Jetta=terrible value
 

Granted I didn't drive it, but spent 5 days in a friend's Jetta (non-turbo) on vacation.

1. Very cheap feeling cloth material on seats
2. Kinda uncomfortable seats
3. Boring interior
4. Back seat uncomfortably small
5. Dull, contrived shape. Looks like a cheapo Passat.
6. No fogs or spoiler like my Protege, not that I think it would make it look better
7. Excepting the higher VW's with more of an Audi touch, the fit and finish is so lackluster they don't deserve to be called German cars, more like Korean.


Good:
1. Better sounding stock stereo (but that's easy to fix)

On top of that he claimed he got a deal on it, paying $21,000!
I paid 16,200 for a fully loaded Protege ES (O% finance) that's just as fast, with all the goodies, and tons better handling from everything I read.

Sure their TV spots are brilliant (I'm in advertising) and Mazda's really suck.... but how does VW get away with that kind of robbery? Guess you pay for that "cool Volkswagen guy" factor, but I'd almost pay not to be that Maxim-magazine trendy "Volkswagen guy"

the jetta is made in mexico, that may explain some of the fit/finish issues.

Amen to everything adressed! It's a cheap piece of shit IMO...

Cheap in quality, not price that is...

but you can't do anything about it...bwahaha! ;)

Yeah, honestly, Volkswagens of any kind of are overpriced junk. Why pay more for "German engineering" (read, unreliable, really hard to work on) ? :rolleyes: I do have to give them thumbs up for great safety ratings though!

Yeah, they have lost their advantage IMO. Put a newer one up on a rack once, wow everything was so funky compared to my mazda...hehe :) I didn't mean to say VWs are terrible...they're not... just overpriced. The reliability isn't really that great either (in general).

Re: Jetta=terrible value
 

I agree that a Jetta has poor value, but the comments you are making are not value oriented; they are opinion. I personally think the interior is clean and understated (have you seen the leather and indiglo!). :D

However I personally choose the P5 over a Jetta because of the "out-of-the-box" slot car drive and the superior dealership treatment. I have experienced some real shitty service from VW and their track record for quality control is quite poor.

The Jetta 2 point slow is now in need of a serious update as far as engine upgrade. I believe VWA is addressing that in the next gen for 2005.

The Jetta has an almost useless back seat and the suspension is way too soft.

And financing? Mazda is all over that! When I was looking last year at Vee Dub, the best I could do was 6.9% over 4 years! (lease to own)'

For those reasons, I choose my P5 and haven't regretted it! :cool:

dude you guys need to chill out. they dont bash us at vwvortex or any of their forums. in my opinoin, jettas are so much better cars and if your friend payed 21000 he got bent over. ive never seen a protege that looked better than a jetta, so you can't say shit about the styling. even stock, the jetta is so much hotter and with 180hp out of the box, it can rape just about any protege on here for about the same price. ill be getting a 1.8T jetta for 17000 as soon as i can get rid of my pro.

I couldn't agree more...

Whoa dude, who was bashing you at vwvortex? I've never driven a new Jetta, or ridden in one, but they can't compare to the styling of the protege. I dunno, just my opinion, but I think they Jetta's look very bland. No sharp lines, just a smoothed-generic shell. I like the 1.8Ts a lot though, in terms of engines.

Jetta may be overpriced for those people who don't know how to haggle.

My best friend got a 2.slow Jetta with the nice stereo, 5spd, 16inch rims, for 18K.

I just got my Fiance a 2003 VW Passat GLS 1.8T, Tiptronic, Leather, Heated Seats, Monsoon Stereo, Homelink, ASR, Moosroof for less than 25K. It is not as sporty as a Mazda 6, but the Passat has the same underbody, transmission, and engine as the A4 and has the best crash ratings in its class. All it takes is a chip and exhaust and they pull over 200 whp. And it doesn't have the crappy paint and cheap windshield like my protege. The 1.8T Tiptronic Passat still gets 33 MPG on the highway too. Your not going to get that in you Mazda 6.

The Passat serves a different Niche, and guess what.....You not it!

