1994 Volkswagen Jetta III | Retro Review

[@Motorweek]

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[@GyroPyro121212]

Base price was just over $13k 26 years ago. The 2020 models start at just under $19k. Volkswagen has done an excellent job of keeping the Jetta affordable and offering an awesome value.

[@Joker32256]

Adjusted for inflation in America that is about $21k

[@bilalahmed2123]

Brian I would say, they were made better then ! Where have they all gone ?

[@jakeballard7999]

I just purchased a 2021 VW Jetta S - $19,990 With Auto Transmission - I agree they have kept the vehicle affordable

[@GyroPyro121212]

@@bilalahmed2123 Now they have more features and more power. Though they were probably more reliable then.

[@bilalahmed2123]

@@GyroPyro121212 I feel they are more reliable now with more features. However, the German factor and built quality are no longer present after since the the M4K ended production in 2008 here in Canada.

[@SynchroSk8]

My first car was a 1998 GLX VR6 - I admired that boxy Jetta for years leading up to getting it. Absolutely loved my MkIII Jetta.

[@rueliotube]

Mine was a 95 GL. Loved that car,

[@jakeballard7999]

you was FANCY

[@fernandorocha901]

Vw Jetta, is excellent car.

[@fernandorocha8459]

I love VW Jetta, great and nice car

[@NickHazletonMusic]

I had a 95 GLX. Loved the vr6 but always envied the mk3.5 vr6 badge in the grille that you guys had 😢

[@MaxHarrison]

The door chime will forever be ingrained in my mind.

[@bahnrokt]

La Coco Rocha

[@de-fault_de-fault]

Carried over from the mk2 Golf/Jetta, which means a lot of the cars in my early memories had it. Some part of me still expects to hear it every time I get in a car.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Andrew Mabe which tells you that the car was built in Mexico.

[@NickHazletonMusic]

I loved that in my 95 glx VR6 😅

[@peterj.cressman165]

@@patrickmichaellangan576 German built VWs had it as well.

[@deloreanman14]

The last time I was this early, most cars had gauges for oil pressure and volts.

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

Why don't they anymore

[@Ty4ons]

GT6SuzukaTimeTrials Simple gauges look better and many didn’t know how to read them

[@chumbawaumbacumpa]

My pickup has both mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@albear972]

@@chumbawaumbacumpa John Davis's wet dream.

[@xnopyt13]

*all cars still had oil dipsticks

[@ryanpatterson9526]

I miss the "wonder years" of the 90s.

[@hsvcommodore4111]

This is my favorite generation jetta

[@swainer8014]

Mine was the generation after this. The one with the windshield wiper commercial . . man that was a sexy car. This one is a close second.

[@djkenny1202]

MK2. Especially a 16v. Classic and fun and light. More distinctive.

[@krystalayame3870]

Same here, but I have a hard time finding one from this generation.

[@cdldriver2348]

You know this is old school when a cassette radio is considered an option.

[@9inchpp]

@talldude123 Depends on cars. Afaik first gen mr2 and mx-5 had aux jack option too

[@McBeamer94]

@@9inchpp And the first Mitsubishi Eclipse, too!

[@cmauchi29]

@talldude123 They knew the future and for be cautious it says "CD IN" Jack.

[@tinmar501]

Everythings was an option at VW,on the golf MK1,even rear defroster was an option

[@q-bert6454]

Charles Hall What’s old is when FM radio or 8 track is optional. 😆😆

[@TheHansoost]

Had a 94 Jetta automatic. Got about 385,000km out of it. Good car. Easyish to work on except when I had to remove the dash to replace the heater core. I was always replacing plastic hose connectors. Repaced timing belts, brakes, some suspension parts and transaxles. It taught me a lot. Also had 1.8l 92 golf gti. Standard. Roll up windows. A beater but ran like a top.2 clutches and head gasket etc. It was just a 2nd car but really reliable and fun. Good times. Had high mileage too and getting very rusty.

[@RallyLancer95]

"Once boxy" > Is still a box

[@RoadCone411]

Yeah but it’s more of a rounded box! The lines of this car always reminded me of a Volvo 850 (or was it the other way around?) The European design theme of the time, I guess. Hard to believe the Mark IIIs came out 26+ years ago.

