Are vw golfs with manual transmissions good cars
No. They're pretty bad.
The manuals without the DSG are much better overall though. All said & done, they’re still VAG products.
It could be an ok car for a while but as they age past 8-12 years they generally start to fall apart. That said, if you got a 2013 2014 one with low miles for a decent price, it could be a decent second car or a grocery getter car. But for a long term daily driver or something like that, I would look elsewhere. Also, it depends on where you are. In the US, parts are harder to find than in lets say Germany or Romania or someplace. If you are in Europe, it could be a smart idea because that is the most popular car in some places with plenty of parts. Also a tip, if you are in the US, stay away from the TDI the diesel itself is good but the federal emission stuff is very complicated just get a gasoline.
What years are you looking at?
2010-2015
If you’re considering a 10yr old VW, realise that that’s the age they generally start to turn into money pits will all the cheap plastic parts starting to go out.
It would be better to get a Yaris or Focus. They will be more reliable.