That's good, because no one was talkign about the Passat :) I hear they are very nice, though. However if I were interested in that type of car, I'd go for the audis. They are beautiful, and share much of the components with VW. Best of both worlds :D

I was just defending when CHASTAN said VW of anykind are just overpriced junk.

Your right he just said VWs in general not just the Passat, Jetta, Golf, or NB.

Just adding to the discussion and if ya don't like it tough.;)

Hey, all right!! Comparing a Protege to a 1.8T Jetta for power - that's fair! It's not like one costs more than the other......

Enjoy your Mexican Jettas. Really.

For the record, no Jetta driver has ever waved "thank you" after I slowed down to let them merge, so I don't let them in anymore. This has to do with the holier-than-thou, wannabe-yuppie-dickweed Jetta culture (North Jersey). Same goes for Saab people.

As crappy as Chevys are, the Chevy drivers always give the wave. Makes you think.

So you would pay twice as much for the same Junk VW because it says Audi on it?

i duno why you guys are bringing up price. i got quoted almost the exact price for a 2003 1.8T jetta as i paid for my 2002 loaded ES protege. i really dont see how you guys think proteges look better. i mean i honestly think that i have one of the better looking proteges out there, not to sound like a dick...but even next to a stock jetta i think my car looks like shit. i guess all this import tuning just annoys me now because it seems to be associated with hondas and rice and such. German cars seem to be constructed so much better, and are so much more tunable with a ready supply of parts. id probably consider keeping the protege if it wasn't the slowest car we own and a selection of parts would really help its speed, but nobody makes anything for it.

I would trade my pro for a jetta same year and mileage in a heartbeat
it all depends upon your style.

plus the kelly blue book on a 98 pro is $5,000-$6,000
a 98 jetta same specs is $9000-$10,000

Not true: MRSP for a 2003 1.8T is $26 925 (CND) base. My 2002 P5 base was $19 895. All things being equal, thats a $7 000 difference, my friend...

Anyways, my comparison was based on their 2.0 not the sweet 1.8T which is hardly in the same league as our 2.0. Their 1.8T is an absolute dream for tuners. Our 2.0 is just about tweeked to the max...

I would have bought the 1.8T, but I could not justify the price...the P5 is a better value. Period.
:cool:

I don't see how you got quoted the same price for a Jetta 1.8T as a Protege. My brother got a pretty good deal on his 1.8T wolfburg eddition at about 20K USD. At that price, you can get the MSP Protege. So either you got shafted with your Protege or the VW dealer is giving you are really good deal, or both.

I also find Jettas are highly over rated. You are paying a premium just to have a trunk. VW used to have the Golf 1.8T with 4 doors that was 1000s cheaper than a similarly equiped Jetta. Personally, I think the Golf looks better than the Jetta.

My friend has a 2001 Jetta 1.8T, which he bought for a good price back then. The prices have increased signifcantly since then, and you their bang for buck has dropped a bit.

Anyways the 1.8T is a very well built engine. Quiet and refined, with no turbo lag. It feels like a small displacement V6, and it has amazing tuning potential.

The interior and fit and finish are very nice and the car feels very solid. Much more so than the Protege.

The back seat is a little small, but the front have very good side boostering, and then there are additional goodies worth the premium like adjustable heated seats, and a kick ass sound system.

I don't know about the handling of it, although the handling won't be as good as the Proteges, the ride is well damped and firm, and less harsh than the Protege. This controls body roll well in the car, but I think the upper body weight contributes to more roll than with a Japanese car, but hey it feels like a vault.

For the money back in 2001, they're worth their premiums.

A friend of mine has a 97 Jetta. Its a nice car. Its fairly quick, it handles well, and aside from the brakes he hasn't really had any problems with it. What the fuck is so bad about them??

I never said anything is wrong with a Jetta (or a VW for that matter). The topic is value, not to bash a Jetta...:smoke:

If you think like that you need to grow up. You act like you are doing them a favor to let them drive on "your" road or to cross "your" lane.

