Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Accord

Okay, is it crazy for me to compare the 08 Accord vs the Jetta?

With the Accord prices, and the Jetta prices, I can get a sportier, loaded jetta for less than the Accord. I have been looking at both leases, and they are quite similar, but now I am not sure on which one to pick. My sister says, hey try other brands, have fun with leasing, but I can't pull myself away from the accord. Plus, who knows when they'll have better incentives, I am not in a rush to lease another car, but need to think about it since my mileage on my current lease is almost up.
The Accord is rated really high, great value, but the jetta has alot going for it too.

My sister said to test drive both, and get a feel on both.

Replies to this message:

bug4 (Feb 08, 2008 1:17 pm)
- jeffyscott (Feb 09, 2008 11:49 am)
  - bug4 (Feb 11, 2008 6:23 pm)
- tex08honda (Mar 03, 2008 10:32 pm)
  - viet (Apr 05, 2008 6:58 am)

#218 of 244 Re: Jetta or Accord? [bvdj84] by bug4

Feb 08, 2008 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: bvdj84 (Feb 08, 2008 9:24 am)

Not crazy! The Accord is a LOT bigger (interior and exterior) - so keep that in mind. I think you would find that the Accord, although perhaps a little more money, is a better "value." But, value isn't everything. The Jettas are fun to drive and look great! Although, I have to say, the 08 Accords are fun to drive too -- they feel a lot more like a Jetta these days

. If your thinking re-sale at all, I might stick to the Accord -- probably a much safer bet in that regard . . .

Replies to this message:

jeffyscott (Feb 09, 2008 11:49 am)
- bug4 (Feb 11, 2008 6:23 pm)
tex08honda (Mar 03, 2008 10:32 pm)
- viet (Apr 05, 2008 6:58 am)

#219 of 244 resale by jeffyscott

Feb 09, 2008 (11:49 am)

Replying to: bug4 (Feb 08, 2008 1:17 pm)

If your thinking re-sale at all, I might stick to the Accord -- probably a much safer bet in that regard . . .

VWs generally have good resale value. Comparing Jetta and Accord depreciation is about the same, if edmunds numbers are to be believed. In the "true cost to own" feature, Jetta 5 year depreciation is estimated to be $11,734 and Accord's is $11,199. Both lose about 50% of average purchase price over 4 years.

Replies to this message:

bug4 (Feb 11, 2008 6:23 pm)

#220 of 244 Re: resale [jeffyscott] by bug4

Feb 11, 2008 (6:23 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Feb 09, 2008 11:49 am)

Ahh - I stand corrected

And, apparently, that's on comparably priced vehicles. I have sold two Jettas in my life time and found them more difficult to sell than the three Hondas I have sold. I'm surprised!

#221 of 244 Re: Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Accord [killermonkey] by rcqtplyr

Feb 18, 2008 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: killermonkey (Dec 30, 2003 3:47 pm)

killermonkey

I have a 2000 Jetta VR6 w/ 5 spd manual tranny. I bought the car with 28,000 miles on it from the original owner. It now has 54,000 miles on it. I'm 58 and take very good care of it. At 35,000 miles I had a catastrophic failure of the water pump. That cost $450 to fix. This past Saturday I had the car in at the dealer to fix a broken glove box door. YES, the glove box door! For some reason, one of the two hinges on it just decided to give out. Just the part was $123. Also, the check 'engine light' had come on and gone off a few days later. That turned out to be the mass flow oxygen sensor, a $209 part. Altogether, these two fixes cost $753. I owned a Dodge Caravan prior to the VW. It had a 3.0 liter Mitsubishi engine & tranny. I bought the van with 44,000 miles and sold it with 175,000 miles. The only mechanical I had was replacing a worn out starter motor. Prior to the van, I had a Jeep Cherokee with the straight 6. Bought it with 75,000 miles and sold it with 175,000 miles. NO mechanicals in 100,000 miles. My advice to you is this - buy the Accord. It's hard to go wrong with a Honda or Toyota. I prefer Toyota because they have non-interference engines. My son is a car guy (05 Subi WRX STI) and he thought I was crazy when I told him I bought a VW. Good luck whichever way you go..........

#222 of 244 Re: Jetta or Accord? [bug4] by tex08honda

Mar 03, 2008 (10:32 pm)

Replying to: bug4 (Feb 08, 2008 1:17 pm)

I just traded in a 2000 Jetta for an 08 EX-L. I was most worried about losing the tight feel of my small car for what I thought would be a boat-like feel. Not really true! The drive-by-wire and improved suspension of the Accord makes the driving feel (of a significantly bigger and heavier car) approximately as tight. The Jetta had higher torque/HP ratio, so it lurched off the line with more oomph. But in this age of $3/gal, who wants the car to do that. The 2.4 of the Accord has much better passing ability at highway speed, which is a nice feature when you're stuck behind an 18-wheeler or something else moving somewhat slow. For what it's worth, I didn't have a lot of problems with the Jetta from a mechanical standpoint. However, I've been thinking about Hondas for the last 5 years as I continued to read the accolades for Accords and their reliability and all of the average ratings for Jettas.

Replies to this message:

viet (Apr 05, 2008 6:58 am)

#223 of 244 Re: Jetta or Accord? [tex08honda] by viet

Apr 05, 2008 (6:58 am)

Replying to: tex08honda (Mar 03, 2008 10:32 pm)

Tex,

For a few thousands more the '08 Accord V6 EX-L passes the 18 wheelers like "ZOOOOOOM". I own one so I "guarantee" it. You can hear the 6 or 3 or 4 engines purring & revving. It's 100% enjoyable.

#224 of 244 by bunkie1

Jul 21, 2008 (9:32 am)

I own an 03 Accord EXL 2.4 and an 03 Passat GLS 1.8T (Wagon). I bought the Honda new and the Passat in 2005 for $9000 (I think I stole it.) I've been very satisfied with the Honda. I also like the way my Passat drives and rides and looks, but I cannot say I'm very satisfied. On average over the last year, I spend more on unscheduled maintenance on the Passat per month than I've spent on the Accord in it's lifetime. Let me make this clear. On the Passat, with me doing all the labor, in the last year, I've replaced the door latch (about to replace it again), both CV axles, both rear window clips, front brake rotors, and a few other things I can't think of off the top of my head. From what I've read on the Passatworld.com forums, those same problems happen on almost all Passats and according to consumer reports, the Jetta is worse. On the Accord in it's lifetime, I've replaced one O2 sensor and I did the self repair on the radio backlight. The Passat has 97,000 miles, the Accord 118,000. If you go with the VW, get the extended warranty, or get a good tool kit. You'll need a set of triple square drivers.

On the VW routine maintenance is also more difficult and I would assume more expensive at the shop. Synthetic oil is a requirement on the turbo engines and you dare not go over 5000 miles before an oil change. Changing the air filter on the Passat is also a lot more troublesome than any other car I've ever owned.

All that complaining aside, I still like my Passat. I think the ride is superior and the cabin is quieter than the Accord. The only thing malfunctioning on it at the moment is the driver side door latch (doesn't always lock with the remote). I've afraid to repair it (for the second time) because every time I fix something, two more things break. I test drove a Passat and a Jetta back to back, but it's been 7 or 8 years ago. I don't think the Jetta's cabin will be any quieter than the Accord.

Replies to this message:

laur13 (Jul 05, 2009 10:13 am)
- ndmike88 (Jul 10, 2009 6:12 pm)

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