VW Golf GTI Generations Compared: From Mk1 to Today's Golf Experience

It was easy to drive and one was at ease on the handling track within minutes.

BHPian ajmat recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Great Review Omkar!

Considering the limited time and the limited track that we had, you have covered quite a bit. I have lusted and grown up with a few Golf and Scirocco GTI’s in my youth and was really pleased to be part of the review. (the Italian mafia took care of that for me!)

Reminiscing,

Mk1 Golf GTI’s – I have driven some ropey ones owned by some friends– they were quite utilitarian except for the tartan upholstery and the Golf Ball gearknob. They were nifty and eager but the brakes on RHD models were a bit dim due to the linkages for RHD operations. They were truely chuckable.

Mk2 Golf GTi – Same verve in a grown-up package but the steering was heavy. The 16 valve version were quick but you needed to extract everything at the top end.

Mk 4 Golf GTi – I never drove one but the Skoda Octavia vRS that I owned was the almost the same thing. It was fast but it lacked the verve and character.

Fast forward to the latest GTi – its much bigger and heavier but the verve was there, it was much more friendly in character. It was easy to drive and one was at ease on the handling track within minutes. I loved it although the interiors were a little devoid of character.

It positions itself between the Mini Cooper and the BMW 3 series. Some of you know, I maintain the former (previous F54) and own the latter. (G20). Some observations:

Golf Vs Mini

Pro Mini

• The Mini has the cheekiest styling
• Eager handling
• Lots of feedback
• Easy to place
• Lots of style
• Customizable – Golf is one spec fits all
• Too many things are extra

Pro Golf

• More practical
• Easy to drive
• Better equipped
• Lustier bottom end
• Not as tiring to drive
• Superior ride

Both have great performance though

Golf Vs BMW 3 Series (not the L)

Pro BMW

• Well finished
• Responsive interface
• Well weighted direct steering
• Well matched gearbox
• Practical
• Superior music system
• Better engineered

Pro VW

1. Grippier, secure handling (you wonder when the BMW will bite back)
2. Practical size
3. Excellent Driving position
4. Better low down grunt
5. Better Visibility

Frankly, the VW is more expensive than the Mini but it offers more in terms of practicality. Against the BMW 3 series, it’s a close run thing. It all depends on what you require from a car. The cost of a Golf R will be in spitting distance of an AMG 45S (Rs 90L +). That stretching the brand too far and will end up being a Kizhashi

Omkar was kind enough to take a quick video of me enjoying myself a little too much. You can see how much confidence that I was got in taking the corners at progressively higher speeds

https://youtu.be/IuRKcBApBaA?si=dqN1FyaMsmkzF5qd

Quote from BHPian autobahnjpr:

I do not understand why it is being exported from UK and not from Germany where it is manufactured. Does this mean, the car will first physically go to UK and then come to India?

Quote from BHPian ranjeet_sam:

My guess is because of the driving orientation in UK(RHS Steering) compared to Germany(LHS steering). The assembly lines are probably setup this way too. So must be easier to export from the UK.

These are made in Germany as per UK spec which also includes a heated steering wheel. The spec includes the labels! The cars for India are pulled off the line and sent here.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.