Year
Used Volkswagen Jetta for Sale Nationwide
7,635 results
About 1997 Volkswagen Jetta
Overview

Volkswagen made a few adjustments to its Jetta lineup for 1997. Gone was the Wolfsburg Edition, while new to the lineup was the Jetta Jazz, which was geared toward music enthusiasts and equipped with special upholstery and an upgraded sound system with a CD changer. Similarly, the Jetta Trek was aimed at biking enthusiasts, and came with a roof-mounted bike rack, special cloth seats and instrument gauges, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and foglights. A sporty Jetta GT was also added.
Still in the lineup were the stalwarts of the Jetta lineup, including the Jetta GL and the Jetta GLS, both powered by a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine linked to a five-speed manual transmission, which was standard. The entry-level GL package came with bucket seats, dual airbags, power brakes, power steering, power door locks, tilt steering, and an anti-theft alarm system, while the GLS added cruise control, power heated mirrors, air conditioning, and power windows.
Also available were the Jetta TDI turbodiesel and the Jetta GLX, which was equipped with a 172-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 engine and came with a full range of standard features, including a sunroof and anti-lock brakes. Leather seats were optional.
Drivers had mixed opinions of the 1997 Jetta. Some offered high praise for the car, citing its roominess, reliability, handling, and performance as positive points. Others were less than enthusiastic about their cars, noting a lack of quality and the need for numerous repairs.
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Tim M
Reviewed a 1997 Volkswagen GL on Oct 16, 2009
Performance- From factory: nothing to brag about. Great low end torque. Good gas mileage, VERY dependable. Build Quality- Its a VW, so its got its quirks, but a well built car IMHO Appearance- The Mark 3 Golf/Jettas are one of my favorite generations of VWs design history. Stays true to previous generations "look". Everything else afterwards was a big change Cost of Ownership- Get past maintenance, and its pretty cheap to own. Low insurance rates, and great MPG Fun Factor- My favorite car I've owned so far... ad some mild mods to it, and its a blast to drive.
Adam B
Reviewed a 1997 Volkswagen Jazz on Sep 30, 2008
The jetta is pretty simple- no power windows- and not very powerful, but it has been reliable so far, is very sturdy even after11 years, and is running great at 132,000. It's great to have a small, reliable car that get's great mileage (30mpg in the suburbs) but is somewhat unique. It isn't the fastest, prettiest, or coolest car I've ever seen, but it has more personality than your average car.
Anonymous
Reviewed a 1997 Volkswagen GLX VR6 on Apr 12, 2012
Had 3 jettas GL, GL Trek and my current 97' Jetta GLX. Loved every single one. The VR6 has 250,000 miles, just did a tune up and it runs like new. This is a very smooth riding vehicle and I don't think I will ever buy another car besides a Jetta. Favorite car to drive. Has amazing features like heated seats, sun roof, power windows, door locks and mirrors. The car overall is just outstanding in quality for having 250,000 and being about 15 years old.
Mathew Z
Reviewed a 1997 Volkswagen GLX VR6 on Nov 20, 2011
I loved the look of the car when i first bought it. It had such an aggressive look to it. The seats are not comfortable when it comes to driving long trips.I just recently brought the car. The previous owner crashed it badly. So i took it from his hands took care of it. And now almost finished with the car making it 100% back to normal.The car was in the shop all month last Oct/2011 i had the clutch put in, coil pack and starter. The car runs new and feels like it runs stronger than before.The acceleration picks up very quick. Braking is very good, it would be better if i had premium padding but the slotted disk rotors are a plus. I love this car its so fun to drive. This car has a lot of potential the fastest i went with the few mods i have is 151mph. which is not bad at all.
1997 Volkswagen Jetta Trims
| Trim type | MSRP |
|---|---|
| Jazz | $15,870 |
| TDi Turbodiesel | $16,245 |
| GT | $15,465 |
| Trek | $16,030 |
| GLS | $17,420 |
| GLX VR6 | $21,430 |
| GL | $15,070 |
1997 Volkswagen Jetta Price Trends
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