1988 Volkswagen Jetta Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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User reviews for 1988 Volkswagen Jetta
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by Michael H
Feb 07, 2012
pretty damn good car for its time. a good first car. it has racing disk brakes in the front, lower springs and light weight rims. also has AC. the interior is nice and simple, I love the simplicity of the steering wheel. it's manual and it's fun to drive. also has a new CD player and new speakers, gonna get a sub for it later.Feb 07, 2012
by Erik O
Feb 09, 2010
Im just happy to be back in a jetta again... Smooth hard
acceleration through all of the rpms and all of the gears.
Good clutch response. Excellent brakes, coil over suspension all around give it good tight cornering but
slightly rough ride and a couple rattles here and there.
Performance exhaust has given me a nice, not over-
barring, sound while maximizing flow to the tail pipe. Needs
a little bit of work to make it, "pretty". It has a few dings
and ripples in a few spots. but nothing terrible. Needs
paint, as it's got the old oxidized look AND a different
color hood. The interior is bout then same. Mostly clean.
But has a few things to fix up before I can call it "nice".
The back window has a couple of decals, usually don't like
decals on the windows. takes away rear view vision
slightly. But not bad with these ones. One says "V - Dub
Nation" then just below it says "FARFRUMLOSIN" (a
"german" word that suggests that I am fast)
So far I am happy with this car. $800 to buy it and a few
extra for the fixin and I have a fun, relatively, fast car.
Did I mention that I love VW!!!! Only $800 and I am
getting 28mpg in town AND I am beating everyone with
their "fancy hondas" Losers, lol Feb 09, 2010
by Anonymous
Feb 01, 2010
Bought the base 8 valve 5spd. two years ago for $500 with almost 170,000 miles. It was a friend's so I had already replaced some things like the radiator, timing belt, tie rod and some other stuff. I beat it and didn't do much to it myself because it was a local go getter car.
Now I need it for school so I replaced front end bushings, ball joints, axles, tires, struts and shocks and aligned it. It ROCKS! It only cost me $500 to do all that because I am a retired mechanic with excellent parts sources.
This car went through hell and it is nice again. I drive it easy now because I like it so much. Handles awesome even with stock alignment specs. Is pretty quick for the 8 valve but it is great with fuel, better than 30 MPG. IT IS A SLEEPER. Looks so basic and boxy you'd never know how much fun they are to drive...high "tossability" index. AC works great even though it was converted to R134a.
Unfortunately the trans just went with 178K. I thought it was only the diff. bearings but the ring gear is chewed....oh well, junk yard time. I just want that close ratio 5spd the car had...the secret to its acceleration with only 105 HP.Feb 01, 2010
User rating:
by Michael H
Feb 07, 2012
pretty damn good car for its time. a good first car. it has racing disk brakes in the front, lower springs and light weight rims. also has AC. the interior is nice and simple, I love the simplicity of the steering wheel. it's manual and it's fun to drive. also has a new CD player and new speakers, gonna get a sub for it later.Feb 07, 2012
by Erik O
Feb 09, 2010
Im just happy to be back in a jetta again... Smooth hard
acceleration through all of the rpms and all of the gears.
Good clutch response. Excellent brakes, coil over suspension all around give it good tight cornering but
slightly rough ride and a couple rattles here and there.
Performance exhaust has given me a nice, not over-
barring, sound while maximizing flow to the tail pipe. Needs
a little bit of work to make it, "pretty". It has a few dings
and ripples in a few spots. but nothing terrible. Needs
paint, as it's got the old oxidized look AND a different
color hood. The interior is bout then same. Mostly clean.
But has a few things to fix up before I can call it "nice".
The back window has a couple of decals, usually don't like
decals on the windows. takes away rear view vision
slightly. But not bad with these ones. One says "V - Dub
Nation" then just below it says "FARFRUMLOSIN" (a
"german" word that suggests that I am fast)
So far I am happy with this car. $800 to buy it and a few
extra for the fixin and I have a fun, relatively, fast car.
Did I mention that I love VW!!!! Only $800 and I am
getting 28mpg in town AND I am beating everyone with
their "fancy hondas" Losers, lol Feb 09, 2010
by Anonymous
Feb 01, 2010
Bought the base 8 valve 5spd. two years ago for $500 with almost 170,000 miles. It was a friend's so I had already replaced some things like the radiator, timing belt, tie rod and some other stuff. I beat it and didn't do much to it myself because it was a local go getter car.
Now I need it for school so I replaced front end bushings, ball joints, axles, tires, struts and shocks and aligned it. It ROCKS! It only cost me $500 to do all that because I am a retired mechanic with excellent parts sources.
This car went through hell and it is nice again. I drive it easy now because I like it so much. Handles awesome even with stock alignment specs. Is pretty quick for the 8 valve but it is great with fuel, better than 30 MPG. IT IS A SLEEPER. Looks so basic and boxy you'd never know how much fun they are to drive...high "tossability" index. AC works great even though it was converted to R134a.
