Maybe JV needs to wait around for Equ’s GTI. :)

If I wanted a GTI I'd just buy a new one. They're so cheap for what you get.

Agreed. The GTI is the best "one car to do it all" value for an enthusiast out there.

Fixed.

it is not terribly frustrating with the now standard e-diff. Stock a/s tires are more frustrating.

Agreed on both counts. I drive the GTI about once a week. It doesn't track out as much as you'd expect a FWD to do, the VAQ helps hold the chosen line under power. It also helps with snow/ice traction. No comparison at all to brake-based "diffs".

The stock tires are solidly in the 'meh' category and getting worse as we put on the miles. We don't do winters on them, so a fourth season is looking likely, the re97's still have 6 to 7/10ths left. If it were my 'fun' car, I'd look to put some summer performance tires. It's Cara's car and she decides. For her purposes of commuting and driving the dog around to parks, they are fine.

I really like the GTI. I even really like (gasp) the DSG model. I've got a lot of co-workers and friends with these cars and between them around 200,000 miles of use (one guy - the one with the DSG - has 120k on his car). I was really worried about the reliability of the DSG when he bought it, but it's been the one thing that has given him no issues so far. The rest of the car, much different story. It needed a new intake manifold at 80,000 miles, and then another one just a few weeks ago due to failed shutter valves in the manifold. The power windows only work when they want to. Lots of squeaks and rattles, I guess consistent with a 100,000-plus mile car.

The DSG is actually really well paired to a small turbo engine, it seems to keep the thing on boost a lot better than a regular manual. The manual is still more fun to drive, IMO.

16k really is just unspeakably horrid. I have almost 116k on my original clutch in the 1M.

Glad they didn't stick you with the bill though.