Anybody drive a VW Jetta diesel?

[Jackpine Radical]

How do you like it? We're considering looking for a gently used one, maybe a 2002 or so.=, but the reviews seem somewhat mixed. Some people rave about them, others say that, although the cars are otherwise wonderful, they have had problems with the electrical systems. What's your experience? What options do you most like or wish you had/hadn't gotten?

[tridim]

1. I'm seeking the same advice but for the Golf version of the TDI

I would just love to be getting 45+mpg instead of the 28mpg I get now. I've driven a new one and it felt good, it had plenty of power. I think the VW electrical problem comment is fairly common, but it might be a myth.. Like the myth that Fiats suck. I've had three, and they don't.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I guess Jettas & Golfs are pretty much the same under the skin

except for wheel base length & body type. Same power trains, transmissions, etc.

[flvegan]

4. A friend of mine has a new(er) Golf TDI...

He hates it. Loved it at first...good mileage (though emissions are pretty bad according to what I've read about it) and decent room inside. At around 40k miles, things started...going...wrong. Mainly fit and finish type things. Still runs well, but annoying things such as door handles falling off, windshield cracked going over a speedbump (chassis problem?). I found these things odd, considering they're built pretty well.

From what I know about VW (several friends have newer gas models, 1998 and up) the electrical problems have gone to other automotive pastures.

[ashling]

2. someone left

their lights on in the DU parking lot again. Its the car with the W sticker - on second thought, nevermind.