Faults:

My mom -- who works three jobs on a CNA's salary -- bought me this Jetta as a college graduation present. She'll be paying over $300 a month until 2008 and until that last check is sent, I'll feel like we've been taken advantage of month by month. Here's the catalog:

Occasionally does not start. When I turn the key, there is a click and a very soft buzz under the hood. Jumping the battery sometimes gets the car to start, but repeated tests have shown there is no problem with the battery or the alternator.

Coil was badly burned.

Sunroof does not close all the way.

Left side of windshield leaks and drips onto dimmer switch.

When the car wouldn't start one night, I left it parked on a Chicago side street. When I picked the car up the next day, I rolled down the front driver's side window and heard a loud, grinding sound throughout the entire door. Of course, the window then stuck in the door and, as an added bonus, the skies opened up.

Cup holder sticks.

Fuel pump relay replaced.

AM radio is useless, as the alternator sends a very, very loud buzz through that gets louder as you press the gas pedal.

Program 6 button on the radio sticks.

Glove box hinges are broken in half.

Cabin cigarette lighters do not work.

Lights for the gas door switch and trunk switch do not illuminate.

Brake dust is unbelievable.

General Comments:

I can't believe how difficult Volkswagen makes it to service your own car. If you've decided to make one of the biggest financial mistakes of your life and purchase a Volkswagen, you'd better buy an Allen wrench to go along with it. The entire engine us shelled in plastic. In order to get to the engine, you need to disconnect all of the spark plug wires and then remove the screwed-down plastic cover.

I wish I never would have shaken that salesman's hand on the sale of this car. With all of the negative equity built up, I'll have it for another three years. As a master's student, the last thing I need is another mechanic's bills. I should have done more research before purchasing.

Faults:

Here's a small sample of what went wrong with the car:

Check engine light never went off, no matter what the mechanics did. (at least 200.00)

Oil distributor cap broke, oil leaked, and oil burned excessively. (1,500.00+)

Power steering gage and components exploded while at Blockbuster. (400.00)

Transmission nearly bottomed out three times this summer. (1,000.00)

O2 sensor replaced twice (VW paid for this one with a recall)

Turn signals, headlights, and other essential lights do not function properly, short out, and have caused me to get pulled over by the police.

Locks and windows go on and off, up and down, all on their own. Sometimes, in the dead of winter, my windows would open on their own, stay open, and not go up no matter what I tried. I had to bring the car in to fix this (200.00).

The car leaks when you drive in the rain, especially on the highway.

The car will leak out all essential fluids. I had to manually add water to the engine once a week.

Interior holds dirt and lint excessively (also animal hair).

Cup holder broke, too expensive to fix.

Outlet for cigarette lighter/cell phone jack broken.

Lights stay on in visors, causing the ceiling to burn and smolder.

Plastic parts all over the dash (including the vents) broken, too expensive to fix.

General Comments:

Stay away from this car! This car has nearly put me to financial ruin. I have spent over 3,000 dollars in repairs on this car in my first 16 months of ownership. I walked myself back to Toyota, took a severe loss on this car (I had 5,000 of negative equity put toward my new car loan), and left with my tail between my legs because I should never have left Toyota in the first place. I have a new Corolla now, and despite the fact that I will pay on this loan forever, I am not going to have my car in the shop every week, nor my credit cards burning up with repair charges. I've been left stranded in public on at least 5 occasions, have had to call in sick to work on at least 6 occasions, and have spent over 600.00 on rental cars to get me through the repairs I stated above. Please, if you have any sense of how much this purchase could hurt you financially, stay away from this vehicle and tell your friends to do the same.