chevy malibu or vw jetta

[sycho]

well, since your going to buy a german car, let it be w/ style.

Audi A3 or the super high performance vehicle Audi S3.

starting at a price i cannot afford right now!

A3 is mechanically the same car as the Jetta. Except the Jettas are made in Mexico and seem to have less electrical gremlins then the Euro made ones.

 

[killerrobot]

Tim100, what exactly is it that you want out of a car?

Jettas have some of the worst reliability ratings on most, of not all of the major consumer reliability reporting groups. Something to think about.

My sister owned a Jetta and sunk more money into repairs than that thing could ever have been worth. (Hers was a late 90s model, perhaps they've gotten better since).
Between those two I'd get neither. Without really stating what you want out of a car, it's hard to recommend something else. However, I'd buy Honda before VW and Ford before Chevy.

 

[MattG]

The Jetta, because I own one, and because I'd never buy any American car.

 

[tim100]

mazda 3 looks like a good choice too.

 

[renewed]

Volkswagon Jetta

Chevrolet Malibu

Personally I'm going to say the Malibu. Chevrolet's truly are reliable vehicles and cheaper to repair if problems arise. Volkswagon parts are darn expensive and I've heard more problems arising from them. Strictly Opinion.

All I know is don't buy a Toyota lol.

 

[Don't panic]

jetta by a mile. or ten.

the TDI is great, especially the sportwagen (with 30/42 mpg)

 

[Frisco]

All I know is don't buy a Toyota lol.

Any Toyota will easily outlast either of these vehicles, especially the Malibu.

 

[Melrose]

I'd buy domestic. Cheaper on repairs... and yes, there will be repairs with any vehicle [sic]

I wouldn't own a VW just because I've heard bad things about their reliability, electronics-wise. A lot of folks I know have Subarus, and love them.

 

[iOrlando]

jettas always remind me of girls cars.

so I would choose a malibu out of the two.


however as the man known as T.I. once said:

so watch your mouth, unless you ready to bleed
cause to me, murderin wack mc's is somethin like a disease
top down in the Impala, so i can ride in the breeze
and where i'm from, brothers throwin up B's and C's
so make a turn the wrong way, think about what the song say
and be easy, else it'll be a long day


so impala it may be.

 

[tim100]

from edmunds.com re the jetta

Who Should Consider This Vehicle
The Volkswagen Jetta has always been a stepping stone of sorts for young professionals who can't yet make the financial leap to an entry-level Audi, Benz or Bimmer. These folks value the Jetta's European breeding and more expensive look and feel over its mostly bland competitors' superior long-term reliability records. Although this generation has lost some of that sporty Euro flavor (full-strength GLI excepted), the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta SE still presents a tempting package of an enjoyable drive, key luxury features and an attractive price that anybody can appreciate.

 

[quagmire]

Any Toyota will easily outlast either of these vehicles, especially the Malibu.

Any Tundra's that have 1 million miles on them?

I have the Malibu's twin, the now defunct Saturn Aura XR. Besides small first model year bugs( every car manufacture has bugs in their first model year vehicles including Toyota. 2007 Camry and Tundra come to mind....) it has not been back to the dealer besides oil changes for the past 3 years. Tires are another story, but that is with Goodyear, not GM.....

I'd buy domestic. Cheaper on repairs... and yes, there will be repairs.

I wouldn't own a VW just because I've heard bad things about their reliability, electronics-wise. A lot of folks I know have Subarus, and love them.

Every car will have repairs. Parts will fail. So your point?

 

[decksnap]

The VWs have what look like really nice interiors, until the paint starts peeling off the dials and armrests. Then they reveal how cheap they really are. Couple that with all the electrical problems and it would have me thinking about the Malibu. (If it wasn't called a Malibu )

mmmm... peeling

 

[renewed]

Every car will have repairs. Parts will fail. So your point?

He stated there will be repairs in all vehicles. He is making the point that because of this fact it is more cost-effective to go domestic because parts are cheaper.

 

[madmaxmedia]

It seems like your comparing cars from different classes.

I might go for a Mazda 3 instead of a Jetta myself.

The new Malibu seems like a pretty good car, though is a larger car. Cheaper than a Passat...

 

[quagmire]

He stated there will be repairs in all vehicles. He is making the point that because of this fact it is more cost-effective to go domestic because parts are cheaper.

