06/07 Jetta FSI 2.0 Reliability

[MEL744]

Hi all,

I am currently in the process of looking for a first car. The MK5 Jetta FSI 2.0 with an auto transmission is what I'm seriously considering. Inspected one yesterday, and was very impressed by it in all respects. I've heard some negative things, not specifically about the Jetta but Volkswagen in general, such as they're all "unreliable and over complicated" and I should "avoid them at all costs". Interested to hear what people have to say about the MK5 Jetta.

Cheers,
Michael

[Umai Naa!!]

2L diesel with DSG would be more reliable, in my experience. Cheaper to run and service too.

Like any European car, look for a spot-on service history, and have any potential purchase looked over by a European specialist.

[MEL744]

Thanks for the reply, is there any specific diesel variant/year that is favorable?

Sounds like some good advice regarding purchasing, will definitely stick to that.

[anthony]

The MK5 Jetta is a great car,I had one from new ,and it was feature packed.

Mine was the NON turbo automatic MY 07 version,and I had it from end of 2006 till mid 2010,when it got written off.

[MEL744]

Interesting to hear, cheers for the reply. What transmission did you have? DSG or the standard auto? Also how many Kms did you get on it before it was written off?

[Creampuff]

I have the '08 turbo version, brilliant, no dramas and approaching 90,000. The DSG is great! Just find a Euro mechanic as VW are too expensive. good luck

[VW Convert]

Interesting to hear, cheers for the reply. What transmission did you have? DSG or the standard auto? Also how many Kms did you get on it before it was written off?

2.0 NA Jettas were standard autos not DSG.

I had a MY06 2.0 TFSI Jetta DSG from new and loved the car, it is in essence a MK5 Golf GTI with a boot, a pretty solid car. I can't tell you about long term ownership as just like Anthony's car, mine was written off at three years and about 65,000 KM but to that point it was trouble free. I followed up with a MY09 EOS which was mechanically identical to the Jetta, had it for nearly 5 years and almost 100,000 trouble free KM before updating to a MY14 Eos which is an evolution of the same platform.

Most important is the service history and an inspection by someone who knows VWs, well looked after, the Jetta should be reasonably trouble free.

Cheers

George

[MEL744]

I have the '08 turbo version, brilliant, no dramas and approaching 90,000. The DSG is great! Just find a Euro mechanic as VW are too expensive. good luck

Interesting to hear! Thanks for sharing. Wish I could get the turbo but due to Victoria's restrictive P-plate laws that is off the cards.

2.0 NA Jettas were standard autos not DSG.

I had a MY06 2.0 TFSI Jetta DSG from new and loved the car, it is in essence a MK5 Golf GTI with a boot, a pretty solid car. I can't tell you about long term ownership as just like Anthony's car, mine was written off at three years and about 65,000 KM but to that point it was trouble free. I followed up with a MY09 EOS which was mechanically identical to the Jetta, had it for nearly 5 years and almost 100,000 trouble free KM before updating to a MY14 Eos which is an evolution of the same platform.

Most important is the service history and an inspection by someone who knows VWs, well looked after, the Jetta should be reasonably trouble free.

Ah yep, thanks for clearing that up. What a shame to hear another Jetta written off. Sounds like a good car though, excited to get one! Also, I appreciate the advice regarding inspections and servicing.

[jessv3]

The auto in the 2.0FSI is problematic. I personally would avoid it where possible. It is the same gearbox fitted in the 2.0FSI Golf and 1.6 Golf. Lots of owners on here have reported major issues which have resulted in a rebuild/ gearbox replacement often costing 5k+. Here are some examples:
Here
and here

It sounds outrageous but from my own experience the DSG in the Jetta is a more reliable choice, you just need to look out for DSG mechatronics issues, there are tones of threads on what to look for when test driving a DSG. For the Jetta the DSG was released in the 2.0T (turbo petrol) and 2.0TDI (turbo diesel) both are excellent engines, far superior than the 2.0 FSI and should be P-Plate legal.

[MEL744]

Thank you for that, was not expecting to hear the DSG would be more reliable haha. Will look out for some DSG cars I think. From what I can see the 6-speed wet clutch is generally better than the 7-speed dry clutch? Unfortunately the 2.0T is not P-Plate legal in Victoria without an exemption, meaning the only petrol Jetta variant I could drive with a DSG would be the 2010 TSI (this is when they changed the rules regarding what is P-plate legal). Will go and have a look for those threads now. Cheers.