Decision between two Jettas and different transmissions

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koan - 10 Jan 2007 22:22 GMT

I have an option to buy one of two Jettas. My choice is between a 2001
with a manual transmission and about 180000 km and the other is a 2003
with an automatic transmission with 150000 km. I'd like to buy the
newer one, but a friend has told me that VW automatic transmissions have
a bad reputation. Wondering if this is true.

Does anyone have experience with this

Thanks for your help
koan

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none2u - 11 Jan 2007 03:40 GMT

VWs have problems with everything. Your problem should be less about what
transmission you want and more about how the previous owners cared for their
cars for the last 150,000 km or so. I,d take whichever car was cared for
better, if I couldn't find anything wrong with either one. A thorough
driving and visual inspection would be prudent. Check the transmission fluid
for color and see if its at the proper level. See if there's any paperwork
for transmission oil changes. See if one car was clearly taken care of
better then the other one. If these cars are TDI's see if the timing belts
been changed. If its time , its quite costly. Over $500 probably. Which is
why they may be getting sold anyways.

>I have an option to buy one of two Jettas. My choice is between a 2001
>with a manual transmission and about 180000 km and the other is a 2003 with
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Thanks for your help
> koan

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koan - 11 Jan 2007 04:25 GMT

Both cars were in accidents and purchased from the insurance company. A
friend who is a VW mechanic is doing the repairs. He has cautioned me
to buy the manual transmission, but is not that familiar with the newer
Jetta and whether they have automatic transmission problems. He does
know that the older ones did have problems. I would prefer to buy the
newer one as it has a few more frills, but am a little worried about the
automatic transmission.

Any parts needed are being replaced. So I'm not so concerned about past
issues, but more about future ones. Thanks for your advice

> VWs have problems with everything. Your problem should be less about what
> transmission you want and more about how the previous owners cared for their
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>> Thanks for your help
>> koan

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Jim Behning - 11 Jan 2007 04:30 GMT

Timing belt parts are about $333 US at a good discount VW parts website.
You add labor to the parts price and then there is one other task to do
which is intake manifold cleaning. On my 2003 TDI I think I am supposed
to do the belt every 105,000 miles. Too lazy to get up and get the
repair manual. The older model can have the same belt change if you get
the correct belts. I think. www.tdiclub.com is the best place to get
your TDI questions answered. If I had an auto I would want a DSG. So I
would rather get the 2001. As mentioned it comes down to how much better
maintained one looks over the other.

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