i have never understood people talking shit about cars they have never owned or have experience in... i've owned 5 VW, 3 hondohs, 3 fords, 1 benz, 1 saturn, etc... i never had any issues w/ any VW i've owned that wasn't minor and if i did have an issue it was due to trying to make more power or a possible recall for something minor... i can name people throughout atlanta who have had issues w/ every single make it doesn't matter what you drive.

Mini Cooper is a cute car... cute is the keyword it just isn't fast enough!

VW Jetta i personally think the new body is ugly (i would only drive the GLI) but the 2.0t is well capable of make 350whp on a stock block daily driven and it will make that power cheaper then probably the other makes w/ the audi turbo + software

Mazdaspeed3 i dont care for the look of it but mazda is really come around making some good products, but i know quite a few guys who have had lots of issues w/ their boosted mazdas from tranny/motor issues.... so i'm not sure how stout that power plant is under lots of boost.

wrx = awd which is great and they have been known to make great power but i don't know how reliable they are... for as many as i have seen modded i've seen just as many for sale which can be good/bad

in the end i will always buy a euro over a japanese/american make, to me it is just a better product, call me a euro nazi i don't care i like my heated seats