:confused:I'm thinking about buying a 2000 vw jetta gls, I looked on Google for reviews about them and some people didn't have good things to say, so I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about them... please help. Thanks

Sorry to say but the VW name may be widely known but it is not widely liked. I'm pretty good at cars and trucks so I am going to suggest the you go to carfax.com, look up a decent car (Chevy, Ford, or Dodge) and see what they have to say about them.

Daughter just got rid of one. Lots of little problems kept cropping up. Nothing major mind you just enough to make it an unpleasant experience. And it took premium fuel to boot!

Best thing to do, take one for a test drive, and take it out on the high way, maybe on a short trip, then drive around town and see what you think. Those reviews are baised on what met or did not meet those people's standards. Yours may be different than thiers. "To each thier own." - Unknown

If it's brand new 2009 or what eve, no need to ask this, but if it is older. Watch the Miles/kilometers, check the blinkers, wipers (even splash some gastation window washer on the windshield and she how they work.)
Check the oil (if there is any white, or if you rub some between your fingers and it's gritty ask some one that you can trust about it. With the grity it may just need an oil change)

Look at the radiator coolant, make sure the car wasn't just on, or is on. The coolant will spreay from the Radiator and it hurts! :o Yes I've done that. ;)

What kind of car do you need? Family, or just a reliable car.

Also, check power steering fluid, and air filter. If you need help finding this stuff, try looking it up on line and locate them, memorize them. Do not, ask the sales man/women for help on that, then they may take you for some one they can exploit. So research the car on line. (by the way good job on doing that.)

Check for spare tire, jack, etc.

Listen for clunks, bangs, rattles and so on. All you should hear is the hum of the motor, and little else.

Watch for any dash board lights, like check oil, engine, etc.

If you feel a bad shake, jerks, or if when you go over bumps it's really hard and you feel it a lot. Stear clear.

When you are driving, go on the highway, and find a straight strech, let go of the stearing wheel, but keep your hands like a half inch away, at "ten and two". Ready to grab it if it jerks or really pulls. If during this hands free time the car pulls left or right, and the road is fairly even, then there may be problems with the stearing or the struts, shocks, brackets, bearings, and so on. So tell them you won't take it until they fix it, that way you won't have to. Also, pay attention to your stearing, if you turn the wheel and it takes more than normal before it starts to turn, that could indicate stearing troubles too.

Try every feature, save the air bags;), in the car. If something isn't working demand it to be fixed be fore you drive it, and test it out before buying. Some times they say yep we fixed it, but they didn't.

Remain confident, and keep your wits about you. Show no unsertaintys, and ask about things wyou've researched, to make it seem like you already know but want to test the sales person. Also makes them more anxious to sell, and often if you play it cool you can get an extra few hundred or more off the price. "DO NOT ACCEPT THE WINDOW PRICE!!" Talk them down.

Good luck. I hope that helps.

P.S. when listening to the sounds of the car remember to turn the radio off so you can hear, and turn the fan on all the way both ways, hot and cold for a bit to make sure it's working.
:)

Consumer Reports readers in 2005 rated the 2000 Jetta (4 cyl. Turbo) as having many problems with the fuel system, ignition, electrical systems, brakes, body integrity, power equipment, and body hardware.
Transmission, air conditioning, suspension, exhaust, and paint got a better than average rating. Overall it was rated worse than average for reliability.

Don't just buy a car for looks as you could get a pretty dish with nothing in it. Buy the car for your needs. What I would do is go to your trusted mechanic, tell him your car needs and let him tell you about what kind of cars he's impressed with or not impressed with. That's exactly what I did many years ago when I was in the market for a good used car for myself and I did quite well. Also, to be doubly sure you're not getting ripped off, try and take this to your trusted mechanic to check out if you know little or nothing about cars. Well worth the money spent finding out you would have paid big bucks for a dud money burner.