The EOS, like any car, won't be right for everyone. I was looking seriously at a Toyota Solara SLE, and was also eying the Volvo C70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife.
When I happened accross the EOS while surfing the web, I was immediately intrigued, and starting researching the car as much as you can on a new car with very limited user feedback available.
After checking one out at the local dealership, I laid down a deposit for an early May '07 delivery on a Candy White with Beige sport leather interior, 2.0T, automatic model.
With the 2.0T, Tiptronic auto trans, and sport leather package, the car prices out just south of $45K before tax. Being from AB I'm "fortunate(?)" to only have to lay out an extra 6%. This slots it in modestly higher, but comparable, to the Solara SLE, and considerably less than a similarly equipped C-70.
I do have some reservations about the possibility of roof leaks, and being from Canada, our weather here will be be as good a challenge for the roof design as you will find anywhere, I hope I don't end up being a guinea pig for VW to figure out how to fix leaks.
With two kids that will be at home for awhile yet, a rear seat was a key feature for us. The retactable hard top should extend our usable season late into the fall and earlier in the spring. I also liked all the standard safety features, including the pop out roll bars in the rear headrests. Not sure how effective they would actually be, but every little bit helps if things go seriously sour.
My wife is not an aggresive driver, so the requirement for a high HP, corner hugging street rocket isn't a necessity on this vehicle. Feature for feature, for a car in this price range, and based on what I've read in the reviews regarding performance, handling, and comfort, I think the EOS will be a great fit for her (and me, the occassional time I'll be allowed to drive it).
I'm exited about taking delivery of the EOS this spring as our first ever VW ownership.
