I have to give gortex the thumbs up.
I have 3 gortes coats and they are of various types, 1 is a mountain equip coat, it has never let me down and i have been in some torential rain in that. the ohter 2 are army issue. 1 is UK issue the other is Dutch army issue. the UK issue is good & big but no pockets, purely an over jacket for foul weather. The dutch one is great, three layer garment. i would not wear my mnt eqp one next to an open fire in case of sparks (and cost) but the dutch one has a cotton / canvas outer layer that resists a spark well.
you do have to look after your gortex now and then treating it with a wash, tumble dry and iron, i have never had a problem with water getting in with any of these coats.
i also have a gortex ponch (army issue) that is also very good.