2003-2005 Jetta TDI/1.8T opinions? Reliability, mpg?

GlossyTundra

GlossyTundra

Tractor Detailer
Looking to buy a car that gets better gas mileage than my truck (75 miles a day, 5 days a week, 13mpg....). Keeping the truck, but I want to finance the car. Keeping it for about a year until I am out of school and then my job will keep me more local. Right now, $450 a month on gas is a little dumb.



Looking at Honda Accords....but I really like the 2003-2005 Jetta in either TDI or 1.8T. Found one of each...



2004 VW Jetta GLS 1.8T

2005 Volkswagen VW Jetta TDI diesel 5 speed



Ok, now the 1.8T is lower miles, but it also is only rated for 25-32mpg or so (and faster) and the TDI is rated for 40-50mpg depending on driving habits.



I like the cars, and they are in great shape, and I have done the math vs my truck to make sure its worth it. However, everything I keep reading on the 2003-2005 Jettas seem to be of the opinion of a (money pit). "Nickle and dime" is a term I keep reading about these cars.



Does anyone have one or an experience with one that can share if this is accurate or not?
 
Brandon1 said:
Looking to buy a car that gets better gas mileage than my truck (75 miles a day, 5 days a week, 13mpg....). Keeping the truck, but I want to finance the car... Right now, $450 a month on gas is a little dumb.... I have done the math vs my truck to make sure its worth it.
Click to expand...



This isn't an answer to your Q, so "sorry!" if I'm being too off-topic, and also being a drag...but does the math *really* work out?!? Paying for not only a second vehicle, but also interest on a loan...it just seems like you could buy an awful lot of gas instead and skip the additional maintenance/insurance/time spent detailing/etc. too.



Eh, that's just me being old and cautious, but I'd sure ascertain that it'll really be a move in the right direction. Heh heh, the $789 you owe on the ATV would be keeping me up at night as it is!



Again, sorry to be such a wet blanket. I *do* think those Jettas are great looking and a fun choice in the "sensible car" category.
 
It costs around $500 a month to drive my truck. (75 miles a day, 13mpg, $3.05 gal, plus $100 for running around gas). Now, the 1.8T and the TDI cost around $150 a month (give or take a few dollars). Roughly, that saves $350 over the truck. So for me, if I can get a car around $200-$220 a month (including insurance) then I save money and wear and tear on my truck. The truck is expensive to drive. Gas, tires ($700-$900 every year and a half), brakes, and the fact my truck currently has 140k on it and I would like to keep this to a minimum as I plan on keeping the truck for a while.



Also, my girlfriend also moved 5.5hrs and 330 miles (one way) away for one year. One trip to her and back is going to run around $140-$150 (assuming gas stays at $3.05). Say do that once or even twice a month, and it adds up fast. Now the Jetta (or any other economical car) should only cost $70 or so up there and back (less for the TDI).



The big kicker is that the reason that I have chosen these specific cars (Accord, Jetta) is that they have great resale value. I will only keep the car for a year (the length of time the gf is 5.5hrs away, and I'll be done with college by then (ie: the 75miles a day)). After one year I am back to driving 200 or so miles a week, so I dont need the car any longer.



The plan...buy the car this year for $8000-$10,000, put the miles on that one and then re-sell next year for near or close to payoff. Neither of these cars should depreciate over $1000, so I have a pretty good chance of breaking even on the purchase.







I have to do something, $500 a month just on gas is draining my savings account. Thought about buying a piece of crap like a civic or corolla for $2000 and just paying cash, but the risk of high maintenence costs is too great relative to the gain.
 
Brandon1- Good job of doing the math :xyxthumbs



Now if *I* were to buy the Jetta, I'd end up spending a fortune on it (my beaters are keeping the lights on at a few shops :o ), but if you can avoid that you might be onto something.



I bet you could do some kind of "pay cash for a beater" and have it work out OK, but you'd have to choose carefully and no, it probably wouldn't be as good an experience as the VW.



Another idea that's sure to sound terrible: what about selling the truck and getting something that covers all the bases? If you're attached to the truck I'll understand....
 
Yeah, the truck stays, I use it for my mobile detailing and for the construction business. :). Plan on keeping that one for a while.



I have looked at several beaters (Under $2000) and paying cash for it, however A) its a beater (ie: various problems) B) usually they dont have ABS, passenger airbags, and arent something I want to drive around.



That being said, if I find a decent 1994-1997 Accord for under $2000 with decent miles and that looks like it hasent been through hell I will pay cash for it on the spot.



Until then, its either drive my truck at $400-$500 a month, or buy a car. I really dont know what else to do to keep from blowing $500 a month on gas. Even if I only saved $100 a month, it would save wear and tear on the truck and keep me from having to buy a $900 set of tires (which I would need now if I kept driving the truck).
 
