That sounds about like my Mother's `98 Jetta. Lots of problems. It's an ok little car for her, but I would never buy one. I considered getting a GTI, but after getting back into my old Civic, I knew I'd always love hondas.

Considering you have 35k on your car and are already having problems with it, I'd ditch it quick. Even if you just happened to get a dud, things aren't going to get better.

The question you have to really as yourself is even if you do pay off your VW in 3 years, what will it be worth vs. what you put into it + frustration. Personally, I see money as a lower priority than trusting my car. You should love your car. Not fear it. And about the used cars, the first 100k of a honda are basically break in period anyway.

And while the car at the dealership may seem tempting, make sure you look around a bit more before making a real decision. Look online and call dealerships to see what they have. Test drive everything you see until you find one you enjoy driving around and seems reasonable price-wise. Remember that car prices vary by location, so just look at cars in your area and see what most of them are going for. Also, if you like the accord you saw, don't be afraid to try to talk them down. Decide what you think would be great to pay for it, and then decide firmly on a highest price you'll pay and stick to it. It's all about discipline.

So, sorry for the book, but yeah, ditch the jetta and get something you'll be more comfortable with. I just hope it's a honda.