Where can I find reviews on 1995 and 1997 VW Jetta's? If you own one I'd love your thoughts please.?

Question

I"m thinking about getting one. And I 'd like to read some reviews but consumer reports charges $$ Is there any where else I can get some reviews???

Answer 1

I will build you up to the small Generation III VW's (the "A3" platform) from my experience over almost 2 decades.

I currently own a 1995 VW Golf GL (Generation III). The Golf and the Jetta are the same car, except for the trunk and the headlights. The Golf is a hatchback, the Jetta is a sedan. The Golf I own is the 4th VW I have owned and it follows 3 VW's owned by my father, including the one I learned how to drive in.

I learned how to drive in a 1980 VW Rabbit Diesel with a 1.5L n/a (normally aspirated: non-turbo) indirect injection diesel engine and a 4-speed stick. 40+ mpg, and fun to drive, once you got to know the car and how to make use of the meager horsepower, adequate torque, and stick. The Rabbit, as it was known here, in the US, is actually a Golf, Generation I.

My first VW was a 1981 VW Rabbit Pickup. It was originally Diesel, but the previous owner swapped the motor for a 1.6L gas engine with its fuel injection system removed in favor of a single barrel carburettor. I bought this micro truck with a load of problems, but it was always easy to work on, and in spite of its issues, it tore up the roads. I could smoke the tires in first gear on any road and I could chirp them going into second on dirt roads. The pickup could carry 1,105 lbs of passengers and cargo.

I then bought a 1986 Golf GL (A2 - 4 door, 5 speed). I only had that car for a few months. I was sleep deprived, left work after midnight one Friday, woke up the next morning in the hospital. I assume I blacked out and ran off the road. Did I mention how crash-worthy these cars are? I was released from the hospital that same morning. And with both a bigger engine (1.8L, fuel injected), and a 5 speed stick, this car was more fun to drive. I actually jacked the roof back up, taped a sheet of clear plastic over the windshield opening, and drove that car for another couple months before I laid it to rest.

After that, I bought a 1989 VW Fox GL. This car was phenomenal! I bought this car in Dallas (TX), drove it down through Mexico, to Belize, my home country. This car was completely stock, except for the paint, stereo, and shift knob. I took that little 1.8L 81 hp CIS-E fuel injected SOHC 4-banger with a 4-speed (4th was overdrive) everywhere. It hit up to 100 MPH on blacktop and was comfortable doing 60 - 70 MPH on dirt/gravel. It had ground clearance like a small SUV. I towed 6-wheel trucks with it (6-wheel, not 10), including a refrigerated truck. When Belize was hit by a hurricane, I drove that car through flood water up to the moulding on the doors (almost 2 ft. deep). That car would not stay stuck, not even with a front wheel in a hole and the body resting on the pavement. Reverse gear and a quick twist of the steering wheel, and that car was out of whatever mud, hole, whatever it was allegedly stuck in. My one complaint is the trunk. The Fox's trunk was not accessible from the rear seat and the trunk lid did not open wide enough. I was only just able to squeeze a 20" lawn mower into the trunk with the handles folded all the way down, both at the base, and halfway. When I sold that Fox, it had about 225,000 miles on it (not KM, miles), and it was still tearing up the roads.

That's why I love the A3 Golf and Jetta so much. Their trunk lids open much wider and the rear seat is a 60/40 split folding seat. The A3's come standard with an electronically fuel injected, SOHC, n/a, inline 4, capable of producing 115 hp, 122 ft-lb of torque, and sipping 1 gallon of gas every 32 or so miles (highway, relaxed driving). I have driven my car in excess of 450 miles (road trip) on a single tank (14½ gallons) of gas.

My current Golf, I bought in Dallas, drove to Belize, drove all over Belize, at speeds of up to 119½ MPH (the governor is set at 120), and came back to Dallas, where I now live. Making good use of the gears and the 6,300 RPM (approx.) redline, that car is an econo-box and a rocket in one. I was able to hold my own with people driving 8-cylinder American sedans, on roads where the Police weren't using radar. I removed the passenger side knee bolster from the dash and installed a glove box from a '97 Golf. The earlier A3 Golfs and Jettas came with a Driver's airbag and a passenger glove box. Then, VW swapped out the passenger glove box for a 2nd airbag. Then, VW put a revised glove box in place of the knee bolster in the bottom of the dash. So, I took my transplant glove box from a later A3 car at the junk yard. I did have to cut some sheet metal under the dash to get the glove box to fit.

