1984 Volkswagen Jetta GL | Retro Review

You can't love the 80's without the Volkswagen Jetta.
Show 311 | Original Airdate 01-24-1984
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[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I'm surprised John wasn't more excited to finally get his oil pressure and volt gage!

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

I was expecting 90s like excitement from JD when he finally got those in a car!

[@AaronSmart.online]

Maybe he was too put off by the "military time" clock. 24-hour digital clocks are just normal and commonplace in Europe

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

@@AaronSmart.online Haha, maybe! In Canada, the only place 24 clocks are widely used by civilians is in the province of Quebec. As an ex-Montrealer, I still use a 24 hour clock. It's hard to get built-in clocks in today's cars to display 24 hour, they often have only one option, 12 hour time.

[@johnkristof8395]

Funny how times change. My 2022 Jetta only has a 12 hour clock now, while I am used to 24!

[@tientrinh943]

@@jkeelsncgood details

[@manthony225]

80's VW and Honda were the best. Now they just blend in with everything else.

[@jonytube]

Right?

[@kimchipig]

My Golf VII SportWagen is not like everything else.

[@calvinnickel9995]

Sure… but that’s not a good thing. My Civic has more room.

[@ianclaudio777]

Nope!!! Honda has high quality cars

[@Azureecosse]

the mk5 Honda CRV is unique the front & rear end it pure Honda nothing out there looks anything like it, you know its a Honda when you see it. Its the reason I bought one.

[@Yormsane]

A classic from back in the days when VWs were simple and reliable!

[@The_One_Over_There]

@@eppyz i wouldn't say all... Each generation has some cars that just simply failed. They had them back then, We have them right now. And more will come at some point. it's bound to happen as we all make and made mistakes sometimes. Even the best of the best mess up sometimes.

[@The_One_Over_There]

@@eppyz i know, But i wouldn't say all cars back then were super reliable either though. There were plenty good ones but also plenty that had more than enough problems to be a pain regardless of how simple they were.

[@justinmeeks1868]

Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection installed on those cars is faaaaaar from simple and reliable.

[@kimchipig]

My Golf VII has been totally reliable for seven years.

[@kimchipig]

@@justinmeeks1868 really? I figured it out in half an hour. It's simpler than a carb and easier to set up.

[@jangofett8210]

Back in the day when all these cars could putt around town and get great mileage. Now everyone has the need for speed. And it’s pedal to the metal at every stop light. I swear

[@Njderig]

Yeah everywhere feels like I’m on a race track. I’m tired of it.

[@ouch1011]

It was pedal to the metal back in the 80s too, but that was just because the cars were so slow that full throttle was needed just to achieve any level of acceleration.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Weird.... I drive a 90hp VW Passat, I am by no means a slow driver and never felt the need to put the pedal to the metal....

[@benjaminturrano6485]

I liked the Mk1 body style but LOVED the Mk2 when it premiered. I had to wait 30 years before I got my hands on a Mk2 and it was every bit the car I fell in love with as a teen driver when they were new, cool and everywhere. I've since owned 3 Mk3 Jettas and 3 Mk4 Jettas and currently a Mk7!! Loved them all, but some have been favorites - usually the manual transmission model. All have a certain fun to drive quality which is where they got that Fahrfugnugen slogan! Any Jetta owner will tell you its a real thing!

[@compu85]

I've had several Mk2s, had a Mk4 in the family from new, and drove a bunch of Mk3s. Somehow the Mk2 really hits a sweet spot for me. Good packaging, big trunk, room for 4, and fun to drive.

[@lloyd_3656]

Im looking for a MK3 VR6

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Weirdly, although I really like the golf MK1 a lot more than the MK2, I have admit that the MK2 Jetta looks so much better than the MK1

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

I do miss 80s econoboxes like these Jettas...simple basic transportation that got great gas mileage

[@Jeff_S...]

They didn't have to be. They were detuned, as the video said and they put those stupid giant bumpers on all imports, to intentionally make them ugly, in the name of safety...

