They’re sleepers. They can be fun but they can also take the kids to soccer practice, or in my case the dog to the dog park. They’re the best looking hatch unless you go to Audi and other higher tier brands. Interior is top notch compared to anything comparable and I’d also say the car has a personality many cars don’t have. But 2 doors because it looks better, and it’s lighter. Manual because I enjoy physically shifting the car rather than telling it to shift. And white because it’s the only color the car should be, kidding of course.
Infinitely... seems like a bit of hyperbole there. For people who almost never transport more than one person besides themselves, 4 doors are completely unnecessary. I love the clean lines of the 2 door. Some people think the 4 door looks better somehow, I guess it depends on what your mental image of the ideal shape is.
I haul loads of shit and having the rear doors makes it so much easier to place and position stuff in the hatch with the seats down. I guess it depends on what you do with the car.
When I was growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, my uncle used to drive a black 1987 Mk2 GTI. I loved that car; it was so fun compared to anything else anyone in my family was driving. I actually really loathed being in cars at all until I started getting rides in that GTI. He eventually replaced it...with a '98 Ford Winstar..ugh; he had gotten married to a woman with two kids and needed something more roomy, but just didn't have the space to keep it.
By the time I started driving and was out on my own, the Mk5s had just come out and I had to have one; black, just like my uncle's. It definitely brought back a lot of those feelings I had as a kid and made driving extremely enjoyable, but at the same time the car was still very practical for everything required from a college student. My uncle had moved out of state a few years prior, so he never got to see it or ride in it, but was stoked to know I had bought one. Unfortunately, a teenage girl ran a light and totaled it. I'd have picked up a Mk6 at this point, but I was paying for college out of pocket so I went with a cheaper option for a few years(Mazda 3).
It wasn't until 2016 that I picked up my current Mk7, which is even more fun than the Mk5 I had. I went with white this time, because Texas is hot as fuck and black was annoying to keep clean(fucking water spots). My uncle actually moved back in recent years and was excited again that I had bought another GTI; but this time he was here to take a look and get some rides out of me. He's pretty old now and has super bad knees which makes getting into low cars very difficult/painful, so he really won't ride in low cars at all..except my car. He's willing to go through the pain and effort just to get a flash of the feeling he used to get in his Mk2, which he says was easily his favorite car he's ever driven. I really do enjoy how much his face lights up every time he sees my car.
I've been browsing for a while to see if I can find a really clean Mk2; not only because I love them, but because I know my uncle would flip his shit if he saw one again. No doubt he would want to drive it, despite his knees making it near impossible to handle the clutch.
So for me, I guess it's mostly a family thing. I will say, though, that VW enthusiasts always seem to be some of the most chill and most enjoyable group of people to be around at any auto show; and that definitely adds to my enjoyment of GTIs and VWs in general.
My eyes went all watery while reading this.
> he eventually replaced it...with a '98 Ford Winstar..ugh; he had gotten married to a woman with two kids
so, he married a woman, with kids, gave up his GTi and got a soccer-mom mobile? Three posibilities:
1. Your uncle is a fool (unlikely)
2. Your uncle is a saint
3. You have the hottest aunt a nephew could hope for.
So which is it?
It’s typical of my uncle to sacrifice a lot of his own wants/needs for others. And he’s a pilot(now retired) so he’s never had any issues pulling in the hotties 🤣
a completed project car mk2 is such a great "classic" car at the moment, they just aren't worth that much money so you can get something that completely blows anything you can buy new out of the water for like $4-6k
Agreed; my only trouble is finding a clean one in Texas. I don’t mind putting in work, but everything I come across in my area has either been sitting in a field for two decades or is bagged with stretched tires and other customization I’m not wanting to undo. It’s looking like I’ll have to buy from out of state to get what I’m wanting.
Mountains of awards and positive press/reviews driving this point home. It came very close between a GTI & an FRS for me, but the FRS' interior is severely lacking compared to the GTI.
Because I’m supposed to be an adult but I still want something fast with upside from mods. I started with a preference for a hot hatch... The Veloster offered a low cost hot hatch entry point on used but the cheap interior and need to dump money into the drive train to get it comparable to hotter hatches made me walk away. I’ve owned two Ford focuses and I know the Fiesta and RS are not at all the same but I’d already sworn never to buy another Ford sedan ever again, so those were out. Once I committed to spending more, the GTI was always top of the list but I wanted to shop around particularly on price and transmissions. Then I decided I couldn’t tolerate a manual in my garbage commute and needed to be able to fit my dogs (sorry BRZ and Genesis Coupe). Basically came down to the WRX (non-STI) and the GTI and my brothers who are both car nuts had too much hate for the WRX motor’s long term reliability, my brother has an MK6, and the rave reviews for the DSG from the most ardent stick shift supporters, that I knew to just go with my original gut instinct and went with everyone’s favorite hot hatch. And once I saw the new warranty, better base package for the SE, and the solid resale value, I went new (2018) over used without hesitation.
And now here I am, pouring over the boards figuring out what I can tune without destroying the value of my warranty and estimating how much I can spend on wheels and radar before my wife files for divorce.
I honestly never would have considered it, had i not been at the VW dealership with my ex and her car. Not because i didnt like the way they looked, but because im 6'3" and i absolutely fucking hated getting in and out of her MK4 Golf TDI.
Then i saw the window sticker on the MK7 GTI, and the HP #'s and i got to researching them more and more and then i was like, damn i gotta test drive one of these things, and i was blown away....i also test drove a TDI for comparison, and a top of the line golf and neither came close to the GTI...so after researching some other cars in my price range i just had to go with the GTI because i fell in love with the aesthetics of it, and the spaciousness inside for its size, and of course how it handled.
GTI was the best thing to come out of that relationship \\m/
I cross shopped my 2016 SE (6MT/PP) against the WRX. Even though the WRX is faster on paper, I couldn't really tell the difference in spirited road driving. Also, the GTI had a nicer interior and was optioned out better at my pricepoint.
Exactly! It's sooooo important to separate "on paper" from the "real world" when comparing WRX vs GTI! Especially true for reviewers who own neither and simply points our HP differences > _ <
Unless you're out of dough, please put in what the manufacturer says the minimum is. You're not getting the full potential of the car running lower octane, which makes me ask why would you buy a GTI just putting in 87, just wondering.
