service recommendation: 95 golf

Hoping for some wisdom from Twin Cities VW owners:

I bought a used 95 VW Golf in November 03 from a private owner and drove it through the winter without servicing. It has run really well for the most part, but I have some repairs to make and am looking for a good mechanic who understands this is an older, hi-mileage (100K) car with an owner who isn't financially prepared to pay dealer service fees.

There are some specific problems identified before I bought the car by the mechanic I used for my previous car, a good mechanic but by his own admission no expert on VWs.

- New AC hose
- Brake pads all around
- Repack rear wheel bearings

Then there's a problem I noticed throughout the winter: When I step on the gas for the first few minutes from a cold start, the transmission (auto) is very sluggish. The engine revs, but the trannie takes a second or two two engage, then it does so with a jolt. Anticipating the problem with a light foot helps avoid the thunk, but does not help with the trannie's slow reaction time in engaging . . . The colder the weather, the more persistent the problem.

Anybody know what this is? I'm hoping it's a sensor or a stuck injector, not the whole works. When the car warms up, the problem goes away.

Also, any ideas where I can get new parts on the cheap?

Thanks very much . . . Evan

My aunt has this problem with her mini van. It like has something to deal with your tranny oil pump not being able to transfering the thicker because it is cold. Maybe try changing fluid or at worse go to a tranny shop.