# What car is as fun as the Jetta? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 7, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265 "2007-09-07T02:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![desperate\_in\_dallas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@desperate\_in\_dallas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/desperate_in_dallas)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/1 "2007-09-07T02:48:04Z")
I love driving my 2002 Jetta, but it’s gotta go. It’s like a cheatin’ husband–never there, always in the shop. After failed ignition coils, check engine lights, and busted windows, the transmission has died at 52,000 miles. What’s as zippy and fun to drive that won’t break the bank? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 10:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/2 "2007-09-07T10:18:14Z")
Find a mechanic that knows what they are doing and understands VW’s. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/3 "2007-09-07T11:15:34Z")
These days there are LOTS of cars that are as “fun” to drive as a Jetta, and more reliable. Have fun car shopping. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 11:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/4 "2007-09-07T11:17:53Z")
It really depends on your budget. I would suggest the Mazda 3 with the larger 2.3L motor. ---
**Author:** ![GREG\_SHARPE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GREG\_SHARPE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GREG_SHARPE)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/5 "2007-09-07T12:14:03Z")
My 2007 Nissan Sentra SER is a blast. I haven’t enjoyed driving this much since I got go-cart as a child. Take a test drive on a coutry road. ---
**Author:** ![markmast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@markmast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markmast)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/6 "2007-09-07T15:31:25Z")
Nissan Altima Coupe ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Cadalzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@Ed\_Cadalzo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ed_Cadalzo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/7 "2007-09-07T15:51:26Z")
Go and test drive a Mini or the Mini S. The last time I drove one it was a blast. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/8 "2007-09-07T16:14:41Z")
I absolutely love driving my Scion tC. And it’s cheap too! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/9 "2007-09-07T20:35:35Z")
Subaru Impreza WRX. Actually, it will be a lot more fun than the Jetta. Try not to get too many tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/10 "2007-09-07T21:04:40Z")
Of the suggestions so far I would say the Mazda 3 is the most Jetta-like. Not dissing the others, just saying it reminds me of the Jetta more than the others, if that’s important to the OP. I also think it’s a good car. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/11 "2007-09-07T22:13:11Z")
Ditto! Your old Jetta will seem like your father’s Oldsmobile after you drive a WRX. ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/12 "2007-09-08T01:47:59Z")
Mazda may have done a better job of duplicating German handling than the others. I drove a Mazda Protege a few years ago and was quite impressed. The Mazda 3 replaced the Protege. For a front driver, it does quite well. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 10:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/13 "2007-09-08T10:05:00Z")
I will have to agree. I own a 2004 WRX Wagon. They are very reliable. However they are the next realm up from “zippy”. However that being said look at 2006+ if your considering automatic(rare). ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-car-is-as-fun-as-the-jetta/4265/14 "2007-09-08T13:25:25Z")
If you do get a subaru, their AWD system is pretty picky, so you’ll most likely have to buy 4 new tires if you have ONE go bad.