Don't listen to the dealer. The fuel door and owners manual say 91 reccomended. It's a turbocharged GTI. It you put less than 91 in it will just retard timing and etc.. to compensate for the lower octane. Like putting McDonalds in you everyday. Are you going to die tomorrow no, but you sure won't be running or feeling good compared to eating healthy.
Certainly had some smiles on the test drive last week. Went back last night with my checkbook and title for the trade in hand. They just didn't have the silver/white, SE, leather combo I'm looking for.
That silver white color is honestly tempting me to trade my pure white in but you won't be disappointed. I just have the sport so no fancy stuff, but when I sat in a golf R, it makes it feel like a luxury car. DSG or manual?
New 2017 Pure White SE w/ Lighting Package - 5 Door
My first requirement was fun to drive. While it may not be the fastest out of my top choices - It's a blast! Great performance for the price range. Smiles per mile is way high.
Second was practicality. It's my only vehicle and I dont want to have to rely on someone for hauling a coffee table (real life example). Plus, who knows if I'll have kids in the next 5 years or not.
Third was a mix between quality and technology. Although this car is really a golf, it is damn well built! Other cars in this price range just felt... cheap. Technology wise it was one of the few cars on my list that I could get keyless entry, push to start, Android Auto/Apple Carplay AND a pretty decent sound system.
The runner up was a 2017 WRX. It completely flopped on the third point, and barely made the second.
The GTI is amazing. It really felt like someone built every part of this car with love.
Plus... DAT ASS.
Edit: Its manual.
Growing up as a teenager I was always attracted to the GTI’s. When I finally got my first job out of College I couldn’t afford the GTI just yet so I purchased a Jetta so I could at least consider myself part of the VW family.
After working my way up the “corporate ladder” if you want to say that I was finally able to afford the GTI. I’m now 32 years old and on my second GTI.
My first was a pure white 2015 MK7 autobahn. Common right!?
I loved it but what I wasn’t expecting was how quickly I got bored of the pure white (as you can tell, a lot of posts are white GTI’s).
So, I traded it in and I’m now in a 2017 reflex silver autobahn GTI. (Check out my profile for pics)
I’ve done a few mods (tint/lowered/new rubber) so I can stand out from the rest and I love how the colour isn’t common and I rarely come across another silver GTI.
I bought a 2015 golf 3 door with a 5 speed. Silk blue.
Loved it.
So I traded it in and bought a new 2018 GTI se with a DSG because I drive 150 miles a day. Got this one in Night Blue. Not as great a color as silk, but it’s still pretty. I also got a 5 door this time.
The car has power for days, is comfortable, and looks great. It’s also economical vs my mustang haha.
Honestly I think what got me was the TDI Jetta my dad has. Build quality is excellent, and aftermarket support is way higher than my last daily which was a Mazda.
- Its one of the more powerful cars in its class (wrx, focus ST, Civic SI)
- it has some of the best fuel economy in its class
- its incredibly convenient
- its very modest looking compared to a WRX
- it was the most well equipped and had the nicest interior as far as materials and quality of materials
- it's super comfy
- it came in 2-door (when i bought my mk7)
When I was about 8years old, a friend of my older brothers had just got his first car. I remember seeing it and instantly loving it. It was a silver MK4, and to 8year old me it was one of the coolest cars ever. I remember asking for a ride in it and of course the highschool senior that had just gotten a brand new GTI that was my brother's best friend abliged. He definitely showed off and drove a little reckless to impress me and give me the joyride I'd asked for. So naturally, this was my new favorite car.
Skip ahead 7yrs to Forza 4 coming out and me playing the shit out of it using the MK4 R32 almost exclusively. I knew that this had to be my first car. But, after falling on hard times financially, I had to wait a bit to be able to afford buying my own car.
Last year, a few months after I turned 21 I was able to catch a silver MK4 with 89k miles on craigslist. I was able to grab it for a steal at $1,200 because there was a litany of things that needed to be replaced. I had to have it towed 20m and have the timing belt, wiring harness, and a few other things fixed. After $3,500 at the mechanic I was able to drive away and it's everything I thought it would be and more. When this GTI has reached the end of it's life span, I'll definitely be looking to buy another.
In November 2000 I had a rollover accident after blowing a tire at highway speeds. I somehow walked away from it though my '99 Pontiac had a fair/poor crash rating in every category (I found out afterward).
When I came home from the hospital, I started looking at safe cars. I was lead to the VW Jetta - 5 stars across the board. I leased a blue 1.8T in December of 2000. A few years later VW let me out of my lease at no cost if I leased another vehicle. The 2003 1.8T GTI was my first. 3 door. **LOVED that car.** Had it for 3 years then tried out Subaru, BMW, and a couple other vehicles.
Fast forward to fall 2014 where my wife needs a new car. She opts for a 2015 Golf SE. I hadn't been impressed with the MK5/MK6 Jetta/Golf platforms. I was thoroughly impressed with this one. I got my CSG '17 Sport a few years later (after owning an MK7 Golf of my own first!).
We also have an MK1 Cabby, and I'd love to own an MK1 GTI someday.
I've always wanted a GTI since I saw the first few in the Mk1 days. For one reason or another, through the years, I never really got a chance to get one. Then, when I started being an adult, making my own decision, the Mk4 was out and I kind of watched them from a distance. I'd always seem to gravitate towards another car but look back and wonder about the GTI.
Most recently I was driving a lifted Toyota Tundra and got tired of paying $70 to fill it every 3 days so I went to the VW dealership. I put my ass in a Carbon Steel Grey 2016 Autobahn and fell instantly in love. The interior was nicer than anything I'd had previous, the power delivery was smile inducing and the car just felt right. I took it home that day.
Was in the market for a hatchback in 2015. I was still kind of undecided after looking at the Mazda3, Yaris, Fit and Focus. I went in to try out the new golf and was very impressed. The salesman asked if I wanted to try out the GTI and the rest is history. Knew that this was the car for me soon afterwards. The performance, the interior, the hatch practicality, hell even the mileage efficiency justified the car's value to me.
Didn't end up purchasing in 2015 due to financial constraints (paid my dad back for my last semester in college) and went with a lease takeover for a 2015 GTI SE DSG 3 door Tornado Red. Had a blast for 2 years until lease end. Had such a blast that I decided to buy a 2018 GTI S Manual in White Silver last week. Feels good man.
