2004 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan User Reviews

Pros

strong, spirited engine. great sport ride. decent fuel economy. a fast car that no one will suspect.

Cons

pretty tight cabin. loose shifter. monsoon sound system is muffled-sounding, not crisp at all.

Got this car as my commuter, and it's been a great joy. Wide power band means you don't have to constantly switch gears in stop-n-go traffic. And if you want to get around someone, they better look out. You don't even need to downshift to pass easily, but if you do go for a lower gear - this thing boogies. It LOVES to run. Even better, it hugs the road through the twisties and just keeps asking for more.

The engine sounds terrific - it goes from a purr at idle to a gratifying roar under hard acceleration. The heated leather seats make winters enjoyable - they get hot fast. The deep seat surrounded by the high bolsters keep you snug and tight as you wind through country roads, but provide enough cushioning to keep you happy.

Overall, it's a posh AND sporty ride. it's not the fastest little car out there - though it really moves when you want to. it's not the top of the line luxury car in the segment - but it does pamper you and is elegant. What it does do the best is offer a perfect blend of car-enthusiast performance AND a high level of luxury appointments.

You can't beat the high-quality interior and overall performace for the price. Definitely a sweet ride....read morehide

Pros

Awesome performance all around - breaking, handling, acceleration, etc.

Cons

Not a whole lot of room in back seat.

Most fun car I have ever drove. Performs like a BMW. I test-drove a lot of cars in this price range. As far as I'm concerned, its only competition is the Mini Cooper S, but for the price you can't beat it. MINI is still over-pricing their cars "because they can". One of the best things about this car is that there are a ton of aftermarket parts for it. I have just installed a Neuspeed P-Chip that bumped my HP from 180hp to 225hp and only for $350. The six-speed transmission is smooth and fun. The car comes with an amazing list of accessories including Recaro Racing Seats, BBS 18" wheels, lowered racing suspension, 8-speaker Monsoon stereo system, under body spoiler, 6-speed transmission, etc... You cannot go wrong with a new Volkswagen, even JD Power gives the Jetta a 5-Star rating on mechanical quality and safety. Anyone who says differently is obviously lying and jealous that they don't have one. My wife and I have owned 6 different cars in the last 4 years; the Jetta GLI is by far our favorite....read morehide

Pros

Ran good when check engine light was not on.

Cons

In the shop eight times.

Bought new, in the shop eight times and left me stranded twice. Always had a problem, worst car I ever owned. Traded in after two years.

Pros

Classy looks, great gas mileage, good handling!

Cons

The clutch is sporty, it takes a while to adjust

Worth the investment! Big on the quality, low on the price. This car is like an inexpensive version of the Audi 4!

Pros

Sturdy and heavy. Feels secure.

Cons

Built Quality is not on par with Japanese car.

Had brake problem and had to spend $1000 extra for all the brack system on the rear/right side.

Pros

takes corners without having to slow down, smooth ride

Cons

terrible fule economy, bad on wet roads, headlights are terrible at night driving

the Jetta was in & out of the 2 different dealerships- back seat broke
sold it after 2 years- what a waste of money

Pros

Nice standard options, lots of goodies that you get without paying extra for the GLS

Cons

Comfort of seats and and switches is a bit poor. not laid-out very well.

The VW Jetta TDI offers the diesel engine with promoted good fuel economy. However, my mileage has been way under the manufactures posted results. The most I ever got out of the car on a long trip with cruise control ON was 37 MPG. The 42 or better is not obtainable. I average about 34. It should average over 40!

In addition, the layout of the radio and panel switches is poor. At night the radio knobs are not lit. I would not recommend this car to anyone that expects to get the estimated manufactures mileage. Performance of the vehicle is middle of the road. Not like I expected, even from a diesel.

Would I purchase another one, NO!...read morehide

Pros

good commuter, love styling, great transmission

Cons

needs more power on hill climbs...very happy so far

hi all-
after reading other reviews I'm hoping my '04 Jetta GL doesn't have the problems of others. I've been very happy with my Jetta. It's my first new car and for an entry level car the interior looks and quality just couldn't be beat by the likes of a hyundai. I also shopped the scion tc, however, the interior wasn't as appealing to me. I do wish I had the tc's engine, though. The 2.0 could use a bit more pep. Hope this helps....read morehide

Pros

love my car!

great looking car, i love the shape and everything. love the system it came with, the velour heated seats, sunroof, and everything else about it. smooth ride. no complaints here.

Pros

T performance, looks

Cons

noisy interior, brakes, dealerships, maintenance cost

Good performance for the price.
VW customer service= NO SERVICE.
Not a pleasant experience at North jersey dealerships when buying. Also EXPENSIVE service, oil change for $50!!