Is the VW reliable

Yes, if properly maintained.

I would add to that answer that the VW's have historically had occasional quirky electrical behaviors. Such as, if I drove my 98 Jetta into a large puddle, making a big splash, my engine would quit. The problem was finally fixed with a new coil. That same car was on its third fuel pump relay when retired.

I had a friend with a Beetle who would slilcon spray his ignition wires to prevent this same "cut-out" ignition problem above.