Comments: 1-15, 16-19
It may be a little early to dictate, but for now the GLI's performance has been flawless.
I looked at Toyota, Honda and then Volkswagen. It took me months to choose a vehicle because build quality in these three vehicles is very close. Though Volkswagen has them beat in several areas.
However, when comparing the GLI to other vehicles it kept winning. The style and overall fit is amazing. Granted yes there are some head and tail light cues from a Toyota Corolla, they are still worlds apart.
The driving experience in my new GLI sets its own standard. There is no other vehicle on the road that packs so much into such a small budget. Many higher priced vehicles do not come as well equipped.
In my opinion the safety of this vehicle cannot be matched in it's class. I had a very hard time finding a vehicle that not only performed well, but addressed safety as a serious issue for every occupant.
Interior room has been mastered and the finish is well though out. Before sitting in a new Jetta, look it over first. Observe the lines of the dash and take the time to really appreciate the small details which have been given much attention. You must also stare into the vast trunk compartment. I've yet to find anything practical that won't fit in my new GLI's trunk.
The biggest selling point for me was definitely the drive though. This is the first car I've ever owned. I've always driven a truck or SUV before. I actually find myself looking for excuses to drive. The great thing is I can drive any where I want, HOW I want and still get great gas mileage.
The two negatives for this vehicle in particular are: One, the high bolstered front seats may not be comfortable for every passenger or even the pickiest of drivers. Two, accepting the 18" wheel package means you might have a little more road noise. The appearance is well worth it though.
If you're in the market drive this car. You won't be disappointed.
I hope VW has finally hammered out the quality control problems of yours... If they have not fixed the problems then a dent will be made in your wallet and sanity.
Keep us posted with 6 month, 1 year, 2 year, etc updates. Thanks.
I just recently purchased a 2006 jetta and I love it, the only bad things I can say about this car is the loud noise faCTOR While driving and the small capacity of gas that it can hold. Other than that it gets great gas mileage about 23, and it looks super cute.
I own a 2007 Jetta GLI and this is my 3rd VW. I have had some minor problems with it at first (faulty radio, passenger window stopped working), but my VW dealer has been amazingly awesome. They have taken care of me every time. Every time I get in this car it is an amazing experience. Even when you drive the speed limit, it's a fun car to be in. My only complaint (and this all a fault of my own) is that I opted for the DSG transmission. I wish now that I got the 6 speed manual. Its the first automatic I have ever owned, and its nice, but driving in AZ in traffic, it just gets boring. Other than that, it's an awesome piece of technology to have at your disposal, after all, it does shift faster than any human driver ever could. Great car. I hope they bring a 3.2L AWD version to the US so I can buy that.
I bought a brand new GLI in March 2006. It had 0 miles on it. It's red, sporty, comfortable, and at first, peppy. Since that time, it has consumed a quart of oil every 900 miles, become sluggish (even with the turbo engaged). The dealer told me that was to be expected - high performance car, etc.
After complaining at the 5k, 10k, and then the 20k oil changes, and keeping detailed logs of oil consumption that I would show to the service manager every thousand miles, I finally got a substitute service manager to do a diagnostic. Two back ordered parts, and almost a month in a rental car later, I am still waiting for my car to be ready.
I don't know if the engine has suffered damage due to 15k miles of excessive oil consumption, and wonder what, if any, effect this will have on resale value. Thank goodness it is still under warranty. But I rue the day my warranty expires. Nightmare!
I purchased a 2006 VW in March of 2006. It currently has 48,000 miles. I have had issues with the Radio which has not been resolved 100% even after they replaced the radio and after that, they uploaded new software. Another problem, this past Saturday, while backing up (manual) the car started to move and then did a jerk and the engine knocked. This happened in first gear also. When driving in fourth gear, I let off the gas and while the car was drifting it would jerk as though it was going to stall. To me it feels like the gears are not catching in the transmission. My children felt the car shake on Saturday. On Sunday, a friend who was in the car with me also heard and felt the jerking when in reverse or first gear. On Tuesday, someone else heard a big knocking noise come from the right side of the engine when I down shifted, ready to make a right turn.
