1998 Volkswagen Jetta TDI review from North America

Steering linkage broke at 42,000 miles: approximately $100.00 to fix.

Alignment problems, front and rear. Had to order and have installed special "shims" in order to simply have the alignment done. Total cost of $350.00 when all was said and done.

Had to replace brakes at approximately 60,000 miles which seemed routine and expected.

Diesel fuel filter replaced as routine

maintenance.

Replace timing belt and water pump at 80,000 miles as part of routine maintenance. Quoted at $500.00 which I thought was outrageous, but Ford dealers wanted $400.00 to replace timing belt on 1999 Ford Explorer, so that didn't seem quite so bad.

That is it to date.

In city driving the diesel engine is plenty quick, but just downplayed enough that I stay out of trouble. The diesel absolutely excels on interstate and highway driving. Have cruised easily at 140 mph. with 4 grown men and a trunk full of gear. It is extremely smooth and powerful on the highway and hills. Have cruised across Nevada at 90 mph for hours on end with no problem and still averaged over 43 miles per gallon. A simple downshift and the car will easily pass all other gasoline engines on steep inclines. It takes longer to get to speed, but once there it maintains speed very easily.

Reliability has seemed good to me. I have not experienced the amount of level of problems that others seem to have had.

Comfort seems to be quite good for me, but I am only about average size.