Performance: The venerable 2.0L is adequately powered, but a little weak compared to DOHC models. It works well with the 5-speed stick. If you get an automatic, consider upgrading to the 1.8T or the VR6. You'll lose fuel economy and/or the ability to drive on regular, but many may find the 2.0 mated to an automatic - less than inspiring. In 1996, VW released the 1.9L TDI - roughly 50 MPG, no spark plugs, no coil, no distributor, only 90 hp, but an amazing 155 ft-lb of torque. The TDI runs on diesel - often more expensive per gallon, but when gas prices climb in the Summer, diesel can often be found for noticeably less than regular unleaded. And when you're getting 50 MPG (manual - for automatic, subtract a couple mpg), who cares about 10 or 20¢ difference per gallon?

Safety: The IIHS and the DOT conducted crash testing on these cars and they scored in the middle of the pack for safety. However, the IIHS conducted a study from 1990 to 1995 of actual car crashes in the US. The Jetta had the lowest per-capita driver mortality rate in its class. And my golf was side-swiped by an 18-wheeler and my wife and I were not hurt - and I can still drive the car (and pass inspection). I did have to replace the side mirror, window, etc. Dual front airbags, optional 4-wheel disc brakes, optional ABS, 3-point seat belts on all outboard seats (lap belt only on rear, center seat), standard child-safe door locks on 4-door models, and height-adjustable front seat belts.

Comfort: I have driven my Golf, as well as other cars on road trips, both small and large. After 100 miles in a rented '97 Intrepid (Dodge), I was shifting in my seat to quiet my uncomfortable "seat." I have driven 2,000 miles in a single weekend in a VW, including my Golf, without any ill effects on my posterior. Factory 8-speaker cassette stereo with optional in-trunk CD changer. A/C standard with extra heater ducts running under the front seats to warm rear passengers in cold weather. Optional heated front seats.

Utility: 30+ highway MPG (stick, automatic, almost 30). Almost 1,000 lbs (996, stick, automatic, a few less) of carrying capacity. 2,000 lbs of trailer towing capacity (with appropriate hardware). 60/40 split folding rear seat (folds up to right behind the front seats). The cars come with pockets in all 4 doors, in the rear of the 2 front seats, trays around the base of the 2 front seats, pockets in the center console (including 1 which locks), 2 cup holders in the center console, in front of the gear shift, and 1 cup holder which folds out of the rear of the center console (for a rear-seat passenger). There is a single cigarette lighter and ash-tray in the dash, just above the center console (I don't smoke, I use my ash-tray for extra side-marker bulbs, fuses, receipts, etc.). There is another ash-tray in the rear of the center console, under the rear cup-holder. In a center console pocket (in the one which can lock), you will find the button to pop the trunk. The cars come with central locking (locks/unlocks the doors, fuel door, & trunk together). The factory alarm works well (depending on model year, works with the key in the driver's door or remote. I added an aftermarket remote to mine).

Maintenance: Key maintenance and repair parts are easily accessible on 4-cylinder models. Air filter, battery, alternator, and starter are all easily accessible under the hood. Oil filter is easily accessible once the car is on jack stands, a lift, or ramps. VR6 models are a little more difficult to work around. Change your anti-freeze immediately upon buying one. Anti-freeze has anti-corrosion additives also and must be flushed and replaced every 24 months. The heater core (and the tranny cooler on automatics) can corrode and leak if not taken care of properly. On the automatics, the tranny cooler is bolted into the top of the tranny. You may want to replace the cooler when you flush and fill the anti-freeze the first time - a leaking cooler can cost you a rebuild on the tranny. I'm not worried - I drive a stick. On the stick, you may find a loose shifter. Easily fixed with some new bushings (very cheap at the VW dealer, all except 1 - I used a section of 1" automotive hose to fill the gap).

I hope my answer is helpful and I wasn't too long.

Answer 2

I have a 1996 jetta. They are fun cars, but sometimes cost some bucks to keep running. Try to find ones with all the records. Power windows always fail because of the regulators. Also check out vwvortex.com, they will be able to help with anything and everything.

Answer 3

1997 Jetta reviews:
http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_Volkswagen_Jetta_1997.html

1995 Jetta reviews:
http://www.carsurvey.org/modelyear_Volkswagen_Jetta_1995.html

Answer 4

Yes, look at www.edmunds.com, under "Used Cars", and then check out "customer reviews"