VW cars aren't that bad... yes they have some faults but it's not loonie bin incomprehensible. The problem is the dealers are completely useless. The techs aren't encouraged to have any troubleshooting skills, they just throw parts as the problem until a fix sticks.
The intercooler icing / hydrolocking issue is a real bummer. Cars have been having that problem since they introduced that common rail motor in 2009, yet the only fix they have out now doesn't seem to be solving the problem.
See this thread:
Mk6 Jetta: Hard Start / No Start - Intercooler icing discussion in here! - TDIClub Forums
Basically what happens is when it's cold out the moisture in the intake air from the low pressure EGR (which is taken after the Cat and DPF... think of the steam coming out of the exhaust on a cold day) condenses on the cold front mount intercooler and pools up. It freezes to the fins while you're moving, but when you stop the heat from the engine bay melts it and it pools in the bottom of the intercooler, and is then sucked into the motor upon startup. 1 oz of water is all it takes to hydrolock a TDI.
Good news is the Passat's air to water intercooler isn't affected by this... a major part of why we got a Passat over a JSW.
If VCDS wasn't available I don't think I would own a modern VW. The lack of a good scan tool is a major reason I didn't get a CDI Benz when we were looking at cars a year and a half ago. VW is approaching MB levels of repair costs though... the exhaust and turbo on a new CR car cost over $5500!
-J