[@PaulSveda]

You can still get some modern-day econoboxes in Europe. I spend time in the Czech Republic and usually get on of the low-rent Skoda Fabias. They are plenty fun on the small coutnry roads, get great gas mileage, and are practically bare-bones by today's North American standard of what a base model should have. I don't get the NA obsession with power, trim and size.

[@The_One_Over_There]

Those bumpers aren't made to make a car (intentionally) ugly. They're just because of the regulations they had to follow, Nothing more or less than that.

[@JustJay1281]

@@Jeff_S... look up the 5 mile per hour bumper... as with many things (like the 3rd break light), it took designers a while to find a way to integrate the new regulation into the design. Look at a lot of 80's cars third break light. in most cases its just this little plastic pod in the back window.... now most manufactures (thanks mainly to LED's) have integrated them into the body of the cars. They still have front end crash, both vehicle and pedestrian regulations that have to be met, manufactures have just found a ways to to comply that didn't involve an "ugly" bar across the front of the vehicle.

[@kimchipig]

@@Jeff_S... there have always been plenty of go fast parts for VW products.

[@markallen2984]

The 1st Gen Jetta was pretty cool in an unpretentious, honest way. Also, I miss velour interior fabrics.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

@@rightlanehog3151 First generation of VW Jetta is my favorite, 85-88 is my years favorites

[@kimchipig]

My dad had a 1984 Jetta GL Turbodiesel. It was an absolute blast to drive. The unassisted steering was amazing but heavy at low speed. I loved that car!

[@fernandorocha8459]

I love VW Jetta, great and cool car

[@ftffighter]

Believe it or not, that unassisted steering was actually looked down upon by most people in the American market and I think that really hurt sales.

[@landyachtfan79]

Next to the Series III Jaguar XJ6, I believe this to be one of the most perfectly proportioned cars ever built.

[@hawkeye454]

My first car was a (then) 23 year old 1981 vw rabbit diesel with a 4 speed manual. Great little car and it always got 48mpg or better even in town.

[@419rlanthony]

Anyone else ever notice how much John Davis used to perfectly annunciate all of these car review segments pre-1990 or so? He spoke in such a refined & hoity toity manner that I can't help but to get a giggle watching these retro reviews every now and again. 😅

[@419rlanthony]

Almost like a male "Martha Stewart"-talk-a-like. Tee-hee. 😬

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

I have noticed the same. Pre 1988, he is refined, sedate, and posh!!! In the 90s and beyond he is hyper!

[@itzed]

36mpg is a good rating even almost 40 years later.

[@applepoop10]

Its almost as good as most hybrids made today.

[@444mopar]

Would have liked to see them do a side by side test with the diesel model as well

[@05gtdriver]

Back when you could measure a vehicle's acceleration with a hourglass...

[@randomhero111391]

I agree but also people are spoiled with horsepower these days. I'm not THAT old (30) but anything that runs 0-60 under 8 seconds is pretty quick. Of course nowadays a Camry V6 runs 5.8 and a stock mustang GT runs 4.0 or less....good lord lol.

[@05gtdriver]

@@randomhero111391 I hear ya. I'm almost 57 and I got my drivers license in 1981. Anything under 10 seconds 0-60 was considered pretty quick back then. It's all relative too as the average car back then didn't stop, handle or exhibit vehicle control/safety like even the lowliest car sold today. I agree, 0-60 in 8 seconds or less is more than enough to merge onto a freeway and to get into trouble on public roads. We're so overtaken by fast numbers and with electric vehicles being produced that embarrass the fastest supercars, we have sensory overload! 😳

[@sweetdreams2460]

@@05gtdriver Well, I have a 74 Ford Pinto Runabout. Its got a four on the floor, but its not anything quick. I think 0-60 is like, 10-13 seconds but that's more than enough. Its not a racecar, it doesn't need to be. It does 100mph and that's more than enough for daily stuff.

[@shermantank7216]

GM or Ford could win awards for taking a V-8 and getting a whole 110 HP out of them.

