It's a fantastic car...when it's working. It stranded me on the highway due to a valve spring breaking. The check engine light turns on like once a month, and the oil pressure light comes on intermittently. This car is immense fun and seemingly very refined, but it does not inspire confidence that I won't have to call a tow truck on a longer drive.

GTI's do almost everything well. Economy, performance, flexibility, holds value, road car, back roads car, safety, comfort, feature-laden and now almost $10K less than the price of the average new vehicle. Two minor flaws IMO. All GTI's should have Golf R climate controls. Standard controls too confusing and fussy. Rather set it and forgot it. DSG is "still funky after all these years." Don't get me wrong, the lightning quick shifts and in-traffic ease are compelling, but DSGs can be clunky and feel strange at low speed and can't yet read all of your intentions correctly, thus some odd decisions/shifts on occasion. Not a fault, just a thing. Otherwise brilliant. GTI is among the contenders for "best" mass-produced combustion engine car of all time. Yes, that good. If shopping the used market, I would strongly suggest one try to get a Performance Package car. Much better brakes that won't need brake service as often and stop better. Also, the electronically controlled differential aids both traction and handling.

It is a fun car to own, great gas mileage and even if your not going to turn it into a rice burner it is still a awesome little car and gots alot of power, you can get around all these slow idiot drivers that seem to be all over the place. The interior is nice and comfortable, I have already took mine on a trip to Cali and no comfort issues, smart with mechanical other than stuff that should of been taken care of by the dealership on their "certified pre-owned inspection" but that is a dealership laziness issue so stay away from Larry H Miller Volkswagen in Avondale and you should be ok. Look forward to many many years & miles behind the wheel of my car and would recommend this car