During the 1980s the two cool cars that I wanted were the Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 and the VW Golf GTi. I tried very hard to convince my mother that she should buy a Golf. It offered everything she wanted; solidity, reliability and fun, but despite all the logic I could offer she was still reluctant. She had a bad experience with a rusty Mk1 Golf and refused to see sense so she bought a 205.
The Pug GTi was a great car, not as relaxing as the Golf when you didn’t want to play, but quicker and more nimble. I remember taking it for a hack across the New Forest to my favourite “twisty bit” of road. My Dad had introduced me to it whilst driving home after buying a Fiat 500.
As you head out from Dibden you reach a stretch, between Beaulieu Road and Hatchet Lane, that offers a series of tightening, sweeping bends going slightly downhill (important because you can see that there aren’t any cars, horses or cops!), I have found better roads since but as a young driver it was perfect. The final corner, where you turn right on to Hatchet Lane, nearly resulted in disaster as the little Pug went exactly where I pointed it (I had become accustomed to adding extra lock to my under-steering Escort). The Golf would have been a sensible choice for Mum, but for me at that time it was the prefect smile generator. (if you want to hear Mr Clarkson’s opinion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfEuKSxQfU)
But, I hear you say, the title of this post is “Car 4 – VW Golf GTi, 1.8i 8v” and it’s supposed to be about your cars… well you see, even thought I liked the Pug, my belief in the Golf was still strong and from the moment I got to drive one to this day I still believe that the VW Golf GTi is the best all round car. I have had three and I am sure I will have more before I leave the planet. On with the story…
In my early twenties I became friends with a used car dealer who would become responsible for my next four cars. It was always risky “popping” around to see him and his latest selection of toys and on one fateful day he had a nice shiny Golf GTi.
I took it for a drive and my fate was sealed. The Escort was starting to feel tired after 5 years of hard driving, I had a good job and I was driving from Verwood to Christchurch everyday so I deserved something fun. The deal was struck and I drove home in my nice Golf.
This was the real start of my love affair with cars. I drove my Golf everywhere even through floods and through deep snow. It’s ability to neutrally drift around a roundabout and pull out of a tight corner in third gear. That engine had such an even torque band that you could drive it slowly in high gears or at the top of it’s power band, and it never stopped making me smile. That VW engine (or derivatives of it) appeared in 5 more of my cars.
I loved that Golf, I even replaced the gearbox in it before finally deciding it was time for the next car…. Thanks to another visit to my car dealer friend…
Dreams, cars and dreams about cars 
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