Lemony

I drove a VW new beetle for 3 years and loved it...it did seem to require some major work at times and the problem is it's all computer based which can be an issue. But again...VW's are awesome and drive sooooo nice! Good luck!

Mary Contrary · March 22, 2007 at 01:08 AM

ayiyi...volkswagens. Let me say growing up that's all my mom owned and currently owns. She has a life time of love for them. So taking her advice about 4 years ago I bought my car. It's a 95 jetta. I like my car but keep in mind volkwagens are notorious for electrical problems. A lot of mechanics won't work on them. Which can mean going to the dealership which has SUCH an expensive hourly. And their parts can be pricey. Sometimes something as simple as changing a headlight is a lot more involved than with any other car. Also, this is going to sound crazy but true. They are notorious for smelling. As in have a mold problem. I don't know if it's the rubber matts or leaky sunroofs or what. But 3/4 of volkswagen owners I now have the same horrible smell. Anytime the weather is damp it kills me to be in my car. So every few weeks I lysol and let it dry and then relysol. I asked someone else how they solved their smelly vw problem and they said "I sold it." So, yes I love how heavy and cute my car is (and it was cheap) but if I did it over again it would be a honda or toyota.

ashley g · March 22, 2007 at 01:20 AM

My husband killed his new Beetle when we first met. Going over speed bumps extremely fast and smashing things underneath. Flooring it constantly. The parts he did not break worked well though. I learned to drive in that car and I hated driving other cars. The only other car that has driven like that was a Yukon XL Denali we had for a little while and my old Volvo Station Wagon that just died.

I would totally get a Volkswagen if it weren't for the price of gas!

Diana · March 22, 2007 at 01:27 AM

Oops forgot. The salesman told us that they have the same electrical system as the Audis and the reason they have problems is because they have a central computer that relays all the information. So say like you press the window button to open it. The button send the info to the central computer and then sends it to the actual system. He said it will be awesome once they get it 100% This was about 4 years ago.

Diana · March 22, 2007 at 01:32 AM

We drove a used '84 Jetta until 2002. She survived nearly everything we through at her, even being rained IN when her previous owner left the sunroof open. She finally went out in a blaze of black smoke most of the way into her 17th year. I still look a little longingly at those boxy old jettas when I see them. Not to say I'd trade my Civic Hybrid for one, who can knock a car that turns off while you wait to make a left.

katharine · March 22, 2007 at 01:40 AM

Ugh! You're the second person I've seen in that fantastic sweater. I'm absolutely jonesin' for it....with no Anthropologie in sight. hmmmpf It's adorable! Good luck with the auto decision.

Kim · March 22, 2007 at 01:42 AM

Hello Lovely,

I am almost ready to just take the doughnut hole and run...Cake sounds great during such a seperation, doesn't it? You made me chuckle! What is she thinking? Why can't she be her real true self. Once she said, my girls will be true to me as long as I do not cross them and sell out. Obviously there was a problem there? ok, enough of that, sorry.

Let's talk lemons. Love the sweater. Adore Josiah's name! Love that you tweak your items to be you!

As for the Volkswagen. My first brand new car that I negotiated my dad into purchasing for me at the age of, yes, 14 and a half. (What were they thinking???) Was a VW rabbit convertible. The rabbit and I lived at the VW rabbit doctor. It was a lovely car, I miss it. But, it did have constant problemas. And, sadly, they can only be resolved at a VW dealership. Not at your funky local car fixer shop. We wanted to keep that car forever. Alas, it was so problematic, we had to rid ourselves of its drama when I turned 19ish.

Sis had a jetta. Problems too. I don't know exactly what?

Oh and Ashley's comment...YES! I would say that the air conditioning could make you believe you were in the "pirates of the caribbean" ride in D-Land if you closed your eyes. Moist and Musky. Stinky.
xxo,Vanessa

Vanessa · March 22, 2007 at 01:56 AM

Perhaps not what you want to hear but, since you asked, in my experience VW's are a pretty lemony bunch. Maybe the new ones are better? I would see what consumer reports has to say. Good luck!

Melissa · March 22, 2007 at 02:05 AM

LOVE my passat wagon....haven't had any problems with it at all, i bought it gently used {i think it's a 2003.} good luck!

amy Lowrey · March 22, 2007 at 02:06 AM

Two of my friends have Jettas and LOVE them, no problems at all. One of them had a Rabbit convertible before that and adored it. Another friend has a beetle and loves that, again no problems. One thing I would also mention is that VWs hold their resale value VERY VERY WELL.

I grew up in VWs and the only thing I can remember going wrong is the time my dad's Scirroco (sp?) actually started on fire. While he was pumping gas into it. That was bad. And, yes, it was an electrical thing.
Aside from that, and the time the hive of bees decided to camp out in the back window of our green Bug (not really the fault of the car) that's the only problem I remember having with a VW.

