While most Jetta 2002 models can be found almost everywhere you look on the road, the Jetta GLI makes notably fewer appearances on the road due to its relatively limited production. This car is intended for VW lovers and auto enthusiasts. It features a standard 6-speed manual transmission, 17" alloy wheels, duel chrome exhaust tips, front-wheel-drive 200 horsepower VR6 engine, sports suspension, sports seats, and leather steering wheel.

As far as power and performance are concerned, this car delivers. It's extremely fun to drive and provides a fairly comfortable ride, despite the sports suspension which usually gets a bad rap when it comes to comfort. Engine acceleration is smooth but aggressive. If you're not used to driving cars with a little more power, this might take a little getting used to. Like many VWs, the transmission is geared low: 1st virtually unnecessary, and I find myself skipping gears often (particularly going from 2nd to 4th). The stock tires are all-season radials which, in fact, do the job during all four seasons. I got about 40,000 miles out of the stock tires before replacement was necessary. The car has a full-sized spare.

Safety-wise, the car is equipped with ABS and features both front and side airbags. It also has side curtain protection, which deploys airbags over the windows to protect the occupants. The body is strong, durable, and fully galvanized. The car has received the coveted 5-star government frontal crash test rating.

One neat feature worth noting is ESP, which stands for Electronic Stabilization Program. In a few words, its purpose is to monitor the driver inputs and the vehicle dynamics and aid the driver when the car nears its performance limits (such as taking a corner too fast). It works in conjunction with the anti-lock braking system and is usually engaged at all times, unless disabled by the driver. It works in all driving conditions.

The car is loaded with optional features including A/C, power locks, heated seats, heated windshield fluid nozzles, moon roof with pinch protection, premium sound system, and 6 CD changer located in the trunk (AM/FM/1-CD/Cassette are standard). To my knowledge, keyless entry is not available for this model year.

This is not the car for you if you are on a gas budget. Like most high performance vehicles, the manufacturer recommends using premium grade gasoline only. I've heard reports from other GLI owners that 89 and 91 octane work fine too, but I've never tested the theory in my own car.
I get around 22-23 mph city, 25-26 highway. Many VW owners report that their cars are also oil-guzzlers, however, my car is not. I haven't needed to add any extra oil between the routine 5,000 mile recommended services.

One thing that VW can't seem to get right is drink holders. The holders fold up and remain hidden inside the console when not in use. When needed, they can be easily popped out. However, when extended, the holders almost completely obscure the radio display and make turning the knobs challenging. If you like to flip through the radio dial on your way to work while sipping your coffee, this setup is guaranteed to give you a headache.

Reliability leaves a bit to be desired. My car, like many of the Jettas in the U.S. are manufactured in Mexico where quality control is known to be problematic. Two known recalls on this car deal with the engine's ignition coil (also a problem on some Audis) and windows randomly dropping into the door. Both of these were issues on my vehicle. One of the ignition coils went at 7,000 miles, and I had the window dropping problem just last week. I've also had a problem where certain plastic interior components start to appear like they are melting--a disgusting black goo emerges and gets everywhere if not fixed or replaced. VWs are also known for their "check-engine" lights going on frequently, and my vehicle is no exception---usually it amounts to a broken sensor and sometimes it's nothing. My vehicle currently has 40,500 miles.

This car didn't turn out to be the rock of reliability I was expecting from Volkswagen when I first bought it. However, in most other respects, the car has met or exceeded my expectations. This is the first car I've ever owned where I've actually gone out driving just for the sake of driving.
Amount Paid (US$): 2100
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: GLI 6-speed manual, fully loaded