2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI review from North America

After one week of ownership (bought the car 12/22/2004), my hazard lights and blinkers began working intermittently. The first time they stopped working, it was for two days. I managed to fiddle with the button and make them work.

Today, I almost got hit from behind. My car stalled and I couldn't get my hazard lights to blink.

It turns out, it is supposedly coming up for recall in February, 2005 (see http://www.recalls.gov/rrnhtsa.asp).

Three out of the four tires on the car have deflated on me.

When my boyfriend tried to replace the first tire that went flat with the spare tire, we realized that there were no tools with the car. I then called the Volkswagon (VW) Roadside Assistance number.

The VW Roadside Assistance sent for a tow truck. The driver was unprepared to change a VW tire; they sent me a tow truck driver equipped only with the ability to emphathize, which I can certainly do fine on my own.

The tow truck driver that VW Roadside Assistance called proceeded to back my car up and drive my car onto his flatbed. I promise I would have thought it much cooler if it had not been my car.

We can only guess that the super handy valve stems are the reason for the other two tires to suddenly decide not to hold air. We were in Maine at the time, making what turned out to be a vain effort to go skiing.

I called VW on the one week anniversary of purchasing the vehicle in regards to the first tire going flat. They told me the tires weren't their problem.

I am hoping that these problems will be resolved on Wednesday, when I take my car in.

All that is listed above comes after waiting an extra day to take delivery of the car because there was no title.

I was also required to pay $500 for the warranty for this car (although it was listed as included in the price in the advertisement). This included the 112 point inspection that gives the car the 'certified pre-owned' tag, which mine has.

I must drive 120+ miles per day in two states. I paid the money so I didn't have to deal with haggling over the price of the car and so that I could be as certain as possible that I would be okay to deal with a long commute.

The real kicker is that I stopped driving my Celica because it had one expensive yet bad rim and a flat spot on the starter.

Actually, the real kicker is what I am about to write. I really enjoy the car and how it handles. The car gives me an ego trip, and I am finding it wears like a glove. Aside from this doomed feeling I now have, I am perfectly okay with the car. And I like being the smelly one on the block, so there.