[@Maggiolone85]

I own a 84 Jetta with the 1.7. Having seen many an econobox, it's one of the very few from that era that is unique, slightly upscale, dead reliable, well-built and fun to drive and modify ( especially with it's classic Italdesign styling). They're good urban cars; long distances in MK1s are admittedly uncomfortable.

[@abdul-kabiralegbe5660]

It would seem the 1.7L variant wasn't too common. My mum's first car was one such, imported into Nigeria in 1985. Hopefully I'll get around to restoring it.😢

[@1tristan1henderson1]

That GLI is awesome! I'd love to find one.

[@TheKiltedYaksman1]

$8210 is $23,420 in 2022 dollars, adjusted for inflation. Pretty spot on for the current Jetta, when pricing a step up from the base model.

[@justinmeeks1868]

Consider how much more you get for the money with the new Jetta. Its considerably safer, considerably faster, gets better fuel economy, infotainment is a whole other world.

[@shinobusensui9395]

@@justinmeeks1868 decades of tech eh??

[@justinmeeks1868]

@@shinobusensui9395 yes, decades of technology improvements. I want to be clear, MK2's are my favorite generation, owned several including right now. But some people seem to gloss over just how much better cars have objectively gotten.

[@405TubRefinishing]

I once owned a 1985 with Recaro interior. It was a blast up in Ludington Michigan when it was the middle of winter! Tight little car and I'll miss it

[@dohc1067]

Clean, simple, and reliable yet efficient.

[@adamv242]

I had an '82 4-door Diesel 5-speed BITD. Great little car.

[@CJWriter0925]

One of the simpler, sexier three-box designs of the early 80s.

[@StrictlyPlinking]

Ahhh! 1984… great memories of the 80s… a friend of mine had a brand spanking new GTI, while another had a Scirocco. I had a 1983 Toyota pickup with manual and bulletproof 22R engine. The era of lowered mini trucks, mine was lowered 4”. Thanks for the memories with this post!

[@carlc5748]

I had a 1985 Toyota SR5 xtra cab that I bought new in 1985. I still have the original window sticker. I paid $399.00, extra option for the special paint color, which was the rarest color on the Toyota trucks, and I think, only available in 1984,85, and 86. It was the sky blue/electric blue metallic color. My son currently has a Jetta from 2014.

[@StrictlyPlinking]

@@carlc5748 I’ve kept some window stickers as well from the past. Cool keepsakes imo. 👍🏼

[@eppyz]

My Uncle had an 81 SR5 never changed the oil in 300k miles. All he did was "add to it" until the cam snapped in half around 290k miles 🤣 amazing though it lasted so long. Ironically we have a 60 bug convertible in the family that was purchased in 63. Original engine and trans and my Dad still drives it to this day👍

[@StrictlyPlinking]

@@eppyz wow! Cool stories!

[@Jorge-Tamacas]

I like cars from the 80's, they were simple and practical with good fuel comsumption. 12 seconds from 0 to 60? Well it was a second faster than the old '87 Hyundai Excel I had. I like to see these retro reviews. They are great!

[@derspeed5796]

I always liked the late MKII Jetta design.

[@trumpsmum9210]

This isn’t mk2

[@derspeed5796]

@@trumpsmum9210 I know that. The 5 people who liked my comment also know that.

[@trumpsmum9210]

Haven’t seen one of these for 30 years lol best Jetta ever!

[@jean-francoisgrun7524]

Had on of these. I actually liked the non power steering as you could “feel” the road when it was icy before everyone else. It was very fun to drive!

[@burningmanmike]

My first NEW car, the 1984 VW Jetta 4-dr diesel. Loved it.

[@speedy_j9368]

Were they turbodiesels back then, like modern tdi’s? Or just regular diesels?

