Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1 AND MK 2 (1977 - 1992)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
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The early Mk1 cars are the collectors items but the 16v version of the Mk2 is still the car most enthusiasts would point to as the car that marked the greatest GTi moment.
The Mk 1 cars especially the earlier variants will seem extremely firmly sprung and Spartan and even the Mk 2 cars nowadays feel like relics when you sit inside them. There are no airbags, pretensioning seat belts, cup holders or air conditioning systems that we take for granted today. Despite that, theyre all built to last, good to drive and offer solid motoring for not too much money.
Tidy Mk1 Golf GTis are now becoming very collectable and finding a decent one below £3,000 will be tricky. The earlier they are, the more they fetch with UK left hand drive models being particularly prized. The Campaign edition is therefore one of the cheapest available variants. Mark II post-1984 Golf prices start at around £400 for a tired early 8v car with decent 16v models retailing from around £800.
This model was imported in far larger numbers than the original car and has yet to see such price inflation.
The Golf GTi has a strong reputation for reliability, but it still has a few areas that need to be checked carefully. The Mk 1 car needs a major engine overhaul at around 100,000 miles to have the valve guides, valve springs (1.6 models), and oil seals replaced. Otherwise check that there is no corrosion on the wings, door sills, fuel filler neck and fuel lines.
A good negotiating point is the gearbox. It can often feel loose, but this is usually because of worn nylon linkage bushings which can be replaced at minimal cost. There may also be an ineffective detent into reverse gear which again is easily and cheaply fixed. Check the gaiters on the driveshafts and the steering rack for perishing.
The interior is generally pretty tough, but the seats can get a little frayed at the edges. The Cabriolet versions often have very tatty hoods. The Mk 2 has a different set of things to look out for. Check for damage to locks caused by pry-ins.
The MK2 Golf is very easy to steal with nothing more technical than a screwdriver, so fit an alarm or an immobiliser. Wing seams are the prime place for rot so check these out and walk away from any cars with significant rust. There are still plenty of Mk 2 GTIs to choose from. Check alloy wheels for scuffing and check that the engine idles cleanly.
If not, this could mean a dodgy warm up valve or injector or (in the case of the 16v) a malfunctioning engine management unit replacements are costly. The one major thing to consider is the cars provenance. Most GTIs will now have been through a fair few owners, some of whom may well have abused the car. Unless its your thing, try to avoid cars with obvious aftermarket extras as this tends to damage rather than boost residual values.
Parts sourced from Volkswagen tend to be very expensive, but log on to the internet and youll find a healthy trade in GTi parts amongst like minded souls. Various bulletin boards, chatrooms and classified pages specialise in the Golf GTi. Try kicking off at http://www.golfgti.co.uk and follow a few links.
Youre guaranteed to find what youre after.
The Golf GTi has been piling on the pounds over the last few decades. The Mk4 Golf is a whopping 48 percent heavier than the original Mk1. All this means that the later cars need much more power just to stay in the same league as the originals. Despite its 20 valves, turbo and modern electronic engine management, the Mk4 GTi 1.
8 Turbo can't match even the earliest humble 1.6 GTi in terms of power to weight ratio. To have the same power to weight ratio as that early car, the modern Mk4 would need 162 bhp, to catch the Mk2 16v, a whopping 180bhp! With such little mass to haul about, it goes without saying that these early Golfs can change direction with a nimbleness thats absent from anything but lightweight sports cars of today such as the Lotus Elise. Grip is strong, handling superb and some even say the replacement Mark III was much the inferior car for the enthusiast driver.
The Mk II GTi 16v is still a rapid car even by todays standards. With a top speed of 129mph and a sprint to 60mph in just 7.3 seconds itll show many of todays hot hatches its cleanly styled rump.
Many maintain the original is the best. Others think that Peugeot possibly inherited Volkswagens mantle with the 205 GTi. Whats not up for debate is the Golf GTis place in history. Shop around, buy one thats been unmolested by the Max Power brigade and which comes with a fistful of receipts and a careful previous owner and you should have a useable modern classic on your hands.
