Why buy an Audi?

I love this car more and more every day. I am 37 and was initially leary of getting a GTI as I didn't want to look like a teenager....but now I simply don't care!

VW owns Audi and the GTI is a big benefector of that relationship.  The 2.0 Turbo engine is the same you'll find in many of Audi's far more expensive rides (A3, A4 and TT) and the DSG transmission is simply the best transmission on the planet if you like spirited driving.  Oh, and the dash layout, quality of fit and finish and general ergonomics all have wiffs of "Audi-ness" about them and are ahead of pretty much eveyone else in this class.

First off: the DSG 6-speed automated transmisison.  In a car like this I would normally have opt'ed for a manual but with 2 young children to transport, the thought of not having to row thru gears while passing bottles and toys to the back seat is appealing.  But most automatics are boring and not well suited fora rev-happy turbo engine.  The DSG is the perfect blend: it can pretend to be an automatic all day if thats what you like, or would can whip thru the gears on your own via either the steering wheel-mounted paddles or gear selector. Since the DSG has dual clutches it manages shifts far quicker than a human could in a traditional manual setup.  There are 2 automatic modes to choose from: regular which shifts at relativelow rpms to get good mileage, and "sport" which brings the tach needle close to redline before swapping gears.

The 2.0T direct-injection turbo engine is a perfect compliment to the DSG.  If there is any turbo lag I couldn't detect it and there is pulling power from any gear at pretty much any rpm.  And it sounds absolutely fantastic: above 4000 rpm I simply turn off the stereo and listen ot the engine.

The chassis is also impecable: ride quality is very German (read: solid) and is very happy either playing go-kart on twisting roads or cruising down the interstate.

On the practical side, being the family man I opted for the 4-doors which gives the GTI the practicality of a mini-mini-van.  With the rear seats up or down the GTI holds an impressive amount of stuff.

The GTI is the perfect blend of practicality, performance, design and fuel efficiency...and at its price, an unparalleled value.