HELP I need a reliable used car

I'd do some more research on the VW. Did you take it to a dealer or a independent shop? Dealers handle things way differently, like if the valve cover leaks they will just replace engine or if the Radiator is bad they will jack up the radiator cap and dive a new car under it. $12k owed on a car your going to scrap seems hard to swallow.

Doing a quick search that was a known problem with VW and they extended the warranty, did a buy back, etc.

I bet that truck is a scam or there is more the story.