[@xsbgtr]

But it had its edges rounded a bit

[@BraveBlueSnowTundra94GP]

This generation, and the previous (1984-1992) are the best. 💙❄️

[@christopherroughton]

My mom drove a 94 Jetta GLS for 11 years. It just went and went and never gave issues. When my brother got his license he got it, first he reversed our garage door off and there wasn’t a scratch. Then a drunk pedestrian ran in front of him and he hit her at about 70kmh and there wasn’t a scratch then either. The lady was so drunk she survived only because she never went into shock. They were built like tanks!

[@gooondie]

Love the interiors of this generation of VWs

[@scott8238]

Love watching the retro reviews... I could watch these for hours!

[@vwlovert]

I had the 1995 Jetta MKIII and it started my love affair with VW. I would absolutely drive it today if I could.

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

I remember by the early 2000's almost all of these had those little reflectors/blinkers on their front bumpers missing lol

[@Neuwerks]

Still proud to own a tornado red 1994 Jetta GLX VR6. Last year they imported the Jetta from Germany as opposed to the 4-Cylinder cars that came from Mexico. Nice to have a WVW VIN on a Jetta, something that used to be common on the GLI and a few other models.

[@pmg1997]

Holy flashback!! This was my first car my dad bought me!! Mine was same color, but a 1997 Jetta. I loved that car. Wanted to make it look like the Jetta from fast and furious! 🤑😂😂

[@currymuncher4090]

Ricer

[@atomsmash100]

This was when VWs still had a distinctive design and long before they started looking like Japanese sedans. Far more European at the time, complete with a few quirks.

[@steveespinola7652]

It's still a nice looking car and once in a while I still see these old VW Jettas on the street.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

I love VW Jetta, beautiful, and and nice car. Comforable and solid

[@BKofficer23]

3:44 Aux port in 94, hell yeah.

[@AR-zq9hq]

Discman was a thing

[@matty_o]

That's insane since late 2000s it was a big deal. Lucky vdub

[@JAYBud88]

BKofficer23 People probably never used that

[@AR-zq9hq]

@@JAYBud88 I don't concur. Otherwise there wouldn't be a market for those cassette aux adapters in the 90s. Some pocket cd players even came packaged with them.

[@BKofficer23]

I agree Anton, I'm still rockin' a cassette adapter.

[@fleuger99]

I had a 1994 Jetta GL with a manual, I loved that car. Felt and drove like something much more expensive.

[@jeffbauer3425]

Yeah, my ex had a 95 GL. auto. Black with 5 spoke rims and low prof tires. Nice car. I just bought a 2016 S with a 5 spd .1.4tsi. Much faster , fun, great mileage, and highly dependable!

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I remember hearing a rumor back in those pre-internet (or at least pre-everyone-having-internet-access) days that the "Jetta III" and "Golf III" nomenclature in year one of the mk3's was to let insurance companies know the easy-to-break-into door handles of the mk2 were gone. We had a '94 "Jetta III" when I was a kid and that's even how it was written on the title and registration.

[@DonkeyKong2222]

Slow as hell, but bullet proof 2.0 that still gets used in some markets today.

[@williamegler8771]

Had a VR6 with a 5 speed. Drove it like I stole it and had a mostly trouble free 250k miles.

[@Trance88]

Looking at a brand new example like in the video, this car actually has a really nice design, which has held up alright over time.

[@theskig]

Imagine it running now in Burkina Faso with 7 people onboard and 500.000 km on the clock.

[@Porsche996driver]

I had a ‘98 Wolfsburg edition black on black. Great car simple yet cool, solid and quiet.

[@IROCMAN666]

In Europe, it was the "Vento".

[@McBeamer94]

I totally forgot about that. Goes to show that changing the name to a good seller isn't gonna make it better. It was a nice name though (Vento = Wind in Italian), just not for such a mundane car.

[@jironmeister]

Also in Latin America, when the Jetta MK4 arrives, they sell alongside the MK3 as Vento, with an 1.8 electrocarburated engine, for 5 more years. They did the same with the MK4 when MK5 and MK6 arrived, but call the MK4 Jetta Classic.

[@Mrmatteo08]

And in the Mk IV the name was changed in Bora ( a kind of wind).

[@otsenres1636]

Last time I was this early Volkswagen's were passing the emissions tests legitimately!

