>Sam, Clearly you aren't one of those who feel a need to tradeup your car every 2 years. So there is something I promise you about VWs: they last. And last. Same goes for Audi and Skoda... not sure whether you get Skoda in the US? All 3 are part of the VW stable, anyway.

We don't have Skodas. The only one I have seen here was at a local car show. It was a roadster from the '60s. It was, moreover, the only commie car, other than a Yugo, that I have ever seen in the U.S. I have seen Ladas in Canada. I don't know why they have them there and not here.