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by sharpie888
Feb 01 '08 - Updated Feb 29 '08
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: No 
Pros: Drives Great, very fast, Nice Interior,
Cons: CONSTANT BREAKDOWNS will run you broke.
The Bottom Line: I love VW but they need to work out their Many Reliability and Bild issues. Dont buy any VW built after 1993 if you want a reliable car.
I bought a 1996 Jetta GLX VR6 in the Fall of 2002. It looked so beautiful with Perfect black paint and black leather interior. Mine was used and had 104,000 miles on it but I was buying it from a VW Dealership and it had passed a 200 point dealership ...
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by cameronhu
May 01 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: can't think of any
Cons: Complete Lack of Quality
We bought a 96 Jetta GLS thinking that we would own the car for 10 years. It was 1 year old, had 12k miles. We had heard nothing but good things about the older Jettas (before 1990), and so we bought ours loaded w/ an extended 100K mile bumper to...
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by focusboy0383
Mar 22 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: GLX has many features
Cons: high maintenance cost, unreliable, broken down more then on road
The Bottom Line: Everything is harder and more expensive with a Volkswagen. I am not planning on buying another one.
I bought my blue Jetta GLX about 5 months agof from my local VW dealer. At the time it had 77,000 miles on it and I purchased it for $8300. They were asking $9800 for the car. The price for the GLX is much much much higher then the GL, GLS or Trek ...
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by starshatetears
Jul 12 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: sunroof, quality gas mileage
Cons: expensive to repair, rare parts, etc
The Bottom Line: I deffinatly would NOT suggest this car to anyone.
Maybe I just got jipped, but jetta's are a waste of money. I once loved volkswagons, but untill you' ...
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by sherrivonl
Jan 26 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Good gas mileage, day running lights
Cons: drives like a box, small cup holders, no trunk lights
I just turned my 1996 Jetta back in and I couldn't be happier. The disappointment started before I even drove off the lot. After all the paperwork had been done for my green Jetta, it turned out they had no green ones. I had to settle for black. From...
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by scout86
Mar 05 '09
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: It is cute looking...honostly, the cons far out-way any pros.
Cons: Unless you want to make your mechanic your new best-friend, stay away from this car.
The Bottom Line: I am seriously debating pushing this car off a cliff. The real kicker, I will still be making payments for past repairs even when it is long gone.
I bought a 96 vw jetta four years ago for $4300, with decently low miles. I chalk that day up to one of the worst days of my life. Since then I have spent nearly double what I payed for it in repairs. Everything that could go wrong with that car, did. I ...
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by sinqro
Jan 27 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Nice stock stereo, excellent handling, user-friendly dash layout.
Cons: Auto transmission blows! Nickel & Dimes you once the miles pack on.
The Bottom Line: I would never recommend this car to anyone!
I have owned a few cars in my short 25 years of age but by far, the worst car I have owned was a 1996 VW Jetta. After my 1994 Integra was stolen, I bought a 1996 VW Jetta TREK as a replacement car from a used car dealer. Granted, it had over 100k miles ...
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by budinski
Mar 02 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Relatively cheap, somewhat easy to work on, sporty and quick
Cons: very poor quality, unsafe door locks, expensive parts, not very crash worthy
The Bottom Line: Don't touch with a ten foot pole. Avoid like the plague.
I am a car guy. I work for a car company, I fix my own cars, I have a busines selling custom racing parts for cars, I write a car newsletter for my local Porsche club. In general, if I have something to say about a car, it is probably true.
...
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by kerlynshe
Jun 28 '00
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: No
Pros: Looks nice and sporty
Cons: Automatic transmission is horrible!!!!!
Just a year out of college in 96, I was so excited to sell my reliable 92 Ford Escort to buy a new Jetta GL. My first new car ever was intended to be the car I paid off in full and drove into the ground. Unfortunately, I believe that if I don't get rid...
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by bedise
Nov 14 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Comfortable, good sound system
Cons: Transmission, expensive to repair
I bought my 96 Jetta in 98' off a 2-year lease. I had wanted a Jetta for about 10 years because of the classy way they commanded any road they were on. However, when I finally brought my Jetta home from the dealer--my nightmares began immediately.
...
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by basil_jensen
Dec 29 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Fun to drive, comfortable
Cons: Not very reliable
I bought this car after my other car fell apart. I was looking for something reliable and fun to drive. I would say that my '96 Jetta GL fit the fun to drive description but was not very reliable. I was surprised because I bought it after reading a...
