Do you have any experience with the VR 18-105? I was reading up reviews on this lens last night and it seems to come with more criticism than usual. If I were to get 2 lenses, would you say it is a good option to get the VR 18-55 now and then the 55-200 VR?
I don't have any direct experience with the 18-105. I would have suggested the 18-135, which I have and like quite a bit (and which seems to impress more people than the 18-105 in terms of optical performance), but it doesn't have VR and would likely cost around $300. I know that people I trust say that if you're not getting good, sharp images from virtually any modern lens (barring the infrequent lemon copy), the problem is more likely with the user's technique than with the lens. Lots of people here seem to love the 18-200, despite it having a reputation for
marginally less-impressive IQ, so I think it is all in the eye of the beholder. I think most of these Nikon "kit lenses" are optically quite acceptable, based on what I've seen.
For good information on these lenses from a well-regarded source, read Thom Hogan's reviews. The 18-105 gets "highly recommended" from Thom at
http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor18-105lensreview.htm. The 18-135 gets "recommended (barely)" at
http://www.bythom.com/18135lens.htm, and he likes the 18-200 (though not as much as the 18-105) and gives it "recommended" at
http://www.bythom.com/18200lens.htm. Among "consumer zooms," he gives his first choice to the 16-85 VR at
http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor16-85lensreview.htm, but it is quite pricey compared to any of the others except the 18-200. Thom doesn't have a review of he current 18-55 VR, though he wasn't too keen on the previous version and there's no reason to think he'd like the newer one much better, except that (obviously) it includes Vibration Reduction. Finally, he reviews both the non-VR and VR versions of the 55-200 lens (and mentions the idea of using it in tandem with the 18-55) here;
http://www.bythom.com/55200lens.htm
Thom Hogan is pretty well-respected in the Nikon arena; I give a decent amount of weight to what he has to say. Maybe some of the above will help you decide.
I was looking at the 18-55 because my logic was that if I sell the camera at some point, which I am likely to do in the next year or two, it may be best to have the 'original' lens with it. You have suggested some good alternatives and given me more food for thought so I will have a good read and long think about it all rather than rushing into it. 
