Front wheel drive is great in poor weather conditions, its great to pass struggling and abandoned expensive RWD Mercedes and BMWs in the snow and wintery condition. (Its only when you see an abandoned BMW that you realise they actually DO have indicators/blinkers via the hazard lights)
As a kid my favorite pastime was wandering around my local junkyard. Your videos remind me of simpler times. I love when you feature cars from the 30's and 40's
When these were new ,it was beautiful man I'm telling ya , the mk1s and 2s in the boneyards was a free for all so you could mix and match and make a rabbit have a bunch of GTI goodies for cheap! Gee that old LaSalle ran great, those were the days!
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with junk cars parked at the side of the road. every time there is a road trip, I always gawked at junk cars, i can tell it had not been driven for a long time, I had a wild dream of fixing every one of them!
I’ve been to Bernardston auto wrecking, and I can tell you firsthand that Katy the dog is absolutely insane. We’re all seeing the calm Katy on these videos.
Fun fact, Volkswagen made a 8 cylinder version of this engine for the Passat. It was the Passat W8 and made about 275 hp with all wheel drive and automatic transmission.
Hey Steve, love the show. Quick correction, the MK4 Jetta was the 2nd generation Jetta to use the VR6. The MK3 GLX VR6 had both the V6 and the roof mounted antenna. Thanks for the great content!!
I was given this car as a loaner from a dealership back in the day. I have to say the VR6 is sneaky fast and powerful. I was impressed as a muscle car owner and driver for years.
My Dad had a 02 Jetta with the 2.8 VR6 24 Valve version. It had 200hp & 195 lbs tq. That engine would rev close to 7700 rpm. After he had owned it my wife bought it. Everybody in the family loved that car. It always would put a smile on your face. That year model was capable of 150mph. I had it 124mph and ran out of road.😊
And (had one IV, identical to this if this one is a stick, and then met a girl who had just bought a 1.8T four years later just as I was dumping mine due to constant repair needs).... ...constant constant code throwing and repairing things that would never need repairing on a toyota or honda. Here's my experience from doing what work of that I could - open service manual, VW suggests special tool. Go to the car, generally not needed. I feel bad for people who bought them and had VW insisting constantly that they needed special tools. 1.8T was crap, too - core motor probably decent, just like the VR6. Interior style nice. Everything electrical or hoses, complete garbage terrible parts costs for little hose sections and such. 1.8T without the horizontal stabilizer bar in the VR6 version, a very squishy feeling car and terrible mileage compared to its window sticker - later revised downward a lot by VW. You'd have needed to drive 50 with a tailwind to get the original highway rating. May still not have gotten that. Claimed 34, got 28 on the highway on premium only. A chrysler pacifica gets better highway mileage now on 87 octane and is just as fast.
The VR6 is really closer to an inline 6 than a V6 since it uses a single cylinder head with the intake ports on one side and exhaust ports on the other. The R in VR6 even stands for "reihenmotor" which is the german word for inline engine. The V simply acknowledging the staggered cylinder positions done to make the block shorter in length.
The Mk4 Golf/Jetta is an amazing car. I'm not too crazy about their gas jobs but the TDI is an absolute gem. The build quality of the Mk4 is much better than today. They also were very safe cars and had a 4 star front and side crash ratings. Im still driving the 2000 Golf GL TDI 2dr 5 spd I bought new. Its been wrecked twice in front and both times I installed a junk yard front clip. Luckily the last one matches the black paint again. It has 219,000 miles and shows no signs of stopping, still gets 50 MPG average. and the A/C still works perfect and has only needed a can of 134a 10 years ago. I'll run it till the wheels fall off, then bolt them back on. After owning VW's again the last 25 years after a 10+ year self imposed ban from owning a POS 79 Dasher diesel in the early 80's I can say theres no middle of the road with a VW. You either get a real good one or a real POS. And when they're good they're REAL good so dont ever sell it! I refer to the Mk4 TDI VW's as the Mercedes 240D of the VW world they're that great.
My brother recently sold his 2000 Jettea TDI wagon with upwards of 450,000 km (about 280,000 miles). It was a real workhorse and was used as both a family vehicle and for business ( loaded with tools and machinery parts).
I built an ahu tdi-m back around 2002-3 and dropped it in a rabbit. Traction less 14 second 1/4s at 100mph ,and 0-60 in about 5.5. And no intercooler 😂 (It will get developed more , if it doesn't run solid low 13s it's getting a turbo VR swap) It got better mileage than any 1.6 na I've ever had. I'd average high 40s around town (1.6 maybe 42) And I'd get 51-54mpg highway, depending if I was doing 75-80 vs 60-65. For 3mpg, I'm going 75-80 😂 I used to do a drive home every few months ,like 480mi. With the TDI,I could do it in 1 tank.
Daughter has an 05 Jetta 166,000 miles, Excellent condition, daily driver.....1.8 ltr turbo, still moves and loaded, loudest factory Blaupunkt 6 speakers...cd cassette, EQ. ...needs drivers fender and rocker panel plus master window control but it still all works...sunroof air leather... Car was Built so well. I want it.😊
Steve, I was a VW dealership mechanic when this Jetta was new.......I don't handout excuses easily, but these VR6 cars were fast, especially with a manual transmission.
God love you man for being a VW mechanic! That V6 engine looks like it would have been a real M-F'er to work on. Having to put a new clutch in one of those cars must've been a nightmare!
@@michaelnazaruk4100 Haha the wife's Mk4 Jetta vr6 we got in '01sat in the garage for 8yrs because a timing chain job sucks dookie, they're on the trans end of the engine. 😂 Well, I yanked it and replaced everything I touched , got it roadworthy and then got a Smyth Ute kit. It's been on the road for 2mo now and it's a hoot. Very happy with my replacement for my rabbit pickup I had 20-25yrs ago ✌️ I been working on these things since forever though so the quirks don't bother me much. All those special tools they show in the manual? Make most of em or borrow it from a fellow Dubber,it's a heck of a community.
