According to Consumer Reports, Volkswagon Jetta is not reliable, why is it still popular?

[imported_vr6]

<< Also, the Jetta VR6 and 1.8T spank the crap out of the Japanese cars in road feel, power and drivability. After driving German, Japanese cars feel lifeless and dull to me. It's not just a power thing either. It's the FEEL of the car. It BEGS to be driven.
>>



Exactly, once u testdrive a VR6, u will understand



<< bs - drive a wrx sometime ok? then get back to me >>



The WRX is a totally different categorie than a Jetta, so u can't even begin to compare the two. THe WRX is striaght 100% performance, and the jetta isn't exactly created to be compared to a WRX. THe WRX is a great car, but not comparable to a jetta. Its ike comparing a Corvette to a
BMW-3 series(not the M3). obviously the Vette is gonna win but why would u compare those two cars?

 

[Triumph]

a: Consumer reports is the best source of reliability ratings out there. If you don't agree, I'd like you to explain why. They have the largest volume of user feedback of any rating source, and they don't take any money/advertisements/demo models/etc from any manufacturers. No one persuades them except the raw data, very much unlike Car & Driver, Road & Track, Automobile, etc etc etc.

b: I agree that the ratings should be taken with a small grain of salt, however. The poeple with the problems are typically the ones that will cry the loudest. People are more apt to go out of their way and write a review on Edmunds if they are unhappy with their car, rather than if their car is just OK. It's like a mechanic who only sees broken VW's, and thinks all VW's are bad. Well, the nature of your business is to see broken cars! Same goes for the tow truck driver comment.

c: I love the Jetta. People who say it's a chick car don't know anything. People buy VW's because they AREN'T a Civic, Accord, or Camry (all incredibly boring cars IMO). They're willing to put up with less than rock solid reliability because the car excels in other areas, some of them intangible. If you want a car that gets you from Point A to Point B with no mishaps ever, buy Japanese. I won't deny it. But if you actually want to love your car, buy a VW.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< I'm betting people like Jettas because they don't want to drive what everyone else drives. Also, the Jetta VR6 and 1.8T spank the crap out of the Japanese cars in road feel, power and drivability. After driving German, Japanese cars feel lifeless and dull to me. It's not just a power thing either. It's the FEEL of the car. It BEGS to be driven >>



bs - drive a wrx sometime ok? then get back to me

jettas have better interior....THATS IT...the subaru is cheaper, known to be more reliable, has more power, and is more fun >>



I guess you missed the part where I said that was my opinion and subjective. And I have driven Subarus. They can't come close to the feel of a German car in my opinion, sorry.

And like I said, it's not just about power. It the whole feel of the car.

 

[Nefrodite]

Cheese - Italian or good old Wisconson

Cars - German. >>


Blasphemy!! California Cheese! Happy cheese comes from happy cows!!!


lol, "you betchya", happy cows aren't frozen cows whats snow?

 

[kgraeme]

<< a: Consumer reports is the best source of reliability ratings out there. If you don't agree, I'd like you to explain why. >>



Personal experience. I used to have a subscription to CR and found that every single thing I bought based on their recommendations sucked compared to my just asking people I know and buying based on that. That included things like cars, TVs, stereos, vacuum cleaners, matresses, etc. And don't even get me started in their recommendations about computers. I gave up on CR years ago.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Well although I posted this in an almost identical thread started by the same person.

From consumer reports

The Jetta, which shares its underpinnings with the New Beetle and Golf, comes with a host of standard luxury and safety features. Handling is fairly nimble, and the ride is comfortable for a small car. The base 2.0-liter Four is responsive but noisy. The turbocharged 1.8-liter Four is smoother and more powerful, as is the uplevel 2.8-liter V6. An economical turbodiesel is also available. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but the rear seat is cramped. A pair of new transmissions--a six-speed manual for the V6 and a five-speed automatic for the 1.8T--were added this year. Reliability has improved, allowing us to recommend the Jetta again.
<B>

</B>

 

[Imdmn04]

maybe because jettas are made in Mexico?

 

[TallBill]

<< maybe because jettas are made in Mexico? >>



they most definitly are.. my dad got flown in to work on some of the factory machines there..

 

[Amused]

<< maybe because jettas are made in Mexico? >>



In plants managed by Germans and on plans drawn up by German engineers with parts made all over the world. It's the same car, simply assembled by Mexican auto workers.