[@danielbilorian2243]

I had an 84 diesel , it was great , excellent mileage and it drove great on snow , i wanted a two door 16 valve GLI , but those were rare

[@yannisgouras4482]

I can't be the only one that watches these retro episodes and thinks about the fact that that car went on to another owner has probably traded hands several times and more than likely does not even exist anymore but yet in this episode it's brand new and none of that has happened yet kind of weird when you think about it

[@ianclaudio777]

I love the "four ball" steering wheel

[@Sivaprsx]

I had one of these as a first car, slow but not that bad compared to other small cars of the era.

[@SWog617]

This was the car I saw all over campus in my early days of college... and I would've killed for one. But looking back almost 40 years... 70 horsepower? LOL.

[@mwilging]

And you have to remember that this Jetta only weighed about 2,200 lbs, which is approximately 1,000 lbs lighter than today's Jetta. You don't need 200+ hp when you've got some that weighs around 1ton. The GLI's offering of around 90hp would be a blast to drive, I'm sure!

[@nlpnt]

I'd forgotten how the Jetta didn't really take off until the MkII.

[@Maggiolone85]

Hence why MK1s, especially coupes, are worth a lot more

[@jasonburton487]

always loved the Jettas, I had 4 mk1s 2 mk2s and currently driving a mk6 Jetta :)

[@leahchaney8541]

I had one silver just like that you couldn’t hurt it kept it until 98 gave it to my niece when she started college every thing worked never had a problem loved it.

[@anasevi9456]

bless you for keeping us supplied with this pure not VHF at best warped video.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I had a white with black fender flaired 1984 4 door jetta. LOVED that car.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

I own a North-American spec Wolfsberg-made '84 VW Jetta GLi 2-door. These were only available in Canada as to not take away sales of US-made 2-door Rabbit GTi's. Mr. Davis' statement of "the optional but really required power steering" is no joke. Manual steering is fine when moving. It gives great feedback, but parallel parking is a chore, even with the light weight. Overall though it's a great weekend car; nimble and fun to drive as a go-cart, but but a bit dated after almost 40 years. The 0-60 is on par with a diesel Oldsmobile and no A/C. I sure wouldn't want to daily-drive it, but it's fun for a weekly cruise to Cars and Coffee. If you want to see pics go to Imgur and search for "My 1984 VW Jetta GLi Coupe" - cheers!

[@robertbowers2190]

This was my first car! I loved that thing.

[@albear972]

2:24 John Davis must have blown a wad seeing that.

[@Slowgroovin]

The little hot rod gauges are cool.

[@davidaubin3902]

2:28 Oil pressure and volt meter gauges! LOL

[@76biggdogg]

Don't worry, they all stopped working the day after it rained

[@manthony225]

VW added those just for John! 😄

[@fernandomcc7954]

Here, that Jetta was known as the Atlantic and the Rabbit was called the Caribe. Both were sold pretty well. Of coruse, fabrics were not as nice as this one. Just a mix of good quality fabric on the center of the seat and the rest was vinyl. We also had another Volkswagen on top of the Jetta (like a Passat equivalent) which was the Corsar. They sold the sedan version but also the wagon version. This one did come with velour interiors. Other than that, it was just a larger Jetta with a "fancy" touch. They use that exact same concept in 1989 when they produced the first luxury water-cooled Volkswagen Bus: the Caravelle. With factory radio and casette player, four speakers, velour interior, arm rests, reading courtesy lights and head rests for passengers, slide windows for passengers, all windows were tinted, plastic european hub caps (instead of the typical metal ones), re-designed dash (looks very similar to the Jetta from this video), higher roof and new metallic paint colors. I used to love those buses.

[@chynacash3138]

Wow my dad had one of these it was a white 1984 - it overheated one morning when he was driving me to school and he came to pick me up that day in a new 89 Chevy Beretta GT and my mom was instantly pissed when she got home because it was a 2-door so he somehow took it back to the dealer and came back home with the Jetta 😂 I think him and my uncle put an engine in it.