It’s amazing how popular Mk4s still are. A buddy of mine parts out Mk4s and it seems like they are just as popular with the high schoolers as they were when I was in high school in the late 2000s.
Lol darn Mk4 kids 😂 I've got one now though , actually we've had it 20yrs and I did a Ute conversion on it I'm more of a mk1/2 guy ,but the Mk4 is one of the best VW platforms made. Wanna go fast ,get a mk1/2 and save 1000 pounds ,wanna have a solid cruiser with all the power luxury goodies? Get a mk4 The Ute is a vr6 ,the sound is absolutely intoxicating. (There's a couple of vids of it on my channel)
VWs from this era were cool. First time I was tempted to purchase a foreign make - either the VR6 Jetta or the Passat. I thought of the Passat at that time as an “Audi A5” Thank you and Shane as always.
I owned a '98 Passat GLS V6 (not a VR6 BTW) and it shared a lot with the Audi A4. Was the worst car I ever owned, non-stop problems with it. Though I love my '68 Beetle, I won't touch another modern VW
I have a 2002 Passat and a 1968 Beetle. I haven’t had too many problems with the Passat. I’ve never been stranded anywhere, but the Beetle has been flawless. My dad bought it brand new. So I’m kinda partial to VW’s
There was a Beetle RSI in Europe with the VR6. The R of VR means "Reihe", or line in German. So a combination of V and in line. This engine type was invented by Lancia by the way.
Thank You For Your Hard Work/Research On Things Steve, I Enjoy Your Educational Content On The Junk Yard Crawls.. A Little Correction, The Volkswagen VR6 (By Design, The 15 Degree Angle V6, The “R” Means Reihe, Which Is In-Line In German, Hence VR6, It Was An In-Line Six That Was Compacted Into A Compacted, Narrow Angle V-6, That Would Fit Where In-Line Four Cylinders Would Be, While Offering Six Cylinder Power.. Stout Engines Developed Back In 1992 Volkswagen Corrado, The 12Valve 2.9L VR6, 1993 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Passat GLX, 12Valve 2.8L VR6 174 HP, Developed In 2002 The 24Valve 2.8L VR6, 200HP, Golf GTI, Jetta GLX & GLI, 2004 Golf R32, 3.2L 24-Valve VR6, 240 HP, 2006 The 3.6L 24 Valve VR6, 280HP (Still Used To This Day Volkswagen Atlas) 2006 To 2018 Availible In Passat, 2008 To 2016 CC, 2018 To 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, All Utilize The 24 Valve 3.6L VR6, Porsche Had The 24-Valve 3.8L VR6, Cayanne, Pamarama.. The Volkswagen’s VR6 Are An Engineering Marvel, Even Mercedes Benz In Europe Had The VR6’s In Their Cars In Europe..
They did a hit of Polo overseas, Dashed around of Golf, pulled a few Rabbits out of the hat, then popped a trunk and, whammo Jetta! Then, skipped the Right fand angle, and narrowed in for the kill. Just as well you didnt find a VR5, that would be a real Bora of a story. Having opposable thumbs and being able to roll your tongue, makes you smarter than Jung. Have a nice day, Mr Mags.🥝✔️
@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport I refuse to objectify anything except Chinese Gooseberries, but I'm all peachy about peaches. Ferdinand Piëch. Have a nice day too, Mr UfP.
The VR6 Was Actually In Development Through The Eighties, Actually As A Turbo Diesel, Before It Was Finally Developed In Time For The Second Half 1991 Volkswagen Corrado SLC, Gas Engine, 2.9L VR6 12Valve, The 1992/1993 To 1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX, 1993 To 1998 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX, 12 Valve, 2.8L VR6, 172HP, 1999 To 2001 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX/GLI 24-Valve 2.8L VR6, 200HP, 2002 To 2005 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX/GLI.. Then The 3.2L 24-Valve VR6, 2004 R32, The 24-Valve 3.6L VR6, 280HP, 2006 To 2018 Passat, 2008 To 2018 CC, 2018 To 2023 Atlas..
There's one of those that goes by my place at warp speed, pretty sure the driver's hair is on fire or they really have to shit. A cop just moved in next door, she's already got him in her sights...
One thing that always drove me nuts is that for every new generation, automotive journalists would say, "The Jetta is no longer just a Golf with a trunk." This went on for over 30 years.
My 98 MK3 GTI vr6 manual was undoubtedly one best cars I’ll ever own. So fun to drive, handled like a go kart and white it wasn’t fast it was pretty quick! VW had such amazing fit and finish back then as well especially the interior. My latter day Jetta TDi SportWagon is a fine little econo machine but is lightweight in every manner when compared to the VWs of this era. Don’t get me started on my 83 Scirocco! Those were the days.
The wifes 99.5 gls vr6 is now a ute, and on the road as of 2 months ago. We bought it as a pre-owned vw in 2001. She ran it for 10yrs and 130k before the timing chains werent happy anymore. That was the only problem we had wirh that car. I parked it in the garage ,and it sat for 8yrs before i got to the job. Then i got the bright idea to get the Ute kit. There goes 3yrs of time between making it roadworthy and doing the conversion. What kept me going ? The wife said "youll never finish it,look at your mk1" Well, that's darn near fightin words 😂 I had the biggest 💩 eating grin when i pulled it in the driveway the first time😂 She was a little upset at first , cutting up the first real car we bought together but i see it as a progression like our relationship. And it replaces my old rabbit pickup i had 20yrs ago ✌️ Yup,im a lifer at this point and i have no regrets and would do it all over again. The VW community is a heck of a bunch of awesome people ,be it air or water that you're into i love em all. And yes, back in the day me and the wife saw 130mph (indicated) quite a few times in the jetta with me or her at the wheel. The sound of a 12v vr6 with a nice exhaust is intoxicating and mesmerizing (I don't know how else to say it but I think it makes us a little frisky sometimes )😂😂
Man I always loved the VW Jetta’s! Specially when that one first came out! What a little beast it was for it’s time! And expensive too!I always wanted one but I couldn’t afford it! Sad to see that one in such condition! Great video Steve!