Kitty · March 22, 2007 at 02:08 AM

my cabrio was such a lemon, they discontinued the line two years later! the cabrio was bascially the same as the jetta, but that was years ago (in 1999) so it maybe be different now.

love the sweater ~

andrea · March 22, 2007 at 05:13 AM

we have a vw golf at home, which i know isn't the same, but its going to be 6 years old this year and hasn't had any major problems at all. plus .. vws are so pretty + classy!

melissa · March 22, 2007 at 07:21 AM

I wish I had some good new-used card advice to give you, but I am eternally bad at all things automotive. I LOVE the new lemony sweater! Oh, how I WISH there were an Anthropologie near us....sigh! : ) I love to add things to dull clothing...it really makes them come to life!

Marjorie · March 22, 2007 at 07:26 AM

Both my fiance and I own red VW Golfs. Mine is more of a pinky red shade(like nail polish) while his is the classic red color. Needless to say our cars look ridiculously cute parked next to each other in our driveway!
Having a hatchback is amazing. We were able to fit a queen size bed frame/headboard from Ikea in just one little car. In that moment I was a very proud VW owner ,ha!
I feel like any car is a pain, they all have problems. So far *knock on wood* nothing has gone seriously wrong with these. They don't have the smell issue, funny I have never heard of that. But maybe they do smell and I don't know it?
If I had the funds I would get a hybrid car
like the Toyota Prius :)

Kate · March 22, 2007 at 07:34 AM

I have a VW golf too! and mine doesn't smell that I know of? mine is a 2000 and the only issue I have had is the plastic thingys holding the windows up both broke on the front doors, ($A350) each to have them fixed. I used to have a 1965 Semi Automatic beatle then a 1973 Automatic Type 3 sedan, very rare, oh the stories I could tell about them. I love my German cars so I vote go for it. Good luck

Miss Dot · March 22, 2007 at 08:08 AM

Like a lot of others, I've also experienced electrical problems with my 2004 Beetle. Although they've all been minor problems, they still number far more in two years than the issues I had with the Civic I owned for four years. My best friend owns a Passat and she's had numerous problems as well, though hers are a bit more major than mine. The plastic on the bottom that protects the undercarriage actually fell off and her alternator went out two days ago. Perhaps I was just spoiled by previously being a Honda owner, but I think there may be more reliable cars out there.

Leslie · March 22, 2007 at 08:23 AM

I have a 2001 Jetta and really like it-my only complaint is that little things seem to break off easily-one of my plastic cup holders snapped off, the glove box handle popped off-it has been running really well though minus the plastic bits-good luck on your decision!

Tracey · March 22, 2007 at 08:37 AM

VWs, although awesome cars - can be expensive to repair. My husband and I had a V6 Golf when we first got married. It was a of a gas guzzler and as it aged, it got pricey to maintain. That being said, a well-maintained VW can run for a very long time. (Hondas are like that too).

If you're looking for a new to you wagon of some sort, check the consumer reports first.

You can sometimes get a 2nd hand car at a good price from a car rental place. In Canada, at least, they sell their cars out after a year or two of use - (in the fall, I think, when the next year's models come out). They're usually well maintained.

You'll want to get some sort of maintenance history on whatever car you buy.

My dad is a car freak - can you tell his advice has stuck?

Good Luck with your search.

Oh - and I love the lemony sweater. Mainly b/c of the way it closes with the little strap.

Steph VW · March 22, 2007 at 08:44 AM

Hi Emily,

The little button tab at the top of the sweater is so very charming, you lucky girl. Can't wait to see the other pretty-fied numbers.

I have always had Japanese cars, but was eyeing VWs when I was last in the market for a car. That is, until I did some library research and saw how much more replacement parts cost for European cars than for Japanese and American makes. It's something to think about at least as you're weighing the many shiny options.

Anne · March 22, 2007 at 08:49 AM

Okay, that little cardi is a cutie! And I don't really like the color yellow even.

kiwi · March 22, 2007 at 09:05 AM

old jettas suck, new jettas are fine.

I would actually vote for a vintagey Volvo for you, you would be adorable in one, plus...they last forever.

stilettoheights · March 22, 2007 at 09:05 AM

vw's i would advise against. my brother and sister both drove passats 90's models and the timing belts went out and smoked both cars when they were like 3 years old...they are lemons and my other friend has a passat wagon and it has been nothing but trouble. might i suggest the ever trustworthy subarus- i drive a forester and love it!!!!