If ppl don't wave at ME when I let them in front, I just go one with my life. SO WHAT, if they don't wave. It's not giving me an extra life or an extra dollar in my pocket. That is so petty to expect someone to thank you for everything.

i dont drive vw but i work on them every day and in same shop we got nissan and mazda.vw cars are nice but they have stupid problems that u dont see on other cars.vw thakes forever to update part that brakes sometimes 3 years.im happy that vw's brake becuse it pays mine bills and pays for mine upgraes.

Jetta
 

I was a passenger in the back of a 2001 Jetta during an extended road trip about a month ago.

In terms of interior component construction and feel, VW has for a long time now built excellent, attractive, high quality interiors. I believe they do the best job in the industry right now. Unlike the Protege, nearly all of the major controls in the Jetta are lit at night. A nice touch.

In addition to that, the Jetta is a civilized, quiet, comfortable riding car. It easily beats the Protege, which, frankly, isn't a very difficult thing to do given Protege's noisy, rough ride. The Jetta is exceptional in that regard; among the class leaders.

That said, the back seat in a Jetta is cramped and uncomfortable (at least for those over 6 ft. like me). I found my trip irritating and difficult, as there was no room to get comfortable in that inhospitable, lousy place.

For all the characteristics regarding the Jetta however, the worst part is this car's longstanding, consistent record of shit reliability; a VW tradition. The only decent car VW has made in recent years regarding reliability is the Passat, and even then it's only average, currently. The Jetta has never been a reliable car, and even if it was perfect in every other way I'd never waste my hard earned money or time on a car that promises to root you in the reliability department. I don't care how cool a car is widely considered, if it doesn't measure up to my expectations regarding reliable operation, then that manufacturer can go screw itself.

Hence, overall, VW can go screw itself.

aight, im done posting in this thread, its not even worth arguing about. i'll be rolling german soon and thats all i care about. i guess i just like euro tuning so much better and nothing compares to german quality. all my friends have german cars and have no trouble with them, the service guys are mad cool unlike the jackasses at my mazda dealership. my jetta will be tuned much like my boys audi: http://www.autophiles.com/body/impor...hp?list=3&l=29
and for all the guys that brought up styling, no protege can compare to this. aight im out, peace

Re: Jetta
 

Ill second that motion.

EVERYBODY I have ever known to have a VW has had a LOT of problems with it, and that is quite a few people, not just a couple.

Remember when there were 600,000 Rabbits all over the road back in the 80's? I mean, they were everywhere!

How many are still on the road today? None that I ever see. Thier all in junk yards where they belong.

Theres quite a few jap cars from that long ago still rolling strong.

My wife is from germany, and when I was car shopping recently, I was considering VW simply because i thought their quality had improved and was impressed with other things that were built in germany, but my father-in-law recommended to stay away from them, even today, and he is living in Germany, where VW is by far the most popular car on the road.

let's naively think the protege's price is the same as the jetta and buy a jetta because it's "german"! :gay:

Re: Re: Jetta
 

Hehe. I believe that VW is also considered an old person's car over there. What I don't understand is why people always state "superior German engineering" when clearly it's not (at least in most respects, I happen to like the safety record, esp the New Beetle!:D)

I mean I'd understand it if it wasn't so expensive...

People think VW is upscale...I can hardly ever think of it that way, I mean, think about the name...

Or maybe this is just all cause when I was little my mom drove down the Alps in a beetle with no brakes :p . I could understand getting down with those air cooled suckers though :)

Two of my good friends have VWs, one is a certified VW nut. He has a '94-'96ish Jetta, and he has had a few maintenence issues. My other friend has a '88ish GTI, beautifly styled car but it's such a POS. The interior has a nice fit & finish, but that's about it. The engine is a DOG, something is definately wrong with it, I thought GTIs were supposed to be quick? Literally there isn't a month that goes by that he doesn't have to put another $100 or $200 into it.

But, everyone has their horror stories about different car manufacturers, so whatever.

