2000 Volkswagen Jetta LX review from North America

Replaced cracked oil pan.

Peeling finish on the middle console.

Replaced all four tires at 10,000 miles (still have consistently low air on front tires.)

Excessive front brake dust (it looks as if you're missing a hubcap.)

Turbo seems to have no pick-up (at only 30,000 miles on my car.) Dealership said that the turbo never ever goes out so there isn't anything wrong with the turbo.

Loud and shaky idle.

Rattle in driver-side front door.

Speaker wires were loose.

CD player inconsistently performs (turning player off before starting the car does help, though.)

Air Conditioning makes whirring and clacking sound.

Front panel lights are out.

Check Engine light is on. It's on constantly, so I just got used to it. It makes up for the light that is out behind the air conditioning controls.

Warranty repair: Windows fell into the doors (lucky for me, it was during a flash flood in Texas, so I saw that the leather seats recovered well. That was a plus.)

Current Repairs Needed as of Friday (not including labor) :

$375-Worn out rear brakes at 31,800 miles.

$375-Broken wheel liner panel

$170-broken spoiler, lower engine cover

$210-Check Engine light due to leak in the vacuum lines

$30- replace emblem that fell out of the cracked plastic grille.

I have low mileage on my 2000 Jetta because I only live 3 miles from work. Additionally, I lived overseas for a while and during that time, it was driven once a week about 10 miles total. SO...I'm just now edging into the 30,000+ mileage mark and am beginning to wonder if this car can last for another 5 years.

I was always told - if you get a Jetta and have problems in the beginning, then you got a lemon and it will ALWAYS be problematic. If you get lucky and have a Jetta with minimal-to-no problems in the beginning... then you're probably safe for the long haul.

I do like the style of the car and I'm comfortable driving it. However, the constant little things going wrong are annoying.

Should I invest the $1,000+ to fix my car's problems or simply put that money toward a new car?