03 Jetta wagon

Looking at an 03 Jetta wagon, manual. Has 194k on it, gas engine. How are these things, never owned a VW, but I need a DD for work. Is $1,000 a good price, what do I need to look out for. Google inage photo, but same color and decent condition

>Volkswagen
>reliable
pick one.

Are they really that bad? I have another vehicle, I just need something to drive around for work. I rather not put loads of miles onto my new car.

us market? avoid it. europoor? avoid it unless you have no other option.

It depends on luck of the draw usually. i have heard nothing but bad about the Mexican built US models.

Even if you manage to get a reliable one, the fact remains that parts, even normal maintenance parts, are uber expensive for no real reason.
A friend f mine compared prices for spark plugs and wires for his 2.0L SOHC I4 Mk3 Jetta, and a 97 Pontiac Grand Prix.
It was cheaper to get 6 spark plugs and wires for the Pontiac's 3.8L V6 than to get 4 of the same for his VW.

On a related note, try looking at a 1997-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. Yes, they're automatic only, and quality is pretty shit, but the fuckers will run after the apocalypse. And the supercharged cars can be made real fast real cheap.

a 200k vw is a scary thing, but it's also only $1000, could maybe get it for $800 or $900.

What will it need, probably everything like most cars at that mileage. I'd check the belts, I'd check for where the leaks are coming from, feel it going into gears if it's slipping or grinding getting in gear. Check the rockers, wheel wells, and suspension top perches for rust. Look at the service history and the intervals for timing belt/chain guides and chain. Look at the mpg vs its epa rated mpg thats a pretty good indication of compression. check the rear view for white smoke on accel and deccel the standard stuff, that will tell you if it needs rings or valve seals.

I mean you can't expect a perfect car for $1k, but aesthetically it looks really good.
It's to hard to nitpick about a 200k car, because it's usually always a deal for someone who can fix it. I'd snatch it up, desu, but I also can completely rebuild it myself if need be. So that's the risk you take.

If you can't be your own mechanic you might want to step up to the ~2-3k range of jap cars, it will save you money in the long run by not going to a mechanic. that's my opinion.

Prices are fucking sky high in Alaska. Normally $1000 gets you a rusted out shit box that usually has a bad engine. Any Pontiac you see is owned by a native and duct taped together.

Any particular suggestions? I have a 2016 wrangler, so im not overly worried of shop time or omg4tarbos. I just need something to rack up mileage and not kill me in the winter.

the trans units in them are dogshit too. my aunt had one, holy fuck what a piece of shit. thing was just a dog for no real reason. terrible mpg, terrible performance.

Chances are if it has that many miles it's ok. How much?