There are lots of different engines that have ended up in the Jetta over the years, if it is the 1.8T that was very common it definitely IS an interference engine. I can't speak for any of the others, although I am fairly certain the 2.0T which followed the 1.8T is too.

VW's definitely require more work here and there along the way, but if you are willing to put up with it they will run forever. Whether you want your car that long, or if it makes sense for you to do so economically is up to you.

My daughter is now 2. Before she was born we bought a 4runner to haul her, her stuff and our 90 lbs. dog around (we go to the beach a lot in the summer). I was looking at the Santa Fe because it was well reviewed. My friend who already had a kid warned me that it would be too small for the dog and all the baby stuff. He had a small SUV (I can't remember what kind) and said he wished he would have gotten something bigger. We ended up buying a CPO 4Runner and even that was a little tight heading to the beach when my daughter was younger (babies take a lot of gear). I had to use the roof rack. Now she has less stuff and everything fits in the SUV. If it wasn't for the dog everything would have fit in the back but it would have been at maximum capacity.

I've had good luck with Toyota's so I tend to buy them. I love my 4Runner but it does drive like a truck, which I like but not everyone does. The Highlander has a smoother rider. Also another friend of mine just bought a new Honda Pilot and I really liked riding in that.

If you're looking at the Santa Fe you should also look at the Toyota Highlander. I see a lot of people driving the Kia Sorento as well.

My wife has a mitsubishi endeavor. kind of looks like a 4Runner but it drives more like a car. surprisingly big on the inside but the overall design and interior is kind of meh. Its a 2006 with 100k miles and no major issues.

So my roommate let me know that my license plate light was burnt out. I went and picked up some bulbs but when I went to put them in, after taking off the cover, I found that there was no lens underneath, nor was there a bulb. Just two loose wires wrapped in rubber. I've been searching all day online for sockets to no avail and I'm assuming I'll have to take it to the shop to get it fixed. One of my buddies knows cars really well and said it looked to him like the body shop forgot to replace the light fixtures completely when I got a new rear hatch. This happened in 2009.

One would think that after 3 years, I would have been pulled for it. I was pulled at night a year ago and the cop didn't mention it, maybe he just missed it. Anyways, does anyone have any idea of what this will end up costing me?

Sweet. Thanks.

Mitt found the solution for dealing with the dog.

My 05 Explorer is now making a groaning kind of sound when driving forward at all speeds, as well as just sitting idle. It has become progressively worse over the last few days. It almost sounds like a fan maybe? Also last night it took it an extra second or two between key turn and engine startup, I've been told that could be a fuel line issue, just had a new alternator put on in September.

Any ideas? I just want to have some idea of what could be wrong with it when I take it in for service.

I took a video of it yesterday, anyone want to take a guess at that noise?