After owning my 2003 Jetta Wagon 1.8T GLX for 14 months, I am pleased to report that, despite some minor flaws, the Jetta has really exceeded my expectations. As a near-luxury compact wagon, the Jetta has delivered almost perfectly on my driving needs. Now after more than a year of summer and winter driving, I offer you some thoughts on this 2003 VW.

***addendum: I have put some 14-month comments at the very bottom of this review***

***addendum: I have also added 48-month comments at the bottom***

QUICK HISTORY OF MY JETTA CAR CHOICE:

I am a performance sedan driver. My personal style is "professional with an edge". While shopping for my latest car, I considered the Audi A4, the Volvo S70, the Honda Accord, some of the new Acuras, low-end Benzes, and the BMW 300 series.

After one test drive, I fell in love with the 2003 Jetta Wagon, and purchased it the next day. I paid $26,300USD for it, and I still feel like I got a $45,000 car. I have been driving the Jetta wagon since April of 2003.

Cost note: the Jetta can be compared to other cars at different luxury levels. For example, the base model Jetta GL compares to the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. However, the Jetta GLS and GLX models correspond to the BMW 3 series, the Audi A4, and Mercedes C-class entry-level luxury cars.

(photos of my black Jetta wagon are here: http://rockethouse.com/gallery/album130/j1
http://rockethouse.com/gallery/album130/P1010006)


OVERALL: JETTA WAGON = COMPROMISE OF SUV, COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN, AND STATION WAGON ASPECTS

The Jetta Mark IV GLS 1.8T Wagon is a near-luxury compact sedan with added room for groceries and the family pet. It is also rated at five stars for NHTSA front and side impact protection.

In its GLS or GLX loaded sport trim, the Jetta wagon competes with Passats, Audis, BMWs, and Saabs for finish and performance, but costs much less than these exotic counterparts.

Yes, I did choose to spend an extra $6200 CAD to stack my Jetta with nearly every option: leather, power, heated seats, sports trim wheels, Porsche Tiptronic transmission, CD changer, tint, Platinum Shield interior and exterior coating, power sunroof, Electronic Stabilization Program and ABS, and full safety package curtain airbags x 4. These expenses did push my car to $35,000 CAD ($26,300 USD), but I wanted these options. I believe these options are what really move the car into near-luxury status.

On the road, the Jetta 1.8T won't outpull a 500-series BMW in the quarter mile. Nor will it turn the same heads that a Benz 4matic would. Moreover, as a compact wagon, I wouldn't try to outfit a 5 person family getaway to the mountains with this car.

But the Jetta 1.8T does run 0-60mph in 8 seconds (as fast as most 300-series Beemers), it rides well without sacrificing road feel and lateral stability, and it does carve good turns with only mild understeer. The wagon trim allows for two full hockey bags and groceries, plus the family pet and two adults. It is very reliable in the snow and the cold. The car looks and feels like a $45,000USD car, but costs only half that price.

I believe this is a good car for three-person commuting/highway travel, or in my case, two urbanites with a large dog and camping/skiing compulsions.


THE SPECIFICS: JETTA WAGON BAD POINTS

Like any technology, there are downsides to the Jetta Wagon 1.8T. None of these downsides are show-stoppers for my sport-sedan/wagon needs, but they may chafe some potential buyers.

1. For one, this is a *compact* wagon, and the size is limited to three-person capacity + groceries and luggage. Prospective buyers should understand this from the outset: the back seat leg room is adequate-to-small. If the front passenger and driver are over 5'8", then the rear passengers will suffer as the bucket seats encroach into their knees. For road trips more than 100 miles, I would not recommend more than three people + luggage.

The wagon trunk, albeit plenty of vertical space, is only the same surface area as a conventional domestic sedan trunk. Although fine for my needs, this is not Volvo wagon or SUV-space, folks. If you have more than one large dog and two adults, then this car will feel small for you.

2. The driver window does whip turbulence around the driver's head, unless you crack open a back window to stabilize the airflow. This is annoying if you never learn this special back window trick. As well: the power sunroof only opens to 3/4 point automatically; the remaining 1/4 distance requires user intervention...some weird reasoning about preventing wind flutter.