Terra · March 22, 2007 at 09:26 AM

i had to be a fluke i tell ya! we have TWO VEEDUBS (that's what we call em!) i have the passat wagon and my hubby has the NEW jetta! and..my mom bought the new jetta after we did! we love our VeeDubs!!! highly recommend! if you are going for lux and want a wagon, go with the New passat wagon. yummy!

loves

stephanie · March 22, 2007 at 09:31 AM

No real personal experience with the VW line except that my grandparents had/have Rabbits that they love. I've had more than one friend though that has dumped their not too old jettas because they seemed lemon-y.

Mama Urchin · March 22, 2007 at 09:42 AM

Emily...
I love VW's... I have the 2001 Jetta which I love, love, love! I'm selling it now, only because I bought a 2005 Touareg, and it's awesome as well.

Jennifer

Jennifer · March 22, 2007 at 09:50 AM

I lucked out and married a mechanic. But Brian loves both Jetta's and Passats. What year are you looking at? A lot can change with what problems a vehicle has based on the year. I can grill the hubby for you!

Sarah · March 22, 2007 at 09:52 AM

I love the sweater!
As for Volkswagens, I tend to lean on the advice of my favorite car guys, Click + Clack, who say that VW is not making good cars right now. My brother hated his Jetta (2000 model) + I have had friends who were disappointed with their new Beetle. But I have also had friends who have LOVED their early 90's models, so if you can research exactly when their cars started to suck then you can buy pre-that year + hopefully be really happy + not have to make lemonade.

shona · March 22, 2007 at 09:58 AM

I used to be a VW girl, and would get extremely defensive whenever my husband wanted a Nissan or something else. Because No! I have to have a VW! It's what I grew up with, and my first real car was an older VW Golf. Her name was Gretta and sometimes I still miss her.

Fast forward to a couple of years in to our marriage, and we were in the market for a new to us car...and it ended up being a newer VW Golf. It was great, until the warranty expired. That's when everything electronically went wrong. Our driver's side window literally fell out of the track and we had to wedge it close with a leather strap, because it would cost $800 just to open up the door to look at it to see what the problem was! Then another window went, and then for some reason the airbags stopped working. The only reason we knew this was because the warning light came on, and we were told that it just decided to not work anymore and it would cost $1400 to fix. That's when we decided we needed a new car. And it just so happened that our neighbors and close friends worked for CarMax as buyers. They told us that the newer VWs generally have these problems...they are great until the warranty runs out, then the electrical problems happen and they are very expensive to fix. So, no more VWs for us.

And there's my two cents which was actually more like ten. :)

odd dotty · March 22, 2007 at 10:21 AM

i have a VW Beetle. I love in Missouri and it has been really really hard to find people who know how to work on it and i have spent a lot of extra $ that way... i guess it all just depends on how popular they are in your area of the country... and if you don't mind paying dealership prices to fix every little thing.... but they are cute like crazy! :) good luck!!!

Elsie Flannigan · March 22, 2007 at 10:29 AM

I recently bought a 2003 silver Jetta with only 17,000 miles on it - still smells like new. I love it! It makes me smile every time I sit in it or even see it, I like driving by shops with shiny windows so I can see the reflection of me in my adorable Jetta. I'm even in love with the key.
Consumer reports is not a fan of VWs in general, I think that the only model they ever recommended was the Passat wagon. Jettas are made in Mexico and Passats are made in Germany (at least for the most part, I believe). VWs are rated as very safe but very unreliable.
My uncle is a mechanic at a VW and Audi dealership and looked everything over before I bought it (he personally hates VW and Audi with everything he's made of) and gave the thumbs up. He gave me some tips like to always let the car warm up completely when it's cold out before putting the window down - or it'll fall.
Sorry I wrote you a book! Good luck with the car shopping - My advice is to be picky, wait for the right VW and be prepared to pay a lot more than usual for any repairs. I believe I heard a man once say to treat your VW like you'd treat a woman.

emily · March 22, 2007 at 10:56 AM

My husband's family is a devoted vw family. They started with a rabbit when my husband was about 8 which ran like a champ forever(we inherited it when we got married and it was good to us too). I drive a jetta, had an older one before that and they have always been great, we haven't ever had a major problem. We haven't had problems having people work on them either and their repairs haven't been worse than our other cars. But more importantly, the sweater is darling! I can hardly wait to see pictures of your alterations too!

michelle · March 22, 2007 at 11:15 AM

I feel just the same way about a trip to Anthropologie. I always leave feeling so inspired it almost hurts.

On to the car...I have had a lot of VW's over the years,some serious duds ( Don't ever buy a V6 Passat- they are reknowned for problems) and real troopers.( a 1990 Fox that was retired with over 200,000 miles on it). Currently we own a 2001 Jetta wagon. It's had a few problems,but overall it's nice to drive, and is pretty darn reliable. Last year,during a countrywide job search we made numerous long trips just this past year and never had one problem, and we are pretty lazy when it comes to maintenance. I do think you'll find that the back seat is pretty tight. I was a nanny, and the backseat was a nightmare with kids and actually pretty uncomfortable for adults, too.
Good luck!

