[dw1]

In general, I have several criteria for when I get rid of cars:

1 - When it stops being reliable - That is when things go wrong frequently and I never know when something will go wrong again & make me late or leave me stranded.

2 - When the repair costs and/or time become irritating or a problem (i.e. more time or money than I have available).

3 - When I can still get something for it by selling or trading it in. (This is usually combined with lust for a particular replacement car/truck).

From your description of the Jetta, it sounds like you haven't hit #1 or #2 yet and are long past #3.

If it was me, and I liked the car (i.e. I wasn't lusting after a particular replacement), I would keep it and do the timing belt to avoid the obvious problem that would happen should it break.

I have a youngish nephew whose high-mileage Passat was just totaled in an accident that was not at all his fault and he was heartbroken. So was I - it was a nice car. High-mileage TDI VW's are still great cars.