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by koolrunning
Jul 05 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Great gas mileage, looks good, smooth ride
Cons: spent a lot of time in the shop
The 96 VW Jetta was my first car. I was very excited because I always heard about people driving their cars for over 10 years. The day after I brought the car home it wouldn't start. The people at the dealership said I just didn't know how to shift the...
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by Jenleigh
Jan 04 '01
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Stylish
Cons: Too many costly repairs
I leased my Jetta because my grandparents only purchased Volkswagens and swore by them. I loved the car for the first year I drove it. I thought it drove well and was very comfortable. About a year and a half into the lease, however, it all started....
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by kasteide
Dec 21 '99
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: price
Cons: durability/reliability
I bought this vehicle because I loved Volkswagon, it is the third one that I have owned. I love Volkswagon due to the experiences I have had with the other two I have owned (Rabbit & Jetta). They have great fuel economy and are not very expensive....
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by lookinforvalue
Feb 15 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Fun to drive
Cons: Unreliable, terrible fit and finish
Lots of problems with my 1996 Jetta GL, starting within weeks. Alarm system failed, had to be repaired 3 times, including new key locks. Door bumper strips keep falling off. Engine check light comes on and costs a fortune to fix. Key lock came off on...
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by rakelhj
May 09 '07
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: fun to drive, great gas mileage, large tank, roomy
Cons: sealed transmission, expensive maintenance, hard to find parts, lots of "dealer" exclusives
The Bottom Line: Go with a Honda -- less trouble with a lower true cost to own.
In 2004, about a year after I purchased the car in August 2003, I had the front two motor mounts replaced, and after that, I experienced even more problems and took it back to the repair man the next day to have the exhaust system replaced. I can't ...
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by scrum
Sep 20 '00
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: No
Pros: Fun, everyday car
Cons: Calipers, Throttle Body, Cables, Underpowered
I bought the car because it had all the features I needed/wanted in a 4 door passenger and commuting car.
In a 5 speed the car has decent power with 2 passengers - over that and it has noticable lag. In the automatic, which I have driven...
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by tcoulson
Feb 14 '02
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: No
Pros: Great gas mileage,fun to drive, my 2001 Isuzu Trooper is more fun to drive.
Cons: Maintenance Problems
The Bottom Line: Marginal, we have not had to pay a lot (yet), other than the deductible cost.
We bought this car new for my wife on March 1, 1996. We also bought the extended warranty for about $800. The kicker with the warranty from Congressional VW in Rockville, MD was that if you did not use it you would get your money back.
I...
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by delrinkenro
Dec 03 '02
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: Yes 
Pros: Simple styling, good reliability, ergonomic, decent performance.
Cons: hit or miss quality, poor quality paint, windshield
The Bottom Line: This was definitely a good buy in 1996, and would probably make a great used car. Do your homework when buying used.
Intro
I bought my 1996 1/2 Jetta (manual) new in 1996. I've always been a VW fan as I had a 1991 Golf previously. At the time the Jetta was an excellent choice over the Honda Civic and others as you really got a lot more for your money. As I got my...
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by cheeku76
Oct 01 '02
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Decent low end torque- smooth shifting 5 -speed,lots of trunk space,good gas mileage
Cons: power windows stop working, rear seat is cramped.
The Bottom Line: Got totalled at a Houston traffic light :-( Strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a good used car in the under 10K range.
This is my first car ever!.
I bought it straight out of grad school. It had 68K miles. The only modifications the previous driver had made were a JVC CD changer. I drove this car till about 2 months back when it got totalled. I found out the...
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by mroyce7644
Dec 19 '99
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: very nice car
Cons: Poor Customer Service
We leased a 96 Jetta 3 1/2 years ago and have been quite happy overall.
The local dealer has very good with service and follow up. About 3 years into our lease the drivers side window motor needed to be replaced at the cost of $268, the work was...
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by rugbyprofessor
Mar 26 '02
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Reliable, built to last
Cons: Teething problems
The Bottom Line: An excellent car that will last a long time when properly cared for.
Bought my Jetta new in October 1995 after my '94 Jetta saved my life (no exaggeration) in a horrific side impact accident. The car had its teething problems in the beginning, but has been great since then.
Teething problems were as follows;...
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by todor11
Jan 19 '09
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Elegance, Smooth ride, Smooth shifting, Fuel Economy, Good Torque, Reliability, Fast, Good Torque, HUGE trunk.
Cons: No glove box? Small cup holders.
The Bottom Line: German elegance cannot be beat.
A Volkswagen is a car that is very inside out and upside down when it comes to build; everything is different. I purchased my VW Jetta in March 2005. It had 198xxxkm on it and ran like a dream. Three years later. It has 250xxxkm on it and ...