Danielle · March 22, 2007 at 11:21 AM

I love VW like nothing else. The steering on them is like a dream and I've constantly threatened to steal my mom's 2006 VW Jetta from her because of this fact. They tend to do a lot better on gas then most cars, steering is much easier to handle (especially for us women), and they drive pretty smooth.

Katie · March 22, 2007 at 11:27 AM

Lemon buttons -so great!

I owned a VW Fox, possibly the least hip of all VW models ever made. A late 80s/early 90s sub-compact made in Brazil. I bought mine used, but it was the type of car that looked outdated the day it was made. It has a special place in my heart, though, because it was the car in which my dad taught me to drive a stick. Also, it was purple.

It didn't age well. Given VW's reputation, I had hoped to drive it to 200,000 miles, but it got nowhere near that. It hated rain. One day, I was driving in a downpour and the whole car started lurching and shaking. When I pulled over, turned off the car, and restarted it, the shaking was gone. But it liked to be unpredictable, and I never knew when heavy rain might start the shaking again. No mechanic could ever fix it, partially because it was impossible for them to duplicate the problem when it was in the shop. Also, as many others have mentioned, European parts are expensive - it can make even little repairs hurt more.

All that said, I'm sure the sleek Jettas and Passats of today have little in common with my sad little Fox.

sheryl · March 22, 2007 at 11:33 AM

Oh, that sweater! ::swoon::

marielle · March 22, 2007 at 12:03 PM

I love that cardigan, it looks vintage and so unique! Can't wait to see your creations to update your outfits, would love to see before and after photos too!

cruststation · March 22, 2007 at 12:12 PM

Hi Emily,
I currently own a 2004 Jetta wagon, since I don't want to jinks my car which I dearly love,I have to tell you the "problems" that had to get fixed.
A month after we bought it we received a letter from VW America stating that our car had a specific recall, for the transmission mounted at the factory was not the right one. You can imagine how happy we were, since then for a year or so everything seemed to run fine until Lady Jetta started to make a strange jerk when the automathic transmission shifted to a higher gear, during scheduled services and at least a couple of other times the mechanics didn't experience the problem; finally last month, after being a few months away from the manifacturer's warranty expiration, they have found the problem, a valve was the culprit they say, and I cross my finger, since then no more strange jerks.
I will surely purchase an extension of the warranty; if I could go back I would probably get a Prius, although it is quite expensive and ugly looking design wise, my heart beats for the new Mini, a mini was my first car back in the early 90', we now own a 1963 Austin mini Woody cream body and tartan red inside what a wonderful little Old car, but of course we don't use it as an everyday car, I will have to stick to the Jetta for now, it does cost to fill it up, but one day I know I will have a new Mini again, I keep on hoping they will make it hybrid or better electric.
By the way do you know the Smart car, it will be on the Us market in 2008 it seems.

P.S. With such a lovely cat named Miette and your never failing artistic gift your car would be a mini!!!!

Valentina · March 22, 2007 at 12:12 PM

lee owns a jetta and it's a good lil car.

elizabeth · March 22, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Though the engines tend to be solid, VWs tend to have some problems with the electronics, which for the newer models, includes a lot of things. I do know lots of people, however, who are very happy with their Volkswagens. Happy hunting!

Stella · March 22, 2007 at 12:33 PM

My husband has a 1999 Jetta that has given us numberous problems. It also has the moldy mildew stink that someone else mentioned that just will not go away for good.
Also, he has had trouble with the ABS light staying on and had to put a new transmission in it before it even hit 100,000 miles. Just FYI.

carolyn · March 22, 2007 at 12:38 PM

I was all set to purchase a Passat years ago bc they were so darn cute. It was a great, smooth ride when I test drove it too. When I looked into the particulars regarding reliability, etc, I decided against it.

My friend purchased one soon after (I warned her about what I found before she purchased it) but congratulated her heartily when she actually got it. A couple of years later, and many many many problems later, she traded it in bc she was just done done done with it. She has a Toyota now and declared that she would never ever get a VW again.

I will never get a VW or Audi either bc my friends who have them have problems and spend a ton on maintenance. But I so love the way some of the VWs and Audis look. Sigh!

Good Luck.

Jennifer · March 22, 2007 at 12:43 PM

Hello Emily, just found your blog, nice to "meet" ya! Just a word on used cars-- I've had several friends with Volkswagens rue the day they bought them, and they rate among the very worst in customer satisfaction polls done by Consumer Reports. (This really bummed me out b/c I loved the idea of driving one of those cuties.) But really, dependability is WAY more important to me so we really did our homework. When my husband and I needed to buy a used car a few years ago, we joined Consumer Reports online and read up on the best-reviewed used models. We're both freelancers and did not want to be saddled with a lemon either, since our cashflow is so sporadic the thought of dealingw ith car payments and/or repair costs was frightening! We ended up finding a used 1996 Mazda Protege for under $5k, and only about 40,000 miles on it! It was a rental car in a past life, so it was really well maintained and not actually driven all that much. When we were at the dealership we demanded that they run a Carfax report on it and show it to us so we could see the history of the car and any repairs/problems it'd had, and it helped a LOT with our peace of mind. I totally recommend doing the same thing...read up at Consumer Reports and Carfax before puchasing anything, it really helps a lot. Best of luck in your search!!

Jenny · March 22, 2007 at 01:14 PM

Pitchers of lemonade (or better - LIMEade!) are on the horizon!Agreeing with all the comments about VWs being notoriously lemoney - HOWEVER, I adore them - my grandfather always had one, we drove around in a red pop-top VW bus when I was a kid, my first car was a 1976 VW squareback with a tremendous oil leak - and my first NEW car was a 2000 Golf that I absolutely adored. It did have a few squirrelly electrical issues (windows suddenly not opening, hatch door signaling as open when it wasn't, etc). So no real advice except check them out thoroughly and get a warranty if you can!

Taylor · March 22, 2007 at 01:17 PM

I love my Beetle, it's a turbo, and super fun to drive. The only major (and it was SUPER major) problem I've had is a broken timing belt, which took out half my engine, but to be fair, I bought the car used, and the timing belt that was in there wasn't a genuine VW part. I get pretty good mileage, although I wish I had gotten the diesel, they get about 45 mpg. Otherwise, it's such a great little car, I will definitely buy another one.

marné · March 22, 2007 at 01:23 PM

First I have to go knock on some wood.

We bought a new beetle a few years ago. It is a zippy little car. No major problems, tho one time we couldnt get it out of park --- after we had pulled up to a drive through coffee shop.

We had a Jetta many years ago and bought it new. It was a good car. Had a used Golf for awhile too. Had two old bugs prior to that that my husband always had to tinker with -- but that was part of their appeal.

Now I have to go knock on wood again. :-)

janet · March 22, 2007 at 01:56 PM

i drive only vws (5 different models), and have never had anything i would consider a problem. any repairs have been strictly due to wear and tear.
most recently, i bought a brand new 2003 jetta wagon (TDI). after having it for 4 years now, i wish i had gotten a passat. the few extra inches all around really would make it easier for moving things. its got 80k miles on it already (lots of craft fair road trips) and everything is running fine and dandy!

alison · March 22, 2007 at 02:14 PM

I had a 98 VW Jetta and we loved it. It got good gas mileage, it was totally dependable, the only problems we ever had with it were minor electrical stuff (the check engine light just stuck on even though it didn't mean anything, one of the back windows stopped rolling down, etc.) I'd totally buy it again.

Reese Dixon · March 22, 2007 at 03:00 PM

I don't know about VWs, but my husband and I are both long time Subaru owners and absolutely love them. Neither one of us has ever had any problems with them.
Cars cost too much and it's so hard to find one that you'll stay happy with for a long time, but I've met my match with my Outback!

Michelle · March 22, 2007 at 03:11 PM

You just find the cutest clothes! I love that sweater!

tiffany · March 22, 2007 at 03:24 PM

I've never owned a VW but my sister did and she hated it. She bought a brand new Jetta and had a few problems with it from the start including all the windows fell into the doors while she was driving and wouldn't go back up. Just one story though.

megan · March 22, 2007 at 03:58 PM

over 2 years ago i had a vw new beetle. every time something would break it would cost $400. that car was the biggest pain ever! they're absolutely gorgeous cars (all vw models), but i'll never own one again.
i've pretty much only driven toyotas since i turned 16 (i'm 24 today!!) and i've never had a peep out of any of them!

my family business is car sales... so i'll tell you the same thing i tell everyone else. you can not go wrong with a toyota. ever! they hold their value like no other car on the road! promise!

A. DeLaet · March 22, 2007 at 04:03 PM

I have a jetta, i love it, I have had it for 3 years, no problems knock on wood :)

I hear vw's can be either great or horrible.

Lauren · March 22, 2007 at 04:17 PM

i owned a LEMON jetta. was only the second owner and everything that could go wrong did. we spent thousands on it, and finally sold it cause it was robbing us.

i do love how they look though! it's sad!

Kelly McCaleb · March 22, 2007 at 04:18 PM

LOVE the sweater. Can you post a picture of it in full? I'm a knitter and looking for inspiration. Wish I could sew and pretty'fy my things like you!

As to the VW question, most of it has been said before. My sister has a cabrio, and yes the roof leaks. My boyfriend has a jetta and repairs and maintenance are so expensive he often leaves the nonmajor ones undone. I personally can't stand driving VWs--I'm Asian cars all the way, they just fit me better being 4'11".

