Faults:

Glove box hinge broke.

Center console hinge snapped off.

Heat/Air conditioning fan broke.

Driver side window clips.

Passenger side window clips.

Mass Air Flow Sensor.

Temperature Sender.

Throttle Body Replaced at 41,000 miles.

Throttle Body #2.

Catalytic Converter.

Fuel Pump relay.

Brake light Switch.

ECM (the computer that controls all that stuff!)

Wiring Harness- 2 broken wires and 3 worn wires replaced.

New ECM has a bad Ground causing Throttle Valve issues, still fighting with VW over it.

General Comments:

By definition this car is a love/hate experience. When it is running it is super fast and handles like a dream with a power curve that never stops.

On the other hand it is plagued by problems in both fit and finish and with the engine mechanics.

Faults:

1. Brake rotors rusted and were literally crumbling in layers like shale, when the car was about 4 years old. My (non-dealer) mechanic said that he had seen it a lot as VW used a poor quality supplier for brakes.

2. Water pump broke.

3. Twice had check engine for O2 sensor.

4. Anti-Lock Brake sensors corroded causing my ABS not to work until I got them replaced.

5. Front cup holder broke.

6. Glove compartment door hinge broke.

7. Electrical issue related to the driver door lock. It won’t lock with the remote, but the other doors do and the alarm sets even though the driver door can be opened. If you open it, the alarm goes off. If you lock it with the key, it does not set the alarm or lock the other doors. If you set off the alarm, there is no way to turn it off with the key, which is a problem if you use a key without a remote or a broken remote (my car was used and only one remote worked). This problem is intermittent; mostly not working, but on occasion will work. I have been suffering with this one as it sounds like it will be a nasty one to find.

General Comments:

Good performance and handling, fun to drive.

Not bad, but expected better mileage for a 4 cylinder with a standard transmission. My 89 Jetta was better.

Less roomy that the 89 Jetta in both cabin and trunk.

Comfortable... best standard non-power seats I've seen. Only non-power seat with tilt.

Faults:

Front Cup holder Broke.

Glove box hinge broke.

Horn randomly does not work.

Brake lights randomly work or not.

Alarm will sometimes go off after I've unlocked the car.

General Comments:

I love this car and it has been dependable, but so many little things are going wrong with it. It looks great, but I don't have the time or money to be constantly fixing things that are going wrong.