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

[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.

[GTEYE]

RacerMike said:

mrclav said:

GTEYE said:

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.

£16.5k in 2006/7 is still well over £20k today. I'm presuming that purchase was not including the obligatory option list raid...

Not sure where you're getting that £16.5k value from?! Perhaps a MkIV in 1999, but a MkV GTI was never anywhere near that kind of price. I believe when it launched it was a tad over £19k for the base GTI in 2003.

I found the options/pricelist for mine. It was a 2009MY car (mid 2008 registered) and with the following options it was:

• GTI 3-Door 6-Speed Manual - £20,580.00
• 18" Monza Alloy Wheels - £465.00
• Convenience Pack - £95.00
• Front Centre Arm Rest - £120.00
• Vienna Leather Upholstery - £1,645.00
• Luxury Pack 2 - £270.00
• Rear Tinted Windows from B-Pillar - £175.00
• Metallic Paint - £365.00
• Deliver, VED and Registration fees £518.00

Coming to a not insubstantial £24,233 inc VAT which is just over £28,000 in todays money. So not all that different to the cost of a new Mk7 GTI!

Edited by RacerMike on Wednesday 20th August 19:06

The list price at the time was £19,995, but back then there were scores of parallel imports coming in from Europe to places like Motorpoint.

Mine was a factory fresh 3 door 6 speed in silver, standard spec for £16.5k, cracking value. Service book stamped in Holland. Not so much value in the latest versions...

Edited by GTEYE on Thursday 21st August 08:48

[GTEYE]

andrewparker said:

white_goodman said:

GTEYE said:

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.

Wow, that is cheap. That's diesel SE/Match money. Whereabouts was that?

From memory I think Motorpoint were selling lots of full Euro spec imports for around £17k. I nearly bought one but was very apprehensive about buying anything from Motorpoint.

It was Motorpoint actually. No problems, was a great car.

[GTEYE]

andrewparker said:

Anyone got any predictions for the Edition 40 GTI? Considering VW's recent form it could be very good indeed.

£35k?