1997 Volkswagen Cabrio review from North America

My convertible top needed to be replaced due to splitting at the seams.

My passenger side door wouldn't unlock with a key, had to replace both locks.(the lock on the glovebox, console, or truck was not changed... if you want to unlock those you have to use the old key)

My car seemed like it was about to stall when stopping, the dealership flushed the transmission, but still does it.

My ABS light came on and would only turn off after the airbag was replaced.

My car then developed worse transmission problems, stalling while accelerating and not shifting gears. I took it to VW six times to complain and each time they couldn't find anything wrong with it- still does it.

The check engine light came on for no apparent reason, had to re-adjust airbag.

Car completely stalled when air-conditioner was turned on- had to replace some mysterious air-conditioning part.

Driver side door lock snapped in two and fell off- glued it back on.

My drivers side window started crunching and I had difficulty getting the window up or down. This is in part due to a poorly designed guide for the pulley. It seems the guide is made of plastic and over time the metal pulley rubs across it and it breaks. The crunching is the actual metal pulley wedging itself in places it shouldn't be. - Working on fixing it now.

Passenger side window now has the same problem. This happened one week after the drivers side. (Note to self: the shelf life of a plastic guide in a regulator is six years)

My ABS light is back on, HOORAY, I really missed that problem.

I bought this car because it was "VW Certified," and at the time it had a warranty. Most of my problems fell within the warranty period, but were not properly fixed and carried over until my warranty expired.

I took my car to VW several times for transmission problems, insisting they replace the transmission before it completely goes out, but they never did. The problem is just getting worse.

The premium sound ROCKS and I've never had an audio problem.

It's inevitable that you need a new regulator for your windows, eventually. Unless you choose to never roll your windows down, decreasing the wear on the plastic guide.

My car was made in Mexico.