2000 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews - Page 16 of 89

-Temperature gauge needed replacement.

-Fuel sensor needed replacement.

-The lights would not turn off when I turned off the car. This happened before VW recalled the cars for this malfunction.

-The dashboard lights for the fan system inside the car will not work anymore.

-Cup holder is broken-very badly designed.

-Arm rest latch broken.

-Driver's side window fell into the door and I am using tape to hold up the window.

-One of the 2 plastic latch arms of the glove compartment snapped and the glove compartment loosely hangs on the remaining latch when I open it.

-The check sensor light just turned on at 81,000 miles and will not turn off. I hate having to pay over $80 just to get it looked at.

-The rear trash/coin box will not shut. They need to learn from the Japanese and the Koreans.

-The engine makes the sound of someone trying to turn on the car when it's already on, when I turn on my car for the first time, occasionally. This is unnerving.

-As fun as the 2000 Jetta VR6 is to drive, it's a piece of trash. I'm sticking with a Japanese car for my next purchase.

Replaced the mass airflow sensor because the car had difficulty accelerating.

Replaced a valve in the air conditioning system because the a/c ices up and stops working. Still ices up and stops working!

The inside trim molding falls off and frequently needs to be glued back on.

The center armrest is broken.

The rear cup holder is broken.

The glove box door is broken.

The trunk release latch is broken. After repairing it with epoxy twice, I have to open the trunk manually now.

The micro-switch that activates the brake light and allows you to shift out of park failed while I was on vacation and had to be replaced.

The service engine light is now on all the time.

The brake service light started coming on last week every time I stop and the brakes are noisy now.

I bought this car in 2005 with 91K miles on it to get back and forth to work and save some money in improved mpg. My old truck gets 13mpg and this old car gets 36mpg. Even factoring the higher cost of diesel fuel and repairs (some of which I have done myself) this car has saved me over $5,050.00 in fuel and will have paid for itself in fuel savings sometime this year. So far only one repair has been serious- the brake light switch that won't let you shift out of park- and that was eventually repaired under recall.

When I first bought the car, the thermostat had to be changed. at 132,000 kms.

Airbag light came on (meaning new airbag module) at 133,000 kms.

Then the day came... My timing chain broke on the side of the highway. That said, my valves, camshaft, chain, etc.. ALL needed to be changed, and with the money involved on fixing that... i could have bought my self a new car.

Car went into 2nd gear rough sometimes when down shifting.

Very strong, fun, and smooth riding car. Just super pricey to maintain.

MAF replaced - 165000km - $115.

Rear wheel bearing replaced - 195000km - $200.

Serpentine belt tensioner replaced - 210000km - $80.

Pros:

Not much money is required to add performance to these cars; $600 will give you around +35 HP and +70 ft/lbs if done right (remember, you drive mostly torque).

It handles better than well, feels solid, accelerates quickly, very good for everyday driving.

Gets 50+ MPG highway.

Heated seats are amazing, dash lighting looks way better than most cars.

It is fairly roomy up front, even for a taller person (6'3").

Cons:

The car rides very low, so you have to be careful sometimes (if you rip your oil pan off like some people have reported, you really should learn how to drive better).

When cold out, it takes a long time to get heat in the cabin.

Pretty much no leg room in the back seats.

Oil changes are more expensive than a gas car. Using the proper 100% synthetic oil, they are around $55 if done yourself.

A Word for Potential Buyers:

Avoid the dealership; almost every price they give you can be cut in half by either ordering the parts yourself, or even going to a reputable private shop.

Make sure you understand how the car is supposed to be driven, it is not a gasser.

Go to www.tdiclub.com; seriously, it will be well worth your while.

My Verdict:

As long as maintenance is kept up, and you put a little effort into knowing the car and how it works, it is reliable, economical, and performs well.