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Ratty Rescue: Screwy Jetta

There’s a love/hate issue with MK4 Golfs and Jettas. While they were stylish and stellar to drive, the mechanicals were a bit…temperamental. Well we’ve found a Jetta that casts doubt on that stereotype. Our latest Ratty Rescue has been around the block quite a few times and could go around a few more.

When Volkswagen introduced the MK4 Jetta, the handsome lines and upscale interior really got people’s attention. Buyers flocked to showrooms and some dealers had trouble keeping them in stock. The little cars occupied a sweet spot in the market for a number of years: they were affordable yet looked more expensive than they really were. They were the “cool cars” of the era.

This 2002 Jetta is in pretty good shape for its age. It’s in even better condition when you consider its mileage: 241,420 miles driven. Wow. And if you look at it from the sides or the back, it looks pretty much like it did in 2002. But the front end needs a facelift. Actually, it’s had a bit of a facelift already: the hardware screws holding up the front fascia are a testament to the cosmetic work done. According to the ad, the owner rear-ended someone and insurance wouldn’t pay for the repairs, so a quick trip to The Home Depot solved that problem.

[See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com]

The saggy bumper isn’t the only screwy thing. Like many MK4 VWs, this one has a permanently lit check engine light. The seller had it looked at a few times, but the issue wasn’t found and a new car was in the works anyway. Visiting your local home repair store won’t solve this issue. There’s also heavy sun damage to the paint and the windshield is cracked.

But other than that, this appears to be a decent little car. It’s a Wolfsburg Edition, so it is well optioned with leather seats, a sunroof, and power windows and locks. It has newer tires on BBS wheels, a lowered suspension, and tinted windows. It’s also a 1.8T, so you’ll nevah lose.

Check out the ad for this 2002 Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition in our classifieds. The car is located somewhere in Minnesota (doncha know). Current asking price is $1,200.

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