I had an '83 Scirocco that I blew the 1.8 4-cylinder in and replaced with a VR6 from a wrecked Jetta in 2000. That car would fly, wish I hadn't sold it, hard to find in good shape these days. Love those V-dubs!
@@geoffkeller5337 saw one at a show. Waaaay back in the day. Yellow, can’t remember the guys name. It was an animal in a straight line but the word was doing that destroyed the handling. VR6 mk3’s and 4’s pushed bad enough, it was worse in a light scirocco. I actually have my old mk3 vr6 Jetta and an 85 scirocco in decent shape laying around, I’ve thought about trying it for years but I remember at the time guys had moved on to that 5 valve per cylinder 4 cylinder Audi engine as it was lighter and didn’t hurt the handling as bad. But nothing sounded as cool as a vr6…
A little correction, the VR6 was first available in the 3rd generation Jetta. Also, the 4th gen was the last Jetta to get a VR6 from the factory, the upside was, for the 5th gen the anemic 2 litter 8v was replaced (just to come back in the 6th gen) by a 2.5 inline 5 (not vr5, those did exist) rated at 150 or 170 HP depending on the year. And of course you could also get the 2.0 turbo as the sportier option
The VR5 Was An Availible Engine Available Only In Europe, The 2.5L I-5 You’re Referring To, Was Available In The 2005 & 1/2 MK5 Jetta, MK6 Jetta Until 2014, Passat 2012 To 2014, The 2.5L Inline-5 Started Life As A 2.3L Late 70’s Audi Quattro Fastback, The Eurovans Had The 2.5L 1993 To 2002 Before The 24-Valve 2.8L VR6 Was The Standard..
@@MrTheHillfolk thought it was 92 in the corrado slc and b3 Passat in 92 but yes that was a year before the 3rd gen A platform (golf/Jetta/cabrio)… and I don’t remember clearly but I don’t think?? the a3’s got the vr6 right away either
@@MrTheHillfolk I very well could be wrong, and of course VW liked to do that 1/2 model year thing too. Heh you're a year older than me. I remember reading those magazines a few years prior and thinking how cool the Taurus SHO, and the Thunderbird SC were. Then years later a good friend had a well used early SHO that I got to actually drive a couple times. What a bizarre experience that car was. Glorious giant motorcycle engine that wanted to wind to the moon (and seemed like it was lugging under 3k) with a manual transaxle in a Ford sedan that was beginning to fall apart around it and was not really fit to handle or brake to match.
I bought one of these new, my first foreign car. A 2000 Jetta GLS VR6, five speed in metallic green with a tan interior and pretty much all the options. To get that exact spec, I had to go from Phoenix to a dealer in New Mexico, and drive the car back home. It was quite a drive, a brand new high performance car with handling unlike anything I had ever had before, going through the mountains in a "spirited" manner. Pure magic. But the fun didn't last very long, as parts started to break almost immediately; the clock spring, window regulators, sunroof track, glovebox hinges, and the worst problem of all - second gear grind. Anyone who has had one of these or the 1.8T knows what that is, the transaxle had an engineering problem that caused a grind going into second gear during a quicker than average shift, and despite taking it to two dealerships with one rebuilt transmission and one brand new one, the problem couldn't be fixed. Apparently, the second gear/synchro cluster assembly was too heavy, and the synchro just couldn't overcome it. To avoid the grind, you had to double clutch it like an old Model A, not a good option for something that begs to be driven like a performance car. It was unfixable, so I sold the car less than a year after buying it and bought a '92 5.0 Mustang which I still have today. If that transaxle was any good, I'd probably still have the Jetta today because other than that problem, I really did like the car.
Love that you give us so much information and it is useful information! My daughter went with me to find parts for her Tacoma and she was trying to turn every vehicle into a crime scene diagnosis. OK the van full of knives did have me beginning to question a few things..
Early 2000's VW had some beautiful designs going. Clean and modern lines. Seems like the design got messier as time went on. Wife and I had a 2005 TDI golf. It was a good looking car and very tight but comfortable. We brought out first baby home from the hospital in that car.
I had an identical car - 5 speed, bought brand new on a VW program for people graduating from college. by the time it had 45k miles, it already had 8k of work (2/3rds on warranty? then the rest on my dime) and I unloaded it for a honda. Fun car to drive, overpriced for what it was, but great feeling clutch, steering and shifter. Honda accord (coupe) that replaced it cost just a little more, had almost 70 more horsepower, would run on regular fuel, was bigger and got better mileage. made the jetta seem like a dinosaur in terms of capability, but didn't have that wonderful steering feel and clutch that the VW had. I spent so much time at the stupid VW dealer first on VW's skimpy warranty and then on my dime. right window regulator and motor replaced three times despite being single and nobody really used it, coil pack replaced at 3 years old, same with plug wires (wtf on that one..jeez), left window motor and regulator. did have it up to 120 miles an hour once, though - when it was new, it was smooth. By the time it was 4 years old, I'd gotten into a habit - literally - of looking at least once every time I drove it to see if a dash light of some kind had come on yet, and then trying to figure out whether it was something that needed immediate attention waiting to see if it would show up on the code reader. Often some kind of oddball emissions code, flash it and then maybe it came back, maybe it didn't. All that said, it was a peppy engine at the time without much at the top end compared to later variable timed engines. it felt like an old engine in that way. most people don't drive all day at 6k rpm, though, so not having a second wind up there wasn't a big deal. the accord coupe that replaced it was much faster, but in regular driving, the jetta *felt* faster because of the way it was set up.