Brandon1- Well, at least you oughta be able to find a rust-free beater if you go that route (I got my Yukon XLD in NC :D ).



Any dealers in your area offering zero-% financing on anything that'd work?
 
Brandon1 said:
Looking at Honda Accords....but I really like the 2003-2005 Jetta in either TDI or 1.8T. Found one of each...



2004 VW Jetta GLS 1.8T

2005 Volkswagen VW Jetta TDI diesel 5 speed
Click to expand...





If you are looking for inexpensive transportation, I'd go with something Asian. People don't buy European cars cuz they're "reliable".



We've owned several TDIs, many VWs and a handful of Euro diesel autos. You've got to stay on top of stuff with the cars, they are the furthest thing from a gas 'n' go experience that I could ever imagine. Sure, some are looking for a new hobby and have the time to tinker and play, others just want to get from Pt A to Pt B in the simplest manner possible.



Visit the tdiforum. You'll find that many admit the higher costs of taking care of the cars eats away any and all "fuel $$$$ savings".
 
Get the Diesel Jetta! Friend of mine had one for years and did some minor mods that perked it up pretty good. Great gas mileage and very reliable.
 
the stupidist things go out on the jetta.. for cryin out the brakes can be a 2 day ordeal... but any sense the tdi is a great car you will probbably pay arount the 150-200/mo in diesel rather than a truck.... My 1995 powerstroke f250 sees mpgs in the lowet 20's. maybe selling your truck and buying a diesel truck for you could be the best of both worlds
 
The TDI of that vintage is listed as one of the best used car buys by Consumer Reports. I have an 07 2.5 which has been great but I only get about 24mpg. TDI would be much better. I don't believe the 1.8 has the reliability of the TDI or the 2.5.
 
I've owned 10 VWs over the last 25 years. I've had the 2.slow, 1.8T, 2.0T, and the "vintage" 16v and air-cooled engines as well. Through all of them, only my ragged out beetles were mechanical headaches. The rest of them were super reliable and never let me down.



I never went for the TDI simply because I like the torque of the gas engines and didn't do enough daily driving to "need" the diesel.



The generation of Jettas you're looking at, the MKIV, was designed and built during a pretty low point in VW quality assurance "history". Avoid the 1.8T like the plague in a 1999-2002 model. They had issues with so many "little" things that you will want to burn it in the driveway. Window motors, plastic trim, coil packs, you name it. Many owners did not follow the oil specs and wound up with sludge issues and crapped out Turbos. By the time the '04s rolled out they had gotten a handle on those issues. I had a 2005 GLI (If you can find one of those in good shape...grab it. I routinely got 35 mpg highway with the 6 speed, when I wasn't stomping the pedal. Which can be hard to do in that car, its a blast to drive!)



For the amount of driving you're doing, combined with your desire to maintain resale value, I would recommend the TDI. The 2004 and 2005 TDIs were the last really good TDI engines they made. The new ones don't get close to their MPG. It won't be as fun to drive, but you will get great mileage. The resale will be really good, too, because they are desired by Diesel enthusiasts due to their high mpg)



VWs are very reliable cars if maintained properly. The problem VWs run into is many owners don't learn how they need to be maintained. Synthetic oil and premium gas is required, not suggested, if you want the 1.8T to treat you well. Both engines will need to have their maintenance schedules followed closely. "5k means 5k, not 6k" with VWs.
 
LaTuFu said:
IVWs are very reliable cars if maintained properly. The problem VWs run into is many owners don't learn how they need to be maintained. Synthetic oil and premium gas is required, not suggested, if you want the 1.8T to treat you well. Both engines will need to have their maintenance schedules followed closely. "5k means 5k, not 6k" with VWs.
Click to expand...



I was going to say that before I read through all the posts. Not the best year model in VW history, so you either need to make sure its been well maintained or be VERY mechanically inclined.



That being said I have a friend that's a VW mechanic. He bought an '02 1.8T for $600 for the same reasons you're wanting to get one and he can't get the car to break. He decided to turn it into a track car, slapped a huge turbo on it thinking it MIGHT make it through one race (he has an extra 1.8 engine), turned the boost up to something like 28 lbs (the rest of the car is factory, mind you), and the cars been running like a top for over a year now.



So I'd say you're rolling the dice with the gas one. Go for the diesel. Either way, make sure the cars been well maintained and plan on making sure it stays that way.
 
I suggest an Accord or Civic EX, much dependable, easier on the pocket when repairs are needed and resale value. I had an Audi B6 A4 1.8QT and just the little stuff was annoying. Great looker, fast and fun, but had issues that was painful on my wallet when repairing. I sold it and purchased a used 04 Accord EX 4banger. Fo 2k - I think the 94-97 was the better years of the Accord. Might not hurt to look for a Prelude with the H22 motor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top