By Ben Stewart
The
Volkswagen Beetle may well be the ultimate cult car. But it was the GTI
of the 1980s that gave rise to a new generation of VW enthusiasts.
The 1983 GTI was based on the Rabbit, and delivered what no economy car at the time could—fun. The first GTIs from 1983-84 (Mark I) were entertaining to drive, with taut handling and reasonable acceleration, for the early 1980s at least. In 1987, the Mark II GTI offered a 16-valve model (16V) with 123 hp; our colleagues at Car and Driver called the hatchback "the original econohunk." The next few generations of GTI became turbocharged and even V-6-powered. In 2003 VW created a special 20th anniversary U.S. edition with a firmer suspension and more serious components.
VW's newest generations have brought back much of the fun of the earlier cars. The current Golf R is a 253-hp, all-wheel-drive monster GTI that can hit 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds. But it's those first two generations of GTI that created the fan base and later aftermarket industry for these front-drive fun machines. Those early GTIs in good condition are highly sought after.
The 1983 GTI was based on the Rabbit, and delivered what no economy car at the time could—fun. The first GTIs from 1983-84 (Mark I) were entertaining to drive, with taut handling and reasonable acceleration, for the early 1980s at least. In 1987, the Mark II GTI offered a 16-valve model (16V) with 123 hp; our colleagues at Car and Driver called the hatchback "the original econohunk." The next few generations of GTI became turbocharged and even V-6-powered. In 2003 VW created a special 20th anniversary U.S. edition with a firmer suspension and more serious components.
VW's newest generations have brought back much of the fun of the earlier cars. The current Golf R is a 253-hp, all-wheel-drive monster GTI that can hit 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds. But it's those first two generations of GTI that created the fan base and later aftermarket industry for these front-drive fun machines. Those early GTIs in good condition are highly sought after.
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