[Finchley]

Reading the other Golf GTI thread got me wondering how many of us have had Golf GTIs in our past? I've had one amongst six Golfs, from MkII Golf C (my second car after a Metro!) to a Mk IV Golf V5. My GTI was a MkIII. Not the Golf's finest moment but I enjoyed it a lot. Kind of regret being too young/unaffordable insurance to have a Mk I when they were genuinely defining a new class of car.
I then had a 10-year flirtation with Audi (A3 and A4 up to 3.0 TDi Avant). Now very happy in my second BMW with third on order - plus my family have driven BMW exclusively for 30+ years starting with the original 316 which looked very tidy in Reseda Green and on which I learned to drive.

What's your Golf story?

[Andrewthefirst]

No GTI for me yet but consider it an icon and would love to own one (or get the wife one) at some point.

Had a golf gt (140 bhp diesel mark 5) that I loved. Great engine, great car, has made me a golf fan. That's the car that got me into cars and detailing and loitering around forums etc. It's in the blood now, unless they do something stupid with the mark 8.

A gti, gtd etc still turns my head....then I nudge the 330 into sport and sail smugly past. Loving the F30...it's beyond my expectations.

[NISFAN]

My first car was a mark 1 Golf GL 1300cc. Pretty good first car to be honest, handled well, but was a bit agricultural by today's standards.

Then I got myself a Mk2 Gti 8 valve, which I thought was a fantastic car at the time. It wasn't new, but was the current model. Did a load of modifications to it, alloys wheel (aftermarket), face lift bumpers, sound system with 10" woofer, etc. Even resprayed the whole car in Audi malachite green. And spent a small fortune on upgrading the engine. Gas flow, racing Pistons, new exhaust system, 290 degree high lift cams, and a raft of other mods. Was the fastest Golf around.

Replaced that with a BMW E30 325i and never looked back (learnt that you can't beat the involvement of RWD)

[Nick the Greek]

One of my motoring regrets. Never owned one.

Would still consider one tho.

The ultimate "one car for all occasions".

Classless.

[JustChris]

Grab Turismo yes
RL ni

[DickieGibbo]

Originally Posted by Finchley

Reading the other Golf GTI thread got me wondering how many of us have had Golf GTIs in our past? I've had one amongst six Golfs, from MkII Golf C (my second car after a Metro!) to a Mk IV Golf V5. My GTI was a MkIII. Not the Golf's finest moment but I enjoyed it a lot. Kind of regret being too young/unaffordable insurance to have a Mk I when they were genuinely defining a new class of car.
I then had a 10-year flirtation with Audi (A3 and A4 up to 3.0 TDi Avant). Now very happy in my second BMW with third on order - plus my family have driven BMW exclusively for 30+ years starting with the original 316 which looked very tidy in Reseda Green and on which I learned to drive.

What's your Golf story?

I had a mk2 golf GTI 16v MY1992 big bumper edition in 1994 Loved it a lot. After that went for a Sapphire RS Cosworth, then boring company cars until car allowance 5 years ago. Did have a couple of 986 boxster S as weekend toys too whilst having my Passat Sport TDI company car.

Since then had a E90 330d Msport, F10 520d SE which I hated and moved back to an F30 30d MSport. My car is due to be returned next June but think it will be another BMW although I am on the list to consider a Focus RS. Perhaps I am getting too old for an RS now though. You can spec every extra going on this and will only cost you £32k

Dickie

[dubdemand]

In order...

Mk1 golf driver
Mk2 gti
Corrado
Mk1 cabriolet gti

[RichardJ]

I had a mark 6 GTI in white. The DSG box was fantastic, easily a match for the one in the 3 series. It put a smile on my face every time I drove it.

Only a slightly firm ride put me off it but I believe the latest model is smoother so it will be a contender when I replace my 330d.

[dopper99]

I had a Mk1 Golf GTi when I was 18. But those were the days when you could get away with putting the insurance is your parents name and me be a named driver.

[thewallboy]

I had a Golf VR6. It was the nuts. P69 XDS. What a great car it was.

[73henny]

I had a C reg white Mk2 GTi when I was 21. Sunroof leaked on the passenger seat, but I loved it. If it was still on the road I'd buy it back now.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Yep had a couple, certain cars you had to own or just give in and wear cardigans with leather patches.

If anyone is going for one, I prefer the Corrado VR6, well mental loads power and personality.



http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...--1995/4734054

[deebee]

I had a Mk 4 GT Tdi 150bhp which VW put a GTI badge on those models so does that count?