Unfortunately the trans just went with 178K. I thought it was only the diff. bearings but the ring gear is chewed....oh well, junk yard time. I just want that close ratio 5spd the car had...the secret to its acceleration with only 105 HP.Feb 01, 2010
by Esteban M
Dec 17, 2009
OK 1980's brazilian car... No seatbelts, for starters. Not exactly sexy, no amenities besides AM/FM, cheap interior, and still, sturdy as a truck, strong as an ox and amazingly quick considering its 1,8 liter I-4. Plus, all the love one can feel for his first car...
The 1988 Volkswagen Amazon was a 4-door sedan version of the Gol, wich in turn were the brasilian interpretation of the Rabbit and teh Jetta. Certainly not refined, but consider this: It went off the showroom for 8.000 bucks! The series was in its time, much more so than today, the perfect entry-level car.Dec 17, 2009
by Andy G
Oct 28, 2009
This car looked like crap, but she always started and only let me down 1 time when the rivets holding the ring gear onto the diff let go and blew a hole the size of a quarter in the bellhousing of the trans. Other than that it had 150,000 miles on it and was dependable transportation.Oct 28, 2009
by Geoffrey T
Oct 25, 2009
for my HS vehicle, it did a wonderful job of making my life likable. great performance in the rain and inclimate weather of oregon. also adequately held 5 stoner skateboarders driving around the state of oregon in search of skateparks.Oct 25, 2009
by Michael M
Oct 18, 2009
The body style of the jetta has changed little over the years. the performance factor was normal. I drove this car and put a lot ofmiles on it. This was the last car i owned before joining the military. It handled well in the snow.Oct 18, 2009
by Jeff M
Oct 03, 2009
I love my MKII Jetta. It is very solid runs supremely and have had no issue with her at all. She get 22 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway very reliable and awsome to drive. I love the dual valve air intake it sounds so much nicer at full throtle when you can hear he just inhaling all that air.Oct 03, 2009
by Jan O
Sep 19, 2009
This was my #2 of 2 Jetta GTXs. In 1988 the Jetta GTX had no cathalytic converter so performance was more than OK with the fabulous Rock solid 139hp 1.8L KR 16v engine. Firm 5sp manual gearbox and 4 functional disc brakes (with poor handbrake capabilities). Bild quality of the interior was excellent, especially with the full leather Recaro option as in my Stratosblue GTX #1. Extremely rust sensitive though, almost italian. Theft sensitive too. Fair mpg, maintenance cost clearly above average. Fun to drive!Sep 19, 2009
by Dana B
May 30, 2008
This car was my absolute favorite! It was a two door so not too many around. It was an eight valve, I but a cam and exhaust on it as well as a short throw shift kit. This car was the best my husband made me sell it. It had 200,000 miles when I sold it like 5 years ago and it is still truckin! I loved this car and would still have it if my husband had not made me sell it!May 30, 2008
by Cass C
May 18, 2008
20 year old car, if well taken care of, handles beautifully. It's my baby!May 18, 2008
by Nick W
Apr 21, 2008
these cars are remarkably solid and safe, however they do like to break down frequently,
causing high repair bills. unfortunately i can't recommend the jetta because of a repeated
issue i had with cracked pistons in the 1.8 liter 8 valve 4 cylinder engine that came
standard. otherwise these cars are surprisingly sporty to drive and have good acceleration
with the standard 5 speed manual. these also get over 30 mpg, which is very good for
such a fun to drive car. Apr 21, 2008
by Riley E
Apr 19, 2008
porsche 911 turbo and intercooler. recaro heated seats,.......pure sexApr 19, 2008
by Ryan R
Mar 01, 2008
its pretty trashy all around, it really needs some cosmetic work. i dont really care for that kind of stuff... well at least not right now. im more concerned with performance and handling. still needs a bit of tuning in those depts. but that takes $$ i dont have much of. Mar 01, 2008
by Adam S
Feb 08, 2008
Mk2s kick ass! I really wanted a GTi, but I really like this Jet.Feb 08, 2008
by Hassan M
Dec 26, 2007
good car interiorly , nice stlying , power performance , you can n't avoid love this car simplyDec 26, 2007
by Andrew P
Nov 25, 2007
It once blew a head gasket, & once the clutch activator snapped, considering the way I drove it it did dam well!Nov 25, 2007
by Jeff B
Nov 13, 2007
This car was blast to drive and lasted nearly 18 years... sold it someone that was going to restore it... the original Jetta GLi 16 Valve DOHC engine that wuldn't die!Nov 13, 2007
by Anonymous
Nov 12, 2007
EVRYBODY REMEMBERS NPS157 BLACK JETTA 16VNov 12, 2007
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1988 Volkswagen Jetta Pricing
Original MSRP
$9,310 to $14,520Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
Antenna Type: power · AM/FM radio
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent