If you get a VW, get a TDI. My 02 VW Jetta TDI got 36mpg town and 42 highway. It was an AT the manual transmission do much better. The diesel has a lot of torque and gets excellent mpg. Everyone who rode in it where shocked to find it was a diesel - quiet, lots of pickup and passing power and didn't slow down on hills!

Despite the TDI, I sold it and bought a TCH a month ago. The TCH has just as good mpg as my TDI but a lot more room, comfort and extras. This is my sixth Toyota and they have all been more dependable and better in quality than my two VWs (which I dearly loved). You may want to look into the various Toyotas.

Just my experience.

John