to college.

[Edited on August 29, 2007 at 8:09 AM. Reason : im kidding, but not really]

8/29/2007 8:09:09 AM

Quinn, neither the e46 nor the 335 have been out for anywhere 10 years. Also, not everybody's scared of a 3 year old car.
Ahmet

8/29/2007 10:42:30 AM

He said get a lone for a new 335i and to not bother with 5-10 year old BMW's

Advice which I believe is wise.

A 2008 VW, however, is not the way to go if you're getting a free 30000 car from your parents.

8/29/2007 11:06:33 AM

my bmws are 10-20 years old. wups

8/29/2007 1:09:09 PM

I don't know how 25K went up to 30k.

Anyway....I think it'd be grossly stupid to take out a loan to get a really expensive car my first year out of college when I have a choice of having a new car totally paid off.

8/29/2007 1:32:39 PM

Quote :

"Get a loan for a new 335i , that thing is sweet."

Says the man who refuses to buy ANYTHING new. Every other word out of your mouth is "I'm not made of money", and you suggest somebody pull a loan out to buy a new, and very fast depreciating car? Generally there's no sense to pay interest on a depreciating asset. Buying a pre-owned BMW or the like, you can have a long/comprehensive warranty, AND avoid the heavy depreciation of a brand new car.

As far as a 5-10 year old BMW, that's for people like me and Dan, who don't know any better. :p
Ahmet -->buying more useless junk for his old BMW as we speak.

8/29/2007 4:48:34 PM

The kid wanted to buy a new volkswagen and he is spending his dads money not mine.

I know youre not the smartest kid, but at least humor us.

8/29/2007 6:18:28 PM

i would personally get a play car and a day car but thats just me and my money i'm sure your parents are looking more for safe reliable transportation to take care of their baby... which is what a mkV is

8/29/2007 6:34:12 PM

^

thats probably the best post thusfar

8/29/2007 6:36:22 PM

Sex : F

come on guys, know the gender of who you speak to

[Edited on August 29, 2007 at 6:41 PM. Reason : meatstick that is]

8/29/2007 6:41:00 PM

bwned

8/29/2007 6:43:25 PM

Oh I didn't know this was an asian female.

White honda accord coupe.

8/29/2007 9:32:13 PM

Ouch....look, just because I'm asian female doesn't mean I don't have some taste I'd rather get a jetta, put a huge Borla exhaust on it, and add some undercarriage lights. Maybe I'll hang I'll some fortune cookies from the mirror, and add a few dragon decals while I'm at it.

I am from NJ...so I prefer a BMW, but I can't ask my dad to up his offer by like 10k. That'd be crappy, and I'm just greatful that my parents are even considering giving me a present for graduating. Besides, they're buying the car outright, no loans, no interest crap. Maybe I'll get lucky and some factory worker put all Audi parts into my Jetta.

Ahmet, you still riding around in the M3? And I'd like to think you're a TAD BIT BIASED (what are you up to, 4 BMW's in the last year?).

8/29/2007 11:03:30 PM

seriously though the 2.0 t can be a monster and all the reviews on the gti/gli were good

8/29/2007 11:07:59 PM

just get a new GTi. theyre pretty sweet. i like the white ones. itll be a good car and any issues will be covered under warranty. just dont take it to southern states

8/30/2007 10:14:35 AM

Holy shit who is this person.

Ahmet and I both just got fackin beasted.

8/30/2007 10:45:31 AM

Just another car lover....

8/30/2007 11:32:02 PM

Ended up going to the VW dealership with all intent to buy my Jetta....however, I was infact met with the car I now have...a black 2.0 turbo Audi A3.

Can't say I saw it coming, but I was intrigued by the idea of having a hatchback, and Audi has a great warrenty.

Thanks for all the advice!

9/8/2007 7:18:22 PM

Great choice, sharp car. Which transmission did you get?

Pictures please.
Ahmet

9/8/2007 7:24:52 PM