 Maybe I got lucky, but bought my Golf for about $13k. 1-owner, highly maintained. It had 60500 kilometers on it (bought 2-yr warranty). Standard 5- sp, winter package, full climate control, ESP, powered sunroof, front/rear foglights, AM/FM/CD/Tape*  (*removed radio/CD player and installed premium integrated system), bought deep housing to replace CD player-slot so I can drink coffee now and still play CD's  I have driven from Bavaria to Sweden and all over Germany. Avg speed 190kph on autobahn, 100kph secondary roads and 50kph city. Avg 16km/L or about 37mpg hwy, 19-20km/L city  Front wheel drive makes winter travel easy (snow/sleet/rain)  Great visibility, sweet suspension/handling