2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS review from North America

What hasn't gone wrong? Here are the big ones:

Oil pan (immediately after I got the car) : $500

Belt Tensioner: $375

Fuel Injector: $850

Radiator: $500.

The key remote stopped working, but I refused to pay $70 for a new one.

The interior plastic peels off and looks terrible.

The cloth seats are like hair magnets - EVERYTHING sticks to them, and they always look dirty.

Radio knob doesn't work well, and the rubber peels off.

The brake dust makes the rims black, and it is nearly impossible to wash off.

My tail lights would constantly go out, over, and over, and over. I took it in for the tail light switch recall - but apparently that didn't fix the problem.

Headlights cost about $50 each, and I have replaced them twice.

The dealer told me that the car also needs new struts - at about $300 ea. No thanks.

Sunroof wouldn't close on it's own - you had to use the 'force close' button.

The in-dash cup holder broke - I didn't even bother trying to get it fixed.

The doors randomly lock and re-lock during acceleration.

Glove box hinge broke.

ABS light would come on when it was very rainy or humid.

I had always wanted a Jetta, I loved everything about them, the performance, the looks... and I was under the assumption that VW vehicles were of very high quality. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong. I should have known that it was a bad deal when the oil pan needed to be replaced as soon as I drove it off the lot. The VW dealer that I purchased it from was less than helpful, rude, and dishonest.

The car handled okay, had great acceleration, zippy, responsive, good looking. Gas mileage was okay. But I simply couldn't afford all of the repair and maintenance costs. I was constantly afraid that the transmission or something huge would need to be replaced next, and I wouldn't have the money. Tires, maintenance, repairs, even fuel (it requires premium) ; they all cost and arm and a leg. The labor and parts were over twice that of my Honda Civic. I don't have this car anymore since last week - and what a relief it is!