Volkswagen AG adding extra shifts to meet increased demand for the best-selling Golf

I hope they're making them better now than 4-8 years ago. I know many unhappy New Beetle, Golf and Jetta owners whose cars were built 1999-2003. I'd take a 5 dr GTI if their reliability and durability could be compared with something other than Soviet-era Ladas.

You have Mexican built VWs, the German built ones are better.

Perhaps the true test will be exactly that. Until this year our Golfs/GTIs had come from Mexico, though as sixxfive said the Passat and Touareg have been coming from Germany. Since last fall, the Rabbits and GTIs have come from Germany. It will be interesting to see if JD Power and Consumer Reports studies show increased reliability or satisfaction.

The other problem is that Volkswagen turned their back on owners. Two co-workers and I tried to be the squeaky wheel that got oil back in 2002/3. Not only were we frustrated at not getting anywhere, we were upset by the callousness of every VW North America employee with whom we dealt. They knew they were building rubbish and they didn't care. That's why I only shopped Volvo and Saab (for larger and more expensive cars than I wanted). I know, from the experience of family members, that they'll make it right when they do something wrong. I loved my Golf when it worked, when bits weren't falling off the dash, when the interior lights didn't suddenly go on while driving down the freeway and before my door creased back because ice had accumulated in the door jam. I loved the look on their faces at Sears when I picked up a dishwasher and the macho pick-up owning men laughed that it wouldn't fit. It fit (in the box) with room to spare in every direction (except down) and the hatch shut completely.

mp2dtw, my A3 is mechanically identical to a DSG-equipped five-door GTI, and it's been problem-free. I'd rethink that stereotype.

If it were true that the "German built ones are better" then VW would rank much higher than below average in reliability rankings in the US (Passat Touareg) and in Europe.

In Europe, VWs are among the most reliable cars sold. Check your stats.

Could these extra shifts be attributed to the fact the VW Golf takes twice as long to build as its rivals due to its extra complexity?

Not a negative point...

My GTi runs like a champ.

Oh, now I understand your name... my A3 2.0T is the same way. It's a great powertrain, especially with DSG.

GTis are made in Germany.
My brother's GTI is over a year old and no problems to report.