It sounds like you did your research. When it's time for me to look for a new car I'm going to be coming to you for some tips.

Yes, that MPG reader gets VERY addictive, Jill. I think I will never be able to drive one without it! Salix, my mom had a VW bus as a teenager. It's one of my favorite stories. She has 14 brothers and sisters and so about 4 of them had turned 16 around the same time. Apparently, their dad just showed up with a VW bus one day and threw the keys their way. None of them knew how to drive a stick, so they taught themselves and argued over who got the van when for years.

We just drove our Passat across country to the North Carolina/Tennessee border and it performed so well.

Excellent choice Jessica.

When I was young (in the 1970s)I owned several VWs. Two were diesels that regularly got 50 mpg plus. The national speed limit was 55 mph. Can you imagine?

My favorite VW was the 67 microbus (Kombi) with a split windshield. It was pretty much gutless, but I thought it was way cool. Click here to see a nice Kombi.

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/1967-Volkswagen-Kombi-Van-Posters_i1001927_.htm

I'm excited to ride in this new car with you, Jessica! There's a really interesting piece in Time about what $4/gallon gas is doing to us as a nation. You should check it out:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1819594,00.html

That is pretty cool. I bet that mpg-reader gets addictive!