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The VW Golf GTi is back. Image by VW.

The VW Golf GTi is back
When the original GTi was invented back in the late '70s the engineers involved in the weekend skunk works activities could have had no idea what they were creating. The VW Golf GTi stormed the marketplace.

   



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When the original GTi was invented back in the late '70s the engineers involved in the weekend skunk works activities could have had no idea what they were creating. The VW Golf GTi stormed the marketplace with enthusiasts and the normal man in the street alike completely blown away by this family hatch that could live with a sports car down a twisty road, whilst arguably being more fun in everyday use. The change from Mk1 to Mk2 saw the GTi's popularity reach epidemic levels.

The Golf GTi was one of the cars to own in the late eighties and continuous updates such as the addition of the 16-valve model maintained that high level of desirability. Then Volkswagen lost its way when the Mk3 was launched. It was relatively slow and lardy and lacked the chuckability and fun factor of the previous generations and while the Mk4 offered more power again you had to invest £25k in an R32 before you got a sporty drive. The magic had gone, seemingly never to be seen again.

And so the car you see here, the Mk5 GTi was announced, with 197bhp from a four-cylinder turbocharged engine and tweaked looks to keep up with the new generation's upstarts. Cars such as the Honda Civic Type-R, Ford Focus RS and several others had been developed beyond the point of kicking sand in the face of the GTi; they were laughing at it. On first acquaintance it looked like the Mk5 would see VW shying away from the fight and making a cool, refined and grown up car providing minimal thrills and maximum image. Situation normal then.

But wait, on the bottom of the blurb we were promised a "fun" car. Interesting, but dubious given the last two generations of Golf. Then the early drive reports started to appear and people were making positive noises; very positive in fact. In the end the hype got to the point where the new GTi was one of the most eagerly awaited cars not just of this year, but maybe for quite some time. We were hoping we weren't set up for a big fall.

So here it is: the new Golf GTi. The looks are understated with only the alloys, shiny exhaust and red grille surround being the clear identifiers, other than the badges of course. It sits slightly lower than the lesser Golfs but resists garishness in deference to restrained class and maturity. You have to say they've done a good job and the majority of prospective purchasers will prefer this to a lairier look.

Opening the door and peering into the interior is a minor revelation. Previous owners or fans will instantly recognize the old check pattern on the upholstery; enough of a trip down memory lane for me to justify not opting for leather trim. The really clever bit is the fact that this retro trim is mixed with what is the most stylish and contemporary interior available in the world of the hatchback right now. The GTi takes the standard Golf's excellent roomy and high-class cockpit and builds on it with suitably subtle GTi tweaks. These consist of new dials, gearshift gaiter, handbrake trim and a delicious steering wheel with a squared off bottom section and a nicely detailed alloy GTi inlay.

In all it is an interior that shames the Golf's rivals and many cars costing much more but it is that steering wheel that gives the biggest hint as to the new Golf's personality. Chunky and stylish and a joy to hold it is the kind of wheel normally reserved for cars that are designed to be driven. This impression is reinforced when you begin to drive. That new 2-litre FSI turbo engine has usable grunt from below 2000rpm and maintains that wave of torque right up to the red line emitting a lovely snarl as it does so. VW has even indulged in a little bit of a chirrup from the turbo on upshifts, which is a little naughty for the normally restrained Germans, but another hint as to the Golf's personality. That straight-line urge would be to no avail if the rest of the car was no good, but it is. The slick shifting six-speed 'box would be my choice ahead of the DSG option as it is great to use and doesn't alienate as the DSG box has a tendency to do. The DSG is great but a driver's car should still have a manual shift in my book, at least in the applications we've tested it in.

And a driver's car the Golf is. During the week we pounded the Golf up and down our favourite B-roads and marvelled at the sharp turn-in and nicely weighted helm. The level of grip is high, as we've come to expect, but it isn't a sceptical sports chassis. It isn't about hard suspension and big tyres as many cars are now; it is involving and fun. It corners hard and flat but has a level of fluidity, adjustability and chuckability that are becoming rare. The resistance to understeer is almost as impressive as the lack of torque steer with only heavy applications of throttle in wet weather causing the wheel to wriggle in your hands.

The brakes are powerful and resist fade during all but the most sustained assault, inspiring confidence and allowing maximum retardation at all times with the intervention of ABS held off to the last. It was also very well balanced and stable during heavy braking on our favourite B-roads. It's worth noting that while much of what has been written is about B-road activities, the Golf is also an excellent urban tool and is at home on the motorway offering hushed and refined progress.

If you haven't guessed by now we liked the Golf a lot. It is a fun car to drive; full stop. The fact that is a great car to drive, but also a good family car that would be a pleasure to live with on a daily basis sees the Golf back to the hallowed ground it trod back in the eighties. Ultimately, the only real negative we could come up with when talking about the Golf was the stingy 55-litre fuel tank, insufficient for a car like this. In our hands it reduced the real world range of the car to around 280 miles, which would be even less if you're indulging in an extended back road blast. A small annoyance but a significant one in my opinion.

The fact that that is the only negative we found with this car should tell you quite a lot. The new GTi reinstates the car as the sports car for the family man, just as the Mk1 and Mk2 versions have in the past, whereas the Mk3 and Mk4 saw VW losing its way as far as the ethos of the GTi was concerned. The new car is a welcome return to form, a little late maybe as other rivals have popped up and stolen valuable market share, but better late than never.

The new Volkswagen Golf GTi goes straight back to the top of the class that it originally invented. For me it is probably the best new car you can buy for £20k such is its blend and breadth of talents. It is arguably all the car most people would ever need; for me it vies with a BMW 330i for that honour, but a 3-series costs significantly more. Ford's forthcoming Focus ST and the Vauxhall Astra VXR will have to be very special indeed to take the Golf's newly acquired position at the top of the hot hatch tree. It's a contest we're salivating about already.

Dave Jenkins - 1 Aug 2005



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2005 Volkswagen Golf specifications: (3-door manual)
Price: £19,995 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 7.2 seconds
Top speed: 146mph
Combined economy: 34.9mpg
Emissions: 194g/km
Kerb weight: 1336kg

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.    


2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 

2004 VW Golf GTi. Image by VW.
 






 

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