Is this VW Jetta worth saving?

I have a 2006 VW Jetta. I had some issues with it and issues with a mechanic that worked on it. The car seemed to be fine and then the newly replaced oil filter had a cut in it and oil gushed out- mechanic said it happened in his garage "probably" and replaced the filter. Never going back. The car hasn't been right since. Now a big fan makes noise. Took it to two places (during a super hot day) because check engine light came on then disappeared. Each place ran a diagnosis that sad fan relay issues. Currently AC still works but big fan sounds like a jet landing. I'm unsure of cost. The problem is the car has a small rear main seal leak, and now this. Money is something I don't have flowing for repairs. If I managed to scrounge enough money to fix the fan, at least, is the car still worth the save.
I learned my (hearts desire) lesson on Euro cars. What would be a better car on cost, Ford Focus possibly?

Yes

VW's are notoriuously unreliable and poorly made. Dump it otherwise you will spend good money after bad.

The only way to know is to find out what you can sell the car for. Then look at how much it will cost buy a Ford Focus.

Next get an estimate for the repairs and ask the mechanic if he sees any other repair expenses coming up in the future as well.

Usually it is most cost effective to just repair it.

but when the repairs start to approach about 40 or 50% of what the car is worth then i would start considering selling the car and put the money towards something else.

Vw coolant needs replacing after 10 years. VWs do not like anything other than high grade fully synthetic engine oil, if the garage used anything other than that you'll have issues. A Honda Fit would be a reliable replacement.

Using anything but a good garage who know VW is silly.
Part of start up after an oil change is a leak check both from the filter and the drain plug.

Yes, sure. Because there's nothing wrong with the car at all. You are imagining it.

The mechanic replaced the cracked oil filter which he said probably happened in his shop. 'THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF HIM TO DO THAT" Not a problem. He took responsibility for it. I have no issue with that. He would have sent it back to the filter manufacturer for a full refund of a faulty made oil filter. That is normal practice.

The big fan noise is the radiator fan which runs on an electric motor and it comes on when the engine is running hot.(so like you are sitting in traffic barely moving so the engine is idling and getting HOT. The fan kicks on to cool the rad. Which has the coolant.

THAT IS NORMAL OPERATION. If it did not come on you are either going at speed of 40+MPH or the engine will overheat and a whole wack of red lights come on and you seriously damage the motor. Fan relay is working 100% properly.

OK? SO YOU ARE GOOD 100%

<I know; I heard that too for the first time in my car and I wondered what the heck?>
It is spinning like a Bat out of Hell "on SPEED"

. The 2 places(you went to later) are trying to swindle you out of your money and fix something that is working PROPERLY. That will be $150. (AND THEY DID NOTHING) Just cracked open some beers and TOLD YOU they were working on it.
They would have "Forked" you silly.

So far, your first mechanic is the good mechanic, these last 2 just want to "TAKE YOUR MONEY" for nothing. They are "RIP OFF ARTISTS"

. The rear main seal leak is NOT A BIG DEAL. All 10+ year old cars leak there. It is nothing major and can be fixed by using a slightly heavier oil grade such as 10W30 (if you are using 5W20 now) and the leak slows down or stops completely.
You notice nothing in lost performance. NOTHING.
Even 10W40 would be OK. Not 20W50 as that is not meant for cars.
Or "Stop Leak" oil additive 1 can into the crankcase with the other motor oil and that might stop it. It is nothing to worry about.

On my Rabbit(pre Jetta years) I put on 850,000 miles on the original motor and it is not burning oil visibly yet. I drive everywhere with it. 500mile drive the next day with no plan or prep. Just filled the car with fuel and checked the oil level before I left and coolant levels and tire pressure and DROVE. Sure it weeps out oil out of the valve cover gasket and off the oil pan but it parks with one or 2 oil drops. But look at the mileage. My car is a 1982. Basically oil and oil filter and air filter changes is all I need to do on it. That is a EURO CAR. It is reliable.
A FORD FIESTA WOULD HAVE DIED 4 times over by this mileage.
. I use regular motor oil(Walmart brand so the cheap stuff), regular fuel and that is it. Not going to spend money for synthetic oil if it is just going to leak out.

So far you are complaining about the car as though there was Something wrong with it.
SORRY, it is working PROPERLY. Everything you described is NORMAL.

If you want a junk car buy a Jeep. They are always breaking down. So are Chevs and Fords.

50year mechanic
(I drove several Jetta's for 10+ years. I know them in and out.)