Also saw this at
http://gti-vr6.net/library/electrica...c_failure.html
"I have a 95 Golf Gl and had a similar problem. while driving all of a
sudden there would be a mass electrical failure. Even the digital
display of the odometer and clock went dead. The engine totally died
and the alarm started going off. The first time it happened the dealer
said it was my alternator and put in a new one. After 500 miles it
happened again. Apparently this happened to a bunch of VW's made around
a certain time. VW central found the problem to be a defective set of
grounding cables from the battery. Since they changed them (and the
alternator and battery again) I have had no problems."
Have't tried, yet, but will let you know what I find.