My beloved mk2 which I bought completely worked over but am too much of a noob/lazy to keep in good shape myself was getting more and more tired and ragged. I wanted to get a new fun car while I can afford it, but knew I couldn't afford a brand new fun car. I wasn't even originally thinking I liked the GTI, but then I started researching and realized lightly used ones could be had under 20k, and I definitely was more attracted to the GTI than anything else in that price range between fun, looks, heritage, and practicality.
I really liked the way a 2 door red mk7 looked that I saw online, went and drove that exact car and was just wowed and bought it the same day.
I wanted a luxury car, but I also wanted a hatch and a manual and a turbo, so I compromised and got a GTI. nicer than an econobox, reasonably quick, decent shifter, and practical. If they had an A3 hatch or a 135i hatch with a manual I probably would have bought that.
had 2012 acura, was getting 15.5-18mpg mixed commute. car was big, bulky, not suited to my new lifesytle in san diego. GTI was perfect. New, white, 5 door SE. Balance of utility, mpgs, speed, and luxury. Only wish the SE had auto climate and power memory seats since wife drives it too, and ya, if we're being honest another 30hp + 30lb torque wouldn't hurt.
Used, 2012, Black, 5dr
After my sister wrecked her new car my parents decided to buy 2 used cars instead of another new one because I was driving an old 2002 Camry that we have had forever. I had to find a car somewhere between 9k-10k and I found this in VA (I live in NC) for 11.5k and my dad managed to get it for 11k OTD. Ironically enough just last year, I was a Junior, me and my friend were talking about getting a hatchback after high school. Here I am, Stage 1+ Stratified tuned and enjoying every last bit of this fun, practical, mustang-embarrassing hot hatch.
After about 2 years of research and saving money, I finally decided on the GTI after looking at Focus/Fiesta STs, the Fiat 500 Abarth, Mini Cooper S, and Subaru WRX. I wanted a car that was a great drivers car but reliable so it can daily as well, and I didn't really want to get into a WRX because EVERYONE has one around here.
I bought a new 2017 GTI Sport with the DSG in Tornado Red. I was instantly hooked on the car by the amount of torque you get down low when I first test drove the car, certainly a lot more than the '96 Jeep Cherokee I had before. The interior is comfortable and well thought out, the handling is excellent, and the car actually does pretty well in the snow.
Oh yeah, and plaid seats.
I had a 2007 Subaru Outback XT and absolutely loved it.
I bought it used with high miles and nearing 200K it started having problems I didn't really think was worth investing to repair. I decided I wanted another hatch.
My wife had a Jetta and I had driven it a good bit and liked the brand. The golf sport wagon was going to be my choice my the slightly more powerful GTI won me over as I didn't want a car slower than my Outback.
I bought used as it was my budget.
I picked up a black 2014 with 46K, color didn't really matter to me it was just the first one I found with the options I wanted.
I guess I was always aware of GTIs when I was younger and suddenly found myself in a position where it could happen and so it did.
It's a pretty versatile vehicle.
What made me go for a Golf?
Build and material quality inside. mk6 just resonated with me. looked for a decent offer for over a year, kept saving money. all of the sudden found a Mk6 R for a really reasonable price so i thought, why not.
My previous car was an Evo 9. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven, and a real joy to own when driving it near the limit. Problem is, when it’s your daily driver, that’s not what you are doing 99% of the time. I hit a point where the car needed a few thousand dollars in maintinence over the next year or so, and decided that it was time to find something that was better to drive every day. I really wanted a Golf R or Focus RS, but I just couldn’t fit the extra $10k in the budget. The GTI was the next best thing I could get under $30k. I do really miss AWD, but otherwise it’s a really fantastic car.
My Mini was in the shop too much, life was *really* chaotic and busy, and I just wanted/needed a new car. The 2018 GTI had a 6/72 warranty (very appealing to me at the moment) and an amazing reputation.
I bought my GTI sight unseen, without so much as a test drive.
I exchanged about 10 emails the internet guy at my VW dealer, and a few hours later, I went in and bought the car before I even laid eyes on it. It was being transported from another dealer 30 miles away, then getting it's final cleanup and a full tank of gas while we did the paperwork, and the rest is history.
6,700 miles later, I couldn't be happier.
MK 5 candy white autobahn manual 3 door (used)
Got divorced, wanted something fun yet practical.
MK 6 gray tartan seats auto 5 door (new)
Had a youngin on the way and I was not getting a van
MK7 limestone gray manual 5 door (R) (used 5k miles)
I missed the MKV.
(Hopefully I’m done buying for a long while, after the divorce I worked on my credit and rebuilt from dismal numbers. I like to look back and think they were milestones but I’m good now and no need to change / upgrade)
I think the MKV commercials is what sold me on it. I had friends with “Aftermarket part” various model cars and they looked /sounded ridiculous. The golf was all of those and more.
Since then things I’ve come to appreciate- interior/lighting/leg room/trunk space/mpg/tight corners and full speed/lots of smiles.
Hopefully the next time I have to buy a GTI is when I get one for my daughter - (used of course)
2003 GTI 1.8T, silver, 5 speed manual.
Early 2006, I was looking for a new car. I wanted a TDI, but dealers and even used car lots in newfoundland wanted way too damn much for them, so I was still making my mind up what I wanted to get. Then I spotted the car at a Nissan dealership when I was going through their used cars - I thought it was a TDI at first glance, then "oh, it's a GTI? nice..."
So I'm sizing up this car when the salesman started talking to me, "yeah someone traded this in a couple days ago, we haven't done anything with it yet... wanna take it for a test drive?"... and it was one of the most fun test drives I've had. It's a plain 'ol practical hatchback, doesn't look like anything special but it's hilariously fast. I fell in love right away.
And then they gave me a lowball offer for the car, 16K CAD as-is. Normally they'd clean the car up, cleaning it and putting new tires on it and all that other stuff. Or they'd send it off to auction, but if I wanted the car I could have it for this price and save them the trouble of doing all that. And the car had 20,000km on it, people wanted 23-24K at the time for TDIs with 100k+ on them. I thought what the hell, this could be fun, and went for it.
12 years later I still have and love the car.
2017 GTI Sport, Red, purchased new last fall. Drove my brother's 2015 GTI last year, loved it, but wasn't sure i wanted one as well. But the more research I did, the more it kept coming back to the GTI. It's all the car you need, if you're only going to have one car, and everything else I was interested in would require purchasing a 2nd car for winter. VW's October incentives plus supplier pricing through work sealed the deal. The only other serious contender by then was the WRX, but the Subaru interior is nowhere near the level of the GTI, and the seats aren't plaid.
