Buying a used Golf GTi/TDi
Back in the days when even the rather staid Suzuki stable had a GTi, there was a heady atmosphere in the car world. Every maker had to have a hot hatch, it seemed.
Some of the attempts to cash in on the 1980s craze were ludicrous and most were just tarted up versions of the originals designed to attract young men with more money than sense. But one car stood head and shoulders above the rest, the Volkswagen Golf.
One had to go back a very long way indeed to think of a car with its road presence and driving qualities.
A combination of common sense, car thefts and high insurance thankfully put paid to that silly period and most of the cars touted as being must-haves soon became must-forget. The Golf, however, had the pedigree to stay the course.
Steady and assured handling, great engineering, sparkling performance, lovely interior and under- stated looks saw to it that some drivers stayed with the GTi, rather as a cigar afficianado recognises what makes a Monte Cristo different from the rest.
Consider this data from the 1990 version: a top speed of 201km/h, 0-80km/h in 5.7 seconds, 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds, 134 horse power at 5,800 revs and a 1984cc engine. It was a great package, since superceded by modern technology. Try as the rest might, they could never match that combination.
The petrol engine in recent cars is derived from the Audi stable and is a five-valves per cylinder unit which performs really well and efficiently. The diesel 1.9 is also good, lively and efficient. The petrol GTi, however, is the car with the real pedigree.
The Golf has a good record of reliability but there have been several recalls on different models. It's worth checking with an expert familiar with the GTi to establish if a particular car was recalled.
The Golf has done well in EuroNCAP crash tests. The 1998 model performed well in front and side impact testing. Overall rating is four out of five.
For obvious reasons the 1.9 TDi diesel became very popular in this country but it was the petrol that was truly refined. You don't find all that many petrol versions on the second-hand market because they do have a high initial purchase price. A 2002 model with 46,000 on the clock and with a good standard of equipment is on sale at €20,000, while a 2003 model with 30,000 on the clock and in good condition is offered at €21,950. A 2003 1.9 diesel on the other hand seeks €18,495 but with 48,000 on the clock.