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by jerseytom
Sep 14 '01 - Updated Sep 16 '01
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Economical, Practical, Terrific Ride, Handles Well, 130,000 and still running strong!
Cons: Still trying to think of one...
The Bottom Line: I suggest going to test drive one... that will be proof enough on why VW puts out quality cars. You will always want one in your life.
In late 1996 I traded in my Blazer and moved to the economical side of the auto world - the VW Jetta GL!
All these years and miles (131,267 to be exact) later the Jetta is still zipping everywhere I go. I live 8 minutes outside of NYC and my...
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by MiDoyle  - Top 1000
Apr 11 '01 - Updated Apr 17 '01
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Handles well, gets good gas mileage and looks pretty
Cons: Weird behavior from time to time.
The Bottom Line: All things considered we are pleased with our purchase and enjoy the car very much. Check it out thoroughly and you'll find a good auto.
Last year after many years of faithful service, it became apparent to my wife and me that her beloved 1987 Toyota Celica GTS Coupe was on its last legs (125,000 miles). Would it cost us another small fortune to fix, yet again? This was a car that...
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by feudfanatic
Dec 20 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Power sunroof, handling, brakes, performance (for a 4-cylinder), dependability!! YAY!
Cons: Nothing major: cupholders, lack of a glove box, hard front bucket seats.
The Bottom Line: Looking for a cheap reliable car? Buy a Jetta! If it was taken good care of, you should be as happy as I am with it!
I went into the market looking to buy a late-model Volkswagon Jetta over the summer (2000+) but in the process stumbled over this gem, a 1996 Jetta GL. I eventually went for it because it was soooo much cheaper. I've had it for maybe 5 months now, no ...
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by mseiler
Mar 25 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Roomy, fun to drive, reliable, good gas mileage
Cons: Electric Windows
The Bottom Line: I would recommend purchasing a 1996 or 1997 Jetta used. I have 75,000+ miles, and have had little repair expense to date.
We own a 1996 Jetta GLS and a 1997 Jetta Trek. Both cars have been very reliable. They are very comfortable for driver and front passenger, as well as rear passengers. Great gas mileage (30+ MPG), good visibility and handling.
The GLS and Trek...
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by rsullivan
Jan 24 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: great looking, stylish,
Cons: needs a better company stereo, engine is lacking a little
My Jetta has definitely served two purposes in my teenage years. One, attracting many ladies to my fine ride. Secondly getting me where I want to go in style. Although the car does lack in engine power, as it is only a 4 cylinder, it still got me where...
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by SKIP-K
Dec 29 '99 - Updated Aug 06 '00
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: Yes
Pros: affordable, reliable, roomy, great styling, lots of features standard
Cons: none that I have ever discovered
After reading all the reviews of the VW Jetta, I am happy to provide a positive and honest review of a car I have enjoyed owning for almost four yrs and 60k. The Jetta Trek is a limited edition model with a few extra features added to set it apart from...
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by vroche
Jan 10 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: great gas mileage, fun car, drives like sports car
Cons: squeaky brakes, everyone else has one
Before you buy your next car, read this. Consider if you want to buy the newest fun fling that will last a mere two years or a good, reliable car. Certain cars fall under both these categories. If you have been driving lately, you will see the latest...
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by bardicbliss
Nov 29 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: great gas mileage, comfortable, engines will last long time
Cons: interior ergonomics could be better
I had owned an old Jetta in the past and decided I wanted another VW. As I am not a fan of hatchbacks, the Golf was not an option. Just out of college the Passat seemed a bit pricier than I could afford. So I got another Jetta that I LOVE!!! I bought...
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by geddesn
May 04 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Design, Handling, Stereo, Trunk
Cons: Molding-adhesion
I purchased a 1996 Jetta GL 5-speed as it was coming off of a two year lease in 1998. This car is totally fun to drive, has incredibly tight handling, and looks as great as the day I bought it at 4 years old--No squeaks or creaks like the American cars...
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by paramchuk
May 03 '00 - Updated Feb 28 '01
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Tons
Cons: Dealers, battery drains
The Bottom Line: Dencent car.
I chose to buy this vehicle because I previously owned 2 VW rabbits, and loved both of them. Although they had their issues...but that's a different story. I thought a new VW would have the power I wanted, the options I wanted, and a Price I could...
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by scottking
Jun 30 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Great looks and handling. Available with a VR6. Huge trunk.
Cons: It will take me all day to think of just one.
