Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1 Review

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Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1
4.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.2 out of 5

From 26 ratings and 28 reviews

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chimpy.'s Review of Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1

8th Jul 2003

Overall Rating

4 stars
  • Value for money
    4.5 stars
  • Practicality
    4 stars
  • Performance
    4 stars
  • Reliability
    4 stars
Good Points

the original hot hatch
lightweight


Bad Points

french build quality despite german origin!


General Comments

We should all be grateful for VW starting the hot hatch genre, however the best old school lightweight GTI's are the 205 and the williams clio. Both share the mk1's small size and lightweight and brittle build quality, but the quality of the driving experiance is improoved in the french cars by more direct steering and a tendancy to oversteer if provoked. The mk2 golf is a great car but the extra weight (1100kg as opposed to 840kg in the mk1)means more momentum and less instinctive cornering. For a performance and insurance bargin try a peugeot 309gti with an after market exhaust and filter it's faster than the 205 and goodwood versions although rare (special edition with momo steering wheel, full leather, graphite colour alloys and british racing green paintwork)can be found now for under £1000. The new r32 golf is apparently brilliant (evo magazine issue 53)despite its 1500kg weight (0-60 in 6.4 etc.) does anyone have any opinions on the current crop of 200 bhp super hot hatchs?

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Members' Comments onchimpy.'s Review

  • dubber. on 7th Aug 2003

    not sure of this review. there doesnt seem to much on the golf. you seem to like peugot though why didnt you put this in the peugot section. i have driven both and i did like the golf better.

  • samm Rank: Major on 14th Jan 2004

    I have a 205 1.9 and have driven the mk1golf gti, they are very similar basically but the 205 is a little quicker (0-60 7.8 against 8.5) and handles even better unfortunatley it doesnt have the same build quality so is unlikely to be around in 10 years.
    the mk2 16v is much more tame but still really good, especially with some mild mods

  • nottslad111 Rank: Lance Corporal on 17th Feb 2004

    I dont agree my brother has raced a 205 gti 1.6 in his AX GT and pasted it. When he raced the 1.9 it was a little quicker. Ive got a Mk1 Golf GTI and that wasted my bro's AX. Theres no way a 205 would keep up with a mk1 golf gti through the twistys as even max power call the mk1 golf the b-road king. With a little tuning the golf is far better than any other hot hatch.

  • samm Rank: Major on 18th Feb 2004

    on a b road, it's too close to tell, but on a track I think the 205 would just win it as it has quite a bit more power.
    an AX gt will never waste a 205 1.6. check out the 0-60 times, the 205 1.6 isn't massivley faster but is by at least a second, but if it is a rubbish driver then who knows?
    I have driven a MK1 Golf with race cams and though it was probably fractionally faster than my 1.9, the 205 mi16 I drove was just mental and would of thrashed it.
    The only other similar car there is is the clio Cup which is absolutley awesome and would trounce any of the old school brigade, providing they are not modified of course.

  • jeffdyer on 19th Mar 2004

    How can you compare a Mk1 Golf GTI and a Renault Clio Williams - there's about a 10 year gap!

  • allywrx on 9th Apr 2004

    The mk1 golf gti is the king of the hot hatches. It was the benchmark for all the other hot hatches mentioned and can hold it's own against ANY of the above mentioned cars and, in most cases, hammer them all down a B road with a good driver at the wheel. I have a mk1 16 valve that can keep up with my sti V scooby down a windy road in the dry, no probs!!! FACT! Having worked for Citroen, I know that french cars are just second rate compared to the german and jap cars, regardless of age.

  • beast23 on 14th Apr 2004

    I had a 1.6 and 1.9 GTi 205, the 1.6 is very close to an AX GT to 60, the 1.9 would get ahead, as for the Golf, they don't handle better than the 205 and they are not faster, there awsome because they were first, but the 205 GTi was the best by far.
    If you have owned both like I have thare is no question about that.

  • samm Rank: Major on 15th May 2004

    yes but the 205 is quicker and now I have 180bhp on tap it is likely to beat most mk1 Golfs unless you have something really special under the hood. It is also far cheaper like most french cars- with mild tuning the R5GTT would also easily beat the mk1 golf no problems.

  • nottslad111 Rank: Lance Corporal on 17th May 2004

    Ive just put a 1.8 20 valve tubo in my mk1 its currently at 200bhp nothing can really touch me and on the b-roads its even better.