Tuesday 24th June 2014

VW Golf Mk 1: You Know You Want To

No Euro mods, no engine transplant, no power steering. Get back to basics with an old Golf

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There's a common theme that runs through many threads on new car tech, from adaptive steering to dual-clutch gearboxes to self-parking; the car shouldn't be doing that, I want to do it. And it's a fair argument, this is a site for those people who enjoy driving after all. Of course the discussion so descends in to 'so you want to bring back drum brakes and crossply tyres too?' but here could be the perfect compromise on the modern(ish) car that's still requires a bit of driving effort.

Do your own infotainment in here

It's a 1.1-litre Golf. Bear with me. It has manual steering, a choke and wind down windows. There isn't an airbag and the interior is shockingly basic. That's the classic element of it. But as one of the first modern European hatches, would it be completely unfeasible to use it semi-regularly? Of course it will be slow, the very antithesis of today's torque laden turbos, but that should be celebrated and not condemned.

The focus becomes on conserving speed, reading the traffic situation, maintaining flow. But not in something so compromised as to be frustrating because it was once just a family hatchback. You won't be cosseted as in a new car, of course, but that's exactly the point. It's old without being unusable.

Furthermore, with nearly every early Golf being pounced on by those wishing to indulge in a bit of Euro modding (some more successfully than others), finding an unmolested Mk 1 must happen very seldom. And it's a pleasant reminder of just how right the original Giugiaro design was. The dimensions make it look quite delicate amongst modern stuff but the proportions are spot on and even the poverty-spec steel wheels don't look out of place. Don't forget this design is 40 years old now too.

Can't be many left like this now

With 114,000 miles, this Golf wouldn't have to be a pristine garage queen either. It's being used regularly by the current owner which is encouraging and maintained to a very high standard (when one of the car's bad points is a CD player that's 'a bit 2001' you sense it's cared for). Moreover, the Golf is being sold to help fund a 996 Turbo purchase which is a genuine reason for sale if ever there was one.

The Golf's MoT has expired now so there could be some negotiating room there. With Mk 1 GTIs rocketing in price, to see an early Golf at £3K is almost surprising even if it's not exactly a bargain. Classic insurance should be cheap, there's not an awful lot to fail and its spartan nature is really rather cool. Anyone else tempted?

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VW GOLF 1.1C
Price: £3,450
Why you should: Back to basics driving in style
Why you shouldn't: Slow, probably not that safe, not a GTI

See the original advert here.

[crostonian]

My mother had a Golf Formel E, she hated it and replaced it with an Alfasud SC which oddly rusted less than the Golf and she still talks fondly of the Sud to this day. That Golf 1.1 may be worthy and pure but it's dull with a capital D!