Now the dealer is saying nothing is wrong with it, but I do need a tune up because it was due for one at 40,000 miles. They said they took it for a test drive, and heard and felt nothing and the computer scan said nothing.
I refuse to accept that. I am going to take the tech on a test drive to show them, because I do not feel safe. I have been driving manual transmission cars for 15+ years and this car for almost two years and never had this problem unless something was wrong with the transmission.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Regarding the excessive use of oil, my 2006 gli eats it. the "low oil pressure" light has come on twice in two years, and I am constantly monitoring the oil level and changing it more frequently than scheduled maint. has indicated.
Good luck. this car is a money pit. I think I paid too much for this car...
I bought my GLI late Jan, 2006, it was brand new still covered in the plastic covers. I love my car, but I'm done with Volkswagen. After one month I had issues with the stereo where the volume would go so low I couldn't hear it at all, but the bass would be fine. They never fixed it. Most of these issues my local dealership didn't do a lot for, but it's not all their fault.
Eight months later, I noticed my engine was sounding horrible, so I took it in...2 weeks later I had my car returned with a new engine. The everything was fine, until my stereo broke again, and the airbag fault light went on. This was all under 2 years of a lease. Everything has been covered, but the problems just keep coming. It's a beautiful car, but on the working side of the car, stay away. I've had more trouble with this car in 1 year than my entire family has ever had with any other brand. Even right now I'm waiting to take it in for even more unpleasant noises coming from my engine, and the A/C won't work. It's not worth the time nor money to keep this car, even with the cheap insurance.
You can stand up the factory wheel with the tire in the trunk and close it, that's trunk space!
From the original poster:
Well, many months and miles have gone by. I'm currently just over 30K miles and guess what? I still get a big smile on my face every time I drive this car. I can't even look at it in the parking lot without thinking about how pleasant the ride and looks are.
I have had absolutely zero problems with this vehicle.
Pros: Gas mileage for me is better than expected. I get on average 35mpg on the highway when driving nice; and low 20's in the city. Not much room for complaint there. As I mentioned the ride is still impeccable. The engine is still just as strong today as it was during the first test drive.
Cons: I have to agree with the statements regarding oil consumption. I am disappointed this vehicle does not hold true to the recommended 10k mile increments. This was a contributing factor to my purchase as I expected lower maintenance cost. Subtle noises do exist in the cabin. No one here expects everything to stay perfect forever, but I expected less noise so soon. I might expect more noise if the car was 3 years older. That said, the noises are not that bad at all. They aren't deafening, just slightly annoying when you love you car more than your wife :)
I don't find myself using the shift paddles or even the tiptronic mode frequently. They are a nice conversation piece at most. I do love the sport mode though. It has proven to launch me onto the freeway or out of annoying traffic conditions many times.
All in all, there are no regrets. Would I do it again? You betcha!! Volkswagen has won me over and I will definitely look to them in the future for vehicle needs.
I have a 2006 VW GLI. I love it and hate it at the same time.
Pros: Gas mileage is great. It also corners great. I feel very safe in it. I really enjoy driving it.
Cons: I live in NH (Winters are cold), it sometimes does not start in the morning when I need to get to work because it is so cold??? (only happens in the cold like temperature below 20 degrees F).
The real reason I am writing a comment today is that it is eating oil like crazy. Car has 51000 plus miles on it. Any one else with these issues? Help me, I really like this car.
I purchased my GLI in March 2007. I now have 33000 km on the engine, and have noticed that my car is burning oil. I am less than one week away from my first major maintenance, and am not happy that my dipstick is reading low. However, my car didn't start to noticeably burn oil until I was over 20000 km. Over the past 14 months, I have had my stereo bass volume dramatically increase as I am decelerating (and this is not due to a settings), squeaking/rattle in my dash, and the concern with the oil. This is the 2nd Volkswagen we have owned, and these issues are minor compared to our 2000 Golf TDI. Not sure if I will purchase another Volkswagen, but I wasn't sold on the Acura TSX either.