I can't believe some people are getting so upset over this debate. You know, some people don't like my protege and 323, but I don't own them because other people like them. If they don't, that's too bad for them. Especially those civic owners, why are they always sleeping on my mazdas? :laugh:

The only VW I'd consider buying is a GTI 1.8T, they have awesome potential! If I were looking for more of a sedan car, large or small, I would look somewhere else. Why? Just personal preference, nothing personal. Why do people get offended at other's personal preference? VWs, I hear, are excellent cars, but they're just not my cup 'o tea.

i looked/drove the vw before buying my pro5.
i have to admit that the jetta was on my list...
here's what i found:
the interior is nice with blue lights and there's this high quality feel inside. the exterior look is nice too with clean lines and this cute look but...
i was really surprised how small and cramped the interior was ,the protege feels much more spacious. the car seems ok on the outside but it seems so much smaller on the inside.

but the biggest dissapointment was that it doesnt handle as well and doesnt have that nimble sporty feeling.
the price (here in canada)was also much higher then my pro5.

also my friend has a '00 jetta and is constantly complaining of electrical problems :lights dont work,doors dont open etc.
the build quality seems to be well below mazda's and that it's made in mexico is really worrisome.

i think the protege is a much better car in all aspects especially in reliabilty. i needed a car that i can trust and will not leave me stranded on the side of the road, a car that handles really well and is a great looker.

Re: Re: Re: Jetta
 

No, actually there are many "VW meets" with a younger crowd. Its just a popular car for obvious reasons, dont matter what age group.

I think the "superior german engineering" saying is from the past. The germans did have superior engineering years ago. but you dont see it now.

I will say I was highly impressed with the quality of thier house construction. Dam houses over there will stand for a couple centurys.

I never drove a Jetta when I was looking for a car, but I can tell you that I wasn't looking to buy a car that a horde of young people drive, ie. civic, mustang, celica, eclipse. I would rather eat shrapnel than join the ranks of those people. Protege is mad clean, and actually comes with fogs-unlike the Jetta.

What I don't get is if he thinks VW is so great, then why did he end up buying a Protege.

:rolleyes:


dr_"some weird 'Protege Enthusiasts' on this board..."_sarcasm.

Mercedes Maybach vs VW Beetle. Both German, but does anyone notice a difference?

Just because a car is designed in X country doesn't make a difference.

If I drove an Toyota Echo do I claim that I have some of the luxury and engineering traits and characteristics of a LS430 because they are both Toyotas?

And because I drive a Protege, some of the magic from the 787B LeMans winner must be present. Yah...like...um... 4 wheels and that's about it.

What's with some people? They're completely retarded.

leungwingkei, i dont understand what your trying to say, do you mean that the 2 cars aren't comparable? if so, you might want to look beyond cost for a minute and compare the 2 cars regardless of their value. if i had a choice between either of our 2 mercedes or the jetta, all money left out, id probably take the jetta just because i like the feel of it, and the overall car appeals to me more. im just saying that the jetta is a better car and even if you have to pay a little more then its worth it. i just get pissed when people talk shit about a car when their car isn't near as good.

Ok first where did I compare a Protege to a Jetta??

Second I'm just saying some people associate things when they shouldn't be associated because of some similar trait they share.

Like a VW Beetle isn't like a Mercedes S600 because they're German, just as a Suzuki Aerio is not a Lexus LS430 because they're Japanese.

You like a car with more amenities, that's fine. I like a car that can take corners like a sports car.

So which is a better car? I don't know. Depends on what you look for. I would agree if it was better is all aspects but the Jetta is not, even with price out of perspective.

Nice Protege you got there though. :)

ok leungwingkei, i see what your saying and your right, they have different aspects. i wasn't trying to flame you or anybody else. id rather have a fast car while you want a car with handling and thats fine. im glad you like my pro, i just wish it had a 1.8t under the hood.

Yup me too. I wish the P5 got more power too. By as is, as long as it doesn't get in its own way, it's fine for me. :D For now...

the p5 needs more power? look at the beetle, it has 115HP weights 3000+ lbs, slower than 12seconds 0-100, costs fuckin $28000CAD+. according to VW the p5 has lots of power for the price lol