My VW Jetta turned over 100,000 miles yesterday. For modern cars, that’s not as big a milestone as it once was. Once upon a time, before suburban sprawl, people didn’t commute as far, and so it took some time for miles to accumulate. Driving I-85 from Greenville to Duncan has helped run this odometer up.
Unfortunately, many of those miles were also put on by mechanics test-driving it to find out what’s wrong with it. From a maintenance standpoint the Jetta been a nightmare. I’ve replaced just about everything that can be replaced on it short of the engine. I’m constantly finding bits of plastic and springs lying in the floorboard. When I take these to the VW service place to see about putting them back, each will cost me about $600. I usually say, "Forget it," and the car seems to do OK without them.
However, the car is fun to drive, is comfortable, and has a great sound system. Furthermore, it’s paid for. An occasional $600 service charge is far cheaper than a constant $500 monthly payment. I just hope the rust doesn’t eat through the hood before I get to 200,000.