Faults:

Water temperature sender failed (three times)

Back door handle failure.

Heater matrix replaced.

Engine mountings replaced.

General Comments:

Amazingly reliable. Has run in temperatures from +45 degrees C to - 10 degrees C across five African countries, with varying qualities of fuel.

Still looks in showroom condition.

Clutch is still original.

Exhaust (muffler) - one box - had to be replaced last year (i.e. at 13 years of age)

Uses one pint of oil approx. every 10 000km to 12 000km (services still at factory-specified intervals)

Gives comfortable 140km/h cruise and around 9l/100km in fuel consumption around town and as little as 7,1l/100km on the open road.

And - to cap it all - it is still the best handling of all the marks of Golf/Jetta (1,2,3 and 4 - I've no idea what the new Mark 5 is like, because it hasn't yet reached our shores.)

Faults:

Timing chain broke after I had the car 2 months, needed three new cylinders and valves etc.

Secondary waterpump broke.

Rattles and creaks.

General Comments:

This car has a ferocious appetite for gasoline, but the performance, handling, and general feel of the car equals things out.

Faults:

1) 2 sets of HT leads were replaced.

2) Engine cooling fans seized.

3) Dozens of rattles, buzzes and creaks.

4) CV joints conked in.

5) Engine developed a rough, buzzing note (Normal).

6) Overheating.

7) Bits and pieces fell off inside the car: door handles, door openers, grab-handles etc etc etc.

General Comments:

The Jetta is completely overrated, and is not worth the money VW asks for it. They pitch it against compact BMWs, Mercs & Volvos but it comes nowhere close in terms of build-quality, integrity or economic viability. Fuel consumption on this beast is laughable. I am sure a '69' Vette returns better mpg figures.