1998 Volkswagen Jetta GT review from North America

I have experienced only three issues with the car, and neither of them were covered under warranty, as the bumper to bumper initial warranty had expired. Firstly, the glovebox handle broke off. I still have not fixed it for fear of costs at the dealership. Second, the passenger seat adjustment handle broke. Both of these are simply due to cheap plastics. The driver side low beam daytime light has gone out, despite replaced bulb and checked fuse.

Despite the two things that have gone wrong with the car, I have owned the car now for over five and a half years and never has there been any maintenance issue with the mechanics of the vehicle. The 2.0 is a bit raspy, but I like its personality and despite a lack of torque, the 5 speed allows me to get going quickly. This car has been through college with me, and the only mechanics I have had to replace has been the brake rotors and pads at 72,000 miles (normal). I love my Jetta, although I do crave a bit more power. I have moved from apartments and have folded down the rear seats and have fit a lot of stuff in the car. The rear trunk is well designed and roomy! The highway noise can get a bit loud, but again, the Jetta personality overtakes its slight shortcomings. For the price, this has been the best vehicle I have owned, and I still have 20k miles left under the powertrain warranty. The suspension is set comfortably for cruising, but there is considerable body roll in turns. This makes it more "exciting" in the turns, but you must respect the limits of the Jetta's stock suspension to keep out of trouble. But sometimes, it wants to be driven like an M3. I will consider a VW again.