I owned an almost used up blue metallic/tan '78 Mk I in college. Underpowered, and had an appetite for head gaskets, but I really enjoyed that car.
As the NYT article alludes to, they need to be put into context of what else was available at the the time.
I haven't seen one for awhile, but the crisp Giugiaro shape holds up pretty well to my eye 30 years after it was introduced.
Tim