The way he worded it, it sounds like he meant that the domestic will have issues. Also, he doesn't say all vehicles. Just referencing the domestic.

 

[Melrose]

He stated there will be repairs in all vehicles. He is making the point that because of this fact it is more cost-effective to go domestic because parts are cheaper.

Thank you. Granted some vehicles are better than others, but every vehicle will need something at some point and when it happens domestic is gong to be cheaper than an import. The domestic makers have really stepped up their game recently (GM & Ford come to mind). The Malibu is an underrated car.

 

[quagmire]

Thank you. Granted some vehicles are better than others, but every vehicle will need something at some point and when it happens domestic is gong to be cheaper than an import. The domestic makers have really stepped up their gMe recently (GM & Ford come to mind). The Malibu is an underrated car.

I apologize then. I connected the two thinking you were saying they were unreliable some how.....

 

[Melrose]

I apologize then. I connected the two thinking you were saying they were unreliable some how.....

Nah. My grammar can be both ramulose and obfuscatory at times.

 

[dXTC]

Thank you. Granted some vehicles are better than others, but every vehicle will need something at some point and when it happens domestic is gong to be cheaper than an import. The domestic makers have really stepped up their game recently (GM & Ford come to mind). The Malibu is an underrated car.

What about Chrysler?
Well, what about them?

Just kidding... I had a '98 Chrysler Cirrus. (I really wanted a '98 Dodge Intrepid-- a postmodern classic-- but wasn't comfortable with the monthly payments.) It wasn't that bad, except for a persistent suspension noise. The Cirrus lasted about nine years (an eternity for a Chrysler nowadays). However, IMHO Chrysler completely lost their way around 2003-04, when the Intrepid was dropped for the abomination that was the Magnum. True, it wasn't Pontiac Aztek ugly, but pretty darn close. Then they went and fuglied up their minivans.

Whether Fiat can save Chrysler from automotive oblivion remains to be seen...

/currently drives a Kia Rondo; nice little people mover, that one...

 

[Melrose]

What about Chrysler?
Well, what about them?

Just kidding... I had a '98 Chrysler Cirrus. (I really wanted a '98 Dodge Intrepid-- a postmodern classic-- but wasn't comfortable with the monthly payments.) It wasn't that bad, except for a persistent suspension noise. The Cirrus lasted about nine years (an eternity for a Chrysler nowadays). However, IMHO Chrysler completely lost their way around 2003-04, when the Intrepid was dropped for the abomination that was the Magnum. True, it wasn't Pontiac Aztek ugly, but pretty darn close. Then they went and fuglied up their minivans.

Whether Fiat can save Chrysler from automotive oblivion remains to be seen...

/currently drives a Kia Rondo; nice little people mover, that one...

I completely agree about Chrysler. The 300 is an ugly vehicle, honestly. It's just got big headlights and slab doors that make everyone go "ooh! aah!" and the Caliber, Crossfire are hideous - along with their pickups. I don't like their design direction in the past few years, and the quality isn't that good for the price.

 

[tim100]

I am surprised the results are so one-sided.

 

[steve2112]

Every car will have repairs. Parts will fail. So your point?

VW had a bad run a few years back with some Jettas and Golfs. They were plagued with all kinds of electrical issues, especially the power windows. They also had a problem in the early 2000s models with the O2 sensor. I believe some of the mid-late 90s models had problems with water getting into various electronics under the hood and shorting out. So, yeah, VW has had a history of electrical gremlins.

 

[tim100]

VW had a bad run a few years back with some Jettas and Golfs. They were plagued with all kinds of electrical issues, especially the power windows. They also had a problem in the early 2000s models with the O2 sensor. I believe some of the mid-late 90s models had problems with water getting into various electronics under the hood and shorting out. So, yeah, VW has had a history of electrical gremlins.

It is my understanding that the (2008-2010)new VW jetta's are reliable.

 

[Mr. McMac]

I owned Subaru's since 1996. Super reliable vehicles, and great in the snow. German cars are unreliable according to Consumer Reports, and I wouldn't touch a GM product with a 10 foot pole. (I got screwed big time with my 1992 LEMON Vette)

 

[steve2112]

It is my understanding that the (2008-2010)new VW jetta's are reliable.

They seem to have worked out all those issues on the latest models. Most of the problems I referenced were from the late 90s/early 2000s models. I really like the new Jettas, especially the TDI. I just don't know that it's worth the extra cost unless you put a lot of miles on the car.