[@WSNO]

So i've had these plans to build my 300k mile and worn out (thanks previous owner...) Volvo 740 into a neon-retrofuture hotrod with 80s tech modeled after modern tech (like a crt touch screen and focused halogen lights, etc.) turbo-charge it and so on. and if it were in a movie, i see it as the hero car. This VW Jetta, to me, is PERFECT for the cars driven by the goons of the oppressive dystopia system built in a similar way to the Volvo to chase after it. I love it!!!!!

[@tedschmitt178]

Based on personal experience, these cars could be cornered hard enough to make the oil light come on.

[@vwestlife]

And of course to make the inner rear wheel lift like a dog peeing!

[@basshead.]

Terrible cars indeed.

[@jeffkelly636]

They still can be. I swerved to avoid a moose in my mk4 jetta, and the oil light came on! The funny thing about it was, we were talking about that piece of road having many moose and the moose walked right out seconds later! 🙂

[@MTSVW]

My parents brought me home from the hospital in a 1980 two door Jetta! It was a neat car, but unfortunately was a lemon. The engine management computer would burn out about once a year and leave us stranded. After it happened multiple times they traded it for a Honda and have driven those ever since.

[@igglybiggly6951]

Had the quicker 90hp 84' GLI version that was an absolute blast to drive! Wish I still had it but Colorado winters killed it after 10 years

[@adamn7516]

Never was a fan of MK1 Jetta styling. Loved the MK2 Jettas styling though. Had two MK1 Rabbits. A Wolfsburg edition and a GTI. Had a MK2 GLI and a MK2 Jetta coupe. Also owned a MKIV GTI. Still long for another MK1 or a MK2 GTI.

[@flashindapan7965]

Look at how far that front bumper sticks out, my goodness.

[@twincitiesdashcam9119]

You could land a helicopter on that- geeze.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

5mph bumpers were required back then, and that Jetta will take less damage in a parking lot bump than any new car

[@444mopar]

Built in picnic table!

[@88Hellrazr]

A nd weigh a ton oh man they were bad...

[@a1700zz]

My first two cars were Rabbits. Great sporty handling and I always liked the Jetta.

[@Tailwind1]

Brings back wonderful memories! :)

[@egullSZ]

While my 2016 has a screen in it, the only real difference between this one and mine is the acceleration. I still hold on for dear life when a semi is going past me on the highway.

[@paulwlynch]

Great seeing these reviews of cars I saw here in Scotland.. I would love to see if possible a re-run of your early series..

[@nickpatterson492]

I ALWAYS LUV THESE CLASSIC REVIEWS

[@mikegreen2229]

12 second 0-60 time. My 18 GTI does it in 6! 12 was still better than huge land yachts of the day

[@GeeEm1313]

The no lap belt was creepy. I rode in a MK I Golf without a lap belt and I was holding onto the dash the whole time.

[@noseefood1943]

“0-60 in 12sec is very good …” LoL

[@THX-kw2jh]

I own a 1985 VW Jetta, overall a good car with some ignition and automatic transmission issues. Not one of the best cars I have own. Sold it to buy a Toyota.

[@Doobie1975]

Definitely a forgotten generation of the VW Jetta's! :)

[@ouch1011]

I think about cars like this whenever I see a comment on a new car review saying 9 seconds 0-60 is “dangerously slow.” Lol

[@davidbaron6647]

Love Retro videos.

[@unclejoe6811]

Haven't seen one of these on the road in a long time

[@lancenutter1067]

One of my favorite cars.

[@misterakt]

Mk1 Jetta diesel is on my list of dream cars

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Without turbo that must have been a tortoise

[@88Hellrazr]

The GLI shown is one of 5 pre production prototype, and the double glove box was an AC car only.

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

How do u know?

[@88Hellrazr]

By the time this would of been filmed in early October, November 1983, the 1984 GLI wasn't available till December 1983. Two of the pre-production GLI Sedans were used for reviewing and testing I belive the one photographed is the US spec as it has the 14 inch snowflakes, Canadian car had 13 inch Alloys. 😳 I have the Canadian pre-production prototype 2 door, I have done a lot of research.

[@larsupreme]

Did the price punch into compact car pricing? It's weird because other than interior noise it seems like it would be very competitive with even some compacts.

