42mpg?that's got to be a constant 56mph job,the non turbos are crap on fuel so I very much doubt that.I thought the handling was spot on personally,maybe not as good as the mk1 or mk2 but far better than the disgrace of a car that was the mk3,dosent deserve the gti badge those cars(obviously vr6 excluded).As said previously though,good car for the money IMHO with loads of potential.