Like the many, many other '98 creme colored top Cabrios, my top is ripping and tearing after only 3 years of use. I took it to Curran Volkswagen Inc. in Stratford, Connecticut and was told that it's a factory defect and that it would be $850 to replace. I don't think that a car should be falling apart at 56,000 miles. So I called Volkswagen customer service only to have them read from the script of "Your 24,000 mile warranty has expired so it's not covered" This is completely unacceptable! VW didn't even offer me half of the cost to repair the top as they have some other Cabrio owners.

It is clear by the number of 1998 Cabrios/tan top owners (I have found nine others so far) with this same problem, that this is a defect in the vinyl top which we have learned was made at VW's Mexico plant. VW acknowledges that this is a defect in the part, but that they aren't going to pay for it since "only a few hundred cars have been affected."

We did nothing wrong...except to buy Volkwagens. The convertible top is what is so appealing about the Cabrio and now you're telling me it's so poorly designed that it needs replacing every three years? This is the most ridiculous excuse for customer service I have ever seen.

For every compliment I receive about how "cute" my car is, there will be one more person who will hear what a wretched experience they will have if they ever purchase a Volkswagen.

If you want to hop on this bandwagon of wronged 1998 VW Cabrio owners, email me.