Somehow, after owning 5 VWs, I haven't been bedeviled by CELs and other nagging problems. Three other family members have owned 6 VWs and they survived without any major problems. Must be just my luck.

VWs aren't perfect, but in my experience with other brands, no car is. A Honda Civic I owned since new went through 3 exhaust systems in the 5 years I had it. My Nissan Sentra SE-R left me stranded multiple times because of an issue with the starter and ignition. Fun to drive, but not so reliable.

VW resale is astonishing. I bought a used 03 GTI in 2004 for $19k. Sold it last week for $17k.

I've no idea where or how VW generates all the great Chi around their cars. VWs have had black marks on reliability for some time. They tend to add more value, but that's simply because they don't know how to compete without adding value. A car like a VW will operate on half as thick as those of a Toyota, simply because Toyota knows enough about engineering to cost-out without penalty. VW can't. For example, if VW takes out that extra thick carpeting, you know what you got? A really loud car!

Other German options are nascent. The Saturn Astra probably will be every bit as good as your VW counterparts.

Resale, shmesale. When you're lying in that coffin, you're not going to be all that glad about saving $450. Instead, you're going to be ticked about not buying the car you want.

If you like driving, get a BMW, or some analog (G37, for example). If you don't care, get a Toyota that was engineered and built in Japan. US Toyotas are, er, not quite as good.

I have just bought my 4th Jetta...and they have all been superb.
Many of my freinds family members and collegues have had various VW models...and you know what...we all love them.
They look great drive well have lots of equipment are safe have the best trunks...and now have the best resale as well.
GO Volkswagen.

VW sales are not good, pretty sad actually. They lack a lot in the reliability department, yet resale prices remain high? Something perverse here. So what does high mean? And who is paying these high prices for those used cars, VW dealers desperate to move their latest? The Olde Saab game again?

I'd say to take a REALLY good look at the Civic. And then compare the relative probable downtime of the Civic and any VW. Like sitting around the dealership? Or driving one of their loaners while yours awaits parts from either Germany, more likely Mexico?

I have to laugh at the highly thought of German engineer-ing. As in about a decade of MB rolling fiascos. And BMV's i-Drive still plagues sales, and for those who bought, the owners as well. Until relatively recently German cars demanded far more maintenance than anything on the world's roads, our domestic brands the very least. And yes, our standards were lower and their crude design required less care. And then Japan launched and perfected its brands and forced a lot of changes...

I've not had good experiences w/VWs. While the engines might last forever their always seems a lot of little things go wrong which rapidly would negate any resale value, not to mention the time wasted with the car in the shop. I'll take resale value based on reliability rather than some unquantifiable "German" heritage.

i need car.(auto)