As much as I like Volkswagen product lines, there are some obvious weaknesses to which I have never been blind. Some of these are:
1- Too few product lines. Untill 2002 just four mainstream product lines were there -- Polo, Golf, Jetta, Passat. In 02 came Super luxury Phaeton Sedan and Touareg SUV. Compare it with Ford or GM or Toyota. Toyota has Corona, Camry, Cressida, Mark 2 and so many more in the same league. Why not Volkswagen????
2- Two doors. Beetle had 2 doors for 4 decades. Passat, Polo, Golf, all were two doorers in the initial years. Why the Germans have this fixation for 2 doors? Are cars good only for two persons?
3- Shabby paint. A 12 years old Volkswagen gets its color faded, and its paint thinned out. Compare it with even a third level Japanese company Suzuki. See a 12 year old Margalla here. Its paint remains robust and lustrous after such a long period. Cannot one of the best in the world come with a better and longer lasting paint?????
Despite all these my admiration for Volks will remain intact.