Jenny · March 22, 2007 at 05:01 PM

We have a an '03 Passat and I LOVE it!! It is the most solidly built car I have ever driven. We've put over 24,000miles/year on it since we've owned it (bought it used w/ 33,000 miles) and never had any problems. We even took it on vacation to from Ohio to Florida and it did great. It's comfortable (heated seats!) and solid (just listen to the doors and trunk when they're shut!). Highly recommend just about any foreign built car. Good luck!

Can't wait to see your gussied up duds!

andrea · March 22, 2007 at 05:01 PM

My first car was a VW, a lovely old red type 3 station wagon. It was stinky of petrol, noisy, hot on those vinyl seats and always threatened to die but it was street cred baby!! I sold it for $800 and it was gone by the time I came home with Lola and was replaced with a boring ass brand new corolla.

So sad. There is an exact one same as my old one dumped down the street with an unroadworthy sticker on it that I keep stalking and leaving notes on...I want my old car back!!

PS. I have no idea what a Jetta is & have never driven a passat. Sorry!

shannon · March 22, 2007 at 05:24 PM

did that sweater come in any other colors/fruits? i love it but i've bought too many yellow items from anthropologie in the past few months...not that i wouldn't buy another, but a new color would be cool! pink with watermelons?!

melissa · March 22, 2007 at 05:46 PM

Oh my God! I LOVE the car chat this blog is inspiring! I think VW's are sooo cute. I've never had one, but have had one lemony American car and one lemony Subaru.

You do not want a car that acts like a princess, it wears you down!

If you can overlook the less than stylish looks, I tell you: happiness is a HONDA! My Civic is at 90,000 and has been a perfect gem - only needing tires and front brakes. Toyotas are awesome too. Well made & dependable, but not so pretty.

Alison · March 22, 2007 at 05:58 PM

Try the Toyota Scion- I have one and LOVE it! Plus since it's Toyota I know it will rock the road forever. My husbands Tercel is 14 and still awesome. If you want more of a wagon, try the Toyota station wagon. I cant remember what it is called.

Jane · March 22, 2007 at 07:05 PM

Ok, you are adorable, and I mean this will ALL respect, as I really LOVE you and your work. But,....

a STATION Wagon?

Really?

Any other kind of VW maybe (golf's are great, bugs adorable), but a STATION wagon?! ...don't get me wrong, VW is a great brand, but STATION WAGON just screams something that seems SO antithetical to your cute/cool style. Am I the only one who has very uncool associations that spring to mind with the mention of the phrase STATION wagon? Honestly Dear, you're not old, with zillions of kids to ferry around or take on long family road trip vacations... A STATION wagon?

Ella May · March 22, 2007 at 07:12 PM

I drive an 02 passat wagon and love it. I've only had VWs - my first car was a 71 bus and after that I had the jetta. (and for what it's worth - I think station wagons are totally cool.)

Erin O. · March 22, 2007 at 07:50 PM

I love buttons too--am always changing them on my clothes. I think I used to be more creative about adding things to my clothes/switching things around, but not lately. I look forward to seeing what you come up with as I really loved the old pieces in your archives. It's always so satisfying to take a dud and make something beautiful of it!

Helen · March 22, 2007 at 08:12 PM

I must chime in the auto my hub owned when we were 1st married was a ....wait for it.... Jetta,he bought it new and though not quite a lemon,it was a troubled vehicle. We have never bought another VW product.
can't wait to see your embellished goodies.

jungle dream pagoda · March 22, 2007 at 09:42 PM

I had a new Beetle for a couple years. I loved it because it was under warranty! It was a blast to drive and one day I would love to have another but in the time I had it I made several trips to the dealership. I know the electrical problem I had was going to be $1600 so thank goodness for warranties. When I decided I didn't went a car payment I sold it and did my research. According to consumer reports Nissan, Honda, and Toyotas will take all the abuse you want to give and keep on humming. My best friend has a Maxima with 190,000 miles and hasn't ever had a major issue, just maintaining it. So though I like Honda it seemed Nissan was in my price range with the dependability I wanted. I settled on a nice little Nissan Altima. Not the cutest car in the world but its paid for and I haven't had a single issue plus I get super gas miles. Good luck on your choice, I hope my advice helps. Funny side note, my friend has a newer Jetta, just out of warranty, and her electrical computer thing went screwy and now her car talks in German and all the lights are in German! I didn't know it could even do that, it was really funny. Even she had to laugh. Rather then spend the money to fix it I think shes trading it in.

Wendy · March 22, 2007 at 09:54 PM

I've got a 99 Golf and adore it, I've never had any troubles. But I will say that my car was actually built in Germany, and not one of the other VW plants around the world, so who knows?

Rose · March 22, 2007 at 10:21 PM

Snicket!

