VW Golf GTi Hatchback 1981-

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  • Economy

    Value

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Not the cheapest car for its age, but you're paying for bullet proof build quality and longevity. If you buy a well kept example it can be a very cheap car that should keep running for years

    Costs

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Not the most economical car to run, usually managing around 30mpg. But reliability on good cars should mean fewer trips to the garage

  • On the road

    Driving

    4 out of 5 4.0

    The car feels well balanced and stable on the road. Not that fast, but it manages to combine a solid, big car feel with a fun, "point and shoot" feel to driving. Some road noise and a firm-ish ride, but not enough to bother me

    Performance

    2 out of 5 2.0

    It may look like a GTI, but the driver is rather a heavy and slow car. That said, it'll cruise along unshakably smoothly once you get it up to speed

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Service history is very important. My car suffered previous neglect and several unfortunate bills came my way, on the other hand cars with a FSH can prove utterly dependable, and everything feels supremely well bolted together even at 14 years old

    Image

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Still looks great after all this time with a bit of a retro image. Twin headlights at the front and GTI style wheels give the driver a sporty look

    Comfort

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Good, perfectly comfortable driving position, even for tall drivers (I'm 6ft4). Seats could be a bit more supportive in corners

  • Security and Service

    Security

    2 out of 5 2.0

    Probably not very good compared to modern standards, but luckily I had no problems at all

    Service

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Polite

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Other

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes