 I bought this car a year ago when it was 2 years old-- never thought of buying a VW but was looking for a diesel & this was the only one available.  It's so much bigger and more comfortable than it looks like it would be-- my sister says it's nicer to ride in than my BMW 3 convertible was! And I got 47 MPG on my Christmas trip to Florida this year!!! I'm buying 10 gallons of gas every 10-15 days and commuting 50 miles a day, averaging between 38 and 42 mpg (lower when the AC is on).  I know the VWs have some maintenance issues, but I've had no problems so far.  It's a really enjoyable car to drive.