Beth · March 22, 2007 at 11:10 PM

I have a 2002 Eurovan that has had a few issues, but not anything that outweighs my love for it. And I have a 2006 New Beetle convertible that I love with all of my heart. When I was a kid we had a 1972 bug and a 1977 red bus. VW is a love thing. It's not the world's most practical car from a repair standpoint, but you do it anyway because of the love. It's kind of like the boyfriend that isn't perfect but he's perfect for you despite the heartache.

Sarah Jackson · March 22, 2007 at 11:58 PM

I have been planning for more than a year now to get a VW Passat wagon. I love how they look. My bestest friend had the Wagon and on a whim traded it in for a Passat Sedan--she experienced a terrible case of buyer's remorse.

I kind of planned on getting the Wagon because I have a kid, so I should participate in the whole 'soccer mom' thing. Except she doesn't play soccer. I also envisioned having more kidlets necessitating having a giant vehicle.

Then I got to thinking about getting a new VW Beatle! My kid is 12 and old enough to ride in the front seat so it doesn't matter that it's only a 2-door vehicle. Plus, I can always get a new car if I ever have more kids.

Jennifer · March 23, 2007 at 01:00 AM

I have a Golf, but I would recommend the Passat! Passat Passat Passat!!!!

Good luck ;)

Jess · March 23, 2007 at 01:17 AM

Yes they look cool but.... JETTA BAD!!! JETTA BAD!!! Trust this perfect stranger with a brother and a bff who haD Jettas- had because they were such a nuisance they went broke and crazy paying the mechanic and rolled them off the proverbial cliff. You're better off buying an old BMW or Volvo.

Kat · March 23, 2007 at 02:17 AM

i love my VW. i have a 2002 golf TDI (diesel). previously had an 88 golf that went to over 250K miles. the moldy smell is from the vents, which can be flushed out by the dealer, and fitted with a cover to protect water from leaking in near the cabin filter. the dealer flushed mine while it was still under warranty, and the problem seems to be fixed. make sure you make them do it, i think it's like 250$ if you pay for it. aside from that, i have had no major problems. you have to get your maintenance done with any car - not replacing your timing belt at 80K and then complaining that it broke is totally ridiculous. by the way, my TDI gets 47-49 miles per gallon, and you can run them on biodiesel or get it modified to run on waste vegetable oil. the wagons are adorable! have fun with whatever you choose.

leslie · March 23, 2007 at 10:02 AM

i have a vw cabrio (cutest car ever?) which i love, but i'm actually in the process of selling right now because as a city dweller, i just never drive. but it's been a really fun car to have, i never had any major problems with it, it's held its resale value super well and the one time i had an issue with it, everything was covered under my vw pre-owned warranty, including the towing to the fixing place.

overall, i think vw's are totally where it's at.

sara · March 23, 2007 at 10:15 AM

I LOVE my 2004 Passat Wagon, and my very car-picky boyfriend can't believe how beautiful it handles on the freeway either. He was skeptical at first, but after driving for 2 years off and on, he too loves it. No problems, just your standard upkeep. My favorite features are the heated seats, sunroof, and though I have no kids and am 29 and love creative crafty things, I love having the wagon. I can carry my bike or ski's or loads of garden equipment or books to the goodwill or whatever I please. Whomever says the WAGON is not for arty, hip, healthy, fun SINGLE young people is wrong. Just try it. Good Luck.

Betsy · March 23, 2007 at 02:09 PM

Hello! I see you've gotten tons of comments on the subject. My brother is a mechanic and he can't say enough about how bad VWs are (the newer ones). He says they get more VWs in the shop than any other kind of car combined. I trust him but have you SEEN the new rabbits? Drooool.

Janel · March 23, 2007 at 02:42 PM

Hello there - just to add to the car advice - we have a 2003 jetta wagon and a 2007 passat wagon. The jetta was awesome until about 6 months ago. We had a three year lease and since it was such a great car, we decided to buy it out. Seriously, within a month of "owning" (as in we still have a lifetime of payments to make!) thee car, ererything you could imagine going wrong, did. It was in and out of the shop every other week: some recalled part had to be replaced, the sunroof was leaking, the mechanism that moved the front seats back and forth died, the water pump in the engine failed. Now the stereo speakers are fried, but my husband is driving around in silence because we are so sick of putting it in the shop. Can't say enough good things about the new passat, but maaybe thats just 'cause its new. Wish I could recommend he jetta wagon since its so damn cute, but its been a pain in the rump since it hit the 35K mark. most people I know have a preowned volvo wagon, and they can't say enough good things about those.good luck with your search, and I am totally jealous of that sweater!