Are you implying that Mexicans are too stupid to assemble automobiles?

If history has taught us anything, the reliability and build quality of the car does not depend on the assembly line workers so much as the engineers and managers. One only has to look at the Toyotas and Saturns built in the US compared to US cars. Why do cars made by the US big three suck, while basically the same labor pool builds Toyotas that blow them away both in reliability and build quality?

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'll bite...

I have a sub to Consumer Reports & I like what they have to say for the most part. Their car reliability ratings are somewhat suspect, as they're asking consumers what they think of their cars, what the vast majority of people consider a reliability issue, I may not, for instance a black circle for "body" may mean everyone's door handle breaks & there's a known fix for the item that resolves the problem forever, etc...

If you trust soccer moms to help you pick your next car, CR is a great reference, of course, if you listened to CR, you'd never have to go anywhere but a Toyota dealership for the rest of your life.

I've had 3 VW's, and just bought an 02' Golf TDI for my wife, repairs & parts can be expensive, but on the whole I like VW & find them to be an acceptable car.

Also, CR gives the 2002 Jetta a check mark,

<< means the model is recommended; a recent version performed competently in our tests; and, based on the model's history, we predict that its reliability will be at least average. >>

 

[bozack]

Personally I would buy anything to avoid buying a Japanese car unless your talking one of their supercars (Supra, Rx7/8, NSX etc....)

Cars like the accord, civic, corolla etc.. are so boring that it isn't worth my time or money.

The only low budget Japanese car I would even remotely consider is the WRX, , and personally I would opt for either a Mustang GT or a SVT Focus over that if I were on a budget.

Speaking of Jettas though, my gf just bought a 2002 in black with 15" 5 spoke alloys and the tiptronic auto tranny...to me the car seems exceptionally nice, especially with regards to the interior as someone else had mentioned..it reminds me alot of her parents Audi, however I am sure that is due to the fact they use the same parts factories. It rides exceptionally well, and they seem to be a very customer service oriented company.

The car just felt like a better made machine, unlike alot of japanese cars I have been in, where the interiors seem cheap, and they all feel un-fun to drive.

I like to drive, alot...I could spend all day driving around and love every minute of it and all I can say is that I don't think I would enjoy driving a Japanese budget car, there is just nothing interesting about them, and for the pure enjoyment of driving I would be willing to pay a little more in service costs...I regard cars like the corolla and the camry as nothing more than an A to B car..

but that is my highly biased opinion.

I really think you cannot go wrong with a nice new Jetta or Audi A-4.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[flavio]

The Jetta definately isn't the most reliable of cars. I personally think they're ugly too. I've driven a ton of different cars (used to work on a car lot), and that German Feel people talk about is a load of BS. A comparable Honda or Toyota will be just as fun to drive and in the shop less. If you want something real fun to drive look at a Integra or Prelude.

 

[vi edit]

<< and that German Feel people talk about is a load of BS. A comparable Honda or Toyota will be just as fun to drive and in the shop less. >>



Speaking of BS....

As for VW, well, they can be "quirky". That's about the best work I can describe it as. They aren't realy unreliable, just can sometimes be inconsistent. You'll sometimes have things like a gas gauge stop working for a while, only to start workinging again. Sometimes the horn won't chirp when you lock your doors, and sometimes it will. I think that a lot of it is due to the fact that VW's put a large amount of complex electrical components into their cars. The more complex they make the car, the more possibily of things breaking/not working properly.

Personally, I'd rather put up a little quirk here for a car that looks and feels like new at 100,000 miles. German cars are built to last. Their interiors are very resistant to rattles and creaks, they are made of some of the best steel on the road making them very resistant to rust, and just the overall feel of them is still very good after several years, and many, many miles of use.

I wouldn't choose a German car if my only use for it was a work and back commuter, but if I had any plans of doing several long distance trips a year, then the highway manners of a German car are unmatched. They are very confident on the road, are incredibly comfortable, and make for an enjoyable drive. Domestic and Japanese cars cannot match a German car, dollar for dollar, in these areas IMHO.

Oh, and Jettas are built in either Brazil or Mexico, along with other "A" frame cars(Golf, Beatle, Cabrio). The passats are built in Germany. The Passat has the best reliability out of the lineup.

Sort of like subaru. All of their cars with the exception of the Forester and the WRX are built in the US. The Forester and WRX are built in Japan. Out of the bunch, the Forester has the best reliability.

