That's what happens when you take a small rear engine designed vehicle, try to keep a similar shape, and move the engine up front. They would have been perfect if VW had left the engine in the back like the oriiginals. They took away the BIGGEST thing that made these cars unique when they did that IMHO.

There's not much room around my GF's engine either. When she got the car and I popped the hood the first time I told her she better start a bank account for fixin it cuz she was going to take that thing to the shop. I told her I refused to do more than oil changes on it

 

Hey Bagel.. maybe you need to stop and think...if some
one cant find the oil filter, and knows nothing about what
their doing, they should go some where that can help before the car is destroyed. Some people only know how
to insert a key and for some reason the thing under the
hood makes a noise and makes the car go.

 

So THAT'S what that key lookin thing is supposed to do.... Wondered why my car wouldn't move by itself... Told it where I wanted to go and it sat there looking at me.