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Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Jetta

498 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 12:20 PM

You are in the Volkswagen Jetta Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta, Sedan

Messages Page 48 of 51

#466 of 498 Re: 2009 Honda Civic or VW Jetta? [BilKop] by ruking1

Dec 02, 2008 (10:59 am)

Replying to: BilKop (Dec 02, 2008 9:41 am)
All cars, regardless of their reputations/marketing NEED/demand/require maintenance. Indeed your anecdotal experiences with Honda Civic really makes my case. The only question is whether maintenance is unscheduled/schedule or a combination. You of course can go to whatever web site and compare the scheduled maintenance and weigh the situation. Durability and reliability affects unscheduled maintenance. NO maintenance is an absolute myth !!!! You would be much better off if you expanded your education and do some to all; DIY and/or leave the major stuff to shops, mechanics, etc that you truly know do good work. Anymore, special tools and/or equipment and or costs can make it uneconomical for you to purchase and sometimes just rent.
 
Your comments give me a sense that either you got a lemon Civic or more likely, just fix things when they no longer work.
 
So for example, my Civic at 76,000 miles has been on the one hand EXCELLENT, but on the other hand, I have needed tires at 74,300 miles and three alignments. (we are not curb wackers). Compare this against a VW Jetta TDI that did NOT need an alignment at 100,000 miles and the oe tires are still rolling 111,000 miles. I run 20,000 /25,000 miles OCI's for the Civic/Jetta TDI respectively. At LIKE (76,000 ) mileage, while I have been satisfied with both, the Honda's consumable parts seem to wear 2 to 3 times FASTER.

#467 of 498 Re: 2009 Honda Civic or VW Jetta? [ruking1] by BilKop

Dec 02, 2008 (11:37 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Dec 02, 2008 10:59 am)
Yes, I do realize that they need maintenance, I was more worried about having to spend tons of money on things breaking (people's examples have included faulty electrical wiring, etc.).
 
"Your comments give me a sense that either you got a lemon Civic or more likely, just fix things when they no longer work."
 
How is one supposed to fix things before they break?
 
My husband is in charge of the Honda, and he takes it for all it's maintenance appointments, but it really has been one thing after another that has been going on it (forget what the thing is called that makes it sound like a tractor (English is not my first language), but that's been a problem several times, along with other non-life threatening issues, but annoying nonetheless). On the other hand, my sister-in-law had a Honda Accord for 10 years, and nothing broke on that. She says she probably spent a total of $300 on it during all those years.
 
I am also wondering if people are more likely to post comments when they have bad experiences rather than good. I guess I'll just have to go with my gut feeling once I test drive one.

#468 of 498 Re: 2009 Honda Civic or VW Jetta? [BilKop] by ruking1

Dec 02, 2008 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: BilKop (Dec 02, 2008 11:37 am)
..."How is one supposed to fix things before they break?"...
 
While your quote might seem oxymoronic, indeed it is NOT. It is really a matter of listening, watching, etc. The car is really "talking to " you. It is really a matter of whether one choses to listen. So for example, you point out your husband is in charge of the maintenance. But indeed if he/she/it is not the primary or alternative driver, it is truly the responsibility of the primary driver (aka YOU).
 
I will give you an example, as much as I brought up my daughters to know, listen for , understand, shown and watch them actually check what is important: they would rather go to funerals, have root canal, etc. (you get the drift, I hope)
 
So one car was 300 miles/600 miles round trip AWAY, the other is currently 100/200 miles away. One made the 300 mile trip , 2 quarts LOW !!!!!!! GEEZ !! So I asked her when was the LAST time she checked the dipstick, !?? I mean if the engine burns up, its HER stuck in the middle of no where (some place in Santa Barbara/LA area) !!?? Not a good place for ANYBODY to be!!!
 
So to get back to Honda vs Jetta, the chance seems lower with the Honda in getting a lemon/to lemonish. Of course that is no consolation if you truy have THE lemon (of whatever oem).

#469 of 498 Re: 2009 Honda Civic or VW Jetta? [BilKop] by thegraduate

Dec 04, 2008 (1:28 pm)

Replying to: BilKop (Dec 02, 2008 11:37 am)
The cost of maintenance on the VW will be notably higher; just call some dealers and ask how much some of the services cost (oil change, transmission fluid change, brake job, etc...). It's worth investigating.
 
