Faults:

Nothing at all.

General Comments:

This car is pleasantly surprising. The VW 2.5 5 cylinder has been dead to rights reliable. I highly recommend anyone looking for a used Volkswagen to buy one with this engine.

The reason I feel this engine is VW's most reliable is that there are no fail-prone components... for example, there is no timing belt or turbo to worry about. Even though it lacks the performance of its turbocharged counterparts, it's still got enough grunt to be fun. The torquey nature of the engine, coupled with the short geared 5 speed manual transmission and light weight make it a great and fun city car. Another plus, is that the 2.5 can be fed regular 87 octane fuel and can manage 25-32 MPG.

This vehicle has all the necessary creature comforts (A/C, heat, front and side airbags, leather, cruise control, traction control, power windows and locks, and even an aux outlet) and visibility is great.

The only money I spent on this car has been basic maintenance such as oil changes and brakes; parts are very inexpensive and readily available everywhere.

I feel that anyone looking to experience German engineering without high running costs should consider a Jetta, Beetle, or Passat with the 2.5... there is one for each individual's needs! I've got an 05 BMW 545i as well, but I use the VW as my everyday vehicle.

In short, the Beetle is a fantastic car.

Faults:

So far, so good. VW did a preemptive replacement earlier this year. Dealership couldn't have been nicer or more efficient.

General Comments:

For such a small car, the interior feels very roomy.

The top works a lot easier than a Mustang I also test drove.

Could use a little more pickup, but it's what you'd expect from a 5 cylinder.

Interior is laid out well, everything is easily accessible and comfortable.

Nice extras like heated seats, iPod plug-in and wind screen for a very reasonable price.

Holds its resale value well.

Faults:

The rubber 'paint' on the door handle on the inside of the car is flaking off.

General Comments:

Very snappy car, and has some get up and go.

The leather is great, and the seating is very comfortable.

Faults:

Brand new, so nothing. Will give updates as I put more miles on.

General Comments:

This is a great car. The 5 cylinder has plenty of power and the handling is better than similar cars. The design is a classic, very unique; cuts into the rear headroom a little, but whatever. My only slight problem with the car is that I wish it handled better. (It handles well, but I am looking for more) Maybe I will upgrade suspension later on. I know VW has had some reliability problems in the past, but I honestly think that these redesigns will be Volkswagen's savior.