I was the last person you would expect to drive a VW. I am a very large guy and my mentality was dead set on American muscle cars I had a 1989 Ford Mustang 5.0 in my mind if it wasn't an American car it was worthless. I quickly changed my mind after...
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by RBradford
Aug 07 '00
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Roomy, Sporty, Low Maintenance, Great Mileage
Cons: Cup Holders Can't Handle Large Cups
Me, drive a Volkswagen? Huh? Are you crazy? Well, OK, I'll test drive one...I'll take it.
This was essentially my conversation with a friend who manages a car dealership. My Ford Tortoise, ah, I mean Taurus, was limping along on three...
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| Epinions Express Reviews |
All the horror stories are true
by vwowner96
Nov 20 '07
Author's Product Rating:
Recommended: No
Pros: Comfy seats, good power, great gas mileage
Cons: Fixing it is expensive and too often
I have had my 96 Jetta for 5 years. Bought it at 90,000 miles and it now has 170,000. Yeah I drove it around a bit, but that still doesn’t explain random things breaking. 1. Trunk lock (making my trunk useless, I have the back seats permanently down) 2. Sunroof motor (luckily in the closed position) 3. Alarm system (Forcing me to install an ignition switch directly to my starter) 4. Drivers side door doesn’t lock (leaving my car constantly unlocked) 5. Power steering pump (Cost $300.00 for the part) as well as a new timing belt at 130,000 where they had to take out my whole engine and four oil leaks. Currently, I am dealing with the power steering pump which is going to die on me any second and my leaking coolant lines. And yes the coolant is expensive.
Oh yeah and the exterior starts falling apart too. Just stop to look at all the side panels on all the old Jetta's.
My opinion- the VW Jetta sucks
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No Longer a VW fan
by fairhavenzeke
Feb 13 '06
Author's Product Rating:
Recommended: No
Pros: Keeps your mechanic gainfully employed
Cons: Keeps your mechanic gainfully employed
I traded in an '88 Jetta for a '96 back in 200. What a bad mistakes. This car, in my opinion isn't even remotely the same as my '88. I could list what has gone wrong, but I think that listing what hasn't gone wrong would be a much shorter list.
What has not gone wrong;
The car has not exploded.
I was once a huge vw fan, said that is all I would drive. Now, I no longer drive anything since my jetta, which has fallen so far in value that selling it is useless, is never on the road. This car is like being in a bad relationship that is impossible to get out of. I keep thinking that after this next repair, I will be all set for some time, everything will be good. Wrong. It is never ending, the car will be a never ending drain on your bank account & patients. Get a Subaru instead, vw has plummeted in quality. I have contemplated having a bumper sticker made that says "I have a Jetta; can I bother you for a ride?"
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GLX, VR6: Ten Years, 140k miles (and counting)
by webbpinner
Jan 20 '09
Author's Product Rating:
Recommended: Yes
Pros: Incredible engine/tranny (5-spd manual)Cavernous trunkAmazingly fun to driveCan go the distance
Cons: Not for the person that doesn't love what they drive.
Bought the car in '99 with 54k miles for $12,500. It's been my daily driver ever since. Over the last decade I've driven it ~140k miles and probably put $15k in maintaining it. The VR6 motor is an incredible piece of engineering that has provided years of enjoyable driving. The rest of the car has held up well but is showing it's age. I find this car to be a great value for it's level of performance and longevity.
VW engineering does not come cheap. Bad experiences at private VW shops and with non-OEM parts has forced me to use the local VW dealer and OEM part distributers. This adds to the maintenance costs but ultimately led to the car's longevity.
Rust is also an issue on these cars. Mine was undercoated at the factory which has added years to the chassis. However, every 2-3 years I put the car into the body shop for inspection, rust removal and undercoat reapplication (typically runs $200-$300).
Final words:This is a car-guy's/gal's daily driver. Non-stop fun to drive that can go the long haul, if you're willing to take care of it.
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148K and still going!
by meok1
Aug 16 '05
Author's Product Rating:
Recommended: Yes
Pros: gas mileage, trunk space, reliable
Cons: side moldings
I walked into the dealership, straight to her on the showroom floor and picked her up 2 weeks later. I drove her out the lot and across the country to my new home in AZ. I stay on the road and I could not have been blessed with a better vehicle. When I went looking for a SUV to deal with the snow in the area I was moving to, I refused to trade in my VW. The salesman stated that he understood why. It has given me pleasure every time I take a ride. No major problems. My goddaughter is looking forward to driving it as her first car in 5 years, that makes it 15 years for me, time to pass on the blessing.
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