Pfft, Volkswagens last forever! :o
My family has never bought a car less than a decade old... my mother is driving a $300 1993 Geo Prism that was nearly totaled by the previous owner, and it's been running strong for 5 or so years now.
My car is a 1996 Ford Contour; $750.
~Kujila
I'd be a bit worried about the integrity of the car if it's a '98 selling for $500.
I've got a '95 Mitsubishi Lancer MX, which cost me $6,000 NZD from an official reseller. One previous NZ owner, 72k clocked up. I've had it for a little over six months now. Still runs like a dream.