Early Rabbit/Golf GTIs--do they hold up?

[dd74]

I remember when the '83 GTi came out, all the kids in my school still wanted the Euro version which had 110 hp (as opposed to the U.S. GTi's 90 hp). But I think the Euro had a 1.6 that was very peaky, and the U.S. had a 1.8 which proved to be a much better engine.

One was for sale around the corner from our old studio in Hollywood - $1,500. It was in good shape, visually.

[RANDY P]

I drove an 84 for 2 years that I paid $800 for. That's what I limited myself too when I decided to save up the cash for the 911.

A bit uncivilized but generally fairly solid car - handled well and generally maintenance free. Felt underpowered, but one of the best cars I ever owned. Never gave me grief. Had 167K on odometer when I sold it. Parts cheaper than you can imagine, and EZ to work on. Headliner kept falling on it tho..

rjp

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
if it's a white one, last time i was there they told me it's their rental. 'arrive and drive' if you want...

Dave, this looked more like a brand new build than a rental.

Dick built me a 2.0 based on an Audi block, VW big valve head years ago. My grandfather had taken my 88 Jetta to Sears for an oil change. It would have been nice if they had put oil back in.

So many surprised faces on Mustang 5.0s with that car.

[ZAMIRZ]

Here's a car I bought from Jeremy at TRE. It's a '79 cabriolet with lots of go-fast parts. 2.0L stroker, techtonics head/cam/pistons, Neuspeed throttle-body, shortened gearbox with Quaiffe LSD, strut-tower bar, lower tie-bar, Bilsteins and Eibachs, 15X6.5 Rota Attack wheels with Yokos and a bunch of other stuff. It's QUICK to say the least, lots of good mid-range and top-end punch. I'd love to keep it, but I'm gonna be starting grad school next year and I need to sell it. These things are tons of fun and CHEAP as hell to run.

[Wickd89]

Great memories. I had a new '84 GTI in college. White, blue interior, zender sideskirts, came with P6s and ROCKED!

I drove it hard, the way it was suppose to be driven but eventually the constant high revs got to me. Sold it in '88 for an Integra (boring but was reliable for 240K miles)..