[@1aikane]

I had this car in the VR6. It was a very good car. I drove it for 10 years.

[@1aikane]

I had the VR6 version of this car. I bought it new and drove it 169 K miles with only one break down. It was a very durable car.

[@theskig]

Manual or automatic? Did you scrapped it? or sold?

[@1aikane]

@@theskig automatic. I sold it.

[@JayDeontre]

“RIP Jesse... too soon on the NOS” 😂 ifykyk savage #FastandFurious

[@jsciarri]

"Too soon Junior"

[@chumbawaumbacumpa]

Don’t do it Jesse you forgot your calipers

[@oliverdelgado6952]

This fool is running a Honda 2000. I'll win.

[@bazzergazzer]

''Well they're gonna throw him back in prison right after he kills you!''

[@eriksojka9209]

Always look forward to the retro reviews!!!

[@compu85]

Oh, the 94 GLX VR6 Jettas were the only German manufactured Mk3 Jettas sold in the USA. Very uncommon cars. The test car shown here is also uncommon: it has the early dash with backlit vent controls. That went away early in the 94 model year!

[@mattw8332]

In Europe this model was called 'Vento'. The 4th generation 'Golf sedan' was called Bora. Then VW went back to using Jetta for the 5th gen. A bit odd. I really like this 3rd gen model.

[@CFG39]

The Mk3 Jetta and Golf were my least favorite looking. I liked the Mk1, Mk4 and Mk5 probably the best. What’s hard to believe is that VW still offered the 2.0L I-4 (non-turbo) all the way until 2016 and it still made essentially the same amount of power. That’s 23 years!

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

Betta getta Jetta!

[@SP84Fanatic]

It's really neat to see the stereo have an Aux jack well before the rise of MP3 players. Mitsubishi did something similar in some of its audio systems at the time.

[@christopherconard2831]

Like a lot of other drivers, I had the CD to cassette converter. The biggest challenge was keeping my Discman from bouncing around.

[@theskig]

That's not a simple AUX jack, it's a specific "CD IN" jack! :)

[@georgeprotopapadakis4752]

THE BEST body style Jetta. Hands down.

[@AlexanderCrump]

Loved the Mark 3s. Favorite VWs I've owned were the '95 Jetta GL and '98 Wolfsburg Edition. I loved the sound of the 2.0. I never warmed up to my '01 Golf.

[@wernerbloemwagen6878]

I bought a JETTA III 1.8 brand new in 1994 and drove it to 410000km with no problems : I even hit a full grown Donkey at 85km/h and through God's grace, no injuries to myself nor my 3 passengers ánd the car was still driveable! Was repaired and drove it another 5 years.

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

What became of that full grown donkey?

[@wernerbloemwagen6878]

@@kamrankhan-lj1ng : it died on the scene

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

I assume you live in a Scandinavian country. It would be rare to find donkeys at such latitudes.

[@wernerbloemwagen6878]

@@kamrankhan-lj1ng : no I live in South Africa actually and large sections of the country is quite rural, where donkeys are widely used to pull donkey carts - it was one of these strays that we hit the one early evening at dusk. Only God's Grace that only the car got damaged ánd was repairable to boot. The wheel alignment wasn't even out. New bonnet, fenders, grill, head lights, bumper and both radiators (²nd one was for the A/C) plus windscreen of course, we're all replaced.

[@mattprior8442]

Its early 80s creepingly hanging on to 90s !

[@de-fault_de-fault]

I was 8 when my parents bought one of these in black. It wasn't quite a spiritual successor to the Quantum Syncro that was written off by a distracted driver in a Cavalier (back when someone had to be in the car with you to distract you) the week before, but I remember thinking the interior was so futuristic compared to the Quantum or to the prior generation Golf that was our other car. It was an early '94 model and still had the "Jetta III" badging and "Jetta III" went on the registration, too. My dad said he heard "Golf III" and "Jetta III" were specifically meant to make sure insurers knew this was a new model that wasn't as notoriously easy to steal as its predecessor...I've never been able to confirm or dispel that, though no one ever stole ours, so...success?

[@nesticle]

That was my first car! A 94 Jetta in Indian Red! However mine was the Canada-only CL model with the old 1.8L 8v engine.

