I bought a 2003 Jetta brand new. I loved that car. I maintained it as was directed and never had a major problem. It had almost 100,000 miles when some didn’t stop at an intersection and the Jetta was totaled. The neewer versions of Jetta didn’t match this one’s European feel.
I had a 2002 Jetta GLX. Got it as a high school graduation gift. Drove that through college and into adulthood. Got around 200,000 miles out of it until it was totaled by a truck driver. The build quality of that car was second to none. Ended up getting a Passat after and exited the brand once I got a Volvo S60, then XC90
My mom and her 2 sisters all bought brand new 2003 Jettas. Mom got a black tdi glx and the other 2 were silver and red 1.8t Wolfsburg edition. All manuals. What a time to be alive. And I have a 16 golf sport wagon with that massive sunroof . Talk about die hard vw family.
I an a VW fan. My dad had a 01 Jetta VR6 GLX. What a fun and reliable that it was. My wife like the car so much when my dad retired she bought it from him. She drove the car to 168k with only minimal issues. When the heat & a/c didn't work well she sold it. We couldn't have asked for a better car. What a home run VW did on it. We all miss it.
I bought a Tornado red 1999 Jetta GLX with a manual brand new in October of '99. Mine had the 16" wheels and a black interior. It's interior was so far beyond what the competition was offering at the time even though the back seats were tight. It truly felt like an entry-level luxury car which is what I wanted. I was cross shopping it between a 3 Series and a C Class but thought it was smart to save thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the MK4 generation of Jetta and Golf solidified Volkswagen's terrible reliability. Mine was almost lemoned by VWoA and I sold it in a little over a year after it left me stranded twice in 2 months. The dealership experience was terrible, and I went to several dealerships. The mechanicals of the car were bulletproof, but the electrics were where it was let down. Because of my terrible experience, I don't think I'll ever own another VW. Throughout the years I've known four other people who have had either their VW or Audi lemoned.
Pretty much every single person I know that has ever bought a VW has sworn them off forever. Same with Audi. Such a shame as I find myself gravitating towards them.
I've owned 3 of these Mk4 Jettas in various forms since they were introduced. One of which still in our family. We've loved them all but have similar complaints of the fit and finish failing over time: trim pieces, headliners, cup holders, dash lighting. A 2000 GL 2.0 with 5 Spd - we owned about 3 years. Just loved it. The person I sold it to just let it go again but with 180,000 miles on it! A 2001 2.8 VR6 Wagon (built in Germany) is still with us and has about 80,000 miles on it. The original 4 speed automatic failed around 47,000 miles and we've had to swap in a 5 speed standard - its like a whole new car. Very fun to drive even at 21 years old! We also had briefly a 2003 2.0 GLS with automatic. Someone's well loved car came to us with 122,000 miles but a driver texting while in traffic rear-ended it and ended its run. Ironically, though the unibody was bent and deformed - all doors and windows opened and my son and his friend were unharmed in the accident. The Jetta did what the engineers intended it do best but only once - allowed its driver and occupants to continue driving other Volkswagens following a major accident!
My favorite Jetta of all time and probably the best German door “thud” I’ve ever experienced along w/ the A4 of that generation. I ended up getting the MK5 yrs after I fell in love w/ this MK4 but this one is still my favorite.
I leased a 2000 Jetta GLS 2.0 and bought a 1999 1/2 Golf GL 3-door two weeks later as a former demo model. Loved those cars. They felt and drove rock solid. After ten years the Golf started exhibiting the electrical gremlins Volkswagens have been known for.
Gosh! The memories. I HAD the VR6 GLX... What a beauty. I still remember the note. So beautiful. So many trips. The sheer power.. The only one that topped it was the 3.6L V6 from the Passat that I had later. The only car that has given such thrill since is my current Volvo S60 Recharge (I don't do VW anymore, as they don't have PHEVs).
This was actually my very first car, a blue ‘99 Jetta. I bought it from a guy on Craigslist. The paint was faded on the roof and the antenna had snapped off, but I loved that car. Lasted me 2 and a half years before crapping out on me because of transmission issues. Only thing I didn’t really like about it was how weak the acceleration was, and the front end constantly clipped and snagged on parking curves.
Hands down this is my fave generation of the Jetta. That VR6 engine is amazing in performance. I’ve only driven the 200hp GLI and that a real gem. The GTI VR6 is great, too.
Got a TDI 1.9 with the ALH engine, 5 speed manual, and what is essentially the GLX package (though they didn't call it that for the diesels) brand new in 2000 and put over 600,000 miles on it. Timing belts were all done personally and it was never down for more than a couple days for maintenance. The odometer stopped ticking once it hit a million kilometers but it still runs and drives great. Never had to do anything with the AC and it still blows cold. I've owned several used models since all with the ALH and all with 200-300k miles on them.
