Enlarge / The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI isn't perfect, but it has enough charm to overcome its flaws. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin) "They won't make them like this much longer" is a pretty hackneyed aphorism, but it certainly applies to the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The Mk 8 Golf is due for a mid-life refresh next year, and when that happens, VW will be simplifying things by dropping the manual transmission option.