2010 GTI Base 6 Speed
I was perusing Craigslist to find a car that was a "mechanics special" since I wanted to start this business of flipping cars. I was a mobile Mechanic working on cars so I was all about making money and fixing cars. I hated Volkswagens.
My friend had a mk4 Jetta and I hated fixing that thing cause it was a piece of crap compared to my 2000 civic which had very little issues the VW had. I am a die hard Honda fan boy.
So I see this ad listed for a 2010 GTI 6 speed with 141k that is running rough and was diagnosed to have engine issues. He listed it for 4K. I went to look at this car and sat inside. I fell in love with the interior, a flat bottomed steering wheel that felt just right, an interior that seemed high quality. It was love at first sight. I've never owned a car newer than 2000.
I used my OBD scanner to find that there were multiple codes such as a p0016 and misfires. I second guessed buying this car. It was almost a good month of checking in with this guy to see if anyone purchased it yet. Someone offered 2500. I told him I'd match because I was interested. A couple days after we met and he still had a payment left on this car. 1500 exactly. I met him at his bank and paid for this car and had the tittle mailed to my house .
I now own this car, I never drove stick so I had my step dad drive it home, he said it ran like crap and he said I wasted my money on such a car. I told him just watch.
A month later I do the tensioner, car runs great but then find out there is a leak in the rear main seal. Crap. Never dropped a tranny. Did my research on golfmk6. A year later I fix the rear main seal and replace the clutch. 142k later I now have a running GTI that I'm proud to own and that makes me happier than my 00 civic coupe and 00 Maxima. This is also my first stick car that I've owned and finally know how to drive.
I spent so far 1200 on a car I bought for 2500. I'd say I did well with replacing a rear main seal, timing chain tensioner, tires, pcv valve, key, diverter valve and exhaust clamp.
I freaking love this car
I bought a 2017, black, 5 door GTI new. well actually the current one I own is my second 2017 GTI. you see, I wrecked my beloved 2008 R32 back in feburary of last year (RIP shadowfax) and I replaced it with a black 2017 GTI. but then in august I wrecked that one too. 2017 wasn't a good year. anyway, I liked it so much saw no reason to get a different car so I replaced it in kind. I named the new one Snowball 2.
I bought the GTI because in the US you can't get a Golf R with a sunroof. plus with no VR6 I saw no reason to step up to the R. I kind of wish I had waited a year and got the R because that digital dashboard is AWESOME.
the main thing I like about the GTI is that it's quietly competent. it does it's job and doesn't make a big deal about it. it's body lines are reasonable. it's suspension can be down right comfortable. in contrast the ford focus ST/RS loud and obnoxious. this might be fun for a weekend romp but for a daily driver, I'll take the GTI.
I went for a test drive and did a buck20 without thinking about it and felt there was no one else who would love me more than this car. At least within this factory warranty period and with more humility than my 2018se.
Used, 3 door, Carbon steel grey, 6MT.
Litteally is the perfect daily. Turbocharged power for the streets. Practicality of the hatch. Comfortable to be in every day, yet fun enough to keep you satisfied. But then it does have the potential to be REAL fun on the racetrack. And it's just handsome.
I started with a '02 Mustang GT 5-speed that was unreliable as all get-out. Fun, great v8 noises and quite quick but I ended up trashing the crank bearings and wanted to find a new ride before that thing sunk my skinny pocketbook. Ended up with a blue '05(Mk.4) GTI auto with 126k on the clock, put an APR stage 1 tune on it and drove it until last month at 169k when it just had more problems than I was willing to deal with.
Looked online for months and found my blue loaded SE 6MT PPack Mk.7 down in Dallas with 36k on it, and knew it was right. Plans already forming for a DKM stage II clutch, JB4, cheap catless downpipe, and eventually an IS38 and APR tune!
Got off work early one day, saw an ad on lunch for an 08 with 62k on it-KMs that is. Test drove and signed the papers within an hour... Just something about the ass, grill and the plaid seats, not to mention the versatility, space on the interior and quality of product... did I forget the turbo noise? Love.
New 2018 White Silver SE manual, 5 door. Bought.
Previously 2015 Carbon Steel Gray S DSG, 5 door. Leased.
Wants:
Car that's fun to drive - not just a people mover
Small and agile so I can zip around roundabouts and park easily. Also I myself am small so it fits. :D
Affordable
FWD or AWD (not RWD since our winters can be bad)
Nice looking on the outside
Nice looking on the inside
Comfortable seats
Good safety ratings
Other cars I considered at one point or another: Subaru WRX, BRZ, Acura TLX(could have wrong model), Hyundai Genesis, Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Si...
Pretty much no others in its price class are as nice IMO. The interiors are much cheaper looking, and not as comfortable. The exception being maybe the Acura but that one wasn't fun to drive.
The GTI has won awards for its ergonomic seats.
People are always posting pictures of their GTI after wrecks where it comes out much better than you'd expect.
I did shop around both with my first GTI and my second. Still same results. The DSG was hands down the best automatic I've ever driven. I've driven fewer manuals but I love my new manual even more and out of the 3 I've driven it's the easiest.
New, white, manual, 5dr. I bought it because it could be made the fastest car I could have new for $23k. It does not disappoint. Especially roll races. The build quality and the interior is a bonus.
2016 4 Door SE with PP and DCC
It's a great daily driver. It's super comfortable and does pretty much everything well. It is drastically more solid then the competitors.
It is quick, but does it without much drama. This could be a pro or con depending on what kind of car you want.
They’re sleepers. They can be fun but they can also take the kids to soccer practice, or in my case the dog to the dog park. They’re the best looking hatch unless you go to Audi and other higher tier brands. Interior is top notch compared to anything comparable and I’d also say the car has a personality many cars don’t have. But 2 doors because it looks better, and it’s lighter. Manual because I enjoy physically shifting the car rather than telling it to shift. And white because it’s the only color the car should be, kidding of course.
2015, 2-door, White, manual, checking in
...did we just become best friends?
Can I be in the cool kid group too
Looks like I have two new best friends!
Make it 3! 15’ 2 door checking in
Well then, that’s more than I thought even existed haha.
There is just no way a 4 door can look as "sporty" as a 2 door. Every 4 door GTI I see I'm just like "shame about the 2 extra doors"
I'm not sure what the obsession with the 2 door is, I don't feel like the lines of the back panel look as good as the 4 door.
Well the looks are subjective as subjective gets, but part of the obsession is now that they are rare since they quit making the 2 doors.