[@Drj2021]

I just noticed this Jetta looks like a Civic from behind

[@1965vw]

The second car I ever owned was a used 1998 VW Jetta TDI with the 5 speed manual and just over 200k miles. Easily averaged 45-50 mpg and was pretty fun to drive during college. It never let me down. I wish I still had it :)

[@asdasd01]

Why dont you have it

[@alexvieira7945]

Awesome little car.... Do the 2000 Celica!! Its 20 years old already! 😄

[@wallacegrommet9343]

Better than my 2014 Sportwagen

[@theKevronHarris]

I remember my estranged father used to had a '88 Jetta Carat as his first car back in early 1998 though I was 3 years old at the time. It had power windows and crank operated sunroof. He installed some hazardous audio upgrades which someone could got electrocuted.

[@jakeballard7999]

This was my First new Car - 1993 Model same as the one in the Video, no airbags but mine was the Aqua Green

[@nlpnt]

When the Jetta was still just a Golf with a trunk tacked on. The Mk3 may not have had an oil pressure gauge and voltmeter but it FINALLY, at long last, had a left AND a right turn signal indicator arrow in the dash. VW had been putting in one for both since the aircooled days. They still were charging extra for metallic paint though.

[@rickreid81]

I really enjoyed my older VWs. 1.8 with a 5 speed transmission. Fun car's

[@djkenny1202]

First and second gen is best.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

And Volkswagen hasn’t stopped selling as many Jettas in America since this one. Oh, for music buffs who love the radio segments on these old Motorweek road tests (yes they do exist even if they won’t admit it), the song playing on the radio is Aerosmith’s 1993 hit “Livin’ On The Edge”.

[@crazyeyez1502]

Oh, i definitely noticed it. Playing on DC101 👍🏻

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Thanks for the info on that particular station.

[@xnopyt13]

Now that's a unique and elegant shifter boot

[@davidaubin3902]

3:36 John: WE'D LIKE A VOLT METER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE! LOL And an oil pressure gauge too!

[@jorgeamchz6942]

Un coche popular y éxito en ventas en México., Greetings from Guadalajara Jalisco.

[@GeeEm1313]

Aux input in 1994? Nice.

[@ajc5869]

This car is literally the definition of german perfection

[@bilalahmed2123]

This was a beautiful car !

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

Any old mercedes vids please! Diesels as well!

[@CynicalBastard511]

I think they posted a 1981 W126 300 SD review.

[@Alexander_Timonin]

W210 REVIEW NOW!

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

Alexander Timonin yes!

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

And a w124

[@jareknowak8712]

CLK please.

[@mzoggy]

Guess John didn't want an oil gauge this time....

[@dRockOhio]

mzoggy oh no he mentioned it 😂

[@redneon06]

We had a 1991 Fox in black.

[@sk8terboi510]

Wow, an AUX port in 1994!

[@stuartbear922]

A lot of cars had them in the 90s. I believe it was there to support mini disk players. That's all I can think of.

[@heitorbernardes7977]

With that price you could get CD player in a nissan

[@SherwinR89]

Mena Suvari's character's car in American Pie

[@bilalahmed2123]

That’s a beautiful maroon colour

[@milesoroads]

I still drive my mk3 daily. Love it. Only thing that kills them is strut tower rust/and rust.

[@RassieErasmustheGOAT]

Which configuration have you got. What motor? What's the common issue on the CLS 95?

[@compu85]

Very few 94 Jettas sold in the USA had the passive seatbelts.

[@kippaseo8027]

I'd a friend in high school they got a brand new 98 jetta our junior year. And still had a lot of weird electrical gremlins. After about 3 years I remember driving with him to the dealership to trade it in and I was taken back by how loose and squeaky so many of the interior plastic pieces were After only 3 years. I was driving my mom's old 89 Camry with over 200 K miles that I used to beat the hell out of and my car with still tight and squeak free.

[@deanspanos8210]

I wince every time they show the manual gear shift.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

Spanos if so, than you might not want to watch an owner’s video on the 1992 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1. It also shows the driver working the stick shift hard (though harder than what you saw here) as well.

[@vladmares8128]

I genuinly wonder how many shift rods that guy/those guys bended through the years. Really annoying on all their videos! :-))))

[@manthony225]

Right? What's the point of that?

[@_chipchip]

Dude just hates gearboxes.