Do you do a job that results in all that driving?😮 Or do you just like driving like the million mile Volvo owner (he put several thousand miles of leisure driving in a weekend)?
I remember these cars. The 4 cylinders were ultra-slow, and that's what most people bought, but the VR6 was a great engine, and in a way, that Jetta was far more impressive for its day than the current ones.
I bought a mk4 Golf GLS TDI brand new in 2001 and drove it for 18 years. I put just shy of 400K miles on it, and the only reason I sold it was I got a helluva deal on a mk7 Golf TDI. That car was totally bulletproof.
Had an 03 Jetta 1.8t. manual. Put is a Garret bigger turbo with a unitronic flash tune. That car was quick. Dynod it at around 300 whp. Those were the days. Now i drive a Rav4 hybrid. Priorities change.
La unica queja. El aire acondicionado. Fallo a los 4 años. Se reparo y volvio a fallar a los 2 años. Repararlo era costoso. Lo use sin reparar. La mecanica es a prueba de todo. No falla. Tiene alma de Jeep. Atraviesa rios de medio metro de profundos. Sube pendientes de 60 grados y se mantiene pegadisimo al suelo.
Owned a 99'for 2 years and had to get rid of it....power window failures,brake light switches... multiple times .Compared to my wonderful 1986 Jetta GLI, this 99 was junk
The build quality would shame many of todays compacts (including current VWs), though not the packaging nor of course the tech or motor. That they were building budget vehicles of this quality back in 99 boggles the mind! Dearly miss my 01 5 speed!
My uncle bought one of these brand new in 2003. Worked its way from him to my cousin, then my dad bought it, and I owned it for 4 years. it had 450k miles on it when it got totaled. The drive train was unbeatable. The car itself was tired. All the windows, door panels and head liner were screwed up lol.
@@noahh.8737 yes it had a 5 speed. Had 1 clutch put in it at 170k and it lasted the rest of the life of the car. Transmission and engine had never been opened up.
People hate but I think the Seville had a better interior than it gets credit for having. Overall Cadillac build quality was not as good as it should've been of course and the Northstar was a headache. Mercedes in particular was guilty of slipping quality wise itself.
Why VW put so many high-end features into this overpriced four door grocery-getter and not the more practical and stylish mk4 Golf is beyond comprehension.
I had a black 2000. I hated that car, the interior smelt like crayons, everything broke inside because of the cheap plastic. The window on my driver side fell into the door. The sunroof opened on its own. It over heated, ate through oil, and the list goes on. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it.
2015 was the last year for it, at least in North America. If it lasted that long here I wouldn't be surprised if it's carried on in some third world shithole country
Nope, thrown out with the 2015 Model Year on the Mk6 and then replaced with a 1.4 Turbo (that is still used today in the MK7, though heavily upgraded) and 1.8 Turbo…
They definitely looked great but were unreliable, right? Knew someone who owned one around 08-09 and he always complained about the windows falling into the doors.
Everyone owned one of these at some time. That Crayola crayon interior smell will forever be seared into my mind.
THE best new car smell on all of their models. I loved it!!
@@Daniel-mw7pu ha me too! Crazy that other people experienced that smell too
i didn’t, but knew a few people who did
This was my favorite body style. I loved my 99, such a great car!
I bought a 2003 Jetta brand new. I loved that car. I maintained it as was directed and never had a major problem. It had almost 100,000 miles when some didn’t stop at an intersection and the Jetta was totaled. The neewer versions of Jetta didn’t match this one’s European feel.
My 2003 TDI wagon is still going strong. Well built despite the interior plastics. I still see the occasional MK4 on the road still looking good.
@@jruerph i see tons of mk4’s still my best friend has one w the 1.8t he loves it 😂
@@noahh.8737
yea 1.8 and 1.9 best engines
@@Daniel-mw7pu I believe that was even MORE evident in the MK6.
I had a 2002 Jetta GLX. Got it as a high school graduation gift. Drove that through college and into adulthood. Got around 200,000 miles out of it until it was totaled by a truck driver. The build quality of that car was second to none. Ended up getting a Passat after and exited the brand once I got a Volvo S60, then XC90
I always thought this car was made in 2005, quite impressive for being a 99 model
My mom and her 2 sisters all bought brand new 2003 Jettas. Mom got a black tdi glx and the other 2 were silver and red 1.8t Wolfsburg edition. All manuals. What a time to be alive. And I have a 16 golf sport wagon with that massive sunroof . Talk about die hard vw family.
My 2003 TDI wagon is still going strong. Well built despite the interior plastics. I still see the occasional MK4 on the road still looking good.