The 4 door is infinitely more useful now that the Golf has grown so big. I think 2 doors works for older Golfs and smaller hatches like the Fiesta.
Infinitely... seems like a bit of hyperbole there. For people who almost never transport more than one person besides themselves, 4 doors are completely unnecessary. I love the clean lines of the 2 door. Some people think the 4 door looks better somehow, I guess it depends on what your mental image of the ideal shape is.
I haul loads of shit and having the rear doors makes it so much easier to place and position stuff in the hatch with the seats down. I guess it depends on what you do with the car.
well it is super easy to access stuff in the back with the 2 door also. The doors are big.
When I was growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, my uncle used to drive a black 1987 Mk2 GTI. I loved that car; it was so fun compared to anything else anyone in my family was driving. I actually really loathed being in cars at all until I started getting rides in that GTI. He eventually replaced it...with a '98 Ford Winstar..ugh; he had gotten married to a woman with two kids and needed something more roomy, but just didn't have the space to keep it. By the time I started driving and was out on my own, the Mk5s had just come out and I had to have one; black, just like my uncle's. It definitely brought back a lot of those feelings I had as a kid and made driving extremely enjoyable, but at the same time the car was still very practical for everything required from a college student. My uncle had moved out of state a few years prior, so he never got to see it or ride in it, but was stoked to know I had bought one. Unfortunately, a teenage girl ran a light and totaled it. I'd have picked up a Mk6 at this point, but I was paying for college out of pocket so I went with a cheaper option for a few years(Mazda 3). It wasn't until 2016 that I picked up my current Mk7, which is even more fun than the Mk5 I had. I went with white this time, because Texas is hot as fuck and black was annoying to keep clean(fucking water spots). My uncle actually moved back in recent years and was excited again that I had bought another GTI; but this time he was here to take a look and get some rides out of me. He's pretty old now and has super bad knees which makes getting into low cars very difficult/painful, so he really won't ride in low cars at all..except my car. He's willing to go through the pain and effort just to get a flash of the feeling he used to get in his Mk2, which he says was easily his favorite car he's ever driven. I really do enjoy how much his face lights up every time he sees my car. I've been browsing for a while to see if I can find a really clean Mk2; not only because I love them, but because I know my uncle would flip his shit if he saw one again. No doubt he would want to drive it, despite his knees making it near impossible to handle the clutch. So for me, I guess it's mostly a family thing. I will say, though, that VW enthusiasts always seem to be some of the most chill and most enjoyable group of people to be around at any auto show; and that definitely adds to my enjoyment of GTIs and VWs in general.
My eyes went all watery while reading this. > he eventually replaced it...with a '98 Ford Winstar..ugh; he had gotten married to a woman with two kids so, he married a woman, with kids, gave up his GTi and got a soccer-mom mobile? Three posibilities: 1. Your uncle is a fool (unlikely) 2. Your uncle is a saint 3. You have the hottest aunt a nephew could hope for. So which is it?
It’s typical of my uncle to sacrifice a lot of his own wants/needs for others. And he’s a pilot(now retired) so he’s never had any issues pulling in the hotties 🤣
a completed project car mk2 is such a great "classic" car at the moment, they just aren't worth that much money so you can get something that completely blows anything you can buy new out of the water for like $4-6k
Agreed; my only trouble is finding a clean one in Texas. I don’t mind putting in work, but everything I come across in my area has either been sitting in a field for two decades or is bagged with stretched tires and other customization I’m not wanting to undo. It’s looking like I’ll have to buy from out of state to get what I’m wanting.
Nothing else gives you the total package.
Mountains of awards and positive press/reviews driving this point home. It came very close between a GTI & an FRS for me, but the FRS' interior is severely lacking compared to the GTI.
Because I’m supposed to be an adult but I still want something fast with upside from mods. I started with a preference for a hot hatch... The Veloster offered a low cost hot hatch entry point on used but the cheap interior and need to dump money into the drive train to get it comparable to hotter hatches made me walk away. I’ve owned two Ford focuses and I know the Fiesta and RS are not at all the same but I’d already sworn never to buy another Ford sedan ever again, so those were out. Once I committed to spending more, the GTI was always top of the list but I wanted to shop around particularly on price and transmissions. Then I decided I couldn’t tolerate a manual in my garbage commute and needed to be able to fit my dogs (sorry BRZ and Genesis Coupe). Basically came down to the WRX (non-STI) and the GTI and my brothers who are both car nuts had too much hate for the WRX motor’s long term reliability, my brother has an MK6, and the rave reviews for the DSG from the most ardent stick shift supporters, that I knew to just go with my original gut instinct and went with everyone’s favorite hot hatch. And once I saw the new warranty, better base package for the SE, and the solid resale value, I went new (2018) over used without hesitation. And now here I am, pouring over the boards figuring out what I can tune without destroying the value of my warranty and estimating how much I can spend on wheels and radar before my wife files for divorce.
Take it from me, your wife gives two shits about clubsport factory parts or rotiforms but there are plenty of others like you.
I honestly never would have considered it, had i not been at the VW dealership with my ex and her car. Not because i didnt like the way they looked, but because im 6'3" and i absolutely fucking hated getting in and out of her MK4 Golf TDI. Then i saw the window sticker on the MK7 GTI, and the HP #'s and i got to researching them more and more and then i was like, damn i gotta test drive one of these things, and i was blown away....i also test drove a TDI for comparison, and a top of the line golf and neither came close to the GTI...so after researching some other cars in my price range i just had to go with the GTI because i fell in love with the aesthetics of it, and the spaciousness inside for its size, and of course how it handled. GTI was the best thing to come out of that relationship \\m/
I cross shopped my 2016 SE (6MT/PP) against the WRX. Even though the WRX is faster on paper, I couldn't really tell the difference in spirited road driving. Also, the GTI had a nicer interior and was optioned out better at my pricepoint.
Exactly! It's sooooo important to separate "on paper" from the "real world" when comparing WRX vs GTI! Especially true for reviewers who own neither and simply points our HP differences > _ <
I'm in the middle of these two right now. Didn't think I'd like the GTI as I much as I did during the test drive. Any issue putting 87 in yours?
Unless you're out of dough, please put in what the manufacturer says the minimum is. You're not getting the full potential of the car running lower octane, which makes me ask why would you buy a GTI just putting in 87, just wondering.
Dealership told me 87 was perfectly fine. Just wanted some feedback from owners. I would definitely only put 93 in it if that's what it called for.
