I have owned several VWs over the years. My first was a '90 Corrado G60. It was about 5 years old when I got it, but still in great shape. The only problem I ever had with it over the 4 years that I drove it was the alternator going out. That cost less than $200 to replace including labor. I think I had about 120K on that car when I sold it and I still got like $7K for it. 
I had a Beetle for a little while. I think it had some issues. In fact, most people that have them say they have problems, especially electrical. I always see New Beetles driving down the road with 1 headlight or 1 foglight out.
My brother has a Golf TDI and he abolutely loves it. It's an '03 (I think) and he has over 100K miles on it. No problems so far.
My Mk5 GTI is 8 months old and has 12K miles on it. I haven't had any problems. Most of the problems I hear people mentioning with their GTI are small issues like rattles and what not. I think this is common with most cars. Sometimes you have to work out a few kinks as you are breaking it in. Someone will probably disagree with me on this, but I think this is the case with all mass-produced cars.
Overall, I think the GTI is a far superior car to all of its Japanese competitors. Don't underestimate the things you can't see. For example, my father bought a 2005 Honda Accoud V6 Coupe. It was pretty nice, quick, and seemed very refined. After about 1 year it had dents all over it from normal road debris. Apparently it is made of really cheap steal. He traded it in for a Subaru Forexter XT. Although it is also Japanese it seems to be built much better.
Just my thoughts. Good Luck!
I had a Beetle for a little while. I think it had some issues. In fact, most people that have them say they have problems, especially electrical. I always see New Beetles driving down the road with 1 headlight or 1 foglight out.
My brother has a Golf TDI and he abolutely loves it. It's an '03 (I think) and he has over 100K miles on it. No problems so far.
My Mk5 GTI is 8 months old and has 12K miles on it. I haven't had any problems. Most of the problems I hear people mentioning with their GTI are small issues like rattles and what not. I think this is common with most cars. Sometimes you have to work out a few kinks as you are breaking it in. Someone will probably disagree with me on this, but I think this is the case with all mass-produced cars.
Overall, I think the GTI is a far superior car to all of its Japanese competitors. Don't underestimate the things you can't see. For example, my father bought a 2005 Honda Accoud V6 Coupe. It was pretty nice, quick, and seemed very refined. After about 1 year it had dents all over it from normal road debris. Apparently it is made of really cheap steal. He traded it in for a Subaru Forexter XT. Although it is also Japanese it seems to be built much better.
Just my thoughts. Good Luck!
