Volkswagen Jetta (1984 - 1991) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

What a good old car! Performance- Well, it was an 87 jetta with an inline 4...so it was not by any means fast, but it got where it needed to go and would power through rain and any depth of snow with ease! Build Quality...it lasted 317k miles....enough said Appearance was butt ugly. It was maroon in color with faded black plastics, small rust starting, and looked like a box...but it did it's job valiantly Cost of ownership got more expensive as it aged due to failing old parts, but for the most part, each part was cheap! Every part I bought combined barely equaled a clutch job on my new audi...haha Fun factor. This car rocked! It was mine...it was a stick...and the engine was a tank! It took everything a new driver could throw at it and just kept loving it! Apr 22, 2012

Car always starts up first thing in the morning with little trouble, Acceleration is decent although you don't expect much from such a small engine. Handling is incredible and has no problems going around even the tightest turns at relatively high speeds. It is surprisingly rust free for a car from the 1980s and still has the original engine, although I did replace the transmission. It gets probably about 28 mpg and all I really have to do maintenance wise is change the oil regularly. It is a very fun car to drive and I often get thumbs up from people who see me driving.Sep 13, 2011

My wife got me hooked in VWs when I started driving her Jetta - the first month with stick must have been hell with her, since I drove it like I was playing Gran Turismo. I found that it was really fun to drive, and you got an appreciation for 'precise' shifting since you couldn't just slap it in gear like the early Honda Civics of the same era...... I was really impressed that we did a day trip to the Toronto zoo and back from our Apt on the East mountain in Hamilton on a 1/4 tank! It was a sad day when the years of Hamilton road salt got to the frame and condemned it to a slow passing...Nov 29, 2009

I got my jetta for $300 october 2007, I use it for work getting all around the city and drive it 200 mile round trip once every 3-4 weeks only had to replace rear break system and struts. The odometer reads 174000 when i got my car and has never worked, overall its a great and i plan on getting a new one of the same engines that is in my car and restoring my jetta.May 21, 2009

I 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 .Apr 17, 2009

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. Mar 15, 2009

Performance- acceleration, excellent now that there is more power braking, needs some help in this department handling, lowering is a must build quality- have fixed all at minor cost from j/y appearance- going for minimal interior, needs some body work cost of ownership- make sure you meet all recommended filter/oil changes + preventive maintenance and you will be fine fun factor- i love to drive my coupeJan 03, 2009

What can I say? Classy styling. A little sluggish but outhandles just about everything else on the road. Plus I can't complain about a car I got for about $400. Definitely has the "Lego factor." Way easy to work on, you can take things apart and put them back together. Fun and easy to work on, and modify. I can even begin to list all the Frankenstein parts from other cars I've put into my Jetta. There's cars that I want more, but for now, I love this one!Aug 13, 2008

I just want to write a testimonial to my car. It has taken me all over the West coast and back and forth to work for 20 years. I have kept service on it up to date and it has not failed me. It has been the victim of 3 accidents just to the body and it keeps on keeping on. The last accident my insurance company totaled the car but I retained it and had it repaired and it is getting 43 mpg on the highway and 38 in town. Just got back from a trip to SunValley, Idaho and it ran like a charm. Thanks for letting me expound on my 1987 blue jetta.Aug 28, 2007