Golf GTI Mk1

[davymead]

There’s a few bob’s worth sitting in the snow there

Snow-clad third in that line was my all time favourite ….

 

[Darrell]

After a slight ‘bump’ I sold it in 2010 for £2250.

Ouch.

 

[davymead]

With this Mk2 a close second …

 

[C43AMG]

In 1980 a friend had one which was tuned by GTI Engineering ( Silverstone) In the day they where the the company you took your golf too, even now they are remembered.
In 1980 i picked up a Turbo Charged GTI from Geneva for one of the directors, this company was the first to turbo charge a GTI. It was a very strange experience, never having driven a turbo before. It cut in at 3000rpm, you then felt you where going to end up in the back seat

 

[Will]

One of my work colleagues used to have a tuned MK2 16v Oettinger, never seen another one since

 

[ChrisHGTV]

The thing i remember about this era of car is how much fun they were. My friend had a tuned Mk1 Golf GTi complete with cage, no rear seats and a pretty hot motor. At the time i had my Alfa Sprint which was also tweaked a bit. They both weighed nothing and weren't powerful by todays standards but you could slide them around and have so much fun. Plus you could actually use techniques like trailing brake, and at speeds that if it went wrong you'd have a fair chance of walking away. As my cars got quicker they also became less fun i've found (levels of traffic probably have something to do with it as well). For me the fun is not in speed or acceleration but the feeling you get when you're on the limit of traction and things get a bit slidey. Even in my current Alfa i can't get anywhere near its limits on the road without massive risk. So i can really see the appeal of taking a step back and getting something more fun at lower speeds. Though the rust issue is something i really don't miss from those days!

 

[ChipChop]

A quick internet trawl seems to suggest VW Sciroccos (mark 1 & 2) and VW Corrados (1.8 16V in particular) do not acheive the inflated prices now asked for Mark 1 and 2 VW Golf GTI's.

Odd really when imho they are much more 'sporty' cars than Golfs. An injected 1.8 Scirroco Scala is a fine machine as is the superb handling Corrado 1.8 16V.

 

[SL63Mark]

Yes, I used to love Renault 5 Turbos, I had a string of them. Great fun, raw, nimble and affordable, light weight and a real punch in the back when the turbo cut in. Amazing how much fun you could get out of 120BHP, when we need 600 these days ! The SL63 is great fun, but everything happens at much higher speeds.

 

[Will]

Agreed with the sentiments regarding these older cars.

I used to have plenty of fun exploring ther potential of my 16 valve 190Es. Everything was in good balance - the power, chassis, brakes etc and similarly took place at much lower speeds overall.

Obviously nowhere near as quick as modern cars (they were designed and built almost 40 years ago now) but 185-204hp and 1300ish kilos, rear wheel drive, revved to over 7k RPM and with a limited slip diff and a manual gearbox they were a good driving experience

Mercedes have not made anything really like this since.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Yes, I used to love Renault 5 Turbos, I had a string of them. Great fun, raw, nimble and affordable, light weight and a real punch in the back when the turbo cut in. Amazing how much fun you could get out of 120BHP, when we need 600 these days ! The SL63 is great fun, but everything happens at much higher speeds.

I think that’s the issue though - everything (mostly) has got bigger, faster and heavier but the roads themselves have not changed. So in older cars you could hoon around in the space available given the speed you could achieve (and the talent you had of course). Now, realistically you need a race track or an airfield to experience the same. And of course the other issue is that in modern cars to have the same kind of fun you are well beyond the legal speed limit.

 

[Will]

Most modern cars are too clinical, have little soul.

It’s all about the feel good factor. Not just the adrenaline rush but when you’re genuinely grinning when you get back from a drive.

Don’t get that with most modern machines sadly :-(

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A quick internet trawl seems to suggest VW Sciroccos (mark 1 & 2) and VW Corrados (1.8 16V in particular) do not acheive the inflated prices now asked for Mark 1 and 2 VW Golf GTI's.

Odd really when imho they are much more 'sporty' cars than Golfs. An injected 1.8 Scirroco Scala is a fine machine as is the superb handling Corrado 1.8 16V.

Probably driven by demand. Lots of people in their 40-50s are remembering “simpler” times of their youth and now have disposable income to buy the cars that they always wanted or regretted selling.

I suspect that more of those people want a Golf than a Scirroco or Corrado, and with higher demand comers higher prices.

 

[st13phil]

And of course the other issue is that in modern cars to have the same kind of fun you are well beyond the legal speed limit.

It's an old adage amongst motorcyclists that the bikes that are most fun to ride on public roads are generally those that run out of talent before you do. Same applies to cars.

 

[ChipChop]

Probably driven by demand. Lots of people in their 40-50s are remembering “simpler” times of their youth and now have disposable income to buy the cars that they always wanted or regretted selling.

I suspect that more of those people want a Golf than a Scirroco or Corrado, and with higher demand comers higher prices.

Undoubtedly so.

The GTI badge on any small 80's/early 90's European made hatchback is now iconic. But lets not forget the lairy hot hatchbacks of the 70's with cars such as the Vauxhall Chevette HSR, Talbot Sunbeam Ti/ Lotus and BMW's 2002 touring ti & tii models. Small, fast and crucially rear wheel drive so a bit lairy when prodded.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

It's an old adage amongst motorcyclists that the bikes that are most fun to ride on public roads are generally those that run out of talent before you do. Same applies to cars.

This is so true. I have much more fun wringing the neck of my wifes 125cc Vespa (don't tell her!) than i do on the Ducati!

 

[poormansporsche]

This is so true. I have much more fun wringing the neck of my wifes 125cc Vespa (don't tell her!) than i do on the Ducati!

I know nothing about bikes but one of my customers has some form of Ducati in his living room whilst there is a daily used classic DT80 outside