About to buy first car, Jetta, Mazda 3 plus others.

[spencer]

Im looking to get my girlfriend a car soon ,within the next few days, I have been looking at the Jetta I really seem to like it, anyone have anything bad to say? I was going to go with the Mazda 3 but then I heard alot of bad things about them.

[wazzel]

I have a mazda 3 and love it. Make sure you keep the car in your name. No telling when the girl friend will be the ex-girlfreind.

[Mark Reccord]

Originally Posted by spencer

Im looking to get my girlfriend a car soon ,within the next few days, I have been looking at the Jetta I really seem to like it, anyone have anything bad to say? I was going to go with the Mazda 3 but then I heard alot of bad things about them.

What bad things did you hear about the Mazda3? As far as I can tell it's one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. The only complaint I have about mine is that the OEM brakes wore out a bit quickly.

VW's longterm reliability and repair stats haven't been good for many years. I don't know how the current versions will fare, though, as there isn't enough data on them yet. Really nice cars to drive though. I've been lusting after a GTI for some time, I just couldn't justify the purchase this time around.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I would recommend at least test driving a Honda before deciding on something that might not last as long. We have two. When we were getting ready to buy our second one, we rented a Mazda 6 for two weeks. It felt like a sportscar, and was scary fast. But it also felt a bit flimsy, as though the bolts were waiting to vibrate loose. After about a week, another car's wheels tossed a small branch under the wheels of the Mazda, and the small branch dislodged most of the wheel well. Turns out the wheel wells are made of some kind of composite stuff, like cardboard, only plastic, and are barely secured in place with a couple of plastic pins. It just didn't feel all that solid...but man, could it fly.


The Hondas, OTOH, aren't as flashy, but feel like driving an extremely tight, well built precision machine. At this point we've got 13 years between the two of them and zero breakdowns - never been in the shop except for scheduled maintenance.

Jettas are cool and fun to drive, but as someone mentioned, their service records aren't good. If you can, check out CR's reviews of the cars you are thinking about.

[wld3]

Volkswagens rate poorly in vehicle dependability studies. They also have higher-than-average cost of ownership.

I would recommend having a look at vehicles by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan to start with.

[mike_v_s]

What he and Fitzgerald said.

Mike

[The Lynchinator]

I have a '98 Jetta. Just this passed week, I've had trouble starting it. Some days it works perfectly, but others, I get nothing. I looked it up online, and it looks like other owners have had the same problems. I'll be taking it to the mechanic tomorrow and I'm sure I'll end up putting a good bit of money into it.

Otherwise, I love the car. Like others have said, it's fun to drive and it's fairly good on gas. Hopefully this problem won't be the first of many.

[hartke20g]

stay away from all new VWs. sure they look nice now, but wait a year or so. CELs left and right, easily damageable plastic/rubber/god-knows-what material. my parents bought a VW Beetle in 2000, brand new. in less than a year, the computer threw a CEL. also, i've yet to see a VW with a battery that's easily accessible. now, 8 years later, the roof leaks water into the car when it rains (a lot in Miami) and disperses the water evenly between the seats on the right side, and any extra water ends up in a pool between the carpet and the body. i can only imagine the amount of rust that's gonna start causing. we've also had to replace the AC compressor twice, and we never put the AC above 3 (out of 4) unless we're parked.

i've heard good things about Mazda.

[SuperDuck]

Honda or Toyota ftw, or go with the Mazda. While they are very NICE cars, the cost of ownership and lack of reliability with the Vee-Dubs makes them a less attractive.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I've worked for Mazda, had a short (1 year) stint at a Honda dealer and now work for Toyota. All in the parts department.

As far as your two choices, definitely the Mazda 3. I've known one person who had a Jetta and was completely happy with it, and I'm sure there are others who've had good luck, but overall VW's customer satisfaction isn't up to par with other brands. The Mazda 3 is a great car. I test drove a couple and really liked the five door. Mazda has done a good job making cars that are just fun to drive. There not overdone with horse power, but they're quick and handle great.

Like already mentioned. Check out Honda and Toyota. Not as sporty looking as the Mazda lineup, but they are superior in quality and have a higher customer satisfaction rating. Toyota also has the sportier Scion line. I drive a TC. It's basically a car the size of a Corolla, but has the Camery 4 Cyl motor, so it's on the quick side and handles very well.

