Overview & Reviews
Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.
In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.
World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.
The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.
Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.
In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.
The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.
Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."
The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.
User Reviews:
Showing 10131 through 10140 of 13,910.00-
very satisfied - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
By Neurodancer - September 13 - 10:00 amThis is a great all around car -- a great fit and finish, fun to drive and economical
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Never Again - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
By WAO - September 13 - 10:00 amat 30,000 coils went. They replaced one and waited for the others to fail for a recall which ever came first. 6 Headlight bulds in 3 years at 62000 miles Oil Pump at 72000 Engine needs to be replaced Never Again for a VW of any kind....
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2004 VW GLI from thirsty85@hotmail.com - 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
By thirsty85 - September 13 - 10:00 amLOVE this car. Look forward to getting in & driving every day. It handles unbelievably & has a ton of pep. Would recommend highly to friends and have! One of my friends just bought the GLS and she couldnt be happier. Minuteman in Bedford, MA were exceptional to work with!
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Will not buy another VW any time soon - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
By td - September 13 - 6:20 amMy wife and I love the styling and comfort of the car, but have been extremely disappointed with the massive number of electrical component problems on our Passat. In my family, VW always had a reputation for quality, at least as long as I can remember. However, this car has not lived up to the VW rep. The day after we purchased the car, the fuel gauge sensor failed. Since then its been an uphill climb. The remote trunk opener failed, a break sensor failed that caused the ABS and Airbags to disable - another service call. Heated seats burned through the leather on the drivers side and actually caused 1st degree burns on my wifes leg <-- This resulted in a recall later. Etc., etc., etc
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2006 Passat 3.6 - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
By Rick - September 12 - 8:50 pmI test drove a 2.0T Passat a month ago and have to say I was impressed overall. I really wanted to look at the 3.6L and got to test drive last week and it was a THRILL! On pricing, if you load with similar features, the price isnt that much more than a comparable Japanese vehicle. Where the Passat differs is the available 4Motion. Also, the wagon comes out in the spring. Thats what Im waiting for... a 3.6L 4 Motion Passat Wagon (I dont like the height stance of any SUV). Outside of the Subaru Legacy / Outbank, theres no competion and the Subies are less expensive because theyre far more stripped down.
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Love this Car! - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
By jcostello1 - September 12 - 5:36 pmWe are a middle class family who searched for mid-size sedan that would be roomy enough for my 6 foot 3 husband, myself and two kids. we have been driving an SUV but i was getting tired of paying so much for gas. I wanted a luxury feel but at a middle class income price. This was the car that fit all those needs. Its huge. Its actually longer and wider then my Ford Edge. The kids and husband have a ton of room. Its really nice to drive, it has that cozy sports feel drive to it. It grips the road like a glove. I love all the techie touches. The stereo system is great with the touch and blue tooth and all the information if gives you on the dash! This car is great.
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Cool Car-Mechanically unreliable - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
By SM - September 11 - 10:50 pmDriving the Jetta was fun, but I found that it was the mechanical issues that bugged me. I bought this car with 36k miles on it. I had no problems for 5k-10k miles then everything went. I had to replace the sway bars, because they rusted, I had to get new front brakes and that cost $615 bucks =0( It also wont start when its 0 degrees or lower. I took it in 4 times and the dealership had no idea what was wrong. My battery was checked and was fine, everything was fine they told me. But it wasnt. I jumped ship and got a Scion TC. I love it and it starts in frigid temps. I loved this car, but hated the fact that it was mechanically garbage!
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Great Car! - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
By Jeff - September 11 - 8:23 amThis has been a great car. I have over 180,000 miles on it and it still runs like new. I cant believe the gas mileage - 45 MPG and I dont have a light foot. This car is fun to drive it handles well. The only thing that I have done to it is put diesel in and change the oil. I love the torque curve you get with a diesel plenty of power especially on hills. The 5-speed is all so great!
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Sometimes lemons are black - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
By Cyndi - September 10 - 1:03 pmThe lease on my 2004 Tourareg will expire in January, 2008. This is one vehicle I will have no qualms about turning in. Ive lost track of the number of times its required service and the hours lost from work. I should have done my homework before leasing it - I dont recall anything in the sales pitch about the astronomical cost of an oil change, the absurd price of wiper blades and I completely missed the part about it requiring premium gas. Live and learn. Unfortunately, I based this purchase on how much I have loved my 2000 Beetle which has been flawless in operation. Silly me. Perhaps if this car would have been yellow instead of black I would have spotted the lemon
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One Big Lemon - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
By Totally Disappointed - September 10 - 2:00 amOne problem after another - 1st, the secondary braking system. Soon after, the stereo just went dead. The dealer blamed a loose connection. Okay, so they fixed it. Next problem, what do you know, the stereo dies again! This time the dealer replaced the stereo. That was a week ago. Today, I had to cancel a hike with our 2 labs; another warning light! "Alternator workshop!" This wonderful news was accompanied by an appalling smell from the engine compartment. Well, looks like another trip to the dealer. I have to admit that the VW service people are a great bunch - Im sure Ill be getting to know them very well.
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