One of the issues that seems to bother some executives in Detroit is the fact that while Volkswagen scores near the bottom of things like the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), it is such a big hit, especially with young people.  For example, in the rankings in the 2003 VDS Nameplate Ranking, VW bested only Suzuki, Daewoo, Land Rover (!), and Kia.  You'd think that with all of the Internet savviness of the Gen X and Gen Y buyers that VW would be considered to be the pits at best.  Yet it continues to be a favorite.

While this may be perplexing, there is a simple way to find out why the brand is a favorite: Get into a 2003 Golf GTI VR6 and drive it.  It is a blast.

The vehicle I drove had an optional "luxury" package (power sunroof and Monsoon audio system—which is one of the best vehicle-tuned systems my ears have heard in some time) for $1,240; a "technology" package (automatic climate control, self-dimming rearview mirror, and rain-sensing wipers) for $755; and the "cold weather" package (heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles—which is a feature that wouldn't have occurred to me, even though I've lived in the Midwest my entire life and know a little something about winter weather) for $150.  Which brought the total to $24,715 for a two-door hatch that can comfortably seat two and would allow three to sit in moderate discomfort in the back (there is even a headrest for the center passenger—a nice touch, but I found it to block the rearview too much).

Think about that for a moment: $24,715.  That is not an inexpensive vehicle, especially for someone in the aforementioned generational swath. 

The vehicle in question is what would be considered, particularly in Europe, as this phenomenon is still inching its way back here, a "hot hatch."  It is equipped with a 2.8-liter six that produces 200 hp @ 6,200 rpm and 195 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,200 rpm, which makes it particularly potent when going through the gears (there's a six-speed manual transmission) when pulling away from a traffic light.  Which is where you're probably going to have the greatest amount of fun on a typical city commute.  (For the more technology minded who might get a kick out of it: the "VR" designation relates to the fact that it has a V-shaped block, but the angle between the cylinder banks is 15°, not the more typical 60° or 90°.  This is necessitated, in large part, because the packaging for the Golf was originally designed with a four-cylinder engine (this model is the fourth-generation Golf; the fifth generation will be introduced at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show in September).)  Regardless of how it's packaged, it really moves the car with alacrity.

The vehicle has the vaunted VW interior.  And it is nice.  Side bolsters on the front seats that provide comfort.  Quality plastic.  Rear seat access that has the seats index up and forward in what can be described as a "technical" manner (rather than the more typical simple one-axis move, this comes across as being something that was engineered; whether it matters in terms of access/egress is not the point: it is cool).  The cup holders come out from the center stack with a certain deliberateness and unfold. . .yet oddly enough, they're located so that they obscure access to the audio system, which isn't exactly a thoughtful design (that stack was undoubtedly engineered in a pre-beverage-oriented era).

I'm not exactly sure who would buy the GTI VR6.  It is probably a bit too dear for Gen Y and not quite the thing for the Gen Xers who are pining for a 3-Series.  But for anyone else who is looking for a vehicle that may make a daily commute a bit less stultifying (assuming, of course, that there isn't a whole lot of stop-and-barely-go, because so far as I'm concerned, no one needs a Popeye-like left calf muscle from keeping a clutch engaged), this is the ticket.  (See: http://www.vw.com/gti/ )