I had a 1973 VW Super Beetle, my first new car. It was robin's egg blue, with a dark blue vinyl interior. I had ac added. It was the first year they had a little bit of a shroud over the speedometer, and a slightly curved windshield. I liked it, but it was too small for five guys to drive around in, so I sold it to my friend's father, and bought a 1969 Ford Thunderbird Coupe, midnight aqua, with a white vinyl half-roof. White vinyl interior, wrap around seats in the back, no rear windows, opera lights. 429 cu in v8, 335 hp Thunderjet engine. Wow. The party mobile. My brother has a 2000 Passat, which he's had a fair amount of trouble with, but still likes. He told me about the new Golfs, and that he was interested in the deisel, since his kids are grown, and he doesn't need the room anymore of the Passat. Anyway, I wound up looking at one, a gas version, and bought one. I really like it a lot. I'd gone through quite a few cars over the years, but had had a 2003 MB E320 last year, which I really liked, but the warrantee ran out, and the trans, and electrical system were doing funny things, so I traded it on a 2010 Prius. I liked the Prius, but it got to be boring to drive after awhile. It also didn't get the gas milage they advertised, 50mpg, which they said was due to the engine needing to run in the winter to run the heater. I did get 50 mpg one day when the temperature warmed up, but I was a bit dissatisfied with the way they presented the gas milage claims. Also, the recall stuff all happened with Toyota after I bought mine, and when I went to trade it, I got I figure about $2,000 less than the car was really worth. I paid $24,340, and got $19,110 for it with 4,000 miles on it. It had had the brake soft wear update, and was in perfect condition, three months old. My first Toyota, kind of disappointing. I'd had a Honda, and was very satisfied with it. Anyway, the VW feels much more solid than the Toyota, has engine, and suspension characteristics like the MB, and fahrvegnugen. It's just more satisfying to drive. And it has a new car warrantee. I have a two-door hatchback, silver, which, believe it, or not, I actually fit a grandfather clock in. 80 inches. Amazing. It looks so small from the outside, but it has plenty of room inside. I've hit 42mpg on the highway with it already, and routinely see 36 on back roads, and highways. I average 30 because there is so much traffic on the highway between where I live, and work anymore. Constantly passing, or being passed. I just got my California optometry license, so I'm looking to move to SoCal. Been studying Chinese medicine out there, and like it a lot better than South Central Pa where I currently live. No snow!
