Yesteryear’s Hot Hatch Remains a Righteous Ride Today
Four decades past the 1980s, it seems comical to recall some absolute “truths” of the time. For instance, we believed 200 hp was the absolute limit for front-wheel-drive cars. That you totally needed a Getrag gearbox and equal-length half-shafts. That four-valve cylinder heads were the height of exotica. And that everything “Euro” and “monochrome” was good. Well, progress blew past these ancient scrolls so decisively that none of them particularly move collectors today.
Now consider this 1986 VW GTI, based on the workaday Golf and configured to sizzle up the fuel-efficient hatchback ranks. Actually, the second-generation GTI (1985–92) extrapolated from the Rabbit-based original (1983–84) with a saucier SOHC 1.8-liter four-banger (making 102 hp!), complemented by a five-speed manual, struts up front and a torsion-beam rear axle, and stabilizer bars and discs all around. Though traction control, stability control, ABS, and airbags had yet to debut, the analog GTI was still a fantastic drive.
My Tornado Red GTI had been an Automobile magazine “Four Seasons” test car and suffered through the wars, including two collisions, theft of its wheels and tires, and numerous pilots disinclined to treat it gently. But liking it and needing a car when the VW’s tour of duty was complete, I bought it outright, still on its MSO.
Joining the advertising game brought a grueling 100-mile daily commute, so the GTI dug into its new role as a year-round Michigan driver. Winter tires were de rigueur for getting through cold season, but even so-equipped, the GTI delivered several scares on black ice, once spearing a guardrail, and another time sliding off a crowned road into a farm field, where grip ironically proved better than on the blacktop.
Excepting weather-induced dramas, the GTI’s handling remained terrific, with the steering telegraphing great feel even as the eight-valve engine pushed the car into understeer (where, at the limit, the inside rear wheel hiked skyward dramatically). Likewise, fuel economy was agreeable (in the high 20s if memory serves), and the plaid cloth sport seats consistently felt, er, firm as the odometer rolled on.
Little spoiled the Volkswagen’s reliability record—just a vacuum leak resulting from a crash and an engine knock that got covered, despite pushback at the dealer level, by the powertrain warranty. What ultimately distanced me from the car was its choppy ride and interior resonance, which chipped away at my GTI infatuation as the long commuting days, weeks, and months stacked up. In truth, it was a great car that, fully sorted, needed nothing. But even so, it ceded to a nice, supple, quiet Saab.
These were fantastic cars. Paid $10,000 for mine in 1986. Built in Westmoreland PA. Paid $10,000 for mine in 1986. I ordered it without power steering. I put 333,000 miles on mine. I still have the shifter knob somewhere.
Looked at them in 86- ended up with dodge daytona as GTI only had manual
RJR ’75 ?
I can’t remember ever seeing a Mk 2 GTI with the “Jetta” headlights and grille. I thought they all had quad round headlights.
I remember my father once yelling at me after seeing me drive off around the corner with a rear wheel cocked in the air in my Jetta 2 door. It seems a little disingenuous that these cars were marketed as having 4 wheel independent suspension with that torsion beam, even though they did handle quite well. I’ve mentioned it in comments here before, but I have many fond memories of that car, including surprising passengers with how tenaciously its little 185/60-14 tires held on around corners.
Mine was showing disconcertingly low oil pressure when I got rid of it with 160k miles. By then the body was critically rusted anyway. I still did manage an indicated 115 MPH on the day I let it go, though. When driven sanely, 500+ mile range on a tank of gas was possible.
That’s how I remember them. The 16v had the quad lights, if memory serves.
Bought an 85 brand new, also red. Manual steering, fantastic seats, manual sunroof. 10:1compression, Bosch KE Jetronic with fuel consumption and oil temp display. I had it for 15 years until it was destroyed by a rear end collision. Wonderful car.
The best car I ever had was a 2001 GTI 1.8T Mk 4. By then the GTI had grown heavier and more plush which bothered the early aficionados of the Mk 1 & 2’s. With an engine upchip as soon as the 2 year warranty expired I enjoyed 195 HP @ 3200 rpm which changed the character of the car. It was a year round daily driver around the Toronto area including several vacation trips to Atlantic Canada and Florida. I reluctantly sold the car in 2018 with 199000 kms on it with a large expense oh the horizon. I’ve missed it every day since.
I bought a Silver MK2 GTI in 1985 (with bunch of money from a college grad present I was very fortunate to get and a modest loan)…. It was my first car with a manual and I basically learned the ins/outs of driving a manual trans car on it! Had it only 2 years, but remember the car so fondly it lead to me getting a MKIV GTI some years later. I agree with the author about the seats and ride (not pleasant on some rough upstate NY highways of the era), but loved the way it handled and it also drove really well in the snow. Sold it on order to get most of that grad present funds out of it to by my first home! Still have the GTI emblem from the front grill (I “de-badged” the front grill of the car when I first got the car and kept the badge when I sold the car) which sits a few feet away from me on display in my office to this day.
Had an 86 and a 91 – both fabulous, comfortable, absolutely fun to drive. Loved the manual everything. The 86 had more features because by 87 the 16V was the luxury model. The 86 had to go because of insurance. I regret letting the 91 go, 177Kmiles with just an alternator replacement… Never left me stranded. Of the 14 past cars and other 5 cars I own, it’s one of my top three and the car I regret selling. My hot hatch today is a GR Corolla. Wish it had a manual sunroof and manual windows. Plus I miss the snowflake wheels…
Don’t forget the equally good version of this in the Jetta platform, the Jetta GLI. Went to buy the golf/GTI but ended up with the slightly larger four door Jetta GLI. It was such a well done vehicle and super fun to drive. I could hardly pry it away from my wife as it turned her into a car person. It proved to be pretty crash worthy when a red light runner totaled it, no injuries though car really mangled. Thinking about this makes me want to go get another sporty VW right now…
I bought a ’92 brand new. Drove it like I stole it and it was fabulous. Before I retired and moved to Florida I was at the point where the timing belt needed changing so I had it done in Maryland where I lived. After a year or so in Florida I decided with my wife to buy a ’97 BMW Z3. I sold the GTI and not long after selling it to a young guy he called to let me know the engine got destroyed because the timing belt broke. My thought was that the guy in Maryland did not change the belt. So sad for the young guy who really was excited about owning that GTI.
Have an 88 16v that I’ve owned for 15 years and just got resprayed in the original red mica pearl. About 113k on it, runs perfectly. Not fast compared to anything modern, but old cars like this are fun to drive quick, and you can get it to the limit on the road and enjoy it there.
Mine was the Jetta – a 1987 GLI (to replace a 1980 Audi 4000), bought in San Francisco just before a move to New Orleans. We really got to know the GLI on that cross country trip, including finding out that the dealer-installed cruise control didn’t work above 65 (Dealer: “what? The speed limit is 55!”). I did eventually find out a way to remove that limit. I’d be seriously tempted to buy one today. Ironically, I also replaced it with a Saab 900.
I spent time autocrossing back in the 80’s and 90’s and always remember the GTI’s picking up the inside rear wheels. I thought it looked cool.
As I recall, they had a dual diagonal brake system that kept the car going straight in a panic stop
Fun cars. Too bad VW doesn’t make an uncomplicated fun little hatchback. The problem now is that the GTI is not cheap in price anymore.