3. The Porsche Tiptronic transmission is about .75 seconds too slow to downshift for immediate acceleration. I have lost a couple of lane positions because of this. Furthermore, the four-wheel disc brakes are competent, but I do wish they had 10% more stopping power when you consider the elevated speeds the 1.8T can achieve. Perhaps some aftermarket brake pads will make the difference.

4. Aggressive acceleration will gobble gas. With a restrained right foot, I can extract perhaps 26mpg city and 34mpg highway. But my mileage can drop to 16mpg when I really dip into the 180bhp powerplant. Especially if the tach moves back-and-forth repeatedly over the 3000 rpm mark where the turbo really engages and disengages. I have learned to plan for approximately 400km (250miles) on a 50 liter (12.5 gallon) tank.

5. Any Jetta paint scheme other than metallic silver uses the "dip and dunk" painting technology, and results in an orange-peel finish, particularly noticeable in black color. Platinum Shield coating reduces this orange peel effect, but the paint finish is not a strong point with this car.

6. Adding a remote car starter is problematic, since the car is hardwired to prevent theft at the ignition level. Living in a cold place like Canada requires me to either supplant the ignition security system, or resort to the manual means of starting and locking my car early every winter morning for warm up. I chose to stay with this manual warm-up method.

7. The sport suspension does transmit road ripples to the occupants. Mostly, mild road bumps are heard instead of felt, but if you drive without any music on, then tar strips will become annoying sounds beneath the 17" wheels.

8. The ABS and anti-slip electronic stabilization program seem to do a competent job at keeping the car planted on icy roads. However, the pump actuators and automatic brakes make that annoying hydraulic sound when they activate. I know this is symptomatic of any ABS car, but I still do not enjoy that hydraulic sound. Gratefully, this is a perception thing, not a functional deficiency.

9. The stock 8-speaker stereo does have a tinny quality to it. The bass is weak, and true audiophiles should consider investing in an aftermarket subwoofer and amp.

10. The bucket seat canting is controlled by a dial knob, not by a lever. If you enjoy reclining while waiting in a parking lot, this dial control is annoying and laborious.


THE SPECIFICS: JETTA WAGON GOOD POINTS

This car's positives far outweigh the negatives for me.

1. Of the many outstanding things about my Jetta wagon, I want to first say that my Volkswagen dealer, Norden Autohaus in Edmonton, is amazing for customer relations and attention to detail. I have had nothing but A-plus treatment from the Norden Autohaus people. I know that some VW owners have had bad experiences, especially in the USA. I cannot speak to those instances, but I can certainly say that there is good VW management control over quality and customer satisfaction in Edmonton.


2. On a driving note, I must also laud how the 1.8T Jetta feels to drive: fahrfenugen! ("the thrill of the drive!"). This car is nimble, neutral responding, poised, and quick. The cabin ergonomics are supple and supportive. The suspension offers excellent road feel through the wheel while still buffering most bumps and ripples. No, the suspension is not race ready, and aggressive drivers will want to upgrade the springs, but the stock suspension is plenty good for "brisk commuting" needs. The Jetta never feels cumbersome or heavy; it is always forgiving during sudden driver inputs and emergency maneuvers. The 180bhp turbo gas powerplant is ample for city and highway commuting, and it will have enough extra jam to surprise muscle cars and expensive exotics. This is a kick-butt station wagon, folks!

3. Aesthetically, the VW Jetta leather trim and GLS or GLX option package make for an excellent driver experience. The interior truly looks like a BMW or Audi. The folding armrest, dual cup holders, steering wheel stereo controls, clean dash, and crisp lines all contribute to a sense of poise and finish not found in American cars. I am especially grateful that the Jetta does not follow the banal oval designs of many Japanese and American cars; the VW instead employs a kind of Swiss-army watch feel...crisp and professional.

4. The road-feel experience is excellent for both commuting and highway driving: steering is very responsive, with mild understeer at speeds over 30kmh. Body roll is minimal for any regular cornering, although the suspension does chatter on ripply roads and washboard. The road howl insulation is very good, so it easy to converse with your passenger even at 65mph. The ergonomics for my 5'10" frame are perfect, and all the controls are at the right distance for my 29" arms. The lumbar and lateral seat support are first rate, and especially good during aggressive turns. I feel very planted in my Jetta, and the car always feels responsive and stable at any speed.

