How long will a Jetta or Civic keep driving?

My questions are: 1. which car will be more reliable year after year, the 2005 Jetta or the 2001 - 2003 Civic? 2. Which car do you think is more likely to still be drivable when it's 20 years old - the Jetta or the Honda?

I have a 1989 Jetta and a 1993 Civic. The Jetta was in an accident before I bought it in 1998, it's had all kinds of problems (we kind of think of it as a lemon but maybe it was the accident it was in) and I am about to replace it. I'm happy with my 1993 Civic and thinking of getting another Civic. The only reasons I'm even considering getting another Jetta is my family member who is my mechanic is a big VW fan (he's learned something about the Civics but much prefers working on the VW's) and I'm seeing a lot of 2005 Jettas on the market with 50,000 - 80,000 miles for $9995. That's a younger car than I thought I could get in my price range. What I'm looking for in general is a automatic sedan from early in this decade, with 50,000 - 100,000 miles, for $5,000 - $10,000 dollars. For the same $9995 the best Civic I could get would be closer to a 2001, maybe a 2003 and definitely with more than 50,000 miles on it. So, with the Jetta, I can get a younger car with less miles for the same price as an older more used Civic. But what I'm looking for in a car is reliability and longevity. As you can tell from the fact that I'm still driving a 1989 Jetta, I keep my cars till they're at least 20 years old and sometimes over 300,000 miles- assuming the car lives that long. Of course I like the better power and interior roominess of the Jetta but I also like the fuel efficiency and reliability of the Civic. I've learned how to give myself some extra room on the road in the Civic to make up for not having the power to quickly get out of the SUV's way.

So my questions are: 1. which car will be more reliable, the 2005 Jetta or the 2001 - 2003 Civic? 2. Which car do you think is more likely to still be drivable when it's 20 years old - the Jetta or the Honda?

I'm assuming the Civic is a better deal, otherwise why would an older higher milage Civic cost more than a Jetta? Or is this pricing just a temporary blip caused by people freaking out about gas prices?

Thanks.

Driving preferences aside, you'd have a lot more options for parts on a Civic. Down the road if you need to start replacing components, there is a decent aftermarket for VW, but nothing like what you can find for Civics. They are easy to work on and have a great track record of trouble-free ownership.

That being said, VW has a very competitive corrosion warranty (12 years) and will likely resist surface rust longer than the Honda. VW's can be 'quirky', as it sounds like the one you own is, but from my experience with VW's they will always go when you need them to. What about a TDI? Those engines are known to last well past 250,000 miles and get great mpg's, if you can live with a diesel.

I personally enjoy the driving experience of a Jetta and would choose that, but that's a personal preference. Just look at each model closely and see how the previous owner has driven it, that's your best indicator to longevity as both of those cars are good choices.

You do not want the Jetta,known for transmission problems,includes all the Volkswagons and are horrible to work on

Honda! Honda! My last Honda was a 1990 Civic Wagon with 400,000 on it. They never stop..... :runaround:

Honda! Honda! My last Honda was a 1990 Civic Wagon with 400,000 on it. They never stop..... :runaround:

I second that, had a friend that had an 80 something Honda CRX with over 300K, it got to the point when going for oil changes it could not be lifted of the ground as the frame bend and ready to snap, but that engine just kept ticking.

But this is 2009, and Mfg like Ford has come a long way, and in my mind today Ford make equal if not better product than import at less cost " don't buy the label, buy the value "

Understandbly you want newer car that you've owned a previous model of, however I agree with Ray. Does the car necessarily have to be a Civic or Jetta? Or can you live with a different car that is just as reasonably priced with a better quality/safety rating? If it is between the two I can tell you for sure that the Civic is the better buy for longevity and quality.