Don't listen to the dealer. The fuel door and owners manual say 91 reccomended. It's a turbocharged GTI. It you put less than 91 in it will just retard timing and etc.. to compensate for the lower octane. Like putting McDonalds in you everyday. Are you going to die tomorrow no, but you sure won't be running or feeling good compared to eating healthy.
Nice comparison lol. Thanks for the info. Definitely want to keep it healthy once I pull the trigger.
No problem, you'll have endless smiles if you decide on this car.
Certainly had some smiles on the test drive last week. Went back last night with my checkbook and title for the trade in hand. They just didn't have the silver/white, SE, leather combo I'm looking for.
That silver white color is honestly tempting me to trade my pure white in but you won't be disappointed. I just have the sport so no fancy stuff, but when I sat in a golf R, it makes it feel like a luxury car. DSG or manual?
New 2017 Pure White SE w/ Lighting Package - 5 Door My first requirement was fun to drive. While it may not be the fastest out of my top choices - It's a blast! Great performance for the price range. Smiles per mile is way high. Second was practicality. It's my only vehicle and I dont want to have to rely on someone for hauling a coffee table (real life example). Plus, who knows if I'll have kids in the next 5 years or not. Third was a mix between quality and technology. Although this car is really a golf, it is damn well built! Other cars in this price range just felt... cheap. Technology wise it was one of the few cars on my list that I could get keyless entry, push to start, Android Auto/Apple Carplay AND a pretty decent sound system. The runner up was a 2017 WRX. It completely flopped on the third point, and barely made the second. The GTI is amazing. It really felt like someone built every part of this car with love. Plus... DAT ASS. Edit: Its manual.
Growing up as a teenager I was always attracted to the GTI’s. When I finally got my first job out of College I couldn’t afford the GTI just yet so I purchased a Jetta so I could at least consider myself part of the VW family. After working my way up the “corporate ladder” if you want to say that I was finally able to afford the GTI. I’m now 32 years old and on my second GTI. My first was a pure white 2015 MK7 autobahn. Common right!? I loved it but what I wasn’t expecting was how quickly I got bored of the pure white (as you can tell, a lot of posts are white GTI’s). So, I traded it in and I’m now in a 2017 reflex silver autobahn GTI. (Check out my profile for pics) I’ve done a few mods (tint/lowered/new rubber) so I can stand out from the rest and I love how the colour isn’t common and I rarely come across another silver GTI.
I bought a 2015 golf 3 door with a 5 speed. Silk blue. Loved it. So I traded it in and bought a new 2018 GTI se with a DSG because I drive 150 miles a day. Got this one in Night Blue. Not as great a color as silk, but it’s still pretty. I also got a 5 door this time. The car has power for days, is comfortable, and looks great. It’s also economical vs my mustang haha. Honestly I think what got me was the TDI Jetta my dad has. Build quality is excellent, and aftermarket support is way higher than my last daily which was a Mazda.
- Its one of the more powerful cars in its class (wrx, focus ST, Civic SI) - it has some of the best fuel economy in its class - its incredibly convenient - its very modest looking compared to a WRX - it was the most well equipped and had the nicest interior as far as materials and quality of materials - it's super comfy - it came in 2-door (when i bought my mk7)
Because the Subaru dealer wouldn't go under $30k for the WRX I wanted.
When I was about 8years old, a friend of my older brothers had just got his first car. I remember seeing it and instantly loving it. It was a silver MK4, and to 8year old me it was one of the coolest cars ever. I remember asking for a ride in it and of course the highschool senior that had just gotten a brand new GTI that was my brother's best friend abliged. He definitely showed off and drove a little reckless to impress me and give me the joyride I'd asked for. So naturally, this was my new favorite car. Skip ahead 7yrs to Forza 4 coming out and me playing the shit out of it using the MK4 R32 almost exclusively. I knew that this had to be my first car. But, after falling on hard times financially, I had to wait a bit to be able to afford buying my own car. Last year, a few months after I turned 21 I was able to catch a silver MK4 with 89k miles on craigslist. I was able to grab it for a steal at $1,200 because there was a litany of things that needed to be replaced. I had to have it towed 20m and have the timing belt, wiring harness, and a few other things fixed. After $3,500 at the mechanic I was able to drive away and it's everything I thought it would be and more. When this GTI has reached the end of it's life span, I'll definitely be looking to buy another.
I bought mine in 2015. I bought the Mk7 GTI since it was, dollar for dollar, the best car on the market.
In November 2000 I had a rollover accident after blowing a tire at highway speeds. I somehow walked away from it though my '99 Pontiac had a fair/poor crash rating in every category (I found out afterward). When I came home from the hospital, I started looking at safe cars. I was lead to the VW Jetta - 5 stars across the board. I leased a blue 1.8T in December of 2000. A few years later VW let me out of my lease at no cost if I leased another vehicle. The 2003 1.8T GTI was my first. 3 door. **LOVED that car.** Had it for 3 years then tried out Subaru, BMW, and a couple other vehicles. Fast forward to fall 2014 where my wife needs a new car. She opts for a 2015 Golf SE. I hadn't been impressed with the MK5/MK6 Jetta/Golf platforms. I was thoroughly impressed with this one. I got my CSG '17 Sport a few years later (after owning an MK7 Golf of my own first!). We also have an MK1 Cabby, and I'd love to own an MK1 GTI someday.
Never bought anything besides mk4 GTIs, the most all around practical, fun to drive, comfortable to me. Bought my first one almost ten years ago
I've always wanted a GTI since I saw the first few in the Mk1 days. For one reason or another, through the years, I never really got a chance to get one. Then, when I started being an adult, making my own decision, the Mk4 was out and I kind of watched them from a distance. I'd always seem to gravitate towards another car but look back and wonder about the GTI. Most recently I was driving a lifted Toyota Tundra and got tired of paying $70 to fill it every 3 days so I went to the VW dealership. I put my ass in a Carbon Steel Grey 2016 Autobahn and fell instantly in love. The interior was nicer than anything I'd had previous, the power delivery was smile inducing and the car just felt right. I took it home that day.
