My son recently bought low mile 2016 Golf R with MT after his promotion to captain and return from his second middle east deployment, well under $30k. I drove it recently and that thing is all kinds of cool. We looked at STI, Focus R and Kia Stinger. If I didn't need an AWD with more ground clearance, I'd own one. Much nicer interior than a Subaru and more stealthy as well. I'm a Subaru fan and daily a turbo XT outback MT.
As an aside, he towed it to his new posting at Ft. Bragg from Ft. Hood in Texas with his 79 Blazer which he's been fixing up. Just re did the interior with new seat covers and carpet kit. For those worried nobody under 50 likes cars :-)