Allyson Vermeulen · March 23, 2007 at 03:16 PM

I saw the yellow sweater yesterday at Anthropologie in Princeton. $118. It is basically a shrug and only about 12 inches from top of shoulder to bottom of one's breasts. Even the large would be small on a nine-year-old, in other words, it would look great only on a size 0-2 person.

I am a size 6-8 and it looked like I was wearing a Barbie sweater. By the way, my husband is quite proficient at making many of my own clothes into Barbie clothes when he does the laundry.

So I guess I will have to lust after the sweater simply in the photographs.

hallaren · March 23, 2007 at 05:07 PM

Hi all! To respond to Hallaren's comment above:

I happen to really like cropped sweaters that hit above the waist :)
I am also a very curvy size 10-12 and it looks pretty great on me, if I do say so (and I've got some second opinions to back me up!) I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone, but...most things don't.

Alot of stuff that is trendy right now is really unflattering, but that sweater totally works for me.

emily · March 23, 2007 at 05:12 PM

Ok so I don't know if anyone has said this or not yet...

A jetta wagon is the smaller one (and less expensive one) and the passat is bigger and more expensive one.

It all depends on what your needs/budget is.

We (my husband and I) have owned 40+ vws. I currently have an 03' Passat Wagon GLX V6 and LOVE IT!! It has leather heated seated and a sunroof and all the other goodies.

Look for a lease back vehicle. They usually have low miles and are relativley well taken care of. They are a good deal too. I got my wagon for around 19K. It was a lease back..got it in 06.

If I were to get another car.. it would be a vw again. They are truely the best cars out there. In my opinion.

Feel free to email me with any questions you might have. We would be happy to help.

BTW How are those Hedgies doing that I sent you???

xox
Rebecca

knittygirlie · March 23, 2007 at 10:46 PM

I had a jetta and I loved it and hated it. I bought it used though. I liked it a lot till it started to have problems..and then tom accidently totalled it for me haha, which worked out best in the end!
i love that sweater so much and it makes me wish I was into knitting complicated sweaters..you have such great taste!

heidi · March 24, 2007 at 01:23 PM

Oh VWs... how cute and unreliable they are. My friend's 2003 Jetta had problematic seat warmers, and her driver's seat caught on fire! My in-laws' 2000 Passat's entire electrical system conked out completely, quite unexpectedly, in 2005. My husband's friend has a 2003 Passat wagon that has been trouble since the day she bought it. The only person I know who doesn't have trouble with his VWs is my great uncle, and that may be b/c he drives a grand total of 800 miles per year or something similarly nuts.

I wouldn't buy a VW even though they're awfully darling. How about a Prius or Camry or Accord or Honda CRV? Most people I know seem very pleased with those cars.

BTW, don't buy a Chevy Malibu! That's what I drive, and it's quite the piece of crap.

Jodi · March 25, 2007 at 12:45 AM

One of my best friends has a new VW bug, and except for a few small things (that were fixed immediately, like I think a radio knob fell off, for instance), she's had no problems. She's had it for two+ years now. And my sister drives a Jetta (Wolfsberg edition...apparently that means it can haul a$$) and has absolutely no problems with it. She's had it for three years.

Rhonda · March 26, 2007 at 03:02 PM

We had a 2000 V-6 passat sedan fully loaded. We bought it with 35,000 miles on it in 2003. We LOVED it. That is, until we started having problems with it. The warranty was still good until 50,000. as soon as the car rolled 53,000 we needed $1500 worth of work on it. We never had electrical problems, we had engine troubles and some blown seals and the list kept piling up. It took 6 months to find someone to diagnose one of the problems we had and that cost us dearly. It never stopped needing work and we never stopped throwing money at it. We sold it in august of 2006. Selling it was the best source of money savings we made in the three years that we owned it. May you not buy a VW and waste the money that we did. They look hot and are fun to drive, but they are certainly not worth the heartache of having them in the shop all the time. Go with something more reliable like an asian make. As much as I hate to admit it, even many american makes are more reliable than VWs.

Heather · March 26, 2007 at 07:00 PM

I love VW's as well - but like a lot of other posters, we own a passat wagon lemon: leaky sunroof that floods the backseat, constant electrical malfunctions and blinking lights, a blinker that goes off every time we go over a bump - and on and on. Our (awesome) foriegn car mechanic says that this happens to many VW's (and Audis) when they get up around 50,000 miles.

Lesa · March 27, 2007 at 11:02 AM

I love and hate my Jetta. She recently has received a fatal diagnosis (transmission) but at 13 years old and 150,000+ miles thats not so bad. Stay away from the year '94 and get as much MANUAL features as possible. Other than that, they are very sturdy, speedy, and (f you are outdoorsy like me) they will go almost anywhere an SUV can. I've had problems with my VW but I think it was kind of a lemon and I still want a new VW (sooo want a golf). I think it's worth it.

Lisa · March 28, 2007 at 06:49 PM