[@vincentr2096]

When I was a kid my sister used to drive a 95 Jetta which she bought brand new

[@chocolatewheelchair]

Vincent Ramesh what does she drive now

[@vincentr2096]

@@chocolatewheelchair Volkswagen Touareg

[@abieltesfagaber3611]

I miss old school cars

[@garrencarter4344]

3:40 "We'd like a temperature gauge" Me, an intellect: That's what the bottom left gauge is John" However, it's missing your oil pressure & volt meter. So I can understand your rage.

[@chumbawaumbacumpa]

He probably meant oil temp gauge

[@j_mars_cars]

That “return of the Jetta” banner at the beginning sounds like a reference to star ways: return of the Jedi 😅

[@ibrahimcehajic]

Bring that car at that price back,like right now.

[@Sanpedranoazul]

When VW was reliable

[@Rali272]

I had one. I let it go at 225k

[@tommys1678]

My aunt has one of these and she loved it, it was definately a nice car.. still prefer sentras from this era though lol

[@palebeachbum]

Me too. Better looking and WAY more dependable. The 1.6L and 2.0L engines could last forever.

[@tommys1678]

palebeachbum I had two 1.6 sentras both made it to 300k+

[@xsbgtr]

How about the video of the Ford Focus ZX3 and SVT???

[@THX-kw2jh]

Reliability was the main issue with VW Jetta´s & Other VW models.

[@2040wagon]

Had two new. Both had ridiculous electric issues. Fox had Cooling and drive train issues.

[@TactlessBadge3]

60fps glory on a retro review?? Yasss

[@mercer982]

i still daily drive an 92 vento... i mean jetta . rusty little fella but i love driving it.

[@mustanlab302]

I swear the end of the world roaches and mk3 jetta will be all that's left

[@MaxHarrison]

These things are pretty much extinct where I live. They had really bad frame rot issues, so the road salt made quick work of them unfortunately.

[@ChickenC0re]

Roaches, a diesel Mercedes, and a Volvo 240.

[@jonasjung7501]

ChickenC0re mk3 Jetta, most 90s Toyotas and Honda’s, Volvo 240, old diesel mercedes, those will be left 😂

[@jonasjung7501]

Tim Kramer bet after the frame rotted that 2.0 was still running tho 😂

[@davek12]

22 years later, I paid a similar price for a Hyundai Elantra. It has 6 speeds, 30 more hp, and the rear seatback splits to foldm but no sunroof.

[@fp5495]

The best looking Jetta to date. The following generation was great looking too, but it go a little to cutesie.

[@watspop.n]

1:52 finish the 1/4 mile... tomorrow

[@BrendanMacWade]

This might the favorite Jetta generation of the VW enthusiasts. Check out the Donut Media video that runs through the whole Jetta history.

[@TurboMan942]

That frosted tipped donut media guy is the most annoying person in the western hemisphere

[@view2see1]

Watched and enjoyed 👍🏽

[@ergosteur]

Describing the 2.slow as "brisk" and "enthusiastic" loll

[@alanchan2292]

Did anyone else see that "CD IN"input jack on the stereo? This is probably the first car/ stereo in the world with a 3.5mm auxiliary input, lol.

[@zoidzoid87]

Hold on was that a Aux jack 3:50 ?

[@GyroPyro121212]

Sure is. Could play music from your new phone on this 26 year old radio.

[@djkenny1202]

Any Reviews of the 95-2002 VW Cabrio??

[@Julian-do7bv]

I wanted to see them test the VR-6

[@JesusPerez-dl8we]

Appreciated but no glx test

[@kennyjdm4912]

I like the fast and furious reference . I always liked this car .

[@DStabs720]

Kenny Jdm this was way before fast and furious

[@vwsaiphone]

My mother had a 1997 Jetta Vr6 that car would haul ass !

[@BigDHomeVideo]

Yoo 3:45 Aerosmith on the radio. I miss the 90s.

[@gchordguitar]

ur telling me rock auto hasn't changed their logo since 94?

[@WitchyWhale]

Can you upload the 90 Audi Coupe Quattro review?

[@Doobie1975]

can you do the 1987-91 Toyota Camry if you have it?

[@ElPipa92]

I loved my Jetta mk4

[@Daniel28021991]

Very nice