Volkswagens are one of the worst cars you can buy now. In the US they are at the bottom of the reliablity list. I would not want to have anything to do with them. Why not work with Honda instead.
p.s my American made cars have lasted many miles over 200,000 and have never had any problems with any of them. My Honda civic is the same.
Honda isn't trendy though. Volkswagen or any German car maker for that matter is trendy.