Beater Archive

Ich Bin Ein Mechanic: 1993-98 Volkswagen Jetta

By Eugene ⋅ October 22, 2007 ⋅  Email this Article ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

A sweet-driving sedan with malicious wiring

by Eugene White

1995 VW Jetta III

The Background

Before an uptick in the stock market resulted in Daddy replacing it with a Grand Cherokee, the Mark III Volkswagen Jetta was the darling of the sorority girl set. But Fahrvegnugen didn’t begin with Allison and Melissa; no, the Jetta dates back to ’79, when Buffy and Muffy were still trying to hook up with an Andy Gibb lookalike.

That initial Mark 1 Jetta was built off the Rabbit platform mainly because VW understood America’s preference for sedans over hatchbacks. Though sharing underpinnings, the Jetta was marketed a half-notch upscale from the Rabbit, and as such had a nicer interior and more options. Thanks to its light weight and a Teutonically well-sorted chassis, the Jetta made a compelling alternative to the quirky Japanese compacts of the day, and as such sold well from the start. A diesel model was also available from the outset, but in keeping with diesels of the era it was dangerously slow and smelled bad.

The Mark II Jetta was introduced in 1985 and promptly became VW’s most important model, essentially carrying the company’s US sales through the late ’80s. The car gained a few pounds and inches, but careful engineering meant the car retained its rewarding handling. The new bulk also resulted in a more substantial feel to the structure, and wasn’t entirely unwelcome. The addition of a rev-happy 16-valve GLI model meant America had access to a true budget European sports sedan. In 1993, the revamped and refined Jetta Mark III was released, and campus came a-callin’.

The Opportunity
The Mark III Jetta remained as good a driver’s car as anything available its class, a segment that’s slightly larger than Corolla/Civic and slightly smaller than Camry/Accord. Torsional stiffness is remarkable, as evidenced by the way the car lifts the inside rear wheel on tight autocross turns. The rack-and-pinion steering is firm and direct, with excellent road feel, while the ride can only be described as German: Firm exactly when it needs to be, yet stable and compliant enough to provide a sense of controlled luxury. The GLX models are especially engaging road cars, but even the GL models are much more entertaining than a decade-old Toyota.

VW’s eternal 2.0L 4 banger only put out 115 hp in the Mark III, but it always had decent oats in the midrange and provided as much real-world power as anything in that somewhat amorphous class. The TDI turbodiesel models are much more refined than their early brethren, providing mountains of torque and incredible fuel economy. Thanks to the torque, they’re even adequate performers with stick or automatic. But the real jewel here (besides the earring stuffed between seat cushions after that mixer at the Pike house) is the VR6, a stout, sweet-sounding narrow-angle V6 that tows the Jetta around with alacrity. In fact, it might be a bit too much motor for the chassis…but that’s a highlight in our book, as is engine longevity across the board. Regardless of which mill you choose, 200,000-mile examples are not uncommon.

The Jetta Mark III sports proto-Bangle hindquarters that look ungainly to some, but they grant the car excellent cargo space. The interior is simple but classy, with comfortable seats, adequate room in back, and decent headroom. Jettas were high-content cars, and were early to adopt ABS and dual airbags. Plus, there’s just something catchy about the VW door buzzer.

The Downside

Sadly, the reliability of Volkswagen electrical systems would embarrass Joe Lucas and draw jeers from tweedy lads in MGs and Triumphs. Volkswagen had lots of problems with the main harness, meaning any number of electric maladies may occur. Schizophrenic power windows, malfunctioning alarms, sporadically operational lights and door locks, and uncooperative HVAC systems are all frighteningly common. Look VERY carefully at everything on your prospective purchase–and try to find a car with manual windows.

While the VW manual shifter was a satisfying piece when new, particularly for a FWD vehicle, shift quality degrades noticeably over time. It can be hard to find the right gear on a 150,000 mile plus example, and while the fix isn’t overly difficult, a wobbly shifter may indicate that the car led a hard life. Moving forward from the shifter…well, let’s just say the Germans learned everything the know about cupholders from the Swedes. They also didn’t grasp the concept of a usable glovebox for the first few years, and they’ll never understand that Americans don’t want to have to turn the stereo off independently from the ignition.

There’s a reason every phone book from Bangor to the Bay Area lists at least one or two VW-specific repair shops. Jettas are a pain to work on. There’s plastic where metal should be, metal where nothing should be, weird sensors you can’t find, and commonly replaced maintenance items obscured by things like the chassis. When you do finally identify and manage to remove the offending component, its replacement can be difficult to locate and expensive when found. And even gifted Volks folks won’t be able to keep the Rubbermaid door moldings attached, resulting in wind and water leaks that can create a fungiphile’s dream garden. Finally, at the risk of sounding sexist, many Jettas weren’t especially well-cared-for. Maintenance history is a lot more important for a VW than it is for, say, a Toyota, in part because Volkswagens tend to require more of
it and degrade more quickly when neglected.

The Hit
$500-$4,000 (GLX VR6)

In a Nutshell
If you don’t mind the styling or the stigma, the Mark III VW Jetta can be a highly satisfying beater. While the VR6 is the true enthusiast’s model of choice, the 4-cylinder is an engaging and efficient commuter with a decent aftermarket following. Be very, very thorough in inspecting your potential Jetta, though, as it’s much easier to find a money pit than a clean, well-maintained example, and you’ll spend more for repairs and upkeep than you would have for the nicer car to begin with.