From the time I was a pup, the family had VWs. 1958 Bug ran the advertised 2 cents a mile. 1969 Bug, we should have never sold. 1971 Van we sold because my father got a job in Detroit. 1969 Squareback I got for college was terrific. My 1981 Diesel Rabbit went to 170,000 on one tune up until my ex totaled it. The 1985 Quantum I bought new was great until my ex wanted something bigger. My son's 1985 Jetta (bought in 1991) was pretty good until someone hit him in the rear and totaled it. The Scirroco replacement was excellent. 1986 Golf, 1985 Quantum, both bought in the late '90's as winter rats never failed to start. That was the end of my VW ownership.

Going down hill

My ex's experiences: 1987 Quantum bought from the dealer in 1992 broke the exhaust manifold bolts, crapped out the cat, and then the auto transmission. She traded it in on a 1991 Jetta that bent a rod. Traded that in on a 1994 Passat got less than 20 MPG and had interior and electrical problems.

My significant other bought a 2003 diesel beetle two years ago. It rides like a 1 ton truck. With 65,000 miles, the air bag light can't be turned off by the dealer. The door handles and center console, being cheap plastic are all broken. It gets about 30 MPG after being dealer tuned. The transmission flares like a 722.2 with vacuum problems. Changing out the battery takes half an hour. Changing the oil take half an hour. If you want to look at the engine, you have to remove a cover on the top or the bottom. The seat material is coming apart at 65,000 miles. What a POS.

You may do better with stick shift cars or those not built in Mexico.

Do you have VW experience or thinking of buying a VW?

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1983 300SD "Guderian"
1987 MR2
2015 Camry
2015 Chevy Spark
2006 Hyundai Tucson