1985 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
Still basking in its popularity, and soon to be the best-selling Volkswagen in North America, the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta changed little from...
Still basking in its popularity, and soon to be the best-selling Volkswagen in North America, the 1985 Volkswagen Jetta changed little from its second generation redesign for 1984.
Available as either a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan, the coupe came in three editions -- base, diesel, and Wolfsburg. The sedan also came in three editions. The base and GL Jetta featured a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder, 85-hp engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The snazzier GLI, seeking to appeal to a more performance-oriented driver, boosted that horsepower to 100-hp. A 3-speed auto tran was optional.
Great gas mileage and precision Volkswagen craftsmanship have maintained the Jetta's popularity, and the 1985 Jetta wins praise from drivers for its expert handling, solid feel behind the wheel, and a huge trunk. The seats and interior are plain, but comfortable. Though owners say it is easy to work on, parts can be hard to find and put a dent in your wallet. Other complaints mention the lack of fold-down rear seats and some road noise.
What owners say
"The 1985 Volkswagen Jetta has gathered mixed reviews from its owners. Many love its fun driving experience and great handling, likening it to a go-cart, and appreciate its fuel economy, often achieving up to 50 mpg. Owners enjoy the ability to customize and repair the vehicle easily, making it a popular choice for those who like to work on their cars. However, reliability is a significant concern, with several reviewers noting consistent issues and breakdowns, particularly with the engine and body rust. Overall, while many enjoy the driving experience and affordability of parts, the frequent mechanical problems leave some feeling wary."
It gets 50mpg unless you really hammer on it which can bring you down to about 35. Parts are mad cheap I think about 100 bucks to buy almost a completely brand new breaking system. Completely eats up any frost heave you can find and sits fairly high of the ground compared to newer cars. Can really take abuse my friend Kevin was driving it and hit a guardrail at about 40 and only broke a piece of trim on the bumper. Loads of torque no HP (52), what do you expect from a 1985 300k diesel engine. If you really want to up the HP just get a turbo for it. You are very involved in driving when behind the wheel of this car. It is mad fun even if your only doing 40 down some back road. Anyone who loves to rally but is sick of getting speeding tickets this car is great for around town and backroads just cus of handling and size. Interstate this car tops out at about 70 so dont get your hopes up. I got it up to 85- 90 once but that was downhill.
March 15, 2009I like it cause i can fix her up and its my first gli . the engine is a 1.8 8v 5spd made in germany 14inch stock rims all disc brakes 4 door black . Mods going on the car engine rebuild , paint , seats and dash , headliner ,carpet ,pillars , emblems , new headlights with h7 hid kit , new turn singals , taillights ,dome light , rear plate light , h+r cup kit , 272 camshaft , autotech module , and many more .
April 17, 2009I owned this car when it was 5-6 years until it was about 12-13 years. It was certainly a nice car to drive. It was quick and handled like it was on rails. The interior was well designed ergonomically and for the most part put together well. As for reliability there was little to none. Something was always breaking. AAA actually called me and said I only had one more uncharged tow left for the year twice. Also the paint was always bubbling and rusting. Overall I liked the car when it ran but then again that was the one thing it had the hardest time doing. I would not buy another because of the reliability.
November 10, 2012What owners say
It gets 50mpg unless you really hammer on it which can bring you down to about 35. Parts are mad cheap I think about 100 bucks to buy almost a completely brand new breaking system. Completely eats up any frost heave you can find and sits fairly high of the ground compared to newer cars. Can really take abuse my friend Kevin was driving it and hit a guardrail at about 40 and only broke a piece of trim on the bumper. Loads of torque no HP (52), what do you expect from a 1985 300k diesel engine. If you really want to up the HP just get a turbo for it. You are very involved in driving when behind the wheel of this car. It is mad fun even if your only doing 40 down some back road. Anyone who loves to rally but is sick of getting speeding tickets this car is great for around town and backroads just cus of handling and size. Interstate this car tops out at about 70 so dont get your hopes up. I got it up to 85- 90 once but that was downhill.
March 15, 2009I like it cause i can fix her up and its my first gli . the engine is a 1.8 8v 5spd made in germany 14inch stock rims all disc brakes 4 door black . Mods going on the car engine rebuild , paint , seats and dash , headliner ,carpet ,pillars , emblems , new headlights with h7 hid kit , new turn singals , taillights ,dome light , rear plate light , h+r cup kit , 272 camshaft , autotech module , and many more .
April 17, 2009I owned this car when it was 5-6 years until it was about 12-13 years. It was certainly a nice car to drive. It was quick and handled like it was on rails. The interior was well designed ergonomically and for the most part put together well. As for reliability there was little to none. Something was always breaking. AAA actually called me and said I only had one more uncharged tow left for the year twice. Also the paint was always bubbling and rusting. Overall I liked the car when it ran but then again that was the one thing it had the hardest time doing. I would not buy another because of the reliability.
November 10, 2012Great car. Love to drive it. Did a lot of work to make it stand out and look good,like the red calipers, 15 inch mags, golf 2 gti grill, free flow exhaust system, newly covered seats in black material and red stiching. Still needs the full front and rear bumpers.
August 25, 2008This car was an awesome find. I bought the car for $318 tagged and drove to my work, repaired it in a day and a half and drove it home. I swapped some interior parts and suspension for a better ride. Handles like a go-cart!!!
December 11, 2008first car i ever bought. this thing is a tank. i have taken it off road and beaten the hell out of it. real simple to work on as well. the 1.8 L engine puts out some good power for size
October 17, 2010
