KM Evolution- Volkswagen GTI

[Kilometer Magazine]

For more than three decades the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been the performance car of choice for enthusiasts throughout the world who appreciate its unique combination of lively driving dynamics, surprising practicality and unexpected economy. It's a rare vehicle, one that defies social classification - appealing to young and mature alike, wealthy or otherwise...FULL STORY

[Jettin2Class]

I wish I still had mine, an '87 16v GTI stripper model: factory deleted A/C, no sunroof, power nothing. Every car I owned after that, the GTI's driving dynamics was the basis for comparison.

[NoDubJustYet]

is a MkII 16V a good daily driver? i need to get a commuter...

there are tons of 16V's in the area, so i have a lot to chose from.

[Jettin2Class]

If you get a cherry condition one, maybe. I sold mine 13 years ago (hard to believe it was that long already!). I would prepare yourself for fueling and/or vacuum issues as well as the host of other from the previous owners.

[NoDubJustYet]

Probably not worth it then... especially since I have no garage.

This would be fun too. Oh well.

[KahviVW]

Nice write-up!

[goldn]

very cool.
loved my mkv.

[vwlarry]

Post-aircooled Volkswagen peaked, IMO, with these second generation cars. Since then, it's been a "more is less" story from Wolfsburg.

[jebglx]

Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »

Post-aircooled Volkswagen peaked, IMO, with these second generation cars. Since then, it's been a "more is less" story from Wolfsburg.

while i agree with this for the MKIV and to a lesser extent the MKIII, have you driven a MKV yet?

[vwlarry]

I'm a hopeless romantic when it comes to my VWs, Bill. My unending vision of Volkswagen's role in the greater cosmos adheres to a belief in the carmaker's former ethos of simplicity and light weight, coupled with maximized functionality wherever and whenever possible. VW is too far gone today from that ideal to ever recover their traditional position of leadership, IMO. Of course today's VWs are superior cars...more sophisticated, more ideal to drive, more of everything, than they ever were back then. But that came at the cost of weight and complexity, that admittedly was not all the carmaker's fault. But what's done is done. Where once VW held a unique place in my heart, now they're just another faceless player in a very crowded field of players. I don't care about them anymore. Nice cars, even great cars, but for me, there is no "there" there anymore.

The young guys today call it "soul" I believe. VW's is gone.


Modified by vwlarry at 5:26 PM 11-15-2009

[jebglx]

i'll meet up w/ you so you can drive mine

[vwlarry]

I don't need any convincing that they are superb cars. I drove a new GTI a year ago at H2O briefly, too. The fact is, virtually EVERY new car today is surpassingly excellent to drive. Therefore, none really stand out, at least the garden-variety non-bazillion-dollar types of cars that normal people make payments on. VWs used to stand out like sore thumbs, and I mean that as a compliment. Nobody offered what they did...nobody. If you of the disposition to enjoy that type of car, you had essentially one choice, at least here in America, and that was Volkswagen. Today, I drive a Mazda, and I like it well enough, but it, like the VWs, is just a car. I chose it primarily because I worked for a Mazda dealership, it was well-built (as are everyone's cars now), and I had confidence of a relatively hassle-free tenure of ownership. Actually, I wanted a VW, but alas, VW doesn't want me anymore, since the closest dealership to me is 50 miles away. When you buy a new Volkswagen, and have done so several times before that, you know better than to put yourself one hour's drive away from the nearest service department. So that, along with my flamed-out passion for VWs, made my choice easy.

[AudiVwMeister]

good read. what were most of the reasons over the years for scaling back on U.S. offerings?

oh and cant forget one of the best "non-advertisements" via sniff petrol

[0dd_j0b]

I've driven a MkI/II/IV/and V GTI, with the I and II, the feeling of the car is incredible, hmm..hard to explain, they were all fun, in their own way, the I and II, I felt like I had control of everything. The car did what I wanted, to the dot. the IV and V, just felt too big. too heavy. I didn't feel comfortable driving it to the limits, well my limits. MkI and II, even though there is less weight and all that, it feels more of a car and less of a vehicle than any IV or V. In my opinion.

[ImAlive]

Quote, originally posted by Jettin2Class »

Every car I owned after that, the GTI's driving dynamics was the basis for comparison.

Wisdom

[andlf]

wish i had kept mine.

footage of the 16v monty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2JyC_J78s

edit: my mk3 is no mk2. just doesn't compare.


Modified by andlf at 8:06 AM 11-24-2009

[chucchinchilla]

Quote, originally posted by AudiVwMeister »

good read. what were most of the reasons over the years for scaling back on U.S. offerings? oh and cant forget one of the best "non-advertisements" via sniff petrol

That and the "God, you must really want a BMW" ad for the 1 series are my top two.

[demonmk2]

Quote, originally posted by Jettin2Class »

I wish I still had mine, an '87 16v GTI stripper model: factory deleted A/C, no sunroof, power nothing. Every car I owned after that, the GTI's driving dynamics was the basis for comparison.

that's what I have except the sunroof, car is MINT! no rust and no bondo and every panel is original. the motor however is a different story it's been bumped up to a 2L and with ITB's but still an original 16v car I love that car!


Modified by demonmk2 at 2:05 PM 11-29-2009

[bunny_luv'R]

Quote, originally posted by NoDubJustYet »

is a MkII 16V a good daily driver? i need to get a commuter... there are tons of 16V's in the area, so i have a lot to chose from.

i would get the cleanest one as a DD and another one for a project! MKII ftMFw ! lol


Modified by bunny_luv'R at 3:23 PM 12-3-2009

[Abe Froman]

This statement:

Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »

My vision adheres to a belief in [Volkswagen's] former ethos of simplicity and light weight, coupled with maximized functionality wherever and whenever possible. Nice cars, even great cars, but for me, there is no "there" there anymore. The young guys today call it "soul" I believe.

...coupled with this follow-up:

Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »

Virtually EVERY new car today is surpassingly excellent to drive. Therefore, none really stand out.

...lead me to really think you need a MINI. Everything that I rememberd loving about the MkIIs I grew up riding shotgun in as a kid (and "borrowing" when I was old enough to reach the pedals but not quite old enough to have a license), I was quite happy to re-live when I bought my R53 back in 2006.

Quote, originally posted by vwlarry »

Actually, I wanted a VW, but alas, VW doesn't want me anymore, since the closest dealership to me is 50 miles away.

Now you're just kvetching

[demonmk2]

Quote, originally posted by NoDubJustYet »

is a MkII 16V a good daily driver? i need to get a commuter... there are tons of 16V's in the area, so i have a lot to chose from.

Do you mean 16v's as in motors or 16v MKII's? because that would mean they either GTI's or GLI's and I find that hard to believe.

[NoDubJustYet]

I don't think they made GLI's in Germany, so I'm referring to 16V MkII GTIs.

And if you don't believe me knock yourself at:

http://www.mobile.de or http://www.autoscout24.de

[vwlarry]

No offense, but the Mini does nothing for me. We all have our own notions.

[demonmk2]

Quote, originally posted by NoDubJustYet »

I don't think they made GLI's in Germany, so I'm referring to 16V MkII GTIs. And if you don't believe me knock yourself at: http://www.mobile.de or http://www.autoscout24.de

Oh my Bad! I was thinking your where in the states. sorry dude