5. Highway driving: this car is very stable and straight on the highway, and at any legal speed, the car always transmits a solid planted feeling through the steering wheel. It is very easy to accumulate hundreds of kilometers on this car in one sitting. The VW 1.8T 180bhp engine is ample for prompt passing on the highway, and I often astonish drivers when I pass their sports cars with my station wagon.

6. Slow speed driving: the turn radius is tremendous! I can U turn, lock-to-lock, on a three-lane road. In most parking lots with yellow lines, the Jetta can almost U turn within the width of three adjacent parking stalls.

7. Aggressive driving: I do not recommend racing on anything other than a racetrack under controlled conditions. Accordingly, I will not recommend you drive your Jetta illegally. But let me say this: this car, especially in sport wagon trim, will surprise many people with its acceleration performance and turning abilities.

8. Driver visibility is 100% completely unimpaired. I can see in every direction without blind spots. The power side mirrors are also competent for at-a-glance viewing.

9. I live in -35Celsius to 35Celsius (-35F to 90F) weather, so I get to see the whole gamut of weather conditions. I am pleased to report that the Jetta wagon does a good job of warming and cooling the front passengers. The A/C is very fast cooling, the interior heater is very good for heating the front seats, and the electric seat warmers are a godsend for us Canadians! The rear seat area is slower to heat up, however, so you may need to choose favorites when your passengers fight over the heated front seat.

10. The 5-disc CD changer, plus in-dash 6th CD, is very good for both functionality and reliability, and even plays .wav custom CDs inconsistently. I think I will opt for the Phatbox MP3 player option later in 2004.

11. The sport tires and 17" sport wheels are very good for stock trim. Although they sacrific smoothness, they do a very good job of transmitting road feel to the driver, and they seem to do well on both icy Canadian roads and on dry summer streets. I have had no flat tires nor inflation problems to date.

12. The Jetta is very distinctive in black trim with sport package. It has a Passat-Touareg look to it, and is definitely not a conventional station wagon.

13. Entry and egress: The Jetta is very good for door sill height and door width... it is very smooth to climb in and out of this car. As I mentioned, I am 5'10", and my wife is 5'6". Our german shepherd is 50 lbs going on 90lbs. All of us have an easy time getting in and out of the Jetta wagon, and groceries and carried items are easy to lift into the back seat or the trunk. The dimensions of this smaller wagon fit nicely for my 3-member family.

14. Fit and finish: there are many outstanding details that make this car superior to other $26k compact sedans/wagons. For example: the dashboard looks like it is straight from the BMW 300 series...very stylish and crisp. The stereo controls are steering wheel mounted, which is ideal for switching CD tracks and adjusting volume while doing two-handed driving through mountain switchbacks. Nice. There is a first-aid kit storage space in the wall of the trunk. There is a trunk subfloor with molded tool tray and *full-size* spare wheel. The roll-top trunk cover hides your groceries from prying eyes. The pass-through rear seat 1/3rd split is perfect for snowboards, large doggies, and carrying large luggage. The flip-up rear bench has multiple sockets for retaining the passenger headrests. The indiglo dash lighting is a classy and practical touch. The Tiptronic transmission, albeit a tad slow for emergency acceleration, does offer a useful choice when trying to pass on the highway, or to maintain a higher gear during winter driving. The ignition security system, anti-theft key locks, blinking security light, and locking lug nut wheels are comforting in a world of auto thieves. The switchblade key is very stylish Audi-level quality. The engine layout is very friendly for oil refilling, dipstick reading, wiper fluid replenishing, and engine heater plug in. The stock roof rack rails are good for accessory luggage pods, and the curtain air bags are considered the best in its class by NTSA standards. The solar-powered battery charger will be very useful when I travel for over 30 days, and need to leave my car in the airport parking lot...it will ensure my battery and alarm system remain powered. The child-safety lockout on the rear doors and windows, and inverted window controls, will be comforting to parents. VW Road Assistance is included for the first two years of your car ownership, so all emergency boosts, tows, locksmith services, and other car club needs are included in the price of the car! And speaking of car clubs: it is impossible to lock yourself out of the Jetta unless you make an effort to do so.