I bought an 02 GLX vr6 5spd auto, I loved that car so much when I went past the dealership and saw an 03 GLI vr6 6spd I bought that one too .... had then for years! The Winnebago Rialta ( newer version of the LeSharo you had on here) based on the VW van had VR6's too
Steve I have a mk4 1.8T "Wolfsburg edition". It's got nearly 200k miles and has been a fantastic value in terms of reliability & performance. I would have liked a vr6 but iirc that engine option was around $4000 more, and I have no doubt it would've made me grin ear to ear. These cars last a long time if we watch the fluid levels, maintenance is taken care of, and they're not thrashed around. My mk4 is still on its original clutch/drivetrain, and it still has lots of oomph out on the road.
Unfortunately part of that $4,000 upgrade was every VR6 Jetta had to be fully spec'd out with the only options being the Automatic and which wheels you wanted. They all had leather interior with wood trim and 6 disc changers and sunroof.
Grandpa to the rabbit , in 78 people bought more rabbits and were in traffic driving like wise asses cutting everyone off. I would blow by them in my 70 thunderbird 429.
And Steve, it'd be fun to see you and Super Shane Richardson follow Queen Katie around the junkyard and maybe she could show us her favorite relics. Or shortcuts to the office for chow time. 😀
Hey steve. Not mad at all. Love all your videos. But i know you like to keep magazines and such under the hood or the trunk. But it would also be kool to be the first to explore it and see it opened for the first time also with you. Cheers. Thanks for the videos
I drove VWs for years.I bought and drove a 2001 Jetta new. VW replaced the motor at 20,000 miles. Seems the bearings were losing the white metal and found it during a routine oil change.Owned it for 7 years .Not a 6 but rather a 4 cyl turbo.
I agree, I've been I'll with encephalitis since August and sure miss playing with Queen Katie of Bernardston! Thanks for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
Didn't care for those mk4s as a kid, they were college chick cars, but ended up with a TDI one a few years ago. Had 230k on it. Was a well built, comfortable, nice driving, nice handling car that got 40+ mpg.
What blew me away about the vr-6 , is the fact the motor was developed in the late 70s...never sold until the early 90s in 🇺🇸. Sad to see that vw is just about as bland as any other carmaker. And ps I believe the wagon on the brochure is the quantum , in wagon form!
Good stuff, but you missed those incredible trunk hinges that gave this car way more cargo space than any of it's competitors
Front wheel drive is great in poor weather conditions, its great to pass struggling and abandoned expensive RWD Mercedes and BMWs in the snow and wintery condition. (Its only when you see an abandoned BMW that you realise they actually DO have indicators/blinkers via the hazard lights)
As a kid my favorite pastime was wandering around my local junkyard. Your videos remind me of simpler times. I love when you feature cars from the 30's and 40's
Very true here in California the junkyards scrap recycle cars that are on the lot too long. Unless it’s a privately owned Yard.
In my days it was all rambler...maverick..and 60s pickups.
When these were new ,it was beautiful man I'm telling ya , the mk1s and 2s in the boneyards was a free for all so you could mix and match and make a rabbit have a bunch of GTI goodies for cheap!
Gee that old LaSalle ran great, those were the days!
Me too
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with junk cars parked at the side of the road. every time there is a road trip, I always gawked at junk cars, i can tell it had not been driven for a long time, I had a wild dream of fixing every one of them!
I’ve been to Bernardston auto wrecking, and I can tell you firsthand that Katy the dog is absolutely insane. We’re all seeing the calm Katy on these videos.
😅 Zoomies?
She looks like she's very friendly and animated. Nothing wrong with that.
Give Queen Katie a ear scritchie and a couple belly rubs for me, please.
Pro Tip...bring Queen Katie of Bernardston a few slices of fresh roast beef and....instant pal! Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
Good try in your attempt to sabotage her
Fun fact, Volkswagen made a 8 cylinder version of this engine for the Passat. It was the Passat W8 and made about 275 hp with all wheel drive and automatic transmission.
Yes. Cool car indeed. There is an very rare manual, 4motion W8 out there...
Hey Steve, love the show. Quick correction, the MK4 Jetta was the 2nd generation Jetta to use the VR6. The MK3 GLX VR6 had both the V6 and the roof mounted antenna. Thanks for the great content!!
Absolutely correct. I had a third gen vr6 Jetta and GTI
The dog is great, the interaction adds comedic value to the video.
I was given this car as a loaner from a dealership back in the day. I have to say the VR6 is sneaky fast and powerful. I was impressed as a muscle car owner and driver for years.
My Dad had a 02 Jetta with the 2.8 VR6 24 Valve version. It had 200hp & 195 lbs tq. That engine would rev close to 7700 rpm. After he had owned it my wife bought it. Everybody in the family loved that car. It always would put a smile on your face. That year model was capable of 150mph. I had it 124mph and ran out of road.😊
Good man mr steve, our girl katie is here ! We love you katie
Nice look at that engine. VWs of that era were known for their high quality interiors and engines that really sang. Made the 5-speed a lot of fun.
And (had one IV, identical to this if this one is a stick, and then met a girl who had just bought a 1.8T four years later just as I was dumping mine due to constant repair needs)....
...constant constant code throwing and repairing things that would never need repairing on a toyota or honda. Here's my experience from doing what work of that I could - open service manual, VW suggests special tool. Go to the car, generally not needed. I feel bad for people who bought them and had VW insisting constantly that they needed special tools. 1.8T was crap, too - core motor probably decent, just like the VR6. Interior style nice. Everything electrical or hoses, complete garbage terrible parts costs for little hose sections and such. 1.8T without the horizontal stabilizer bar in the VR6 version, a very squishy feeling car and terrible mileage compared to its window sticker - later revised downward a lot by VW. You'd have needed to drive 50 with a tailwind to get the original highway rating. May still not have gotten that. Claimed 34, got 28 on the highway on premium only. A chrysler pacifica gets better highway mileage now on 87 octane and is just as fast.
