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Reliability & Quality
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Volkswagen hold the number 1 spot for reliable and well-built cars, and they have done for many years. The Golfs are proof
of this. A well kept Mk1 will just keep going and going. VW needed to revitalise their reputation when they introduced the
Golf, so the build quality was of high importance to them. Even today, a looked-after Mk1 will be as reliable as any modern
car.
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Image
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Driving a restored Mk1 Golf GTI is a head turning experience. It looks new, but it’s definitely old. Yet there’s
something
timeless about its design. As the current advert suggests, ‘GTI Forever’, and the Mk1 is a prime example of car
design that will always look good – because it looks mean. A little known fact is that the Mk1 bodyshell is still produced
in South Africa up to this day, due to it's immense popularity there (see History for more details).
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Stepping out of a Renault Clio Williams, and getting into a Mk1 Golf GTI, is like taking a step back in time, to something
primal. The Clio Williams, built as a world championship rally contender for Renault Sport, certainly has it’s own merits.
So I was surprised to see on paper that the Mk1 is only just 1 second slower to 0-60mph.
Climbing behind the wheel of the Golf is like climbing into a motorised chariot. Firing up the engine you hear the roar of
its raw unworldly power, and prepare to commence battle. Going easy in the low gears, you join a secluded country road, then
gently floor the pedal. The torque bites into the tarmac, engine growling with hellish supremacy, as you hurtle towards the
first long corner. Feeling every inch of the road, the stiff chassis and suspension delivers ample information through the
seat while the steering is solid and responsive. No power steering, no ABS, just pure unadulterated raw driving thrills.
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Ease of Driving
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The hot hatchback is a design to suit all driving needs. The torque is always on tap, whichever gear you select, which means
swift maneuvers in the city, steady cruising on the motorway, and rip-roaring fun on country roads!
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Safety & Security
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Built at a time when the word ‘airbag’ was just a posh name for a party balloon, the Mk1’s safety is primarily
in its tough
body shell and design. All round physics makes this a safe handling car, so the rest is down to driver responsibility. Thankfully
the Golf will do as you tell it, and it lets you know if you’re pushing the limit. Weighing only 845Kg means the stopping
distances are shorter compared to the modern Golfs, ABS or not.
As for security, make sure you have a plate fitted around the door handle and lock. The VW door locks manufactured up until
1993 had a design weakness that allowed easy ‘unauthorised’ entry (but I won’t
tell you how!).
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To arrange a test drive of a road worthy Mk1, please contact WagenWheels for more details.
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If you buy a Mk1 Golf GTI, you will be making an investment.
There is no devaluation on the car as it is now a classic, so it’s getting more valuable everyday. The campaigns in particular
are valuably
few and far between, because only limited numbers were produced (see Campaign section). Expect to pay between 3.5 - 5K for
a good quality Mk1. You will
have a car that out performs contemporary hatchbacks and bigger cars, for a considerably cheaper price. And you won't lose
money on it. An absolute bargain, and the rare combination of a safe classic car investment, and an everyday runaround.
An icon of the 20th century, the Mk1 Golf GTI is firmly engraved in the steel shell of motoring history. In 2076, when the
GTI is 100 years old, people will look with awe at the showroom models in the motoring museum, wondering what it would’ve
been like to drive on the open road. Thankfully I will never have to wonder. I simply need to walk out my front door, and
there she is. In fact, I think I’ll go for a drive now...
Note: As the Mk1s are now 20 years old, many of them have been ruthlessly driven into the ground, so it's important to find
one in good condition. To buy a road-ready restored Mk1, contact a specialist such as WagenWheels (see link).
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Roominess & Comfort
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Space is adequate, very cosy but not cramped. The sunroof makes all the difference in the summer time. The racing bucket seats
are very comfortable with good support, and don’t sag much over time. An ideal car for long journeys, and a perfect driving
position for the combination of uses the GTI offers.
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Running Costs
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Older cars drink more fuel, but servicing, parts and repairs are very cheap, insurance is reasonable (group 11), and the Mk1s
now fall into the classic car category, so if you drive around 5k a year this is a cheap insurance deal worth looking at.
Buy a well looked after Golf and you will have performance, power and prestige at a 3rd of the running costs of contemporary
models.
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