I surprised nothing is on here about the failed “window regulators” on 2000 Jettas and Golfs. Mine failed once. Cost me $400 to fix. But, VW reimbursed me. A little over a year later, the regulator failed again (nothing like not getting it right the second time) and this time, water got into the door panel (it rains sometimes) and fried the window motor. Another $350 and VW said they won’t pay. Thanks.

So my 2001 1.8T Jetta is currently at VW Service for about the 10th time for an ongoing problem..a problem that’s existed since about 3,000 miles on the car…it now has 46,0000 miles…My Jetta’s engine will hesitate, idle very roughly, and sometimes stall. Most recently it stalled as I pulled out into traffic (not the safest way to start my day).

Among other things, it’s had several Engine Control Modules and updates, A Secondary Air Flow Pump, Spark Plugs, and most recently, the “”recalled”" Ignition Coil…which we all hoped would be the final solution…unfortunately not.

Yeh - and I probably shouldn’t but can’t help but mentioned how I was blamed (yup, me the customer) for using the wrong blend/grade of gasoline. (I wasn’t and it shouldn’t matter anyway).

In addition to the stalling/hesitating and rough idle, the ‘check engine light’ indicator often comes on…and off…then on again for a while…you get the idea.

Then there’s the traction control light that periodically would come on not only on perfectly dry surface during smooth driving conditions…but whilst sitting idle in my driveway as well.

And while on the subject of “”German Engineering and Design”"…shall I describe the peeling rubbery substance they chose as a coating for parts of the interior? The poorley specified ‘velour’ upohlsty that requires I use sticky tape to clean - vaccuums are worthless on the stuff. Plastic stuff occassional falls off…I often find ‘pieces’ of my car while clenaing it.

Exterior…about the same. The door molding on the driver’s side doors began falling off…and then there’s the ‘defect’ or discolouration in the paint job I pointed out to a service rep. at the dealership who offered to ‘buff it out’ with a $150.00 Detail job…no explaination why it was defected and since I give the service departments at dealerships part ownership of representing VW…I’ll include the fact that $150 later I had a semi-clean car (shoddy at best) which needed to be returned because they ‘missed’ the paint defect and had to rebuff it.

Anybody else notice how susecptible the paint job is to scratches? My door handle looks like I grab it each day with ’steel wooled gloves’ (I dont’)…it’s ridiculous. I have ‘keyless’ entry - why does normal usage on a relatively new car result in it looking that bad?

And then there’s the $430.00, 40,000 mile maintenance. I was told by a service rep that VW requires that all dealerships do a ’standard set of maintenace/repairs’ for a scheduled service such as the 40M maintenance. I know for a fact that they didn’t rotate and balance my tires as was supposed to be included in the service…sadly, i’m not sure what they actually did do…I do though now have in writing what grade of gasoline they suggest - previously I could not get it in writing…whatever.

Anywhoo, I beg someone to tell me why VW has decided that treating their customers as if their the problem and not their cars is good business practice…I’ve been a dream when it comes to tolerance and accomodation and belief that they’d one day ‘own up’ to producing a totally inferior product…it’s a shame they missed the point - they could have saved a loyal customer time and again - and they failed.

This is the worst car I have ever owned, I got it second hand at 40,000 miles. The door handles have fallen off a few times. The transmission went at 80,000 miles. It has been estimated to be fixed for $3,525.90. The instrumentation cluster went at the same time, as well as the brakes and an airintake valve. All of these fixes have been valued at $5,200.00 and the car is valued at $6,000.00 and the worst part is I still owe $4,000.00. I feel like I have been royally screwed and would like to know if there is anywhere I can complain other than here. Whatever you do - don’t buy a VW