OT: Volkswagen ownership experience? Options

[Cracker]

Beyond the cheating scandal...does anyone have direct ownership experience? Are there years or models to stay away from? I am thinking of a used car for my son - heading to college next month. Thanks in advance!

Tony

[Porschef]

Although I posted earlier about some issues with the 2002 Passat, (what do you want for $300) my wife loves it. I said I can only imagine how great it must have been new; there's 170k on it now. Biggest one is no heat; the A/C cranks but come October she'll be looking for it, so I'll have to figure out that one.

In all fairness, however, my DD is also a 2002, but a Golf TDI. I got it from a neighbor with just over 200k, I think she decided to sell it due to an occasional injection pump problem that would create difficult starting. I tried a seal kit from DieselGeek (I believe) that ran $60 including the special wrench. 3 hr job, has run flawlessly since. It's now got almost 260k, and returns about 47 mpg here on LI.

Yes, it's a base model, no power windows or sunroof, I did have to repair the passenger window regulator when I got it, and yes, the interior bits are rather flimsy, the radio really sux (needs a new antenna) but reliability has been terrific.

So I guess it's an overall crap shoot. But yeah, having had a Honda, there's going to be things that need replacing/repair; I think sometimes it just comes down to luck... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)