Another Volkswagen I just won't be able to bring myself to buy

Like many, I had a bad experience with a VW. It wasn't as awful as some I've heard, but that was probably because it was a lease and after 3 years we parted ways. The problem wasn't so much the car. It did have it's transmission die at 24K miles - and we're talking stranding-my-wife-on-the-side-of-the-road broken. But most of the problems were little stuff that just irritates you. And guess what? It irritates you a hell of a lot more when the dealer exacerbates the problem. Like you take it in because the sunroof stops halfway open and the check engine light is on, you arrange your day around the service, and pick it up only to find the check engine light still on and the sunroof stops halfway when you open it.

And I really liked the car! It was a 2000 Golf 4-door 1.8T. The VW appeals by being an economical car that drives and feels like it's more expensive German brethren. It lacks the electronic frippery of, say, a 7-series while still evincing that marque's essential driving and tactile qualities . The difference between the Golf and it's entry-level competitors is so significant, that my previously "a car's a car"-indifferent wife, upon leaving a VW showroom, actually said "wow, there is a difference." We're currently on our third (increasingly expensive) European car as her daily driver.

After 5 European makes, I can't say the other 4 weren't devoid of little problems, particularly compared to a basically 10 year trouble-free run in an Acura. The 4 other Euro-cars were bought used (ranging from a Mini bought 2 years old, up through, well something bought when it was old enough to vote), while the Golf was brand spanking new. This makes for a very different outlook on similar situations. Being stranded by a dead fuel pump in a 10 year old , 130K mile car that is back on the road the very next day leaves a vastly different impression from a 1.5 year old, 20K mile car who's transmission completely gives up the ghost and leaves you in the lurch for 2 weeks while the dealer replaces it.

Despite the negative VW experience, they continually make cars I could easily see myself driving. The recently unveiled GTI-R is the car in the photo and referred to in the title. It looks great, eliminates the weight penalty of AWD and the VR6 in the R32, while allowing you a fully manual 6 speed and 20 more horsepower. Or the potential of getting the Polo 1.4 twin-charger here in the States. The new Passat CC is a beautiful car that has the features of BMWs and Benzes that cost significantly more. And how about the new Corrad Scirocco?

So for now, I'll stick with something else. Currently, that means a slightly used BMW and the aforementioned Mini (the car that can now buy booze hasn't been driven in 6 months, but that's another story). VW, you don't need to be perfect. An amazingly pleasant dealer experience, abetted by at least a free rental as a loaner (nice work, Knauz!), makes up for a sometimes temperamental and often expensive German car. A car that's in even a mediocre service department a lot less would another step in the right direction. With those sort of expectations, it shouldn't take much to get me back into a VW. I'm waiting.