 

[Doggiedog]

My sister bought a 92 Jetta brand new back then. It was a disaster from the beginning. Nothing but problems. Water pump kept breaking, overheating, things like the spedometer/odometer breaking. Finally, the car took itself out of its misery by catching fire one day totalling it. I don't think this is a typical case for a Jetta, just my own.

I owned an 86 GTI in college and I had a lot of problems with it too like it not starting but that was 15 years ago. I'm sure VW is much much better now.

 

[CraigRT]

Yeah, Jetta's and the latter suck... I have seen so many of these cars on the side of the road.. i even had a woman come to my door asking to use the phone when her Jetta stopped working, right in front of my house.. haha... that was pretty funny.. the cars are crap.. electrical problems up the ying yang.. and their quality is piss poor... i talked to a guy that worked at the local tint shop and he hated his 2000 Jetta (in 2001) because it had so many problems already.. and people wonder why I hate Volkswagen... people diss my Chrysler but I've owned 2 and never had any abnormal problems. (my last car had 250,000+ kms) Just from what I have seen.. they scare me..

 

[GMachine]

Most fun i've had driving is in an american rear wheel drive with a big v8. The Audi A4 Quattro I had was boring to drive and to own.

 

[psteng19]

<< b: I agree that the ratings should be taken with a small grain of salt, however. The poeple with the problems are typically the ones that will cry the loudest. People are more apt to go out of their way and write a review on Edmunds if they are unhappy with their car, rather than if their car is just OK. It's like a mechanic who only sees broken VW's, and thinks all VW's are bad. Well, the nature of your business is to see broken cars! Same goes for the tow truck driver comment. >>


While I agree with the "people with problems are typically the ones that will cry the loudest" comment, shouldn't this apply to all owners other cars as well?
Based on your logic, where are all the cries from Honda and Toyota owners with car problems?
And since there are so many of them out there, their complaints would definitely be heard.

The fact is, percentage-wise, VW's are not as reliable.
There are more reported incidents (magazines, owner testimonies, etc.) of older VW's with problems.
I've had one "second-hand" experience with VW's which basically became almost first hand to me.
My cousin, first owner of a 1996 Passat, had numerous problems. I can't count how many times she called me up and told me she needed to jump her car. Had to replace her battery/alternator at 25,000 miles, cluster went bad at 28,000, etc.
When she tried to sell it back to the dealer, they would only give her $3000 (dealer had a ton of used passats on the lot) while KBB quoted $9000+.
She was so desperate to get rid of it, she was estatic when she sold it private party for $5,5000.

The reason why they are still popular because of the first hand impression that they give in the show room.
The interior is in fact very nice, and if they would only hold up long term, I would definitely give them a look.
But my cousin's experiences has done more than enough to turn me away from VW's for awhile.
I've heard they've gotten better since then, and the longer 4 year warranty (up from the old 2 year) helps too.

 

[Cougar]

According to Consumer Reports, Volkswagon Jetta is not reliable, why is it still popular?

'cause volkswagen owners are fanatical and never consider buying anything other than the almighty VW. They go out seeking others to join in their cult and after being brainwashed the simple sheep follow their every command. I know someone who is a VW FREAK and drives a Jetta and if he goes somewhere and sees a VW in the parking lot he'll actually seek out the owner of the vehicle just to talk to them. It's a sickness I tell ya.

Beware the VW for it will wipe away all traces of your humanity.

 

[Nemesis77]

People here just have their personal experiences to talk about. People say stuff like "VW's suck! I see them broken down all the time!".Well, on the other hand, my brother owns a -97 (or was it 96?) Golf (previous model, not the current one) and he has had exactly 0 problems with it. Not one. Before that car he owned a -87 VW Golf GT. He had few minor problems with it, nothing that he himself couldbn't handle (he's a mechanic. As it happens, he builds Porsche Boxters for living . I'm planning to get a behind-the-scenes factory tour in the future ).

I myself am looking at either VW Golf or it's close relative Skoda Octavia. Or maybe the new VW Polo.

 

[vi edit]

<< 'cause volkswagen owners are fanatical and never consider buying anything other than the almighty VW. They go out seeking others to join in their cult and after being brainwashed the simple sheep follow their every command. I know someone who is a VW FREAK and drives a Jetta and if he goes somewhere and sees a VW in the parking lot he'll actually seek out the owner of the vehicle just to talk to them. It's a sickness I tell ya. >>



God forbid I take some pride enjoy in my vehicle! Yes, many VW owners are atypical vehicle owners. They actually respect their vehicles and put up with minor glitches because a VW actually has some form of a personality, unlike the lifeless and bland sedates...I mean sedans that Japan and Detroit put out.