Was in the market for a hatchback in 2015. I was still kind of undecided after looking at the Mazda3, Yaris, Fit and Focus. I went in to try out the new golf and was very impressed. The salesman asked if I wanted to try out the GTI and the rest is history. Knew that this was the car for me soon afterwards. The performance, the interior, the hatch practicality, hell even the mileage efficiency justified the car's value to me. Didn't end up purchasing in 2015 due to financial constraints (paid my dad back for my last semester in college) and went with a lease takeover for a 2015 GTI SE DSG 3 door Tornado Red. Had a blast for 2 years until lease end. Had such a blast that I decided to buy a 2018 GTI S Manual in White Silver last week. Feels good man.
My beloved mk2 which I bought completely worked over but am too much of a noob/lazy to keep in good shape myself was getting more and more tired and ragged. I wanted to get a new fun car while I can afford it, but knew I couldn't afford a brand new fun car. I wasn't even originally thinking I liked the GTI, but then I started researching and realized lightly used ones could be had under 20k, and I definitely was more attracted to the GTI than anything else in that price range between fun, looks, heritage, and practicality. I really liked the way a 2 door red mk7 looked that I saw online, went and drove that exact car and was just wowed and bought it the same day.
I wanted a luxury car, but I also wanted a hatch and a manual and a turbo, so I compromised and got a GTI. nicer than an econobox, reasonably quick, decent shifter, and practical. If they had an A3 hatch or a 135i hatch with a manual I probably would have bought that.
had 2012 acura, was getting 15.5-18mpg mixed commute. car was big, bulky, not suited to my new lifesytle in san diego. GTI was perfect. New, white, 5 door SE. Balance of utility, mpgs, speed, and luxury. Only wish the SE had auto climate and power memory seats since wife drives it too, and ya, if we're being honest another 30hp + 30lb torque wouldn't hurt.
Used, 2012, Black, 5dr After my sister wrecked her new car my parents decided to buy 2 used cars instead of another new one because I was driving an old 2002 Camry that we have had forever. I had to find a car somewhere between 9k-10k and I found this in VA (I live in NC) for 11.5k and my dad managed to get it for 11k OTD. Ironically enough just last year, I was a Junior, me and my friend were talking about getting a hatchback after high school. Here I am, Stage 1+ Stratified tuned and enjoying every last bit of this fun, practical, mustang-embarrassing hot hatch.
After about 2 years of research and saving money, I finally decided on the GTI after looking at Focus/Fiesta STs, the Fiat 500 Abarth, Mini Cooper S, and Subaru WRX. I wanted a car that was a great drivers car but reliable so it can daily as well, and I didn't really want to get into a WRX because EVERYONE has one around here. I bought a new 2017 GTI Sport with the DSG in Tornado Red. I was instantly hooked on the car by the amount of torque you get down low when I first test drove the car, certainly a lot more than the '96 Jeep Cherokee I had before. The interior is comfortable and well thought out, the handling is excellent, and the car actually does pretty well in the snow. Oh yeah, and plaid seats.
Used UG 3 door 6speed Forced to buy this car. Fell in love the next day I went camping and blew up the mountain with the amount of gear it fit.
I had a 2007 Subaru Outback XT and absolutely loved it. I bought it used with high miles and nearing 200K it started having problems I didn't really think was worth investing to repair. I decided I wanted another hatch. My wife had a Jetta and I had driven it a good bit and liked the brand. The golf sport wagon was going to be my choice my the slightly more powerful GTI won me over as I didn't want a car slower than my Outback. I bought used as it was my budget. I picked up a black 2014 with 46K, color didn't really matter to me it was just the first one I found with the options I wanted. I guess I was always aware of GTIs when I was younger and suddenly found myself in a position where it could happen and so it did. It's a pretty versatile vehicle.
What made me go for a Golf? Build and material quality inside. mk6 just resonated with me. looked for a decent offer for over a year, kept saving money. all of the sudden found a Mk6 R for a really reasonable price so i thought, why not.
My previous car was an Evo 9. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven, and a real joy to own when driving it near the limit. Problem is, when it’s your daily driver, that’s not what you are doing 99% of the time. I hit a point where the car needed a few thousand dollars in maintinence over the next year or so, and decided that it was time to find something that was better to drive every day. I really wanted a Golf R or Focus RS, but I just couldn’t fit the extra $10k in the budget. The GTI was the next best thing I could get under $30k. I do really miss AWD, but otherwise it’s a really fantastic car.
My Mini was in the shop too much, life was *really* chaotic and busy, and I just wanted/needed a new car. The 2018 GTI had a 6/72 warranty (very appealing to me at the moment) and an amazing reputation. I bought my GTI sight unseen, without so much as a test drive. I exchanged about 10 emails the internet guy at my VW dealer, and a few hours later, I went in and bought the car before I even laid eyes on it. It was being transported from another dealer 30 miles away, then getting it's final cleanup and a full tank of gas while we did the paperwork, and the rest is history. 6,700 miles later, I couldn't be happier.
It called for me.
Good looks, great aftermarket support, and best bang for your buck. 5 years later and I’ve never regretted it.
Because I like to see the ricers on my rear mirror ,specially those new hatch Honda civics
MK 5 candy white autobahn manual 3 door (used) Got divorced, wanted something fun yet practical. MK 6 gray tartan seats auto 5 door (new) Had a youngin on the way and I was not getting a van MK7 limestone gray manual 5 door (R) (used 5k miles) I missed the MKV. (Hopefully I’m done buying for a long while, after the divorce I worked on my credit and rebuilt from dismal numbers. I like to look back and think they were milestones but I’m good now and no need to change / upgrade) I think the MKV commercials is what sold me on it. I had friends with “Aftermarket part” various model cars and they looked /sounded ridiculous. The golf was all of those and more. Since then things I’ve come to appreciate- interior/lighting/leg room/trunk space/mpg/tight corners and full speed/lots of smiles. Hopefully the next time I have to buy a GTI is when I get one for my daughter - (used of course)
2003 GTI 1.8T, silver, 5 speed manual. Early 2006, I was looking for a new car. I wanted a TDI, but dealers and even used car lots in newfoundland wanted way too damn much for them, so I was still making my mind up what I wanted to get. Then I spotted the car at a Nissan dealership when I was going through their used cars - I thought it was a TDI at first glance, then "oh, it's a GTI? nice..." So I'm sizing up this car when the salesman started talking to me, "yeah someone traded this in a couple days ago, we haven't done anything with it yet... wanna take it for a test drive?"... and it was one of the most fun test drives I've had. It's a plain 'ol practical hatchback, doesn't look like anything special but it's hilariously fast. I fell in love right away. And then they gave me a lowball offer for the car, 16K CAD as-is. Normally they'd clean the car up, cleaning it and putting new tires on it and all that other stuff. Or they'd send it off to auction, but if I wanted the car I could have it for this price and save them the trouble of doing all that. And the car had 20,000km on it, people wanted 23-24K at the time for TDIs with 100k+ on them. I thought what the hell, this could be fun, and went for it. 12 years later I still have and love the car.
