Faults:

This car was purchased as a demonstrator from a Volkswagen dealer. Within the first months of ownership to just this week, I have had 23 incidents (including 3 roadside assistance and 3 tows to the dealer) for unscheduled maintenance performed by a Volkswagen dealer. The list of things that have gone and continue to go wrong with this car are the following:

Passenger and driver side window failure;

Interior courtesy light failure (twice)

Handle for access to rear seat broken

Passenger and driver side door poorly adjusted

Rear window washer and motor malfunction

Front wiper malfunction (replaced twice)

Cruise control malfunction

Driver side rear-view mirror heater malfunction

Second gear grinding

Passenger door handle trim coming apart

Car dead after one-week absence for vacation (3 times)

Rear brake disks and brake pads finished after 32000 km (front still OK)

Rough idling

Gas pump failure

The major problem: engine misfiring causing power failure (8 visits to the service department). For this last problem, every “ground wire” (I don’t know what these are) was tightened. Ignition coil packs, ignition wires, spark plugs, sensors, relays, etc…etc and finally the on-board computer were all replaced. That same day I picked up my car and two weeks later, it again would not start.

The car has been in the Volkswagen service department for a total of 40.5 days over a period of 36 months. After complaining to Volkswagen Canada (after 15 months of ownership), they agreed to extend the basic 24-month bumper-to-bumper warranty by 12 months (I asked for a 24 month extension). Because of the persisting problems and failures, I recently (summer 2003) wrote to Volkswagen Canada stating that my car was a lemon. I offered $6000 and my car in exchange for a new one. Their response: “a $3000 discount toward the purchase or lease of your next Volkswagen or Audi product”. Total disbursement on my part considering their offer is $12000.00. I refused the offer and am ridding myself of this nightmare this fall. Buyer beware.

General Comments:

Volkswagen has serious quality control problems it needs to address if as it's directors state they are to compete with Mercedes and BMW. More importantly, failure to take responsibility for a lemon they produced is not conducive to the future purchase of a Volkswagen or Audi product from customers.

Faults:

Sensors, sensors and more sensors. I can't recall all the sensors I've had to replace in this car. Fortunately many of these were factory waranties, but one Oxygen sensor cost me a LOT of money.

Power Windows fail. at about 35,000 kms I had one power window fail. at 37,000 kms I had another one fail. Unfortunately I had to pay for the second one as I was in the wrong country when it failed. $900.00 USD to fix! I feel a little ripped off by the dealer in Mesa Arizona.

An loud annoying grinding buzz when starting up the car since about 100,000 kms. I dare not go to the dealer to figure it out as it may cost me another several thousand dollars.

Lots of plastic parts seem to break on this car including interior covers for various things and the levers for tilting forward the front seats.

After a few thousand kilometers the quiet ride begins to deteriorate as more and more rattles expose themselves.

Overall cost of maintenance on this car has exceeded that of any other car I have ever owned, including cheap Geo Metros to 4x4s that thrash around in the bush.

General Comments:

The handling of the car is extremely good. This makes the BMW ZR3 feel like a underpowered 1970's boat-mobile.

This car is FAST! To give an idea this car has outrun police in Arizona AND Las Vegas. When highway driving in the states I frequently set my cruise control to 120 - 135 MPH. I was once approached by 405 hp Corvette owner who was faster, but not comfortably so, amazed that I was able to keep up with him.

The acceleration on this car is surprising and manages to get rubber over 60mph when the car is in top form.