I never detailed my own car or even so much as washed it regulary until I owned my first VW. I've moved on to my second VW now and will probably never buy another car that wasn't originally built in Germany, or at least designed and engineered by a German crew.

Call us VW owners fruits, call us freaks, but at least I have some respect and derive some pride in something that I spent a rather significant amount of money on.

The average domestic or Japanese sedan owner treats their vehicle as nothing more than a tool to get them from work and back. My car is something more than that.

<-- Former GTi owner, and current Passat owner.

 

[yakko]

<< maybe because jettas are made in Mexico? >>

My Jetta was made in Mexico and I have put 90k of the 111k miles on it and they have not been the nicest miles. I am hard on the car and it still runs great.

 

[yakko]

<< According to Consumer Reports, Volkswagon Jetta is not reliable, why is it still popular?

'cause volkswagen owners are fanatical and never consider buying anything other than the almighty VW. They go out seeking others to join in their cult and after being brainwashed the simple sheep follow their every command. I know someone who is a VW FREAK and drives a Jetta and if he goes somewhere and sees a VW in the parking lot he'll actually seek out the owner of the vehicle just to talk to them. It's a sickness I tell ya.

Beware the VW for it will wipe away all traces of your humanity. >>

hahahahahahahahaha
That is funny. I have driven plenty of other cars and I prefer the VW. I like the way it handles and the reliability of all my VWs has been great as long as it was taken care of.

 

[Triumph]

<< Yeah, Jetta's and the latter suck... I have seen so many of these cars on the side of the road.. i even had a woman come to my door asking to use the phone when her Jetta stopped working, right in front of my house.. haha... that was pretty funny.. the cars are crap.. electrical problems up the ying yang.. and their quality is piss poor... i talked to a guy that worked at the local tint shop and he hated his 2000 Jetta (in 2001) because it had so many problems already.. and people wonder why I hate Volkswagen... people diss my Chrysler but I've owned 2 and never had any abnormal problems. (my last car had 250,000+ kms) Just from what I have seen.. they scare me.. >>


You know two people who had bad VW's, and you feel that you are justified in making a decision about the cars? Gimme a break. I think it was you who made this comment before in another thread about "seeing more VW's on the side of the road than any other", and I say to you: BULLSH!T. Have you taken actual recordings of the number of cars broken down by the side of the road, and the number of them that are VW's? Have you done this over an extended area, such as across the country, and over a time span of say, a few years? What has actually happened to you is that your preconceptions about VW's allow you to notice it more readily when you see a VW by the side of the road. Any other car, you wouldn't think twice about it. Ask any psychologist, they'll tell you the same.

What I'm really trying to say is that personal experiences are virtually worthless when compared to structured, scientific testing. CR's reports are not perfect, I agree. But they are far far FAR more reliable than, "I know this dude in a tint shop and his VW stinks so I think they stink!"

Again, I do agree that the Japanese make the most reliable cars on the road.

 

[psteng19]

Triumph, regarding consumer reports, you have yet to answer my question.



<< While I agree with the "people with problems are typically the ones that will cry the loudest" comment, shouldn't this apply to all owners other cars as well?
Based on your logic, where are all the cries from Honda and Toyota owners with car problems?
And since there are so many of them out there, their complaints would definitely be heard. >>



car review
Eopinions

If you read through the user reviews (actual users giving their opinions, not some magazine), you'll see consistent and exactly similar problems with their Jetta's.
But if you read the user reviews for Honda's, Toyota's, and Nissan's, you're just not going to find as many problems.
And those rating them low are finding fault in other areas, i.e. this car is boring, weak sound system, poor ergonomics, etc.
Minor things when compared to mechanical breakdowns.

We're all going to exhibit brand loyalty, I admit my bias towards Nissan

But I do admit faults when they are present, such as the crappy interior of the altima.
There are quite a few who are even trying to invoke Lemon Laws on their new 2002 ones.

Moral of the story, every manufacturer is going to have bad ones. Just that VW "used to" have more.
I hear they're getting better

 

[kgraeme]

People who can't afford BMW buy Audi. And those that can't even afford that buy a Jetta.