The Volkswagen Golf in its many incarnations is a favorite here at Gaywheels.

The Golf is one of the most versatile and exciting small cars on the market right now. All models now have four doors, which technically makes it a sedan, but you still get a hatchback and a 2.0-liter turbo engine (210 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque), one of the spunkiest small engines out there. The Golf–especially the GTI Sport–can be a small car, an SUV, even a small truck of sorts, depending on your needs. No matter what you do to or with it, the Golf can take it like a man, as Cher sang in 2013. (Kylie Minogue’s music goes well with the Golf too.)

New for 2017 is the Sport version of the GTI, and the butch/fem fun of this car never disappoints. Starting at $25K, the Golf goes all the way up to $34K and beyond if you get the Autobahn trim. Standard features at all levels include a rear spoiler and cooled glovebox, for starters. Many consider the Sport GTI to be the most attractive trim because it’s so rich and powerful while being attractive and obedient–just try finding that at a leather bar. No matter what trim or combination you choose, you’ll have fun with this car and enjoy its practicality. (The Autobahn trim is just as you imagined: adaptive suspension dampers and a larger rear stabilizer make the Golf Autobahn even racier.)

Indeed, the Golf GTI is the flashier, more expensive twin sibling to the regular Golf, which can clearly race but is more attractive for its interior room and overall practicality for those on a budget (or a leash). Car and Driver magazine feels the Golf GTI is one of the ten best cars of 2018: that’s almost as good as being named Drag Queen of the Year, as Chi Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) was crowned in the great campy 1990s movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. Thus, you may want to shop for a brand new 2018 instead of a 2017, assuming you can find one on a dealer lot this month.  These are hot cars that promise to get even hotter. In fact, the 2018 Golf GTI promises to be even faster, more fuel efficient and more stylish–is that possible?

As we slide into the end of the year, we here at Gaywheels remember how last year at this time, we lost three of our treasured heroes: George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. It was a rough season for all LGBTQs, especially us old queens. We do hope that this holiday season is a season of remembrance and not another round of mourning.

Remember that whatever happens, we will survive (hey-hey).