Faults:

The windows malfunctioned two weeks after I purchased the vehicle. Normally, the two front windows slide down a bit whenever their respective doors are opened and then they slide back up once the doors are closed. My windows stopped doing that. They would bump into the convertible top, ruining them even more. It has been taken into the dealership nearly 10 times for servicing of just the windows.

I also chose to purchase the optional $900 CD changer hidden in the armrest. They somehow wired it incorrectly and the parking break, when applied, kept on cutting off the wiring to the CD changer. Eventually, the wires completely gave and the CD changer was no longer operative.

The rear cup holder got jammed and was eventually rendered useless when the service department tried to fix it. They ordered parts for it, but never followed up so we had to get it fixed elsewhere.

After about 8000 miles, the vehicle has some sort of electrical malfunction. It would not start and the sensors in the vehicle were not making any sense. I had to switch out a few fuses before it finally started again. I was in the middle of a road trip.

My most recent fiasco involved the service department (a different one). They were performing a factory recall when they broke one of my windows. They assured me that it would be restored back to factory settings. I clearly stated that that would include having the VIN number clearly labeled on the window as it is on all the others. He tried to reassure me, but when I got my vehicle back, the VIN wasn't there. Clearly, my vehicle is no longer in its factory settings.

General Comments:

I have purchased 5 new vehicles in my lifetime and I have never regretted buying a car, old or new, more than this one. Part of the blame rests on the service departments. The rest of the blame is on the vehicle itself. I have unsuccessfully tried the services of 4 different service departments. All have left me utterly disappointed.

The car is a nice ride and my girlfriend loves driving it. It's also very appealing and appropriate for her. Unfortunately, these complaints I have shared in regards to this vehicle grossly outweigh the little bit of joy it has produced over the year. At this point, I would rather have an upset girlfriend for a whole year than this vehicle for a month.

Faults:

The front headlights can be easily stolen by popping it out with a screwdriver. $350 to replace with a VW new replacement.

Passenger side coveritble top wing won't go down all the way.

Windows rattle when you shut the door.

Cup holder is very awkward.

General Comments:

Cute car.

Faults:

I have had to service the convertible top three times. The rear passenger side convertible flap will not close fully and this causes serious wind noise with the windows down and top up.

One night, I parked my car and went inside to get something, then went back to my car, but the alarm would not work and I could not get into my car. After I unlocked it manually, the car wouldn't start. I had triple A jump the car unsuccessfully. We had to keep the battery hooked up to the jump unit and drive it down the parking garage and onto a flatbed. The car cannot be towed, so they sent for a flatbed and secured it with chains, which scratched up the rear wheel. The dealer said it was a bad battery, not a dead battery. It was replaced.

The center console wouldn't unlock after repeated tries. I finally pulled it and the plastic latch broke. It took several weeks for Volkswagon to get a replacement part.

The 6-CD changer is fickle. On several occasions, it has not worked. It gives me errors like "CD ERROR" on brand new CDs and "CHK Magazin" on random occasions. After several days, it spontaneously starts working. This time, however, it has been three weeks since it last played a CD. I have spent so much time at the dealership that I haven't even gone in to see about this problem.

The tire pressure drops randomly. There are no punctures, but I have to inflate about twice a month on random tires.

The car decides when it wants to start and when it doesn't. About 70 percent of the time, it starts just fine. On especially hot days or days when I just happen to be in a hurry or have friends in the car, it decides not to start. It takes a few attempts and then the ignition turns on.

General Comments:

The wipers are ridiculously loud. Everyone who has been in my car has commented on how loud the wipers are. Consequently, I comment on everyone else's quiet wipers.

The windows rattle over potholes if they are up with the top down.

The engine accelerates very loudly.

I tried to install satellite radio, but there are no places for the antenna to fit on the outside of the car because of its design. the antenna has to hang off of the side of the car.