SECOND-HAND SENSE: When the Volkswagen Golf was launched in 1976 it revolutionised the world of motoring as the Beetle had done years before. Solid, dependable, well styled, practical and with a great re-sale value, the car was a hit from day one and has sold in its millions ever since.
But the Golf was and still is a very unexciting car in its normal guise. It took the development of a very clever derivative to give it a more appeal for those who like a little fun as well as practicality. The GTI version, taking the romantic Gran Tourismo badge from the Italians, delivered a car that impressed from the day of its launch.
The GTI was subtle, having none of the garish affectations of other so-called hot hatches at the time. From its discreet badge to its strong and angular profile, it suggested something powerful that did not make vulgar statements.
It could reach 100 km/h in nine seconds - this may not sound like a record these days but it impressed back then. Its rally-style seats, sports dashboard and golf-ball gear knob all bespoke a powerful performance. The sum of its parts gave a great driving experience, while things such as its suspension and handling were the envy of other makers. The engine too had a lovely note, although it's not best suited to city driving. It needs the open road to achieve its potential.
Before long the Golf GTI had won the crown as the best hot hatch around, a title it kept for a very long time. Indeed there are still Golf drivers who wouldn't drive any other performance car.
If the truth be told, the Golf's performance is not as great as it once was - and VW's recent quality control problems have knocked the entire Golf range off its perch. This will colour the future view of the GTI.
Even back in 1998 the Golf had done really well in its EuroNCAP crash tests, achieving four out of five stars. It scored highly on front and side impact tests and missed five stars only because of a problem with an ISOFIX child safety fitting, which has been resolved. The next comprehensive test in 2004 gave it five stars after modification of a curtain airbag.
The list of Golf recalls is long but it's been around a long time. There have been recalls (not affecting all cars) for problems with brake pipes, coolant leakage, airbags, cooling fans, fan blades, electric windows, headlights and ABS systems. So make sure that, if a model you're interested in was recalled, the work was done.
Used GTIs are not cheap. A 2001model with lots of extras, like air conditioning and multiple air bags, and 56,000 on the clock will cost about €14,500. A comparable 2003 model with 34,000 on the clock will cost about €25,000.