Loved this body style so much back in the day. I just wish the residual quality had been better.
Ohhhhh I miss my old Jetta, I use to love that car so much!!
I an a VW fan. My dad had a 01 Jetta VR6 GLX. What a fun and reliable that it was. My wife like the car so much when my dad retired she bought it from him. She drove the car to 168k with only minimal issues. When the heat & a/c didn't work well she sold it. We couldn't have asked for a better car. What a home run VW did on it. We all miss it.
I bought a Tornado red 1999 Jetta GLX with a manual brand new in October of '99. Mine had the 16" wheels and a black interior. It's interior was so far beyond what the competition was offering at the time even though the back seats were tight. It truly felt like an entry-level luxury car which is what I wanted. I was cross shopping it between a 3 Series and a C Class but thought it was smart to save thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, the MK4 generation of Jetta and Golf solidified Volkswagen's terrible reliability. Mine was almost lemoned by VWoA and I sold it in a little over a year after it left me stranded twice in 2 months. The dealership experience was terrible, and I went to several dealerships. The mechanicals of the car were bulletproof, but the electrics were where it was let down.
Because of my terrible experience, I don't think I'll ever own another VW. Throughout the years I've known four other people who have had either their VW or Audi lemoned.
Pretty much every single person I know that has ever bought a VW has sworn them off forever. Same with Audi. Such a shame as I find myself gravitating towards them.
That 6 cylinder is super powerful
Missed my 01 GL, so slow but so nostalgic
I love these little cars
I've owned 3 of these Mk4 Jettas in various forms since they were introduced. One of which still in our family. We've loved them all but have similar complaints of the fit and finish failing over time: trim pieces, headliners, cup holders, dash lighting. A 2000 GL 2.0 with 5 Spd - we owned about 3 years. Just loved it. The person I sold it to just let it go again but with 180,000 miles on it! A 2001 2.8 VR6 Wagon (built in Germany) is still with us and has about 80,000 miles on it. The original 4 speed automatic failed around 47,000 miles and we've had to swap in a 5 speed standard - its like a whole new car. Very fun to drive even at 21 years old! We also had briefly a 2003 2.0 GLS with automatic. Someone's well loved car came to us with 122,000 miles but a driver texting while in traffic rear-ended it and ended its run. Ironically, though the unibody was bent and deformed - all doors and windows opened and my son and his friend were unharmed in the accident. The Jetta did what the engineers intended it do best but only once - allowed its driver and occupants to continue driving other Volkswagens following a major accident!
Known as Bora in Argentina. I drove the 2.0. Class for the common man... His good reputation its well earned. Thanks for sharing it.
That car was solid, bank vault tough. The VR6 was a poor man's 3 series. Too bad the newer Jetta's are not quite the same...
Far above the others in class for features and design
My favorite Jetta of all time and probably the best German door “thud” I’ve ever experienced along w/ the A4 of that generation.
I ended up getting the MK5 yrs after I fell in love w/ this MK4 but this one is still my favorite.
It’s funny how the MK5 still has that iconic MK4 door thud lol
I drove that car for an hour with only 3 cylinder working , that car is a tank
I leased a 2000 Jetta GLS 2.0 and bought a 1999 1/2 Golf GL 3-door two weeks later as a former demo model. Loved those cars. They felt and drove rock solid. After ten years the Golf started exhibiting the electrical gremlins Volkswagens have been known for.
Very nice this VW Jetta, 3 engines. 2.0. 1.9 TDI and 2.8VR6. Great and beautiful sedan
Gosh! The memories. I HAD the VR6 GLX... What a beauty. I still remember the note. So beautiful. So many trips. The sheer power.. The only one that topped it was the 3.6L V6 from the Passat that I had later. The only car that has given such thrill since is my current Volvo S60 Recharge (I don't do VW anymore, as they don't have PHEVs).
This was actually my very first car, a blue ‘99 Jetta. I bought it from a guy on Craigslist. The paint was faded on the roof and the antenna had snapped off, but I loved that car. Lasted me 2 and a half years before crapping out on me because of transmission issues. Only thing I didn’t really like about it was how weak the acceleration was, and the front end constantly clipped and snagged on parking curves.
Hands down this is my fave generation of the Jetta. That VR6 engine is amazing in performance. I’ve only driven the 200hp GLI and that a real gem. The GTI VR6 is great, too.
Got a TDI 1.9 with the ALH engine, 5 speed manual, and what is essentially the GLX package (though they didn't call it that for the diesels) brand new in 2000 and put over 600,000 miles on it. Timing belts were all done personally and it was never down for more than a couple days for maintenance. The odometer stopped ticking once it hit a million kilometers but it still runs and drives great. Never had to do anything with the AC and it still blows cold. I've owned several used models since all with the ALH and all with 200-300k miles on them.
