Wife wants a VW Jetta. Its going to have to be used. Probably 20-25 thousand miles. Looking at going with Carmax.
Are Jettas dependable? Any issues-problems?
I recommend that you avoid the Jetta (Mexican made) and if she really wants a VW then to look at the Passat (German made). My wife had a Jetta for a couple of years. When it ran, it ran great. When it would decide at random (three times) it wouldn’t run at all and would require towing back to the dealership for repair. We tried really hard to like the car. It was zippy, frugal on gas, comfortable and quiet and gave the impression of being a car of greater worth; a real bargain but being left stranded, waiting on a wrecker three times just ruined it for us.
Avoid all VW’s at all costs.
Maintenance and parts run at least double on VW’s than Japanese or American cars.
Get a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, or Ford Fusion.
I had two and never had an issue that wasn’t easily fixed by the dealer under warranty. That said, if I were on my way to CarMax, I would buy a Camry or a Accord. Particularly if the wife in question views it as basic transportation.
B_C
Fully agree. I had one since 2003, bought brand-new, and, while fun to drive, it spent more time in shops for repairs, recalls etc. than all my other cars combined. I gave it to my son when he turned 16 and then sold it last year when he left to college. At that point I was just cutting my losses. Got 92K out of it, but it killed VW as a brand for me.
I’ve been driving VW for over 20 years. Having said that, I have not had a Mexican Jetta.
My VWs have had very very few problems. Most of my cost has been normal replaceable items like brakes etc. A fuse now and then. Tires. oil changes.
Our current one is a 2006 Passat. I really like this car. My previous one was a 1997 Jetta GT which I just recently sold for $2k. I did eventually put a new starter motor in but that was probably related to the car having sat for almost 2 years with only 20 miles across a few jaunts around the neighborhood, sitting months at a time before starts (daughter was born and wife was on leave about the time registration came up for renewal and then I never got it reregistered).
I’ve had good luck with my VWs.
See if you can get a Passat.
This is not true at all, at least around here, and most places. The normal wear and tear parts are roughly the same with nothing being any different than the Japanese or American counterparts. I dont understand why people still perpetuate this when you can walk into a Sears and pay the same price for most work (driveline, suspension, and brakes) as you would any other car. The only thing that is generally more are the batteries, you will pay a $20-$30 premium.
OP: What year Jetta are you looking at?
I am on my 3rd VW, with around 300k miles between all of them.
And I solved that by going to Wal-Mart and finding a battery about the right size and using that instead. 
My dad is a Honda guy and he has had more issues with his Hondas than I have had with my VWs. Granted, not a lot of issues but has had more issues than I have had. (Small sample, etc. not worth anything scientifically etc). His Hondas have had more recalls as well
Again, I don’t know anything about the Mexican Jettas of late. I think my 97 Jetta GT was Mexico made and it had very very few issues and my 2006 Passat is German made.
I spent 7 years working in a few different garages during college and if there is one thing I learned, it is that Honda’s have piles of electrical gremlins. Toyotas have the least issues, but for some unknown reason half of their cars have an oil filter, that when removed, drains a quart of oil all over everything. American cars are generally nice for a year then they begin to fall apart.
Car longevity is all about what you put into it. Keep good oil in it, change it at the correct intervals, keep it aligned, and run the tire pressure as indicated by the manual-door jamb-or gas cap.
My Jetta was Mexican made (2001 Wolfsburg) and was pretty flawless.
General stuff (tires, brakes, struts, batteries, air filters, etc.) aren’t much more costly then any other car. Other things (power window regulators, power door lock motors, vacuum lines, head gaskets, timing belts, water pumps, axles, ball joints, tie rods, etc.) Are a bit more. If you have money to burn, get it. But I would not put it anywhere near the same class as a civic, camery, fusion, or malibu.
Timing belts, head gaskets, water pumps, axles, ball joints, and tie rod ends are still no more than any other brand. If they are, you are shopping in the wrong place.
Point of comparison: 1997 Chevy Cavalier (in 2005) cost ~$50 for two tie rod ends. 2001 Jetta (in 2005) cost ~$65 shipped for two tie rod ends (heavy duty). They were replaced as PM prior to lowering the car.
Don’t knock it just cause it’s made in Mexico. For the last 8 years my immediate family has been driving the snot out of a pair of Mexican-made Nissan Sentras with zero issues.
Check Consumer Reports for Jetta reliability. Otherwise, I second the recommendations to check out Toyota and Ford.
My Mexican made Sentra was indestructible; not so much with Jetta…
Avoid VW
My brother had a jetta and had loads of problems. bought an accord and never looked back.
If you do get the jetta, avoid leather interior. His and many others had an uncanny smell like crayola crayons. I know it sounds odd, but its true.
I would do more research with other sources so that you can show your wife evidence on paper.
For some reason women just love VW’s. My wife bought a new VW Passat back in 2004 and the thing has been an absolute nightmare. Thank God she got the extended warranty with it. There was a reoccurring ignition coil problem that plagued it from about 50-80k miles. We would have to bring it in for service every 5-7k miles to be fixed. The electronics on the German made cars leaves much to be desired. Headlights and taillights constantly burning out.
If your wife absolutely must have the VW, then make sure you get an extended warranty plan for it… you are gonna need it!
I think that VW’s are great looking cars for the most part. They really do have some of the classiest looking cars on the market. When you take one for test drive they do give off a very solid/heavy duty feel, and they ride very smoothly. Don’t fall for it!
I couldn’t say it better myself.
My wife had a Mexican made Jetta VR6.
Biggest piece of shit I have ever owned.
Fine German engineering, shitty Mexican construction.
Parts and maintenance are expensive, and it WILL need parts and maintenance.
My S-I-L had a new Beetle that was a raging POS too.
I was very disappointed.
Looks good, rides good, is peppy, but I wouldn’t own another if you paid the bill.
Neighbors have two diesel Jettas. They run great and have had no problems at all. Neighbors on the other side of me like the other neighbors Jettas so much they bought 2 diesel ones also and both of theirs have also ran great. All 4 Jettas were for daughters going to college. All the girls run these cars to death and do little maintenance themelves. All 4 vehicles were bought used. I would think that 4 girls running these cars to death with little maintenance would be a great torture test for most any vehicle or other product period.
Good ones are very good. Bad ones range from kinda bad to major issues like main wiring harnesses, etc. Usually with multiple very frustrating trips to the dealership to even diagnose the issue properly.
I would avoid them. Wife and I owned a 2001 GLX.
I think SHIVAN hit the nail on the head.
If you get a good one you are good to go. If you get a bad one you are screwed. Much like BMW.
I have a friend who is an Audi/Porsche/VW mechanic. He said the key is to be very strict with the maintenance.