 I purchased my first VW for $300 in college.  I was the third owner of 1990 Golf with 164,000 miles.  I drove it on the highway while red-lining, never changed the oil, rode the clutch and NEVER had problems.  I got nervous around 180,000 miles and changed the clutch.  The mechanic said the clutch still had about 2,000 miles left!  Fast forward to 2002: I purchased a new 2002 GTI 1.8T in August.  Before the end of 2003 I was in the dealer countless times.  There were three separate recalls plus countless other problems (ignition coils, dead battery, two broken control arms, driver-side window fell into the door panel).  I love the car; hate the reliability.