May I ask why you've limited your choices to the Civic and Jetta? There are some excellent vehicles out there in this price range if you aren't comfortable with purchasing either one.

#470 of 498 my 2 cents by tupuc

Dec 05, 2008 (7:34 pm)

Those who are debating whether to buy a Civic or a Jetta / a Civic Si or a GTI,
go and buy a Honda pleaseeee I currently own a Jetta generation IV and I'm about to guy a 2009 Civic LX-S because of that. VW's are not total but I've pretty much spend around 2000 dlls on reparations during the 5 years I've had it , this doesn't count the services.
 
VW's are really nice and super fast but even the tiniest issue will cost you an arm and a leg, on the other hand if you are filthy rich , buy yourself a VW or an Audi

#471 of 498 2005 Jetta 2.5 lease-buy or turn in? by fleased

Feb 18, 2009 (12:57 pm)

My lease is up in a couple of months. Mileage is 35k and the car has been fantastic so far. Residual is 10k-ish. I'm tempted to buy it, but I own a 2003 Passat and it's been rough on the old banky balancer. That too was a lease and the car was flawless until I bought it, and since then it's cost me an arm and a leg (thermostat,oil sludge etc). Has the 2005 Jetta got a better reputation as far as reliability goes? I know it's a gamble either way. I wonder if I should just turn it in and buy something else new (Honda/Hyundai perhaps?) Any feedback/tips/warnings would be gratefully received.
Cheers then,
Steve R.

#472 of 498 Re: 2005 Jetta 2.5 lease-buy or turn in? [fleased] by backy

Feb 18, 2009 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: fleased (Feb 18, 2009 12:57 pm)
First, 10k is a very good price for a 2005.5 Jetta with 35k. But even then you can see if there is any room to negotiate on the purchase price--should be possible if the lease is through VW. Second, the New Jetta has a pretty good reliablity record, e.g. CR says it's Average for the 2005.5. Average isn't great, but considering they also say the predicted reliability of a new Camry is Average, maybe that's not too bad. If you like the car, it's been reliable for you, and you know exactly how it's been treated and maintained, it might be the best used car you could buy. Maybe check out what your VW dealer can do for you on an extended warranty--then you'd have the peace of mind of a warranty plus be able to keep your Jetta. Anyway, IMO the Jetta is at least as good if not better than comparable cars from Honda (Civic) or Hyundai (Elantra). Against the Elantra in particular, the Jetta is a more fun-to-drive and safer car.

#473 of 498 Re: 2005 Jetta 2.5 lease-buy or turn in? by bvdj84

Feb 19, 2009 (2:31 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 18, 2009 2:10 pm)
comparing the Elantra to a Jetta? lol wow. I am not sure I would.
 
Both Civic and VW are nice. I have an 08 Jetta!! Love it! But, expensive to maintain, no issues yet, but that oil change sets you back some change.

#474 of 498 Re: 2005 Jetta 2.5 lease-buy or turn in? [bvdj84] by fleased

Feb 19, 2009 (3:07 pm)

Replying to: bvdj84 (Feb 19, 2009 2:31 pm)
Thanks for the feedback. I meant to say "Sonata" rather than Elantra. The Sonata seems like a fair bit of car for the price, especially with the cash-back deal.
I think I'm a little gun-shy with the VWs; I have a fear of being stuck paying for two of them and driving while holding my breath!

#475 of 498 Just bought 2009 Jetta TDI Wagon with DSG by dieselbreath

Mar 19, 2009 (11:30 pm)

other than the fact that I'm 6'5" and don't fit into most Japanese cars easily, most of the extra weight of a Golf or Jetta compared to a Civic (Rabbit is 300 pounds heavier) is more steel protecting your a$$ in an accident.
Civic's are OK head-on (the stuff they have to make strong to meet Federal rules) but when hit in the side or rear they are ... not very good (but better than, say, a Cavalier/Cobalt).
Of all the fatal car accidents near Vancouver one winter, half the vehicles that people died in were Civics.
 
As an RCMP mountie whose job is highway patrol in the mountains said to me: "I'd rather be in a German car with a seat-belt than a Japanese apple-crate with an air-bag" ... and this guy has lots of firsthand knowledge of "real car-crash tests".

Messages Page 48 of 51

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