All of these crisp little details are the trademark of German engineering, and another reason I chose VW.


15. My spouse and my dog absolutely love the Jetta! Our german shepherd really fits the back seat and trunk nicely. With a blanket across the back leather bench seat, the dog happily sprawls out and settles into long drives nicely. Spouse loves to drive the 1.8T tiptronic, and our sporty driving styles are satiated by the 180bhp turbo engine.

16. This car is a pleasure to look at and a pleasure to drive! It is nimble, eager to respond to turning, braking and acceleration inputs from the driver, and it feels good to sit in either the driver or the passenger seat.


FINAL COMMENTS

I am very pleased with this car. It is the third VW I have owned, and has been a real joy for my spouse and I to drive. It has been a nice compromise between bulky SUV and compact sedan. We are also inspired by the 5-star NHTSA safety rating that the Jetta has earned for front and side collisions.

If you are similarly in need of a practical compact car, and want to step off the beaten path of banal sedans, then take a good look at the Jetta wagon, especially if you can afford the luxury options. For $26k USD, you get a lot of performance technology with this Volkswagen.

14-Month Comments

It has been six months since I authored the above review. Here are some extra observations since then:

CON: fuel mileage drops dramatically when the Jetta 1.8T is driven aggressively. The engine is quite happy to accelerate when called upon, but at the price of 17mpg instead of 26mpg.

PRO: when driven with restraint, the 1.8T can achieve up to 31mpg.

CON: my sunroof stopped functioning one day, and refused to close completely.

PRO: it turned out that there was a dead grasshopper tucked into the sunroof mechanism. Once cleared out, the sensitive system worked again without fault.

CON: when called to suddenly accelerate hard, the automatic-Tiptronic transmission is still about .75 seconds too slow to respond.

PRO: once the turbo kicks in, there is plenty of passing power.

CON: some people in the USA have had terrible VW service experiences (as I read in discussion forums on the Web).

PRO: I have had nothing but positive experiences with my VW service here in Alberta.

OVERALL 14-MONTH SUMMARY: I am still very pleased with this turbo station wagon, and would recommend it to anyone with my driving needs, and who has access to a VW Canada dealership.
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48-MONTH REPORT: I am still very happy with this VW Jetta wagon. Gratefully, I have not had to experience any airbag deployments or crash tests (knock on wood).

Seat heater recall: my vehicle was recalled to replace the seat heaters out of fear that they would ignite the leather, so that was an inconvenience to bring the vehicle in. Similarly, the Tiptronic shift lever needed adjusting because one of the bolts started to loosen. During these last four years, I also replaced two headlamp bulbs, a sticky coolant impeller blade, and multiple oil changes.

Good car for cold winters: I also experienced some extra-extreme temperatures this last year, with some very cold -42C days here in Alberta. Impressively, the car started with only a little coaxing, even without the block heater being plugged in. The heated seats take about 15 minutes to really transmit the warmth through the leather. And the side windows do frost up around the rearmost edges at -25C and colder (the heat vents did not quite blow all the way to the back of the windows). So I will give the Jetta wagon an 8 out of 10 for being a deep-cold vehicle.

All things considered, the car has been a splendid servant to my family, and I am pleased with its reliability and performance. I have not experienced any of the lemon problems that some reviewers have, and again, I must commend Norden Autohaus on their customer service.

The Japanese give you more features for the same price, but...

In the four years I've owned this Vdub, the benchmark for driver refinements has been raised by the Japanese. Features like automatic-dimming mirrors, digital compasses, external thermometers, and MP3 players are now standard trim in many 2007 Japanese cars. Being a 2003 vehicle, my Vdub feels smaller and more spartan than newer imports. But when I ride in my friend's Japanese vehicles, I still find myself preferring the Swiss Army Watch feel of my Volkswagen. Yes, I would like automatic-dimming mirrors and a digital compass, but not enough to make me switch cars just yet.

If you like Volkswagen, and you are looking for an older compact station wagon, definitely consider the sporty Jetta wagon turbo as a used choice. It has a charm and a solidity about it that sets it apart from other vehicles of its time.


Amount Paid (US$): 26,300
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: GLS, loaded, with full safety package