Overview & Reviews

Wolfsburg models are gone, and the Jetta GT arrives sporting the look of the GLX without the VR6 engine. Trek gets alloy wheels. GL, GLS, Trek and GT run more quietly, thanks to a new cylinder head design.

• Excellent road manners, roomy interior, fun-to-drive, heater will roast your face

• Some controls and symbols difficult to decipher, staid styling, underpowered four-cylinder engine

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 107.00

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  I love my car....but - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Phatmal - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used in 98 and loved driving it from the get go. She has a lot of spirit and really likes to be driven on the open road. Unfortunately, shes not been a cheap car to own. Most recently (last 12 months), Ive had to replace the sunroof cassette ($700), the door locks $400...they actually fell out of the car!), and the starter ($600) and had to have the vacuum system fixed ($100). Luckily I havent been stranded anywhere! Not only that but there are little things that break in the interior that are a pain. I love driving this car and am so attached to her but Im considering getting rid of her cause Im afraid of whats going to break next.

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  Good car, but it will cost you in the long run... - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By flint879 - April 28 - 1:22 pm

  This car was great when my wife and I first bought it. Great gas mileage, very reliable when travelling long distances and it wasnt bad to drive. I wouldnt recommend owning this car though. The gas mileage is great, but its a Volkswagen, parts for this car are not easy to find and when you find them, they are hella expensive. Since Ive owned this car (4 years), Ive had to replace the transmission, 3 starters, exhaust system, fuel pump, and other such things. It doesnt do well in terms of going up hills because the engine is so small it can barely make it up most hills. Other than the gas mileage, I dont care much for this car.

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  car for daddy - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By olly - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Cheap and easy to repair, lot of small problems - locks, airbag cable, drains but no expensive repair. engine and gearbox not killable. big fuel economy (small engine), very comfortable. The only 2 things i dont like; the exterior sound on highway and I have the impression that i have a truck engine with no power but noisy.

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  car for daddy - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Olly - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Cheap and easy to repair, lot of small problems - locks, airbag cable, drains but no expensive repair. engine and gearbox not killable. big fuel economy (small engine), very comfortable. The only 2 things i dont like; the exterior sound on highway and I have the impression that i have a truck engine with no power but noisy.

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  Fun to Drive, Poor Quality - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Fjv17 - February 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new and its always been fun to drive. However quality leaves a lot to be desired. Ive had several annoying problems before and after the warranty expired. Ive replaced: Coil Packs (several times), wheel bearings, Door Locks, Outside Moldings, & the Cooling Fan (twice). Driver side seat is broken off one of its hinges and the Secondary air pump is loud as it can be. Of course all of these things are not cheap to fix. Most of my driving is Highway & I dont drive it hard. Is it too much to ask for a VW to last more than a couple of years?

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  Unreliable and Expensive - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jimbo - January 21 - 5:13 am

  I like the design and handling of this car however there have been several major issues. My car has had a series of electrical issues and you need to be a contortionist to get to the fuse box. Ive had the air conditioner fail. the fan switch short out and MELT, the coil cracked (a common issue) and this is in addition to the exhaust rattling (another common problem). You expect to have to do replacement of wearable mechanicals however this is an expensive car to repair. Even basic replacement items such as struts are far more expensive than any car Ive ever had. You have to go to the dealer to replace/ top off trans fluid in automatics. Idiotic.

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  Awesome car - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By josh deeds - January 12 - 3:00 pm

  I love my jetta. I just bought a new Saturn VUE and love to continue to drive my Jetta. I have put over 120,000 miles on it. Ive taken it cross country 5 times round trip from San Diego to West Virginia and it keeps on going without any problems. As long as you change the oil and get a tune up regularly I believe it will last well into the 200,000 mark. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an economical and fun car with a lot of pick up and go.

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  VW Farfrumworking - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Tarrytown - October 8 - 10:00 am

  I will never buy another VW. My transmission went at 97000 and had a costly engine coil replacement at 85,000. After 2 years of owning the car I have replaced virtually everything. The suspension has been a nightmare and the service I have received from VW has been even worse. I have experienced numerous electrical problem, the ride stinks and with the cost of repairs I could be driving a Bentley for less. Unfortunately, its been a big disappointment for me.

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  VW fan, NOT Jetta fan - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By theodore - August 3 - 3:20 am

  I see many reviews ment std maint as a repair. Ive owned my VW for 11 yrs and spent $2,500 for rep. Repl brake pads (30K mi), spark plugs, dist cap, & rotor (15K mi), fuel filter (15K mi), clean K&N air filter (15K mi), repl belts, gask, & hoses, tim belt 70K-80K mi, etc. My eng & man trans have been great (orig clutch, but slips on occ). The elect & cool syst are horr! I did repl the throttle body asmb 2X, ign switch, starter, drivers side lock to disable the alarm (still arms random), drivers window reg, MAS air-flow sens, etc. I have NO A/C, heat, or defog (switch melted) & NO cruise & horn. Key doesnt work in trunk lock & pass door. Temp, fuel, spd, & odom guages work on occasion.

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  great q-ship! - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
  By ths - July 28 - 12:13 pm

  This is my 3rd VW and wont be my last. The only thing to know about this car is the fabulous VR6 motor.......torqey, smooth, reasonably fuel efficient, sounds great, and very reliable. If youre looking to buy this car used, dont bother with the anemic 2.0 liter/115 hp motor......waste of time and money. Aside from the great motor, the rest of the car is ho-hum.....bland suspension, smallish wheel/tire combo, unimaginative interior, unexciting body.....but oh DAMN that motor!