As an un-official VW+Empeg fan, I reccomend the VW R-32.. it's basicaly a VW Golf with a 240hp VR6, and AWD.

Unfortunately, they were a limited production car, so they are harder to buy new now.

I really really really wish we could get the damn AWD option for the jetta/golf here in the US.. if they released the AWD option for the golf here, I would trade in my Jetta in a heartbeat. I would have gotten an R32, except I'm not looking for the $30k range, more like the $20k range.