Topic: 2003 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg ownership update(7000 KM)

[aquadorhj]

I've been meaning to write something about my experience with my first VW.

Now that I've had it for a while, let me chip in.

The GOOD :
Manual transmission : the shifter is solid.  Clutch is predictable, if a bit vague.

Interior :  man.. VW interior really is the best of its era.  And nothing has broken so far.

Seats : Wolfsburg has sports seats that hugs me pretty good.  there's no lumbar support, sadly, but overall, it's great seats.

General feeling of well being : the car gives me good feeling.  it's solid, well built, well thought out car. 

Ride : it's good enough. 

Power : oh the power...  I could get addicted.  when the power comes on, it's so refreshing compared to Fit.  Yes, the Fit was playful, and willing but it had no power. on highway, I floor it, the VTEC kicks in with automatic kick down, i am faced with enormous amount of noise but no conceivable change in speed..   contrarily, the jetta even in fifth gear on highway, surges on to 140-150 so easily.


The Bad :
Steering : umm...  Compared to my Honda Fit, it's crap.  it's not as precise nor as direct. I realized this early on, but with winter tires on, its effect is magnified.  I could see myself drifting out of my chosen lane if I look down at radio control for split second. i'm always making slight adjustments semi-consciously.  In my Honda, on a straight road, I could hold my steering wheel straight and not look at the road with reasonable confidence that it was going where it's pointed at. (hypothetically speaking, I wouldn't not look at the road.) but the Jetta is always slightly changing directions. 

Turbo Lag : At first, I was just super excited to have more powerful car than my Fit, and a turbo to boot.   but as times goes, I realize what turbo lag really is.  For that third of a second, I have so little power... 

No block heater : what!!!!   a blunder.   I have an expensive oil pan heater. (compared to block heater, i guess) but i don't think it does adequate job in -30.  EVERYTHING groans and moans and rattles, sounds like it wants to die or break.   it's very very disconcerting the first time.  I'm still not comfortable.  just used to it.  it seriously needs a block heater.

Fuel efficiency : it drinks about 10-11L of premium per 100 KM in the city.  the Fit used about upper 7L /100KM in the city.    On highway, jetta uses about 7 L / 100 KM.  the Fit uses about upper 5L /100KM.     I don't mind the fuel usage, actually..  just a note compared to Fit.


Overall : I like the car.  It's been good to me so far, and I hope it will be good to me in the new year.

[initial_D]

Sound like a very good car, just need an indoor car park at the odd days when it is cold in cow town.

[HeliDriver]

Not even having the option to put block heaters in these cars is just plain stupid, IMO.

Just curious, but was there a reason you went with the oil-pan heater instead of an in-line coolant heater? I've read that there were issues with the in-line heaters setting cars on fire, but was hoping that little glitch had been fixed by now.

[articsteve]

but the Jetta is always slightly changing directions.

Not normal.  Have you had an alignment done?


I have an expensive oil pan heater. (compared to block heater, i guess) but i don't think it does adequate job in -30.

Totally inadequate.  Go with a hose heater in addition.

[johngenx]

...Go with a hose heater in addition.

True dat.

[tortoise]

but the Jetta is always slightly changing directions.

Not normal.  Have you had an alignment done?

I don't know.  I think it perfectly describes my impressions of that generation of Jetta.  I had the chance to drive the in-laws Jetta 1.8T (manual) all over Vermont and was pretty let down by the steering.  To me it seemed clumsy and vague.

You're right about the rest though.  The interiors are gorgeous and the 1.8T is a very fine motor.

[articsteve]

I could see myself drifting out of my chosen lane if I look down at radio control for split second.

That's a whole lot more than clumsy and vague.  Unless it was an unintentional ovr statement. 

[Zoo]

How has the electrical system treated you? I loved our 1993 Jetta except for the electrical problems. Almost always something coming up with electical issues. Once the car went beyond 100000kms the electical components self destructed constantly.

Maybe VWs have improved since then.

[tortoise]

That's a whole lot more than clumsy and vague.  Unless it was an unintentional ovr statement. 

That was my interpretation.  Or to put it another, I found the steering to have very little on center feel and to give minimal feedback.

[aquadorhj]

That's a whole lot more than clumsy and vague.  Unless it was an unintentional ovr statement. 

That was my interpretation.  Or to put it another, I found the steering to have very little on center feel and to give minimal feedback.

tortoise's interpretation is pretty accurate.  very poor on-centre feel.  there's too much play, and it really does wander slowly if you don't keep making adjustments for a second or so.      all jettas and GTI's i've test driven were basically like this.  i just didn't make big deal about it on short test drives, but as i live with one and continuously compare it to Fit, that's how i feel about the steering of jetta.

How has the electrical system treated you? I loved our 1993 Jetta except for the electrical problems. Almost always something coming up with electical issues. Once the car went beyond 100000kms the electical components self destructed constantly.

Maybe VWs have improved since then.

nothing's gone wrong so far, except one passenger side brake light, which i promptly replaced.  i don't wanna look like every other VW drivers with some sort of non-working light.
this is where i knock myself on a timber to keep it this way.


Thanks guys.

[aquadorhj]

Not even having the option to put block heaters in these cars is just plain stupid, IMO.

