TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Dec 07, 2003 6:00 pm

My local dealer has a fair # of unsold 03s. I think they are getting desparate to unload them as they have all the 04s in the back lot. They have a 03 Jetta wagon Auto. Invoice should be 17750 or thereabouts and they have it marked down to 15495. I think they might even go less if they dont throw me out for lowballing them. :lol:

Would anyone care to comment on the reliability of these cars? Are the electric windows still a problem? Is the auto tranny reliable for the life of the car (150K or so)? Any comments about overall quality, driveability?

TIA,

Mon Dec 08, 2003 2:03 am

Might want to speak with the kids over at www.vwvortex.com. They are into waterpumpers and most likely would have some feedback on the newer VW's and there reliability.
nik

Mon Dec 15, 2003 7:14 pm

Hey, I did read what the 'kids' over there were saying, Mostly about wheels, tires, exhaust and other mods to compete with the Honda boys,
not sure I understand that. There really don't seem to be any big reliability issues from what I can tell though.

My dealer is asking 15500 for an 03 Jetta auto wagon. It has been a loaner car for the dealership since Sept and has 3800 miles on it so the warranty started ticking in Sept. It will be 'new' as far as me being the first to title it, but it is 'used' as it has some miles on it.

I talked to a buddy who buys late model cars wholesale. He says offer 14K and see where it goes from there. Sounds like a plan to me.

Later,
Doug

Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:12 pm

consumer reports gives the jetta a not so good rating if i recall. same for the "new" beetle. you might want to look at the mag. i just picked it up not so long ago.

Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:39 am

I loved my '01 Jetta GLS TDI, but I had to get a truck to handle some things I really didn't want to stick in my bus.

And the 03's have the metal window clips so you won't have to worry about the dreaded window failures the rest of us went through.

Mike

Tue Jan 06, 2004 7:51 am

I have an 02 jetta gls with 1.8t (actually my wife took it over). Has had a few probs, although nothing major. The power window cables are weak from the factory and have been redesigned (one broke and they replaced both). And the o2 sensor was recalled and replaced. All in all, I am happy with my purchase.

Tue Jan 06, 2004 4:14 pm

I did end up getting this car. The problem with the window regulators has supposedly been solved for 03. Also I heard a lot about the coilpacks failing either intermittently or completely on 1 cylinder. They are not even made by Bosch, but a bunch were made by an Italian manufacturer, so hopefully that problem is solved.

One thing I did learn, after I bought the car, :evil: was the interesting strategy VW has on their 4 sp auto trannys which are made in Japan. VW claims they are 'sealed' and do not require any maint. There is no dipstick for them in the engine compartment. The dealer service intervals call for the tech to check the tranny fluid (from underneith) at major service intervals but at no time do they say you need to drop the pan, change the oil and filter. I guess VWs idea of 'lifetime' is the length of the powertrain warranty, 60K miles. I have heard of many of them acting up or failing sometime after this. The 'kids' over at vwvortex have well documented this problem and written up a nice tutorial on how to service the tranny, which I will likely do at about 10K miles just to be safe.

I just think VW is trading the long term reliability of their cars for some short term marketing advantage of being able to say something is 'maintenance free'. :?

Other than that I am very happy with the car.

Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:41 pm

The coil issues have gone down considerably. I think they're up to revision "L", but I haven't heard any complaints lately.

You can verify if the windows have the revised clamps (the actual part that failed) by simply observing if the front windows do not retract completely into the door. The updated clamps leave the window about a 1/4"-1/2" up from "flush".

It should be good though.

And you're right about suspecting the VW trans fluid. I see a number of tranny issues that result from low levels and fluid decay.

The only REAL issue with the current VW's, is that they seem to suffer from "monday car" syndrome. Many are rock solid...Many are not. It's like the old "wanting to get a car that was built on wednesday, because they are built better" thing.

My '01 Jetta has only popped two coils in 70,000 miles, and that's it. And while I maintain the car well, I do not treat it softly at all.

As an aside...The wagons are all made in Germany, so your new car came from the homeland. :D