Regarding oil consumption. I had this problem once and it turned out it was due to improper installation of the oil filter. The VW service center I went to was horrible. The people didn't even know where the pollen filter was located.
So I drove back to Western NY leaking oil the whole way. Luckily the service another VW dealer is amazing. They fixed the problem and only charged me for the oil, no labor. I normally change my oil ever 5000 miles, which is actually indicated on the service list from the VW site. I thought it was every 10k too at first, but go check it out, the service list says 5k. Even though the oil is rated for 10k.
Other problems with the car... Airbag light came on around 35k. I am having a problem with the driver door not locking using the remote. Having that fixed now, all under warranty. Sometimes the electronic start doesn't turn over the first time in the cold or damp. Always works on the second try, I'm not sure why.
If your going to drive yours in the snow, get snow tires. The all season that the car comes with are not really all season.
Bought a 2006 GLI new. Almost 30 k on it and I'd say it's been "decent." I like the car a lot but not too impressed with longevity of build quality. I use it for commuting/visiting clients, and subsequently it generally has just a driver and a bag in it, no passengers. Very little interior wear and tear (leather). Despite this, the rear seat has started to completely fall apart. Within the first two months it went in to the dealer three times for not starting. The problem appeared mostly when the weather was very cold or very hot... No real problem resolution.. I live with it. The airbag cable broke under the seat (common VW problem) and that took days for them to fix (incompetent service personnel).
The O2 sensor had to be replaced. Rear brake lights go out every few months.
These issues have all been fairly minor although a "creaking" noise out of the front suspension from day 1 has never been pleasant, and it's been in to get that checked out several times. Always with a "could not duplicate" response from VW.
Just this week I have noticed the fan on the engine (I think) has become very loud and rattles. I first felt it through vibrations on my leg which was touching the interior near the gear shift it was that bad. Lately the car seems to be a bit less responsive and the gears (6 speed manual) seem a bit "spongy."
All in all I really like the GLI. But given that it's had such an easy existence so far, and all these weird quirks are popping up, it's making me wonder if I shouldn't change my original plans to make this a "long timer."
The general unavailability of service appointments with dealers, and the way they "rush" through things is a turn off too. I've had a couple of other Jettas in the past, and don't recall it being that way. I guess the brand wasn't as popular back then...
All in all a good car, great to drive and all around pleasant to own. I expected it to be more resilient in the "wear and tear" department.
Reliability might be a bit dubious at this point though. I hope not...
I don't regret buying it, and hope to keep it as a reliable and pleasant daily driver for several more years.
I have a 2006 Jetta 2.0T with DSG since August'06. It's coming up on 48,000kms (30,000miles). In terms of drivability, it's the best I've had. Great power and handling, fun to drive, and I like the quality of the interior.
In terms of dependability, I've had better. Nothing dramatic but annoying for a $30,000 new car. Besides an annoying rattle coming from inside the dash since I've had it, an ignition coil needed to be replaced at about 40,000kms-25,000miles (under warranty), the brakes don't last long (rear pads replaced at 32,000kms-10,000miles) and I recently realized it guzzles oil like crasy. Over the last few days, the oil warning light came on 3 times while cornering and then turned off. When I checked the oil, the dip stick was clean. I added over 2 quarts of oil before finally getting a reading on the stick. My neighbor has a 2.0T Passat and he has the same problem with the oil on his.
I've never had a car use oil that fast and that includes a 12 year old diesel Passat with over 350,000kms on it. From what I'm told VW thinks this is normal.
I'm having second thoughts as to long term dependability of this vehicle and I'm glad it's a lease. I guess the reliability issues aren't a thing of the past at VW after all.