Just curious, but was there a reason you went with the oil-pan heater instead of an in-line coolant heater? I've read that there were issues with the in-line heaters setting cars on fire, but was hoping that little glitch had been fixed by now.

the car had an oil pan heater already installed when i bought it.   the first stretch of cold spell we had, i find out it was broke. (or i broke it driving too enthusiastically over snowbanks testing out my new winter tires..   )  i really didn't want to spend time outside installing coolant heater, so i took it to local VW mechanic, who recommended oil pan heater.    (that was so expensive..    )

i also read on vortex that coolant heater isn't supposed to work on my car, because thermostat setting with the car turned off means the coolant passage is blocked somewhere.

i'll dig some more, and might even spring for the coolant heater if it's reasonable.   i already spent too much money buying new set of winters and all other crap...

[vdk]

Happy motoring!

[articsteve]

i also read on vortex that coolant heater isn't supposed to work on my car, because thermostat setting with the car turned off means the coolant passage is blocked somewhere.

Has nothing to do with it.  You have a coolant by-pass hose, correct?

The only thing you need to do is determine the diameter of your lower rad hose.  If your lower hose is original you might want to buy a new one and install the heater in it and then install in vehicle.  Place the heater in the most vertical part of the lower rad hose.

Manufacturers phone number in Canada 204-667-2260.  Being a while, but maybe $30.  Found at TSC stores.  All the same, 600 watts, but diameters vary.

After you get it in return to that VW "mechanic" and get your money back.  Those pan heaters on passengers cars, as the only source of heat, really suck and everyone in the business knows it.

[dr_spock]

nothing's gone wrong so far, except one passenger side brake light, which i promptly replaced.  i don't wanna look like every other VW drivers with some sort of non-working light.
this is where i knock myself on a timber to keep it this way.

Unfortunately, non-working lights are not limited to only VW drivers any more. 

Have you pick up a copy of the Bentley repair/service manual for the Jetta?

[onearmed]

I agree with everything being said except for the steering/road feel.  This is one of the best feeling road cars at the time (2002-2003) imho.  Either an alignment is needed or something was repaired incorrectly.  Almost any other car I drive in doesn't feel nearly as connected as my GTI. My car tracks straight, if I let off the steering wheel I can sometimes drive a very long time before any steering adjustment is required.

My recent problem was a CEL for the thermostat (car getting too cool) @152000km.  The my brother's car a month later at ~154000km gets a CEL...... take a guess what it was.. thermostat.  I think these cars have a timer for things breaking exactly on schedule. Everything that broke on my car, has broke on his car all within a 6month span. 

Definitely not a Toyota in Reliability.


Edit: About the brake/city lights, Whenever I replace one brake light, I replace the other.  Canadian tire the lights come in packs of two.  In the life of my car I rarely have had a burnt out lightbulb while driving.

[aquadorhj]

thanks for chiming in, onearmed.

i'm pretty sure the steering is normal.  the feeling of vagueness and sloppiness is exacerbated by my use of brand new winter tires with deep tread. 

however, since some of you are sure that my alignment is off, i'll have it checked when i have new timing belt put in near end of the year.(i'm thinking..    i'm at 88000KM now,  planning on changing it near 100k km.)

now, i'm not disrespecting your opinion, so please take no offense to the following.
if you drive honda fit, you WILL see how light, precise and direct it's steering is compared Mk. IVs.    there is virtually NO play and it's lightening quick but precise i never have to make adjustment mid corner.(unless i go in to quick, it understeers a LOT.)

I've driven 4 Mk IVs in my pursuit(5, if i count non-GLI/GTI), and granted, the GTI's steering may have been more precise, with larger rims and tauter suspension, than my Jetta(a non-GLI) but whenever i got back in my Fit, i felt my Fit to have better steering even compared to GTIs.

[onearmed]

I went back to pay attention to the steering and I can see what you mean about the "numb" section right around the centre mark of the steering wheel. I guess I'm just used to it.  I do have winter 15s on and I usually ride with 17s which does firm things up too. Either way enjoy the ride, I've enjoyed mine since I've bought it.

Cheers! 

[mp3butt]

I used to drive a 2002 Jetta 1.8T. The car leaned too much to be a sporty drive, but the steering always felt right. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the steering? Perhaps going back to regular A/S tires would help

I am sure if 2002 1.8T engines were still plagued with coil pack issues. Mine was a poster boy of the fiasco. The coil needed to be exchanged 5 times. I believed the dealer didn't have the right parts to begin with.

Other than than, I was very happy with its engine performance. Oh, make sure you service the engine religiously. It is prone to sledge problems.

[safristi]

"sledge problems"  Percy or MC Hammer...............

[onearmed]

I used to drive a 2002 Jetta 1.8T. The car leaned too much to be a sporty drive, but the steering always felt right. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the steering? Perhaps going back to regular A/S tires would help

I am sure if 2002 1.8T engines were still plagued with coil pack issues. Mine was a poster boy of the fiasco. The coil needed to be exchanged 5 times. I believed the dealer didn't have the right parts to begin with.

Other than than, I was very happy with its engine performance. Oh, make sure you service the engine religiously. It is prone to sledge problems.

The Passat is prone to sludge because of it only held like 3.5 litres of oil.  A lot of people used conventional oil at 8000km intervals and got sludge.  The transverse mounted engines in the GTI, Jetta were not prone to this.

I have not had one coil problem surprisingly, but at 115000km I changed all 4 out when I did my timing belt.