The VR6 is really closer to an inline 6 than a V6 since it uses a single cylinder head with the intake ports on one side and exhaust ports on the other. The R in VR6 even stands for "reihenmotor" which is the german word for inline engine. The V simply acknowledging the staggered cylinder positions done to make the block shorter in length.
The Mk4 Golf/Jetta is an amazing car. I'm not too crazy about their gas jobs but the TDI is an absolute gem. The build quality of the Mk4 is much better than today. They also were very safe cars and had a 4 star front and side crash ratings. Im still driving the 2000 Golf GL TDI 2dr 5 spd I bought new. Its been wrecked twice in front and both times I installed a junk yard front clip. Luckily the last one matches the black paint again. It has 219,000 miles and shows no signs of stopping, still gets 50 MPG average. and the A/C still works perfect and has only needed a can of 134a 10 years ago. I'll run it till the wheels fall off, then bolt them back on. After owning VW's again the last 25 years after a 10+ year self imposed ban from owning a POS 79 Dasher diesel in the early 80's I can say theres no middle of the road with a VW. You either get a real good one or a real POS. And when they're good they're REAL good so dont ever sell it! I refer to the Mk4 TDI VW's as the Mercedes 240D of the VW world they're that great.
My brother recently sold his 2000 Jettea TDI wagon with upwards of 450,000 km (about 280,000 miles). It was a real workhorse and was used as both a family vehicle and for business ( loaded with tools and machinery parts).
I built an ahu tdi-m back around 2002-3 and dropped it in a rabbit.
Traction less 14 second 1/4s at 100mph ,and 0-60 in about 5.5.
And no intercooler 😂
(It will get developed more , if it doesn't run solid low 13s it's getting a turbo VR swap)
It got better mileage than any 1.6 na I've ever had.
I'd average high 40s around town (1.6 maybe 42)
And I'd get 51-54mpg highway, depending if I was doing 75-80 vs 60-65.
For 3mpg, I'm going 75-80 😂
I used to do a drive home every few months ,like 480mi.
With the TDI,I could do it in 1 tank.
Daughter has an 05 Jetta 166,000 miles, Excellent condition, daily driver.....1.8 ltr turbo, still moves and loaded, loudest factory Blaupunkt 6 speakers...cd cassette, EQ. ...needs drivers fender and rocker panel plus master window control but it still all works...sunroof air leather...
Car was Built so well. I want it.😊
Steve, I was a VW dealership mechanic when this Jetta was new.......I don't handout excuses easily, but these VR6 cars were fast, especially with a manual transmission.
God love you man for being a VW mechanic! That V6 engine looks like it would have been a real M-F'er to work on. Having to put a new clutch in one of those cars must've been a nightmare!
Removing the trans is actually pretty straightforward. I don’t prefer the VR but it’s a very reliable engine.
@@michaelnazaruk4100
Haha the wife's Mk4 Jetta vr6 we got in '01sat in the garage for 8yrs because a timing chain job sucks dookie, they're on the trans end of the engine. 😂
Well, I yanked it and replaced everything I touched , got it roadworthy and then got a Smyth Ute kit.
It's been on the road for 2mo now and it's a hoot.
Very happy with my replacement for my rabbit pickup I had 20-25yrs ago ✌️
I been working on these things since forever though so the quirks don't bother me much.
All those special tools they show in the manual?
Make most of em or borrow it from a fellow Dubber,it's a heck of a community.
All the VW VR6 cars were a blast to drive especially the Corrado, what a screamer!
It’s amazing how popular Mk4s still are. A buddy of mine parts out Mk4s and it seems like they are just as popular with the high schoolers as they were when I was in high school in the late 2000s.
Last years before plastic use got truly outrageous.
Those cars were tanks very well built and engineered easy enough to work on
Lol darn Mk4 kids 😂
I've got one now though , actually we've had it 20yrs and I did a Ute conversion on it
I'm more of a mk1/2 guy ,but the Mk4 is one of the best VW platforms made.
Wanna go fast ,get a mk1/2 and save 1000 pounds ,wanna have a solid cruiser with all the power luxury goodies? Get a mk4
The Ute is a vr6 ,the sound is absolutely intoxicating.
(There's a couple of vids of it on my channel)
Good Morning, Steve!
Good what ever it is wherever you are everyone!
VWs from this era were cool. First time I was tempted to purchase a foreign make - either the VR6 Jetta or the Passat. I thought of the Passat at that time as an “Audi A5”
Thank you and Shane as always.
I owned a '98 Passat GLS V6 (not a VR6 BTW) and it shared a lot with the Audi A4. Was the worst car I ever owned, non-stop problems with it. Though I love my '68 Beetle, I won't touch another modern VW
I have a 2002 Passat and a 1968 Beetle. I haven’t had too many problems with the Passat. I’ve never been stranded anywhere, but the Beetle has been flawless. My dad bought it brand new. So I’m kinda partial to VW’s
I worked 12 years for vw, audi and porsche, the vr6 was very cool engine
buddy stuffed a 4 valve VR6 in a Gen2 Box Jetta... Das Hot Rod... scary fast... he now plays with a crew cab MicroBus truck..
The 4th gen Jettas and Golf's are fantastic cars. Thanks for presenting this car Steve!
There was a Beetle RSI in Europe with the VR6. The R of VR means "Reihe", or line in German. So a combination of V and in line. This engine type was invented by Lancia by the way.