Do you do a job that results in all that driving?😮 Or do you just like driving like the million mile Volvo owner (he put several thousand miles of leisure driving in a weekend)?
I remember these cars. The 4 cylinders were ultra-slow, and that's what most people bought, but the VR6 was a great engine, and in a way, that Jetta was far more impressive for its day than the current ones.
Bought a 2019 Jetta for $16,995!! Best buy in a car ever. 150hp and 180 lbft if torque in a 1.4L that's averaging 38+ mpg!
I bought a mk4 Golf GLS TDI brand new in 2001 and drove it for 18 years. I put just shy of 400K miles on it, and the only reason I sold it was I got a helluva deal on a mk7 Golf TDI. That car was totally bulletproof.
My Uncle had 1999 version with a 5 speed manual.
Had an 03 Jetta 1.8t. manual. Put is a Garret bigger turbo with a unitronic flash tune. That car was quick. Dynod it at around 300 whp. Those were the days. Now i drive a Rav4 hybrid. Priorities change.
Looking back at late '90s Cadillacs, it's hard to imagine it being built worse.
Have a 1999.5 mk4 Jetta TDI.
Over 265k on the chassis, rebuilt ALH.
La unica queja. El aire acondicionado. Fallo a los 4 años. Se reparo y volvio a fallar a los 2 años. Repararlo era costoso. Lo use sin reparar. La mecanica es a prueba de todo. No falla. Tiene alma de Jeep. Atraviesa rios de medio metro de profundos. Sube pendientes de 60 grados y se mantiene pegadisimo al suelo.
Thank you for these
Love my 1.8t jetta. And my b5 passat. Standard options 20 years ago on a jetta are finally standard every where today.
my old friend 🥰
Love these cars
My favorite car! Nothing moderately priced could touch these gen VW’s
Such a beautiful car !!!i still own ajetta city and i had a diesel golf and 2000 jetta 2L previously
Owned a 99'for 2 years and had to get rid of it....power window failures,brake light switches... multiple times .Compared to my wonderful 1986 Jetta GLI, this 99 was junk
Take me back😩
wow. 25k. crazy
The build quality would shame many of todays compacts (including current VWs), though not the packaging nor of course the tech or motor.
That they were building budget vehicles of this quality back in 99 boggles the mind!
Dearly miss my 01 5 speed!
My uncle bought one of these brand new in 2003. Worked its way from him to my cousin, then my dad bought it, and I owned it for 4 years. it had 450k miles on it when it got totaled. The drive train was unbeatable. The car itself was tired. All the windows, door panels and head liner were screwed up lol.
i’m guessing this was a manual version
@@noahh.8737 yes it had a 5 speed. Had 1 clutch put in it at 170k and it lasted the rest of the life of the car. Transmission and engine had never been opened up.
I wanted a Jetta for my first car so bad but I got made fun of by everyone who were saying “Jettas are for girls.” 🥴🥴🥴
i had a mk4 TDi such a good car !
Always wanted one of these but never did manage to. I'll keep my 97 GTI for a while tho
smells like crayons
The VW Jetta GLi in blue with the 2.0L turbo from the Golf GTi would be a great choice to drive, but have to have a manual tranny.
The junk turbo 4 were awful for reliability.
Great car but I had the 2.8 vr6 and not the 2.slow
“Better built than a Cadillac “ 😂 that’s not saying much
People hate but I think the Seville had a better interior than it gets credit for having. Overall Cadillac build quality was not as good as it should've been of course and the Northstar was a headache. Mercedes in particular was guilty of slipping quality wise itself.
Why VW put so many high-end features into this overpriced four door grocery-getter and not the more practical and stylish mk4 Golf is beyond comprehension.
I had a black 2000. I hated that car, the interior smelt like crayons, everything broke inside because of the cheap plastic. The window on my driver side fell into the door. The sunroof opened on its own. It over heated, ate through oil, and the list goes on. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it.
God that 2.slow ... still being used... I think.
2015 was the last year for it, at least in North America. If it lasted that long here I wouldn't be surprised if it's carried on in some third world shithole country
Nope, thrown out with the 2015 Model Year on the Mk6 and then replaced with a 1.4 Turbo (that is still used today in the MK7, though heavily upgraded) and 1.8 Turbo…
@@flori5548 guess i've spoiled myself with larger engines, Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Grand Prix GTP, 6.4 Hemi challenger lol
no MPG?! lol
German engineering😂
They definitely looked great but were unreliable, right? Knew someone who owned one around 08-09 and he always complained about the windows falling into the doors.
Hot chicks always drive Jettas