Thursday 21st August 2014

VW Golf GTI: Market Watch

Approaching its 40th year PH takes a look back at the archetypal hot hatch in all its versions

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The car that almost single-handedly created the hot hatch genre is still very much the GTI by which every other contender is measured. Incredibly VW has now sold nearly a quarter of a million examples to UK buyers alone. Yet when that first Mk1 Golf GTI was launched 38 years ago no one could have predicted that it would go on to become one of the most famous motoring icons on the planet.

The 'Sportgolf' project began in 1973

VW's Golf GTI started life in 1973 as the pet project of VW test engineer Alfons Loewenberg - yet the proposition that people would buy a sports version of VW's new small family hatchback seemed faintly ludicrous at the time. But Alfons found support for the idea from marketing expert Horst-Dieter Schwittlinsky and Anton Konrad - the then head of Volkswagen PR.

An official assignment was sent to the R&D department to develop a sporty version of the Golf and - after five of the original six prototypes were rejected - the 'Sportgolf' as the car had become known created quite a stir when it was demonstrated to management in 1975.

Chief designer Herbert Schaefer was responsible for all the details that would distinguish the 'Sportgolf' from its rivals, including the red stripe on the radiator grille, the larger front spoiler, the wheel arch extensions, the matt black frame on the rear windscreen, the black roof-liner; the golf-ball gearknob and of course those chequered seat covers.

The rise and fall and rise of the GTI!

Following its Frankfurt Motor Show debut, interest in the GTI - as it was now called - was substantial, with an initial run of 5,000 vehicles ordered by VW to fulfil expected demand. However dealers managed to sell 10 times the planned number in their first year of sales and the Golf GTI has continued to be a huge seller ever since. Six incarnations and 38 years later, more than 1.7 million Golf GTIs have been sold globally.

But not all generations have been equally well received: whilst some make excellent used buys, others are less appealing. Some are rising in value, whilst others deliver the best tuning potential. And of course, a few iterations of this iconic hot hatch are destined to become future classics.

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Introduction
VW Golf GTI Mk1 (1976-1984)
VW Golf GTI Mk2 (1984-1992)
VW Golf GTI Mk3 (1992-1998)
VW Golf GTI Mk4 (1998-2004)
VW Golf GTI Mk5 (2005-2008)
VW Golf GTI Mk6 (2009-2012)
VW Golf GTI Mk7 (2013-on)

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Many thanks to AMD Essex, Revo Technik, Midland VW, Rupert Pontin, Chief Car Editor at Glass's and Club GTI for their help with this feature

[GTEYE]

In my opinion the GTI has become less interesting in Mk6 and Mk7 generations, perhaps there hasn't been scope for big leaps forward from the Mk5....

Subjectively, it doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was, although £30k prices may well answer that one.

For me the highpoints were the Mk2 and Mk5...

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 20th August 14:13

[thatguy11]

Mk5 is definitely the one to go for, all things considered. Around £6k for 95% of the abilities of a £12k Mk6? no brainer, really

[gforceg]

A timely reminder of what a great and seminal car it was. I'd imagine there's quite a gulf between the higher asking prices and the final selling price. Also, not all the cheaper ones are necessarily ragged and wrecked.

[mrclav]

GTEYE said:

Subjectively, it doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was, although £30k prices may well answer that one.

People get caught up on "it's £30k for a Golf!" but conveniently forget about inflation. Also, I'm pretty sure finance has made buying a car nowadays a lot easier than back then. If they're not as (admittedly subjectively) popular now as they were in say, 1989 then it's probably due to factors such as choice of what's on sale, what is "fashionable" i.e. SUVs and the like, but almost certainly not because of the price.

[j_s14a]

The MK3 Golf VR6 was a 2.8l, not a 2.9l. the 2.9l engine was fitted to the Corrado VR6.

[j_s14a]

The MK3 Golf VR6 was a 2.8l, not a 2.9l. the 2.9l engine was fitted to the Corrado VR6.

[GTEYE]

mrclav said:

GTEYE said:

Subjectively, it doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was, although £30k prices may well answer that one.

People get caught up on "it's £30k for a Golf!" but conveniently forget about inflation. Also, I'm pretty sure finance has made buying a car nowadays a lot easier than back then. If they're not as (admittedly subjectively) popular now as they were in say, 1989 then it's probably due to factors such as choice of what's on sale, what is "fashionable" i.e. SUVs and the like, but almost certainly not because of the price.

Although Mk5 GTI's were easily bought brand new in 2006/7 for £16.5k.

I bought one, and it was great. But not £30k great.

[Axionknight]

thatguy11 said:

Mk5 is definitely the one to go for, all things considered. Around £6k for 95% of the abilities of a £12k Mk6? no brainer, really

A good Mk5 would be my choice too, I drove a friends and thought it was a great car, it'd have to be one with body coloured bumpers though, the ones with cheapo black plastic panels look crap.

[thatguy11]

Axionknight said:

thatguy11 said:

Mk5 is definitely the one to go for, all things considered. Around £6k for 95% of the abilities of a £12k Mk6? no brainer, really

A good Mk5 would be my choice too, I drove a friends and thought it was a great car, it'd have to be one with body coloured bumpers though, the ones with cheapo black plastic panels look crap.