Thank You For Your Hard Work/Research On Things Steve, I Enjoy Your Educational Content On The Junk Yard Crawls.. A Little Correction, The Volkswagen VR6 (By Design, The 15 Degree Angle V6, The “R” Means Reihe, Which Is In-Line In German, Hence VR6, It Was An In-Line Six That Was Compacted Into A Compacted, Narrow Angle V-6, That Would Fit Where In-Line Four Cylinders Would Be, While Offering Six Cylinder Power.. Stout Engines Developed Back In 1992 Volkswagen Corrado, The 12Valve 2.9L VR6, 1993 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Passat GLX, 12Valve 2.8L VR6 174 HP, Developed In 2002 The 24Valve 2.8L VR6, 200HP, Golf GTI, Jetta GLX & GLI, 2004 Golf R32, 3.2L 24-Valve VR6, 240 HP, 2006 The 3.6L 24 Valve VR6, 280HP (Still Used To This Day Volkswagen Atlas) 2006 To 2018 Availible In Passat, 2008 To 2016 CC, 2018 To 2023 Volkswagen Atlas, All Utilize The 24 Valve 3.6L VR6, Porsche Had The 24-Valve 3.8L VR6, Cayanne, Pamarama.. The Volkswagen’s VR6 Are An Engineering Marvel, Even Mercedes Benz In Europe Had The VR6’s In Their Cars In Europe..
They did a hit of Polo overseas, Dashed around of Golf, pulled a few Rabbits out of the hat, then popped a trunk and, whammo Jetta! Then, skipped the Right fand angle, and narrowed in for the kill. Just as well you didnt find a VR5, that would be a real Bora of a story. Having opposable thumbs and being able to roll your tongue, makes you smarter than Jung. Have a nice day, Mr Mags.🥝✔️
🍌✔️
@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport I refuse to objectify anything except Chinese Gooseberries, but I'm all peachy about peaches. Ferdinand Piëch. Have a nice day too, Mr UfP.
Holy Smokes...great wordplay Sir! -Steve Magnante
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon
Holy crap Steve! Please please please to the 94-96 facelift Pontiac Trans Sport Minivan next to this VW!!!
The mk3 jetta before this was avaliable with the VR6 as well. It was first seen in the Corrado all the way back in 1992 if I'm not mistaken.
The VR6 Was Actually In Development Through The Eighties, Actually As A Turbo Diesel, Before It Was Finally Developed In Time For The Second Half 1991 Volkswagen Corrado SLC, Gas Engine, 2.9L VR6 12Valve, The 1992/1993 To 1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX, 1993 To 1998 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX, 12 Valve, 2.8L VR6, 172HP, 1999 To 2001 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX/GLI 24-Valve 2.8L VR6, 200HP, 2002 To 2005 Golf GTI, Jetta GLX/GLI.. Then The 3.2L 24-Valve VR6, 2004 R32, The 24-Valve 3.6L VR6, 280HP, 2006 To 2018 Passat, 2008 To 2018 CC, 2018 To 2023 Atlas..
There's one of those that goes by my place at warp speed, pretty sure the driver's hair is on fire or they really have to shit. A cop just moved in next door, she's already got him in her sights...
Love these videos :-) The 1.4 litre twin charger that was designed to replace the 2.8 VR6 is also an interesting motor and well worth hunting out IMO
My brother had an awd,stick shift,W8 powered Passat.300hp and a nice car.
Great class Mr steve. Love the sight of katie girl
One thing that always drove me nuts is that for every new generation, automotive journalists would say, "The Jetta is no longer just a Golf with a trunk." This went on for over 30 years.
Man I love these videos, awesome job Steve!
My 98 MK3 GTI vr6 manual was undoubtedly one best cars I’ll ever own. So fun to drive, handled like a go kart and white it wasn’t fast it was pretty quick! VW had such amazing fit and finish back then as well especially the interior. My latter day Jetta TDi SportWagon is a fine little econo machine but is lightweight in every manner when compared to the VWs of this era. Don’t get me started on my 83 Scirocco! Those were the days.
I had an 86, Loved that little car!
The wifes 99.5 gls vr6 is now a ute, and on the road as of 2 months ago.
We bought it as a pre-owned vw in 2001.
She ran it for 10yrs and 130k before the timing chains werent happy anymore. That was the only problem we had wirh that car.
I parked it in the garage ,and it sat for 8yrs before i got to the job.
Then i got the bright idea to get the Ute kit.
There goes 3yrs of time between making it roadworthy and doing the conversion.
What kept me going ?
The wife said "youll never finish it,look at your mk1"
Well, that's darn near fightin words 😂
I had the biggest 💩 eating grin when i pulled it in the driveway the first time😂
She was a little upset at first , cutting up the first real car we bought together but i see it as a progression like our relationship.
And it replaces my old rabbit pickup i had 20yrs ago ✌️
Yup,im a lifer at this point and i have no regrets and would do it all over again.
The VW community is a heck of a bunch of awesome people ,be it air or water that you're into i love em all.
And yes, back in the day me and the wife saw 130mph (indicated) quite a few times in the jetta with me or her at the wheel.
The sound of a 12v vr6 with a nice exhaust is intoxicating and mesmerizing (I don't know how else to say it but I think it makes us a little frisky sometimes )😂😂
Another crawl that enlightened me on info of these past earlier autos. Always wondered what those vr’s were all about.
Man I always loved the VW Jetta’s! Specially when that one first came out! What a little beast it was for it’s time! And expensive too!I always wanted one but I couldn’t afford it! Sad to see that one in such condition! Great video Steve!
One of the best shows on you tube. I miss junk yard gold. Great content. Thank you.
I had an '83 Scirocco that I blew the 1.8 4-cylinder in and replaced with a VR6 from a wrecked Jetta in 2000. That car would fly, wish I hadn't sold it, hard to find in good shape these days. Love those V-dubs!
I was thinking that VR6 would be a great swap into an earlier VW. I bet it was really fun to drive!
