Experts discuss controversial Volkswagen GTI, upcoming Ford Mustang

Our “Talking Cars with Consumer Reports” podcast mailbox overfloweth; by which I mean we’ve been getting a lot of YouTube comments and car-buying questions from our viewers. Episode 39 catches up with the digital mail.

First up, last week’s discussion about the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI ignited quite a bit of controversy out there in enthusiastland, especially after it got picked up by Jalopnik. We revisit our comments on that car and answer some pointed questions. Curiously, while we are often accused of treating cars like bland appliances, we were actually disappointed by the new, more-mature GTI not being entertaining enough.

Next, we handle a question from a reader who is thinking of trading his last-generation 2013 Volkswagen GTI on a new 2015 Ford Mustang. Ford’s new pony car is on a lot of people’s minds, as a second inquiry shows. Another Ford proves attractive to a viewer with $18,000 to spend, but with the assistance of our YouTube viewers, we suggest that a Mazda3—or a used Ford Fusion Sport—might be a better alternative. Finally we help settle a family argument over which is a better road trip car: an aging Honda Odyssey, or a newer Subaru Outback?

Next week’s episode discusses the new Lexus NX and answers questions about how to get into this crazy—often entertaining, sometimes rewarding, occasionally infuriating—business of automotive journalism, and about the Nissan Altima.

Check out the discussion in the video above.