Help save stylin's wagon

[B-chi]

So most of you will know stylins blue wagon. You should do it was car of the month a little while back. Well I'm it's new owner and we haven't got off on the best of terms.

At this point I'd like to say I've spoken to Mr Stylin a couple of times since purchasing and do not blame him or hold him responsible. This is the risk you take buying second hand and even when buying new. I understand that and he's as gutted as I am.

A couple of smiles first. Picked it up yesterday, 360mile round trip. Got to work this morning, couple of comments, etc. Some guy I work with "what bodykit is that, I wouldn't mind that on my vectra"!!!!, "it's not a vectra mate it's a passat". "really, are you sure?" "yes I am mate". Legend.

Realised it had remote window open/close on the buttons, brilliant. Held open for secs and front windows go down, hold close and front windows go up, at the same time as rear windows go down. Holds open again, rear windows close as fronts come down. Absolutely brilliant. I could not stop laughing.

God love Volkswagen.

Drive home was great until 10miles from home when it started sounding like a rattly tractor at idle. Revs went up noise went away. Got progressively worse on the couple of sample journeys to work/various mechanics. Was squeaking as well by this evening when mechanic diagnosed crankshaft pulley was rubbing causing awfull noise. Goes to start car 30mins later after coffee and awful screech and won't start. Mechanic says starter ring is moving forward into engine and (memory is a bit poo, so not 100%) torque something or other is probably fooked. There's a little inspection window on bit in-between box and engine. There's a crank in there which instead of spinning just moves forward into engine.

Can't remember rest but he said I'd need to take front end off, pull the engine and box out, split them to have a look and see exactly what's gone down. Now this guy is doing my mate a favour, he's not quoting for the job, just having a look. He said I'm looking at probably 14hrs to get engine/box out and in. That's what a garage would charge.

I've got a mate who should be able pull the engine out. What I'm looking at finding out is what we can expect to find once it's out. Worst case/best case scenario sort of thing. Is it worth going through all that effort to realise it is cooked and there's no saving it.

I understand my explanation is a little vague so I'm relying on a bit of a Q&A session really.

I really dont want to brake it, but honestly it's looking like the most financially viable option. I need a car so if pulling the engine out is more than likely to reveal it's shagged I'd rather not waste my time.

I'm a bit emotional and a bit drunk so sorry if I've rambled and it doesn't make sense.