2008 Volkswagen Jetta consumer reviews

As the very happy owner of a 2006 Honda Civic LX, I am very impressed by our new 08 Jetta S with Manual Transmission. In many ways the Jetta beats our Civic..esp. when it comes to creature comforts: ambient console lighting, well lit interior (footwells, glovebox, visor mirrors, all controls), seat comfort, gauge cluster. Little details make a big differene in driver experience and the Jetta's generous power, smooth shifting, and able braking make a big difference as well. Now, if the Jetta just proves to be as reliable as the Civic, then I'll have a new favorite car.

I was tossed between the aging Acura TSX, the Altima 3.5SE and the GLI. The GLI turned out to be a great investment as the car looks amazing and is a great performer. The GLI has returned an average 26mpg with the required premium fuel. Although premium is pricey, it is better economy than the TSX and the thirsty Altima. Performace is fantastic, and aside from a few VW quirks, I would reccommend this vehicle. The VW quirks include a cooling fan that sounds like a turbo-prop plane taking off, a slightly off centered steering wheel (~ 1 degree or so off) and fabric that attracts the slightest pieces of debris. These little (and I do mean minor) imperfections aside, the car is utterly utterly PHAT!

Well, I chose a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta SE. It was between a Scion tC, a Honda Civic, and the VW Jetta. I ultimately chose the Jetta because of how much car I got for the money. Living through winters in Southeast Michigan all of the safety features were great selling points for me. ie: Anti-Lock Brakes, Brake Assist, Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Stabilization Program, Electronic Differential Lock, Tire Pressure Monitor, Heated Exterior Mirrors, Heated Washer Jets, and a headrest in the center of the backseat -- Not to mention airbags galore! And all that for about $21k. I also like that the '08 Jetta has 170 horsepower. (Civic 140hp, tC 161hp.) It handles much like a sports car though it's a sedan -- Very tight and precise steering with minimal body roll. The Jetta comes with leatherette upholstery which cleans easily and I think looks much nicer than cloth -- And the seats are very comfortable! I'm especially impressed and happy that all four windows are automatic one-touch down AND up! BIG BONUS! The cons... Placement of auxiliary input jack, it's in the glove box all the way to the very right-hand side. A better place would be in the center console, perhaps under the armrest. Not enough storage, there's not one small bin -- Where do I put coins? The storage compartment/indirect air outlet has been omitted. (The large area on the dash above two center air outlets above the stereo.) Small 16" wheels, would like to see 17" standard on the SE. Sirius Satellite Radio -- Wish I had a choice between XM & Sirius. Or, I wish it were possible to convert to XM at my expense, but it's not possible with the VW factory radio. Let's hope XM & Sirius really do merge. I'm missing the radio controls on the steering wheel that were on my last car, I wish my Jetta had that. (The Civic and tC do.) The exterior styling isn't sporty or youthful enough, it's a bit boring and conservative. I would definitely recommend a Volkswagen Jetta SE. The list of standard features for the price is a no-brainer. And it has German engineering which typically means an overall well made, well designed, good performing automobile.