I actually quite like them, which is weird because I detest them on every single other car. The colour break up just suits the car somehow, even if it does look a bit cheaper.

And since all the press cars/a large number of customer cars use the plastic bumpers, it's what I'm most used to seeing and the coloured ones just don't look quite right to me.

[5harp3y]

thatguy11 said:

I actually quite like them, which is weird because I detest them on every single other car. The colour break up just suits the car somehow, even if it does look a bit cheaper.

And since all the press cars/a large number of customer cars use the plastic bumpers, it's what I'm most used to seeing and the coloured ones just don't look quite right to me.

White ones with the black bits

[shoestring7]

mrclav said:

GTEYE said:

Subjectively, it doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was, although £30k prices may well answer that one.

People get caught up on "it's £30k for a Golf!" but conveniently forget about inflation. Also, I'm pretty sure finance has made buying a car nowadays a lot easier than back then. If they're not as (admittedly subjectively) popular now as they were in say, 1989 then it's probably due to factors such as choice of what's on sale, what is "fashionable" i.e. SUVs and the like, but almost certainly not because of the price.

The invoice for my Golf Gti when new was a smudge under £28k. Its nearly 10 years old.

SS7

[mwstewart]

I love the Mk4 Diesel and 1.8T variants. 1998 to 2001 cars were pretty terrible to drive, but something changed around 2002 and the steering and dynamics just seemed a world away from those early cars. By that point I suppose it was all too late and public perception was set in stone.

[NGK210]

Let's not get too huffy about the Mk3 GTI. In reality, the 'real' Mk3 GTI was the 16V - elsewhere in Europe it was the only Golf to be badged 'GTI'. The 8V GTI was cynical UK-only marketing/badge engineering; on mainland Europe the 8V was the plain ol' Golf GT. Similarly, on mainland Europe the only Mk4 GTI was the 1.8T

[worsy]

Paid less than 24k for the wife's mk7. Where does 30k come from?

[jakesmith]

The mark 4 GTi 2.0 non-turbo (ideally in fern green) has to be the pick of the bunch

[P-Jay]

There's nothing really wrong with the MK3, it's very much of it's era - regulations meant no more flat fronted cars like the MK2 (or E30 BMW for that matter) and that the engine was ECU controlled and a bit less characterful that the earlier ones - consumer demand meant it would be quieter and more 'grown up' and 150bhp was pretty much the default output for all 2.0 16v 4-pots of the age.

No, the most unforgiving thing about the Mk3 is that they were appallingly badly made by VW standards, VW were meant to be 'everyman quality' not luxurious as such, but well made and reliable - but early MK3's were terrible - I've never owned a car that would rust as quickly as my MK3 VR6 - but then I've never owned a Layland or 70's Fiat either.

[PK0001]

I am almost 50 and have had a Golf GTi in my life since I was 25.

Several MK2 16v, Mk4 GTi ( that was crap so gave it to the wife ) Mk5 Edition 30 and a Mk6.

Having just sold my Edition 30 I don't presently have a GTi in my life so am looking around for inspiration.

I am considering a Mk2 16v as an investment or a Mk5 Edition 30 again as I loved that car so much.

Good timing for this article, lots to choose from.

Would love a Mk1 but budget may be out of reach and I need to use it daily.

[Charlie Michael]

I love my Mk V. It handles brilliantly and runs at 30mpg round town on the way to work and when I'm in the mood, it can handle fantastically, the grip levels are very high and despite having EPS, it has gives good feedback through corners.

It's also very spacious inside (I'm 6'2" and you can fit a 6 foot person behind me comfortably).

[chungasarnies]

shoestring7 said:

The invoice for my Golf Gti when new was a smudge under £28k. Its nearly 10 years old.

SS7

Mine says a shade under 21k I think, 8 years ago, but it's complete poverty spec apart from 18" alloys. Retains a lot of that as well (I gave the last owner 7k for it last year). CAP says £6200 or something for it now, happy with that.

Edited by chungasarnies on Wednesday 20th August 16:02

[Ian_UK1]

GTEYE said:

For me the highpoints were the Mk2 and Mk5...

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 20th August 14:13

Can't disagree with this at all.

I owned a Mk2 16v back in 1990 when they were new. It really was an enjoyable little machine: really well screwed together, quick for its day, really chuckable - just all-round enjoyable (at speeds that didn't need to threaten licence and liberty)!

I think it's the memory of how good an all-rounder the Mk2 was that inspired me, last week, to buy a used Mk5. I'd been looking for a new (to me) daily drive for a month or two and the Mk5 looked like it would do everything I needed. After a few minutes test driving the car I eventually bought, it was obvious the '5' has many of the attributes of the '2', as well as being a lot more brisk and really easy to tune (it was re-mapped within 4 hours of being bought)! The 5s are also really good value now (mine's a main dealer, 2008 car with only 40,000 miles and was still under £9000). Good to read that the depreciation on well looked-after cars should be low too. Just like the '2' back in 1990, the '5' does indeed do the 'great all-rounder' very well indeed. Pleased I bought it.