I think you really can't go wrong with Honda, Toyota, or the Mazda 3. Every brand has their own quirks. VW's would be on the bottom of that list for sure.

[steamthief]

Mazdaspeed 3. Over the Toyotas and Hondas, as well as the Jetta. I own a Honda, btw.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

There's only one thing that VW has on all the others.



The commercials were funny.


I don't know. They made me laugh.

[Ray Holt]

Originally Posted by steamthief

Mazdaspeed 3. Over the Toyotas and Hondas, as well as the Jetta. I own a Honda, btw.

Pfffffft there is no way he should get a Mazdaspeed 3 for his girlfriend.

Out of those two choices, definitely the Mazda. I've heard nothing but great things about them.

And I will definitely recommend Honda. My first car was a '94 Honda Accord (4 dr, automatic), and my dad now drives it. Over 200,000 miles and still running fine. I now own a 2 door '94 Accord, that is manual, and it is amazing as well. Low miles for a '94 (like 111k now, had 87k when I bought it 2 years ago) and it runs awesome. GREAT gas mileage too, I can't even believe it.

[Mark Reccord]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I would recommend at least test driving a Honda before deciding on something that might not last as long. We have two. When we were getting ready to buy our second one, we rented a Mazda 6 for two weeks. It felt like a sportscar, and was scary fast. But it also felt a bit flimsy, as though the bolts were waiting to vibrate loose. After about a week, another car's wheels tossed a small branch under the wheels of the Mazda, and the small branch dislodged most of the wheel well. Turns out the wheel wells are made of some kind of composite stuff, like cardboard, only plastic, and are barely secured in place with a couple of plastic pins. It just didn't feel all that solid...but man, could it fly.

I felt the same way about the Mazda6. It didn't feel particularly solid to me. Interestingly enough, the Mazda3 doesn't feel like that at all.

Originally Posted by steamthief

Mazdaspeed 3. Over the Toyotas and Hondas, as well as the Jetta. I own a Honda, btw.

The Mazdaspeed3 is a ridiculous car. It's a complete riot to drive, though you'd need to be prepared for high insurance premiums and lots of moving violations if you owned one...


I don't think that you could go wrong with a Mazda3 or any Honda or Toyota. I would have bought a Civic when I got my Mazda3, but they weren't making them in a hatchback at the time. I owned a 1994 Civic HB that I put 200k+ miles on with very little in the line of repairs above routine maintenance. Best cars ever! I'd be leery of VW until the current versions of the Rabbit and Jetta have been around for a few years.

[ElectrAcoustic]

Originally Posted by hartke20g

stay away from all new VWs. sure they look nice now, but wait a year or so. CELs left and right, easily damageable plastic/rubber/god-knows-what material. my parents bought a VW Beetle in 2000, brand new. in less than a year, the computer threw a CEL. also, i've yet to see a VW with a battery that's easily accessible. now, 8 years later, the roof leaks water into the car when it rains (a lot in Miami) and disperses the water evenly between the seats on the right side, and any extra water ends up in a pool between the carpet and the body. i can only imagine the amount of rust that's gonna start causing. we've also had to replace the AC compressor twice, and we never put the AC above 3 (out of 4) unless we're parked.

i've heard good things about Mazda.

+1, all the former VW owners I know have nothing nice to say about em.. service and reliability are major issues.. not to mention VW doesn't do recalls on parts they know are defective..

[Visirale]

Cars are so last century. If you're classy at all, you'll buy her one of these:

[Barkless Dog]

My brother has a Mazda 3 and absolutely loves it. He has had his for a number of years and has been great.


VW's can be horrible to repair $$$$$$$$$$$ and are not well rated for reliability by consumer reports.


Mazda's rock.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by Ray Holt

Pfffffft there is no way he should get a Mazdaspeed 3 for his girlfriend.

LOL! I forgot it was for his GF! Well, I still say get the Mazdaspeed 3, as long as she can drive it like it was meant to be driven.

[bradjonesbass]

echoing everybody else on here... Check out Honda and Toyota - and Nissan, but of the two, Mazda. The sport version of the civic is pretty nice. The Matrix is cool too, though a little underpowered - at least in stock form

[baba]

I have a Jetta and it is the worst car, or product for that matter, I've ever owned. The reliability is horrid. Constant issues, many unidentifiable, likely due to electrical issues. POS, you've been warned...