All cars start to fall apart at some point, the engines and gearboxes of modern motors are generally quite robust (if serviced well) but annoying ancillaries fail, which can add up if you can't DIY them.
Unfortunately I've found the MK5 GTI the most unreliable car I've owned and that's 10 cars now, so far I've replaced..: DV/PCV/CF/CV/CP/SP/C/W/RB/WC/FWM/RWM/WA/TB/CC, so when does it go pop? They don't, but you replace about every other part before things get so bad they don't move.
Like when pople say, I've got 250k on my car... yes, but A. How much have you spent to keep it on the road and B. What is it like to drive; I bet neither answer is a good one.