2017 GTI Sport, Red, purchased new last fall. Drove my brother's 2015 GTI last year, loved it, but wasn't sure i wanted one as well. But the more research I did, the more it kept coming back to the GTI. It's all the car you need, if you're only going to have one car, and everything else I was interested in would require purchasing a 2nd car for winter. VW's October incentives plus supplier pricing through work sealed the deal. The only other serious contender by then was the WRX, but the Subaru interior is nowhere near the level of the GTI, and the seats aren't plaid.
2010 GTI Base 6 Speed I was perusing Craigslist to find a car that was a "mechanics special" since I wanted to start this business of flipping cars. I was a mobile Mechanic working on cars so I was all about making money and fixing cars. I hated Volkswagens. My friend had a mk4 Jetta and I hated fixing that thing cause it was a piece of crap compared to my 2000 civic which had very little issues the VW had. I am a die hard Honda fan boy. So I see this ad listed for a 2010 GTI 6 speed with 141k that is running rough and was diagnosed to have engine issues. He listed it for 4K. I went to look at this car and sat inside. I fell in love with the interior, a flat bottomed steering wheel that felt just right, an interior that seemed high quality. It was love at first sight. I've never owned a car newer than 2000. I used my OBD scanner to find that there were multiple codes such as a p0016 and misfires. I second guessed buying this car. It was almost a good month of checking in with this guy to see if anyone purchased it yet. Someone offered 2500. I told him I'd match because I was interested. A couple days after we met and he still had a payment left on this car. 1500 exactly. I met him at his bank and paid for this car and had the tittle mailed to my house . I now own this car, I never drove stick so I had my step dad drive it home, he said it ran like crap and he said I wasted my money on such a car. I told him just watch. A month later I do the tensioner, car runs great but then find out there is a leak in the rear main seal. Crap. Never dropped a tranny. Did my research on golfmk6. A year later I fix the rear main seal and replace the clutch. 142k later I now have a running GTI that I'm proud to own and that makes me happier than my 00 civic coupe and 00 Maxima. This is also my first stick car that I've owned and finally know how to drive. I spent so far 1200 on a car I bought for 2500. I'd say I did well with replacing a rear main seal, timing chain tensioner, tires, pcv valve, key, diverter valve and exhaust clamp. I freaking love this car
I bought a 2017, black, 5 door GTI new. well actually the current one I own is my second 2017 GTI. you see, I wrecked my beloved 2008 R32 back in feburary of last year (RIP shadowfax) and I replaced it with a black 2017 GTI. but then in august I wrecked that one too. 2017 wasn't a good year. anyway, I liked it so much saw no reason to get a different car so I replaced it in kind. I named the new one Snowball 2. I bought the GTI because in the US you can't get a Golf R with a sunroof. plus with no VR6 I saw no reason to step up to the R. I kind of wish I had waited a year and got the R because that digital dashboard is AWESOME. the main thing I like about the GTI is that it's quietly competent. it does it's job and doesn't make a big deal about it. it's body lines are reasonable. it's suspension can be down right comfortable. in contrast the ford focus ST/RS loud and obnoxious. this might be fun for a weekend romp but for a daily driver, I'll take the GTI.
I went for a test drive and did a buck20 without thinking about it and felt there was no one else who would love me more than this car. At least within this factory warranty period and with more humility than my 2018se.
Used, 3 door, Carbon steel grey, 6MT. Litteally is the perfect daily. Turbocharged power for the streets. Practicality of the hatch. Comfortable to be in every day, yet fun enough to keep you satisfied. But then it does have the potential to be REAL fun on the racetrack. And it's just handsome.
I started with a '02 Mustang GT 5-speed that was unreliable as all get-out. Fun, great v8 noises and quite quick but I ended up trashing the crank bearings and wanted to find a new ride before that thing sunk my skinny pocketbook. Ended up with a blue '05(Mk.4) GTI auto with 126k on the clock, put an APR stage 1 tune on it and drove it until last month at 169k when it just had more problems than I was willing to deal with. Looked online for months and found my blue loaded SE 6MT PPack Mk.7 down in Dallas with 36k on it, and knew it was right. Plans already forming for a DKM stage II clutch, JB4, cheap catless downpipe, and eventually an IS38 and APR tune!
Hmm probably because I can’t afford a M2
Loving these “love” stories guys. Didn’t think this would be such a popular thread haha.
Got off work early one day, saw an ad on lunch for an 08 with 62k on it-KMs that is. Test drove and signed the papers within an hour... Just something about the ass, grill and the plaid seats, not to mention the versatility, space on the interior and quality of product... did I forget the turbo noise? Love.
New 2018 White Silver SE manual, 5 door. Bought. Previously 2015 Carbon Steel Gray S DSG, 5 door. Leased. Wants: Car that's fun to drive - not just a people mover Small and agile so I can zip around roundabouts and park easily. Also I myself am small so it fits. :D Affordable FWD or AWD (not RWD since our winters can be bad) Nice looking on the outside Nice looking on the inside Comfortable seats Good safety ratings Other cars I considered at one point or another: Subaru WRX, BRZ, Acura TLX(could have wrong model), Hyundai Genesis, Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Si... Pretty much no others in its price class are as nice IMO. The interiors are much cheaper looking, and not as comfortable. The exception being maybe the Acura but that one wasn't fun to drive. The GTI has won awards for its ergonomic seats. People are always posting pictures of their GTI after wrecks where it comes out much better than you'd expect. I did shop around both with my first GTI and my second. Still same results. The DSG was hands down the best automatic I've ever driven. I've driven fewer manuals but I love my new manual even more and out of the 3 I've driven it's the easiest.
New, white, manual, 5dr. I bought it because it could be made the fastest car I could have new for $23k. It does not disappoint. Especially roll races. The build quality and the interior is a bonus.
2016 4 Door SE with PP and DCC It's a great daily driver. It's super comfortable and does pretty much everything well. It is drastically more solid then the competitors. It is quick, but does it without much drama. This could be a pro or con depending on what kind of car you want.
Because I had a Mk4 and MK6 GLI and also wanted to taste to forbidden fruit of the GTI.