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:

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  Great Car - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
  By Gliderpilot - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Ordered it from the dealer in OKC. Took 4 months to arrive. I like everything but the lack of armrests in the front seats. Anything with bucket seats should have an armrest (My wifes X-Type Jag does so why not the VW?). The oil change is no sweat, just make sure you have a Torz T-25 screwdriver. The filter is accessed from the top of the engine after you move the plastic cover over the intake manifold. Everyone should drive a diesel, Im getting about 43 mpg combined Hwy/City. Love it

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  Shaped like a lemon, too - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Kurt - November 7 - 7:30 pm

  Oof the greatest disappointments I have ever had with a vehicle. 1 alternator, 1 brake master cylinder, 2 power steering pumps, 2 fuel tank senders, 2 window switches, 1 radio, 1 lower radiator hose, 2 cooling fans and 1 fuel door actuator and oil consumption of 1 quart every 3000 miles which, according to VW, is within specification for a car with 22k miles on the clock. The only saving grace is that the lease is up in a few months. Kurt

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  Cabrio - 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio
  By playa8604 - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall, the car is great, however, Ive only had it for about a year and a half and have already had to put it in the shop a few times for minor problems (the radio volume did not go to soft.) If youre looking for a cute convertible thats good in the winter as well as the summer, the cabrios a good choice

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  My fingers are crossed - 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
  By zbignew - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Good so far, but still, a few typical problems: Three window regulator replacements. Chipping and scratching on the inner door handles and sliding cig lighter/coin tray lid. The front spoiler assembly has been dragged off its flimsy plastic attach points. Replacement of the A/C adapter next to the coin tray. The left driver door creaks. Chances are, the mechanics previous job was fixing shopping carts. The service center waiting room is a kingdom of Woe. The car has been fine so far, but Im thinking about making a clean break when the lease is up.

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  This is a nice car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mike Mc - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Pretty reliable and the V6 with manual is a fun combo!

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  Great Car - If you get just the basics - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Christian Hoy - November 5 - 10:46 am

  I bought this car brand new in 1999, and I still own it. All in all, it’s a great car, and has never let me down. I got the GL version in order to avoid too many electrical motors and gadgets that could break down in the future and cause costly repairs. I also wanted hand-cranked windows. So far, the only thing that has failed is electirc-operated gas cap cover. I haven’t fixed it, because it’s easy to open the gas cover manually. It’s a great car to drive - turns corners on a dime and feels stable at higher speeds. As for the looks, this car looks awesome. It looks like something that flew out of a science-fiction movie.

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  I wouldnt buy an Eos again - 2007 Volkswagen EOS
  By ljs - November 4 - 9:13 am

  I have had all the common problems since new. Window gears, window sensors, top malfunctions, top leaks, fuel pressure unit, lumbar bladder, etc. I am done with this car, 36,500 miles and it is gone. Service is terrible at any VW dealer. I wish this car was built as well as my wifes Passat. We were loyal VW customers until the Eos. No more VW for us, at all.

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  Cool - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By BORAVR6 - November 1 - 10:00 am

  Attended a seminar where J Mays, the designer for Audi & VW cars showed the passion that went into the design of the Jetta (and the awesome switchblade key) and decided to get one. The car has tremendous power and good handling except for the occasional torque steer from the heavy VR6. Interior details are magnificient and one just has to see them to realize that someone spent time thinking about it. It is truly a drivers car.

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  Old Enough to Vote, and Still My Favorite - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Kathryn - October 27 - 10:15 pm

  After 13 years and 130,000 challenging miles, this is still my favorite car so far. Love the positive, detailed road feel, the steady handling, the get-up-and-go turbo, the seriously reliable FWD - keep the nose pointed in the direction you want to go and youll get there, whatever the road surface or none. Excellent on tight, rough, winding Greek mountain roads as well as vast super highways at 90 mph. Very easy to learn exactly how long and wide it is, and parallel park on the first try with only millimeters to spare. Also, as a wagon, it can carry a phenomenal amount of Stuff and still have room for a dog and a child, with no change in handling. Some lesser items have been a problem: the rear window motors ate themselves up years ago and, since I rarely carry more than one passenger, I havent felt the need to replace them. The sun roof has a mind of its own. Rarely, the transmission can be clunky when downshifting, but usually only once at low rpms, with weeks between; it has done this all its life. I rated reliability low not because of the car, but because of dealership repair and maintenance support. Be discerning; the nearest dealer did such a number on my car that Id send it to the crusher before I took it back there. Luckily a new one opened fairly nearby (this is Texas, so 40 miles is fairly nearby) and their service is superb. If you need to use a non-dealer, find a VW-trained mechanic. It really does matter. I have no intention of replacing this car, and dont mind at all paying more than its current market value every few years for routine maintenance and age- and wear-related work (new headlights, vacuum hoses, suspension rebuilds - I do not believe in slowing down for corners). Parts can be expensive, but do not/not try to save by buying after-market cheap parts. It wants and needs OEM. The car has fairly low mileage because I also own a BMW 330 ci convertible, but the VW is my go-to car for any horse-feed hauling, transporting dogs to vets, Costco runs, or iffy weather of any sort: rain, snow, wind.

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  This was a fabulous car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Cabrilla - October 26 - 2:13 am

  I bought my Passat wagon used, with about 42K miles on it, as the second owner. It was fun to drive, handled well, and was a pleasure to own for nearly 8 years. For 3 years I drove it on a 140mi commute (RT). It also made several long-distance (1000+ miles RT) road trips every year with no problems. Overall, it was extremely reliable. They had to adjust the mass air sensor the first week I had it. Other than regularly scheduled maintenance, there werent any issues for 5 years of moderate to very heavy driving. I had to have the head gaskets replaced on the engine at about 130K miles. The ABS braking chip needed replacing at about 150K miles.