@@geoffkeller5337 saw one at a show. Waaaay back in the day. Yellow, can’t remember the guys name. It was an animal in a straight line but the word was doing that destroyed the handling. VR6 mk3’s and 4’s pushed bad enough, it was worse in a light scirocco. I actually have my old mk3 vr6 Jetta and an 85 scirocco in decent shape laying around, I’ve thought about trying it for years but I remember at the time guys had moved on to that 5 valve per cylinder 4 cylinder Audi engine as it was lighter and didn’t hurt the handling as bad. But nothing sounded as cool as a vr6…
@@gatesj777 Very cool. Thank you.
GET WELL ..WE NEED GREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU..
A little correction, the VR6 was first available in the 3rd generation Jetta.
Also, the 4th gen was the last Jetta to get a VR6 from the factory, the upside was, for the 5th gen the anemic 2 litter 8v was replaced (just to come back in the 6th gen) by a 2.5 inline 5 (not vr5, those did exist) rated at 150 or 170 HP depending on the year. And of course you could also get the 2.0 turbo as the sportier option
The VR5 Was An Availible Engine Available Only In Europe, The 2.5L I-5 You’re Referring To, Was Available In The 2005 & 1/2 MK5 Jetta, MK6 Jetta Until 2014, Passat 2012 To 2014, The 2.5L Inline-5 Started Life As A 2.3L Late 70’s Audi Quattro Fastback, The Eurovans Had The 2.5L 1993 To 2002 Before The 24-Valve 2.8L VR6 Was The Standard..
Actually au contraire Mon Frere...it was in the corrado first and the Passat back in 91 ✌️
(Here in the USA)
@@MrTheHillfolk thought it was 92 in the corrado slc and b3 Passat in 92 but yes that was a year before the 3rd gen A platform (golf/Jetta/cabrio)… and I don’t remember clearly but I don’t think?? the a3’s got the vr6 right away either
@@gatesj777
Lol I think I remember it as 91 cause that's the year I graduated and that was the hot topic in all the magazines
@@MrTheHillfolk I very well could be wrong, and of course VW liked to do that 1/2 model year thing too. Heh you're a year older than me. I remember reading those magazines a few years prior and thinking how cool the Taurus SHO, and the Thunderbird SC were. Then years later a good friend had a well used early SHO that I got to actually drive a couple times. What a bizarre experience that car was. Glorious giant motorcycle engine that wanted to wind to the moon (and seemed like it was lugging under 3k) with a manual transaxle in a Ford sedan that was beginning to fall apart around it and was not really fit to handle or brake to match.
The MK3 generation had the first VR6, the Jetta GLX. Fun little cars.
Corrado*
@@PATTERSONBUILT Right, but in reference to the Jetta, MK3 was first.
You got that right. I bought a brand new GLX in 1997. That little shit would really scoot!
@@PATTERSONBUILT
And Passat.
Both in 91 for the us
3rd gen also sported the optional VR6 - good video
Interesting factoid in Europe The Jetta was called Bora. The Vr6 was also available in the GTI
I bought one of these new, my first foreign car. A 2000 Jetta GLS VR6, five speed in metallic green with a tan interior and pretty much all the options. To get that exact spec, I had to go from Phoenix to a dealer in New Mexico, and drive the car back home. It was quite a drive, a brand new high performance car with handling unlike anything I had ever had before, going through the mountains in a "spirited" manner. Pure magic.
But the fun didn't last very long, as parts started to break almost immediately; the clock spring, window regulators, sunroof track, glovebox hinges, and the worst problem of all - second gear grind. Anyone who has had one of these or the 1.8T knows what that is, the transaxle had an engineering problem that caused a grind going into second gear during a quicker than average shift, and despite taking it to two dealerships with one rebuilt transmission and one brand new one, the problem couldn't be fixed. Apparently, the second gear/synchro cluster assembly was too heavy, and the synchro just couldn't overcome it. To avoid the grind, you had to double clutch it like an old Model A, not a good option for something that begs to be driven like a performance car. It was unfixable, so I sold the car less than a year after buying it and bought a '92 5.0 Mustang which I still have today. If that transaxle was any good, I'd probably still have the Jetta today because other than that problem, I really did like the car.
Interesting in my mk3 the 3rd gear was the one that ground. The 02A transaxle
I love my Mk4! Not a VR6 but super prectical, and quite a handsome design in my opinion.
That engine made it up to 3.2 liter with 250 hp in the Golf R32-a ripsnorting hot hatch!
You are never boring Steve!!!!
Great video thumbs up 👍, always learning something new
Love that you give us so much information and it is useful information! My daughter went with me to find parts for her Tacoma and she was trying to turn every vehicle into a crime scene diagnosis. OK the van full of knives did have me beginning to question a few things..
Lol, you and Katie make a great team. Your videos wouldn't be the same without her.
Yes we are doggie lovers ❤ 😊
Thanks Steve from Old New Orleans 🤓
Katie, is hot in the trail of, Farfegnugen!
Early 2000's VW had some beautiful designs going. Clean and modern lines. Seems like the design got messier as time went on. Wife and I had a 2005 TDI golf. It was a good looking car and very tight but comfortable. We brought out first baby home from the hospital in that car.
katie knows she's the star!
Had a 02 jetta with 60k ... bought it used to drive for a year and sell 4cyl 5sp... really nice quiet cars when not abused
Thanks for sharing
Enjoy your videos. You do your homework. Keep'em coming.
My first boss outta high school as carpenter apprentice had one, I drove it once, thought it was pretty quick little car👍
Had a boss who had one mid 90's it was fast. I liked driving it.
I had an identical car - 5 speed, bought brand new on a VW program for people graduating from college. by the time it had 45k miles, it already had 8k of work (2/3rds on warranty? then the rest on my dime) and I unloaded it for a honda.
Fun car to drive, overpriced for what it was, but great feeling clutch, steering and shifter. Honda accord (coupe) that replaced it cost just a little more, had almost 70 more horsepower, would run on regular fuel, was bigger and got better mileage. made the jetta seem like a dinosaur in terms of capability, but didn't have that wonderful steering feel and clutch that the VW had.