[Martan]

Never......POS as far as I'm concerned....

Actually looked at them a few times...but the interior does nothing for me, maybe I'm missing something

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Martan

Never......POS as far as I'm concerned....

Actually looked at them a few times...but the interior does nothing for me, maybe I'm missing something

Yep, look past the interior of cars and go off how they drive and feel.

Driveability is better than lookability (up to a point of course).



Too many people just go off the badge and does it look pretty.

[rocketretro]

Not a GTI, but owned a 2003 VW Bora 1.8T. It had a really comfortable classy interior, it felt super quick at that time but returned 40 mpg and was very reliable, but the one and only time I went into a BMW dealer to enquire about a part exchange the air conditioning and windows failed as I parked on the forecourt. It was a sign I think.

[JD6]

I got a Mk1 Golf GTI soon after passing my test, except it was actually a 50bhp 1.1 with GTI badges and stripes. I did my best to avoid the traffic light grand prix for obvious reasons! Quite embarrassing looking back on it, but then I was 17.

I then had no car for a few years of uni, but bought a Mk2 Golf GTI 8v on getting my first job. A great car, and one I still look back on as a proper driver's car, despite being FWD. Then got a new Mk3 Golf VR6 as a company car which was fast and smooth, but not that sharp.

I then ordered my first BMW, a 540i, followed quickly by an M5. I lost almost £20k in just 9k miles on the 540i, but the upgrade was worth it - a different car entirely. After some trouble with the M5 being damaged a few times, parked on the street in London, I replaced it with a new Mk4 Golf V6 4 Motion. Not a great car, but discrete enough not to get vandalised and still quite fun.

That was my last Golf. I still like them, and test drove a Mk6 GTI which was a lot of fun. I do wonder if I should buy a Mk2 GTI again to keep as a weekend toy, although it might feel a bit sluggish these days.

[Tengocity]

Nope. Had a Citroen AX GT and the decided that FWD wasn't my cup of tea, and so bought an MX5. Drove the Golf GTI as a rental on the Nurburgring and it was a disappointment. But that's being harsh as I know it's real place is as an everyday all rounder.

[leon1984]

Grew up obsessed with VW's. First car was a MK2 driver with big bumper GTI kit. Spent 18 months sorting it out, 4 months driving it and bought a MK3 16v GTI



Then ran company cars and it was sat there doing nothing for three years so me and my housemate bought a MK2 non runner



Set about swapping the whole car across to the lighter shell. Engine had bored throttle body, skimmed flywheel. Did a hydro clutch conversion, rear bean swap, polybushed the lot.



Was an absolute blast to drive as long as there wasn't any bumps in the road

[Chris Peacock]

My first car was a 1978 VW Polo Mk1 in Florida Blue with a 900cc engine, absolutely loved it and lusted after a MK1 Golf GTi.

Then had a MK5 GT Sport 170ps TDi for work and again thoroughly enjoyed the car, covered 80k miles in 2 years without issue even though these engines are well documented for giving grief.

We then got our 2010 GTi, I mildly modded it with Eibach springs, 3" Turbo back exhaust, Carbonio intake and Revo stage 2 software...turned it into an animal.

Still regret selling it 2 years on and will definitely have another, quick pic

[Finchley]

Great posts and stirred up lots of happy memories. My Golf pedigree isn't distinguished as some of yours:
MkII 1.3 C
MkII 1.6 Driver (that was in the Beastie Boys VW badge-nicking era - lost two - remember that?
MkII 1.8 GL (big bumper and seemed cool having my first car with tinted glass!)
Mk III 1.8 CL (first of the catalytic converter cars)
Mk III 2.0 GTI ( remembered thinking it was the bees knees with its electric Windows and ABS for the first time)
Mk IV 2.3 V5 (should have sounded odd but didn't but was heavy on fuel)

After an Audi period I won't dwell on here, now very happy in my F31 320d MSport and have an F31 330d on order

[Paular]

Corrado G60
Corrado VR6
MK3 Golf VR6
MK4 GTi 18T
MK5 Gti (x2)
AUDI S3 8P (x2)

Then more recently a MK2 Golf Gti 16V with VR6 conversion. Only just sold that 2 weeks ago! Plan was to replace with another MK2/MK1 with an 18T conversion OR a supercharged/Turbo`d Corrado VR6.

Ended up with a JDM classic Impreza, 2 door STi Type R. What a fuckin machine to drive that is!