zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?
At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?-September 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:17

Nice Price or No Dice 2000 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T

Today’s MK IV Jetta is arguably the best-looking in the model’s lineage. This one looks to be in great shape too, but has a title that doesn’t look so hot. Let’s see what such contrasting factors may do to its value.

Over the past couple of decades, there’s been a demographic shift in America. The long and the short of it is that people are having fewer children. That’s a strong indicator for the fall in popularity of multi-row minivans like the we looked at yesterday. Fewer kids mean less need for all those seats. At $4,500, our Mazda wouldn’t break the bank, and that was a cheap enough price for a few of you to suggest potential buyers break out the checkbook. The end result was a solid 78 percent Nice Price win.

With that out of the way, I now want you all to read the ad for today’s and offer an explanation of the most likely scenario for how it got to this point. Wrong answers only.

Image for article titled At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?

You see, while a typically modest and unpretentious car model, this particular Jetta appears to be a bit of an enigma. First of all, it looks to be in excellent – near time capsule condition. Part of that can be explained by its impressively low (33,126) mileage, but that doesn’t account for its 20 years of age. Most of us know that time wreaks havoc on VWs of this era.

The next oddity is in the drivetrain and the ownership history. Under the hood, this Jetta sports the 150 horsepower 1.8T and a five-speed manual transmission. The ad says that the car was “Driven by the elderly” which isn’t usually the demographic for that kind of engine or pedal count. Also, who were these elderly infrequently driving it? Was it used as some sort of AARP shuttle?

The last issue is that, despite the car’s seemingly immaculate condition and that impressive lack of miles under its belt, it currently carries a rebuilt title.

See? It’s all kind of puzzling.

Image for article titled At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?

The seller dutifully notes at the outset that this Jetta is “not a vehicle for everyone.” They then go on to list the car’s bona fides — “Great Gas Economy, Heated Seats, Leather Seats, Sun Roof, and Brand New Tires” — and brags “this vehicle will outlast any new Jetta’s with low miles.”

Despite the salvage title, the car is listed as smogged, titled, registered, and carries current tags in the pics. The only real sign of age on the exterior is the brake dust built up between the spokes on the factory alloys. Other than that, there appear to be no dings, scrapes, missing trim, or obvious evidence of an accident repair.

Image for article titled At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?

The interior is likewise in stellar shape with no apparent wear on the seating surfaces or even the crummy soft-touch surfaces VW liked to put in their cars at this time. The drivetrain is claimed to have been dealer serviced and shouldn’t really need much at such low mileage.

Image for article titled At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?

So, what do we make of this oddball Jetta? For someone looking for such a model, having missed them when they were new, this looks to be a strong option. But then there’s that salvage title. Some insurers wouldn’t cover the car based on that. I guess the best way to overcome that is to switch insurers and the only way for someone to have the incentive to do that is for the car to come with an appreciably-low price.

The price for this Jetta is $6,700. And remember, this is a vehicle that is not for everyone. Who it is for, I can’t tell, but you need to vote on that price and let us all know your opinion on how the car got where it is.

Image for article titled At $6,700, Could This Rebuilt-Titled 2000 VW Jetta 1.8T Salvage a Win?

What do you think? Is $6,700 a fair price when balancing this Jetta’s condition and spec against its title troubles? Or, is that just too much for a car that probably shouldn’t have been salvaged in the first place?

You decide!

Sacramento, California, , or go if the ad disappears.

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
The Transaxle From The Porsche 550 Spyder James Dean Died In Is For Sale
The Transaxle From The Porsche 550 Spyder James Dean Died In Is For Sale
There’s always been a sort of grim fascination with cars famous people have died in; I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme that Hitler allegedly died in at least three different off-highway museums. The Porsche 550 Spyder bought by 1950s icon James Dean and named “Li’l...
Sep 12, 2025
The 2021 Genesis G80 Is A Reminder That Luxury Doesn't Need To Come With A Hefty Price Tag—Or A Legacy Name
The 2021 Genesis G80 Is A Reminder That Luxury Doesn't Need To Come With A Hefty Price Tag—Or A Legacy Name
Oh, Genesis G80, shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Because damn if you aren’t hot as hell, fair as a maiden, and so beautiful it can be a little hard to look at you. Not to get too Shakespearean, but this sedan is a masterclass in luxury. If...
Sep 12, 2025
That's $600 Per Valve
That's $600 Per Valve
When you’re looking at buying a car, you want economy. You want the most of the attributes that you desire, without spending any more than you need to spend. If, for instance, you were looking for a car with a manual, five valves per cylinder, and individual throttle bodies,...
Sep 12, 2025
There Is Only One 254-MPH Callaway Sledgehammer, And It's Up For Auction
There Is Only One 254-MPH Callaway Sledgehammer, And It's Up For Auction
The one-of-one Callaway Sledgehammer C4 Corvette was built to do two things — crack 250 mph, and not fall apart in the process. John Lingenfelter blasted past that objective on October 26, 1988, reaching 254.76 mph. Then the car sat in museums for about three decades. Now it’s up...
Sep 12, 2025
At $9,999, Is It High Time You Buy This 2008 Chevy HHR SS?
At $9,999, Is It High Time You Buy This 2008 Chevy HHR SS?
While somewhat derided when it was new, Chevy’s HHR is a wagon that can haul, and, here in SS form, can haul ass. Today’s Heritage High Roof adds a five-speed to the fun, but is its price as high as its roof? Hi everybody! Remember me? Yep, I’m back...
Sep 12, 2025
A Kia Dealership Thinks Demand For The Telluride Means They Can Sell It For Nearly $80,000
A Kia Dealership Thinks Demand For The Telluride Means They Can Sell It For Nearly $80,000
The Kia Telluride (and its Hyundai Palisade cousin) have been hot sellers since their debut.. Some buyers were waiting months to get theirs because . None of that justifies dealer markups though. As (via ), one dealership thinks the Telluride is the most sought-after SUV in the world. So...
Sep 12, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved