1996 Volkswagen Golf "Virginia"

I bought this car nearly 2 years ago from a fellow VWVortex member.  It was up for sale for quite some time, and caught my eye right away because it was in all around nice shape... and just a sharp looking Golf.  The only thing the car had going against it was it's location - it was 520 miles away in the town of La Plata, Maryland (right near the Maryland/Virginia border).  The asking price eventually dropped to the point where I couldn't pass up the deal, in spite of the distance.  The car had known problems (I wouldn't have been interested in it otherwise), so the guy just had a tough time selling it.  It was right up my alley because the body was in fantastic shape yet it was cheap because it needed work.  I called the owner and talked with him for a bit - then made arrangements to meet him down there with the asking price ($1000) in my hand.  My dad and I made the road trip together - we knew the car had no brakes, so we took a tow rig with us to flat tow it back.  We showed up in La Plata early that morning and made the deal before the owner went to work.  We then removed the bumper to attach the towing rig, removed the drive shafts, and we were off.  The brake problem ended up being the rear wheel cylinders (one of them was peeing fluid everywhere).  The check engine light was on because the plug wires were swapped around and the valve timing was incorrect.  Along the way I also replaced the ignition coil, downstream oxygen sensor, mass airflow sensor, and cat-back exhaust.  More recently, I replaced the main bearings (it's the example I used in one of my guides here on this site).  Even with the $600 I spent on the Neuspeed stainless exhaust, we're into the car for less than $3k and it's been a great car.  My wife drives it every day, and loves it.