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 13101 through 13110 of 13,910.00-
2002 GLS 1.8T 5A - 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
By jgranato - July 28 - 10:00 amIn my opinion this car is the best vehicle for the money. Although it can accommodate 5 the Jetta is most comfortable for 2. The rear seat leg room is tight. The 1.8T is the engine of choice for performance (180 HP Stock/210 HP chipped). The interior is well laid out with the exception of the cup holder. The cup holder opens up covering the radio controls. 2003 1/2 will introduce console cup holders similar to the Passat.
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Passat Obsession - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
By Michelle - July 27 - 8:06 amI absolutely love my 2006 Passat 2.0T! I am a first time VW owner and I am blown away. You can not beat the value, styling and satisfaction of this vehicle. I test drove a Honda Accord, a Nissan Atima and a Toyota Camry and there is no comparison. I bought a Mocha Brown, Package 1 and I look around the cabin in amazement at how upscale this vehicle looks. I cant wait to get the windows tinted! For the first time ever, I feel like I have purchased the right vehicle for myself and at an excellent price. I keep reading about VW reliability being less than stellar, I only hope that is a thing of the past.
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Love it - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
By stavrosk - July 26 - 9:40 pmI have my white SEL now for 4 months with 4000miles. It is really excellent from every aspect. Friends and colleagues that have riden with me were amazed about the sunroof and the quality of the interior. It is really a high end SUV. Driving and handling is also amazing. Maybe a little bit delayed response on the gas until the turbo kicks in, but on the other hand I have not really tried to drive it with the stick on the S position. The only complain really is that I do not get anywhere near the promised consumption, usually average about 3mpg less than what is advertised for city and highway. Just wish VW would bring the turbo diesel in the US.
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Mixed Bag - 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
By Disappointed - July 26 - 6:30 pmMy first foray with a Volkswagen has been a mixed bag. From the first test drive, I knew I wanted this car. The handling, acceleration, and performance have been great. The car has more than lived up to its engineering reputation. Unfortunately, the electrical issues I have experienced have outweighed the joys of driving the car. When the weather is cold, the cars sensors indicate that the car is overheading, even though it isnt. The dealer tells me that they are aware of the problem, but they cannot fix it. On occasion, the dashboard electrical system freezes. Shutting off the car and restarting doesnt help. It eventually goes back on, but I never know when. This car has too many issues!
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my first car - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
By ariellerae - July 26 - 8:42 amI am a first time car buyer and I really like this car. I bought a used 09 with 57k miles on it in December and now it has 73k. I heard stories of German cars having a lot of trouble after 60k miles but I havent had any yet. Yes the brakes squeak a little but Im used to that I drove a Land Rover Discovery in high school. My tiggy has leather seats, xm, and bluetooth. really all you need. it gets me where I need to go...I would say the most unfortunate thing is that it only takes 91 gas and Im in CA its super expensive. Other than that I plan to have this car for at least another 5 years until I can get my dream car the merc glk :)
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Love it! - 2010 Volkswagen CC
By LeoP - July 26 - 3:36 amMy first German car. I hesitated to get a VW but decided to give it a shot and took it for a test drive. The test drive lasted about 5 minutes. I did not need more. Absolutely love the car, the way it looks and handles. My only problem so far is dashboard reflection in drivers side window. It blocks the view in the mirror and is very annoying and potentially a safety issue. I search the web and no one seems to have this problem, so I guess my window is defective.
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Whats not to love? - 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle
By Caroline - July 26 - 2:53 amZippy automatic, allows me to drive faster in traffic than perhaps I should! Mine is Candy White and it is an attention getter. Very comfortable, great sound system. In comparison with my 2008 mini seems much larger in all aspects yet side by side they appear the same size...I owned a Beetle several years ago, and this is like coming home! After the mini, I dont like the way the top closes, but I think part of that is my need to get used to it.
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First impressions - 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan
By dimag - July 26 - 2:04 amHave a car for a week (after driving used Lexus RX3303 for 6 years) and have first disappointments I test drive SE model but bought SEL with more options and to my surpirise has discovered that -- as fas as VW think power seat is one that out of 4 adjustments (up/down, lumbar, fwd/back and recline) it is enough to have only ONE powered and three manual. Only recline function is power - be aware. -- in a fully loaded car in 2015 VW did NOT make lights off automatic! This is such a surpise (and annoyance) to remember again to switch off lights when you leaving the car.
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VW, you hit it right on the nail! - 2006 Volkswagen GTI
By Hesham Emara - July 25 - 10:10 amIf youre looking for a "hot hatch", look no further. This is it! Ive test driven just about everything it its class: The new Civic Si, the Mini Cooper S, the Acura RSX Type-S, you name it. Nothing impressed me like the new GTI. Its real solid and the steering feels very connected. In my opinion, DSG will revolutionize automatic and manual transmissions. My only bad experience was the rattling from the passenger side just a few minutes after taking delivery! Thankfully, my dealership was able to pinpoint and fix it within 1 hour.
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Love our TDI Golf - 2004 Volkswagen Golf
By xxdoty - July 25 - 10:00 amWe researched vehicles for 7 months before deciding on the Golf! Hardly any car met our critera: good fuel economy, reliable, in the low $20s, side curtain airbags (this was a biggie which most cars dont offer) and fun to drive. The Golf met all these plus we got heated seats and a sunroof thrown in! Were VERY happy with our purchase and also received a $1000 customer loyalty rebate from VW because we currently own a 2000 Jetta which we love. The VW rear hatch bike rack is great(rather than a roof mounted rack) since we do tons of mountain biking. Oh by the way, were planning on buying the materials to make our own biodiesel fuel soon :)
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