The 2012 VW GTI has an appealing, eye-catching look, but proves a frustrating, erratic driving experience and is ultimately a poor value proposition. Although superficially attractive, the vehicle feels cheaply made the longer one drives it. I have owned and leased a wide variety of Volkswagen vehicles; Jettas, Golfs, Passats, and a CC -- and I am typically very happy, but the VW GTI is unsatisfactory and compares unfavorably to other VW models.