I spent so much time at the stupid VW dealer first on VW's skimpy warranty and then on my dime. right window regulator and motor replaced three times despite being single and nobody really used it, coil pack replaced at 3 years old, same with plug wires (wtf on that one..jeez), left window motor and regulator.
did have it up to 120 miles an hour once, though - when it was new, it was smooth. By the time it was 4 years old, I'd gotten into a habit - literally - of looking at least once every time I drove it to see if a dash light of some kind had come on yet, and then trying to figure out whether it was something that needed immediate attention waiting to see if it would show up on the code reader. Often some kind of oddball emissions code, flash it and then maybe it came back, maybe it didn't.
All that said, it was a peppy engine at the time without much at the top end compared to later variable timed engines. it felt like an old engine in that way. most people don't drive all day at 6k rpm, though, so not having a second wind up there wasn't a big deal. the accord coupe that replaced it was much faster, but in regular driving, the jetta *felt* faster because of the way it was set up.
Some facts, the Mk3 jetta/GTI had the VR6 motor as well, also in 2003 they had the 24v VR6 in these that put out 200hp.
He said mk4 was the first with the vr6, but it wasn’t. Mk3 came with the vr6 also.
I had a 2000 VW Passat V6 manual. Could you do a "crawl" on that? 🤔
Stay tuned...
I bought an 02 GLX vr6 5spd auto, I loved that car so much when I went past the dealership and saw an 03 GLI vr6 6spd I bought that one too .... had then for years! The Winnebago Rialta ( newer version of the LeSharo you had on here) based on the VW van had VR6's too
Mr. B. Here ! Internet issues since yesterday! Morning 6:00 am from 🇺🇸 to all ☕️☕️🍩🍩
Hey good evening Deb from Australia 8-15 here plenty of fast golfs here, not to many jettas
Sorry I mean Mr b
Mr. B. Here ! Mrs. B. Doses not get up this early! LOL ! 👍👍☕️☕️🍩
I must be married to her sister , 😆😂
@@johnkelly8525 Oh lord ! I hope not : LOL ! 🤣🤣
Steve I have a mk4 1.8T "Wolfsburg edition". It's got nearly 200k miles and has been a fantastic value in terms of reliability & performance. I would have liked a vr6 but iirc that engine option was around $4000 more, and I have no doubt it would've made me grin ear to ear. These cars last a long time if we watch the fluid levels, maintenance is taken care of, and they're not thrashed around. My mk4 is still on its original clutch/drivetrain, and it still has lots of oomph out on the road.
Unfortunately part of that $4,000 upgrade was every VR6 Jetta had to be fully spec'd out with the only options being the Automatic and which wheels you wanted. They all had leather interior with wood trim and 6 disc changers and sunroof.
Grandpa to the rabbit , in 78 people bought more rabbits and were in traffic driving like wise asses cutting everyone off. I would blow by them in my 70 thunderbird 429.
Steve, When the VW lease expires, do they send the cars directly to the junkyard? 😉😂
I can smell that interior.
Yes! 2000 car review🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉keep them coming!
And Steve, it'd be fun to see you and Super Shane Richardson follow Queen Katie around the junkyard and maybe she could show us her favorite relics. Or shortcuts to the office for chow time. 😀
FUN I had a blast driving around in my SHO had two wish I could have got three
Best sounding V6 next to the Busso V6.
Hey steve. Not mad at all. Love all your videos. But i know you like to keep magazines and such under the hood or the trunk. But it would also be kool to be the first to explore it and see it opened for the first time also with you. Cheers. Thanks for the videos
The third generation also had the VR6
I drove VWs for years.I bought and drove a 2001 Jetta new. VW replaced the motor at 20,000 miles. Seems the bearings were losing the white metal and found it during a routine oil change.Owned it for 7 years .Not a 6 but rather a 4 cyl turbo.
Awesome thanks Steve
Katy is the best part
GET WELL ❤️🩹 SOON STEVE 👍
I agree, I've been I'll with encephalitis since August and sure miss playing with Queen Katie of Bernardston! Thanks for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante your very
Welcome get better ❤️🩹 soon
I’ve been Ill for 5 years and
No one can figure it out 🤬🤬
Leather seats and a great sound.....more cars should start with this formula!?!
Can you do a video on that Pontiac transport?
And we also got the 24v in 2003...
Well done!
Wow, he says "Jet-Ah" like a Mass man
The beauty of vw is the fact you can take that vr6 and drop it right into a Rabbit and smoke most of the American muscle on the road with it.
Known as a Bora in Ireland, they have a massive following especially in tdi form. I take the piss out of then but they are genuinely a nice car
You could get the 3rd generation Jetta (and golf) Vr6 here in Canada. Quite rare, but they do exist. Cool cars!
Story Steve but the Lindberg baby was found deceased. It is not missing the way Hoffa is.
I own a 2003 TDI. 712,889 km witha bigfer turbo, injectors making twice the stock hp and STILL goong strong and getting 48MPG
Nice sleepers those were.
Thanks for the cool video!!
Didn't care for those mk4s as a kid, they were college chick cars, but ended up with a TDI one a few years ago. Had 230k on it. Was a well built, comfortable, nice driving, nice handling car that got 40+ mpg.
I like VWs. Nice Jetta VR6.
Captain Kangaroo would be proud of you for taking us adults to your daily world steepz/ thank you very much for your morning starts!
LOVE THE DOG.
Get well soon Steve Love Rick and Susan White ❤
What blew me away about the vr-6 , is the fact the motor was developed in the late 70s...never sold until the early 90s in 🇺🇸. Sad to see that vw is just about as bland as any other carmaker. And ps I believe the wagon on the brochure is the quantum , in wagon form!
The 3rd gen was available with the vr6 engine starting in 1992. The gulf gti and the Jetta
Many folks add turbos to the these VR’s and then they REALLY scream