Modern Hatches Have Forgotten What Made Them Great - VW GOLF GTI MK2

Comments · 761

• BO

  @Bodga · 1 year ago

  I’ve still got my 1988 16v I bought back in 2009. Still puts a smile on my face when I’m behind the wheel. Carry out all servicing myself, cam belt takes me about an hour. It still has a water pump with “west Germany” stamped on the casting. They were built to last back then.

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• VO

  @Volker_GR · 1 year ago

  I am German and socialised on Opel, but I have to admit that the Golf was classless (in the sociological sense) and at the same time class-defining, especially in the GTI segment. In a contemporary advertisement, the father said to his son, ‘Just say we drive a Golf’ (Sag' doch einfach, wir fahren Golf.), in response to his schoolmates' bragging. In addition, the MK2 still has a reputation today like the Mercedes W123, defined in part by the sound of the door closing. My beloved Opel Kadett/Astra GT/E and GSi sounded like tin on tin in comparison. Another competitor was the Volvo 360 GLT, which was beyond my financial means at the time 🙂

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• JR

  @JRP-Alfa · 1 year ago

  I can’t believe you didn’t mention its main arch rival the 205GTI whether  it’s a 1.6 or 1.9gti.

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• GB

  @gbirtz · 1 year ago

  "The way it makes you feel" is the only important criteria for buying any car.

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• BJ

  @bjschandall285 · 1 year ago

  'You're paying for the emotions you wanted to have- then'. Jack, a very insightful statement that probably sums up this whole old and classic car interest thing.

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• MM

  @mmau · 1 year ago

  At the time I could not appreciate the quality of this car. But now, it stands for everything that VWs lack now.

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• TH

  @TheRealSamuiWebcam · 1 year ago

  My first car when I was 17 was a 1986 8v GTI with the k-jetronic fuel system.  I loved it.  The throttle response was much better than the digifant system (IMO).  I bought mine from a friend with 186,000 miles on the clock (he was the original owner) and had it 5 more years.  I drilled the airbox (lol) and fitted a supersprint exhaust.  I even fitted electric windows to it.  I lived in the North York Moors National Park when I was young so used to race that thing around all the roads there, what a fun time!...  On those roads my 8v would leave my friend's 16v (the 16v didn't have the torque - they should have gone with a 2.0l for that and not the 1.8l) - Happy Days!...

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• NI

  @Nimrod-k6p · 1 year ago

  The thing about 80&apos;s hot hatches, is they feel quicker than they are, are FUN to drive, and are polar opposites to the over assisted and &apos;safe&apos; cars of the present. <br><br>Add in nostalgia and youth recapture (I&apos;m in my 50&apos;s, I have an Escort RS Turbo, makes me feel 19 every time I drive it....), and you have a winning combination.

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• BE

  @benzina5917 · 1 year ago

  People love to moan about prices but the reality is that at this level of car restoration costs are MUCH higher than just paying up at the beginning. It is so incredibly hard to find good clean examples that what you are paying for is the scarcity allied to a desire for nostalgia. Yes 20K is a lot but you do not buy one of these for its performance statistics or for what else you can buy for the money. Most people just will never understand it because they cannot separate their thoughts and opinions from those of others.

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• TR

  @TricksterJ97 · 5 months ago

  I had a new 8v mk2 GTI in 1986. Mars red, no PS, crank windows, crank sunroof, no PB, no AC . &nbsp;I drove it for 18 years and it was dead reliable. &nbsp;Great car!

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• LE

  @leestimpson1838 · 2 months ago

  My uncle had one, new.<br>I still remember him blasting through Southwark in the middle of the night. I was 17, and it was a thrill. And it felt solid.

• NI

  @nicce12 · 1 year ago

  I agree, the Golf GTI was the best allrounder - a neighbour had a red MK2 GTI with 16 valves - me and my buddys were so impressed when he came speeding down the road!

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