Clutch and flywheel (UKP1300) at just 56k to solve clutch judder.
Rainwater soaked footwells thanks to pollen filter housing leak. The water going where it shouldn't also wrecked an expensive control unit that runs the alarm system (UKP550 all in with labour to strip the interior and dry it, and replace the control unit)
Drivers window regulator disintegrated (UKP150)
Front suspension bush wear (UKP350)
Uneven front tyre wear (can't be fixed)
Any good qualities it has (engine, styling, interior materials) completely overshadowed by disgraceful reliability. This was a VW main dealer supplied car and still has a full VW history.
My old Avensis wiped the floor with it as a piece of engineering.
Just under £2.5k worth of unscheduled repairs and component failures in the 3 yrs since the warranty expired. A supercar wouldn't cost much more.
Will never own another VW.
You are dead right they look good with good quality interiors and brilliant economical (diesel) engines capable of astronomical mileage, but as for the rest they are a hole in your pocket.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site