[@stegomon]

I miss my 2011 jetta with the 2.5 L 5 speed. Was a great car until that semi pulled in front of me

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

This is when John never shouted into the camera.

[@cmair77]

Brings back memories 🤘🏼

[@richard6834]

El Rey de todos los tiempos

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I always loved those! I wanted to buy back then the gti. But the salesman didn’t want to haggle with the price and payment! Nice car though!

[@foxtrot685]

I remember when Volkswagens were more expensive but they were nicer than anything else on the market. Now they’re more expensive and not competitive with anything, including their predecessors.

[@HamsterWheelGaming]

Those plastic bumpers add at least 3 feet of extra length to the car

[@MrZdvy]

US versions had more options ofcourse. Here in Europe I have never seen one of these with power steering and A/C.

[@marty1780]

30mpg city & 42mpg highway...We need to get back to smaller, simpler cars and trade some size and bling for economy and utility.

[@djkenny1202]

I love VW. Up to MK3. Then they got bloated and too complicated. I have a 92 GTI 16v (MK2 os my favorite). 2000 MK3 Cabrio (even with automatic, its very fun).

[@dadgarage7966]

The Return of the Jetta. It doesn't taste like chicken like the Rabbit.

[@Koexistence13]

Saw on of these caked in dust with some paint issues in a carport. Been there for years. Hmmmmmm.....

[@maineiacman]

Do the rear doors use the same glass as the front doors?

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

What does it signify?

[@PhillyDee215]

THROWBACK😎‼️

[@aaronmacy9134]

Lmao, you could go tailgating on those US reg 5mph bumpers. Two seated comfortably with a small picnic laid out between them.

[@rekleif]

Hmm, didn't know they offered a 1.7L engine. In Europe there was 1.5, 1.6 or 1.8L engines generally from wdub in the 80's....

[@ofirs5830]

1712cc. It was based on the 2.1L 5cyl. So 2144cc L 5 minus 1 cylinder

[@Tinrs80]

Yep...Had a white 84 and it broke down on me every 15 miles..lol

[@SeanFlaherty]

How did the dealers explain "military" time to USA customers?

[@bjbg6838]

I talked my mom into buying an 85.

[@one_flew_over_the_cuckoos_nest]

I feel so sorry for her!

[@faznout]

Except for size, the Jetta is still pretty much the same on the interior in today's time when it comes to simplicity and not very much going on for the interior.

[@martinkurek1940]

You have any electric cars by Mercedes-Benz that I can buy for my homeless friend? Or for the lower middle class user.

[@natedetailscars]

The Jetta has always been an oddball. Pricier and more upscale than it's competition, so it didn't sell as well. When they made it cheaper in the MkVI generation, that became a turn off for their base buyers hampering sales.

[@glenncrowe6683]

I wonder if it smells like crayons

[@BraveBlueSnowTundra94GP]

They started to smell that way I believe starting in 1999.

[@michaelsimko7694]

The Escort was a better bargain at the time. Plus, the early 80s Jetta wasn't what an American would expect out of a German sedan at the time. The redesigned Jetta of the late 80s was a success and was a more true German sedan.

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

Oh come on, 12 seconds flat isnt that bad. Its just fast enough to merge on the highway, and to keep up with traffic in town. You are gonna make that 1.7 sing, ofcourse, but it will more than willingly do it

[@battycowboy]

Those bumpers LOL

[@touraneindanke]

You can’t get more boxy than with Volvo..... Volkswagen... HOLD My beer

[@jakehoffmann9686]

God I wish that were me

[@성태김-c1w]

Jetta World

[@revelare_xvii6269]

Usain Bolt could finish the quarter mile faster than this car.

[@dumpnchase]

74HP. Wow

[@djkenny1202]

2200 lbs

[@oreally8605]

Back when Jettas weren't pieces of crap.

[@tontolinification]

VW ATLANTIC

[@nvkulk]

Scotty Kilmer is most upset