FWIW, my car's 01M crapped out at about 90k miles. The original owner had it rebuilt by a competent rebuilder who at the time was real busy with 01M's lol. Wasn't a cheap rebuild. The tech who did the work told me he put in all the known 'fixes' (improvements), and assured me it would outlast the original tranny by a lot if I didn't drive stupid. Most of my miles are hwy I admit. And I have't abused it. Anyway, that was about 200k miles ago and still going strong (fingers crossed!). What I like about the Auto trans is for highway driving and most driving, ya just don't have to screw with rowing the gears. Trouble-free driving. So if you like that......
Those 01M trannies work fine but feel spongy behind a stock TDI. Esp because it's a small turbo diesel and a somewhat heavy car (for it's size). If you prefer more spirited driving, or even adding a little extra 'juice' to your TDI, a manual conversion is probably the better way to go. But if not, and you want stock and would rather write out a check to solve the problme, find a good rebuild shop who can handle it.
Ask them to put in any and all updates and improvements. What that means is, the industry figures out weaknesses on failed trannies b/c certain ones like the 01M often fail for the same few reasons. Aftermarket tranny parts companies come up with crafty 'fixes' or cost-effective improvements to make better where the factory didn't quite get them 'right'. That's true for most trannies. Usually they don't cost a lot to implement. Nearly all transmissions have some weak area/s which can be improved upon to make more bulletproof. Esp the 01M. If a good rebuilder re-did yours, and you didn't abuse it, it should last you almost forever. I would expect the rebuild cost to come in the $2k mark. Possibly more. Its worth a few phone calls if that doesn't scare you.
Otherwise there are used ones floating around out there to consider. Most guys are going manual, so they don't have the value they once had. You could have a shop install a used one you bought, with a new torque converter, and keep yours on the side, and wait ...and have it rebuilt *if* the used one
starts acting 'flakey'. If the used one never acts up, then you beat the odds and got a good 'cheap' (used) 01M. But if the used 01M does start to act 'funny' in, say, a few yrs, you have an ace in your back pocket (old one) which you can have quickly rebuilt as you drive on the 'flaky' tranny ...then swap the rblt one in (car's not down). Capische??
While the shop is rebuilding yours I'd take the axles home and put on new inner CV boots/grease. One less thing to worry about. And have them put on new inner tie/outer rod ends. Those inner's suck to do on-car with the subframe in there. And might as well install new lower control arms and ball joints if the shop had to remove any of those parts.
