VW Golf GTI

ENGINE 1781cc/4-cyl/OHC POWER 110bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 115lb ft@3100rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 115mph 0-60MPH 8.7sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 26-33mpg TRANSMISSION FWD, five-speed manual MoT June 2017 ODOMETER 158,484 miles

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

There’s a minor misfire at startup, which the vendor believes is a fuelling issue and says will be sorted before sale. Otherwise the Golf’s eight-valve four-pot engine feels well looked after and belies its 158,000 miles. The clutch is a little on the heavy side but the gearshift has a precise change – no doubt due to its recently renewed linkages – and the brakes pull the car up sharply without any juddering or squealing. The steering is sharp and free of any worrying vagueness but the car does pull to the left, which may down to the lowish-looking nearside front tyre or misaligned tracking.

BODYWORK CHECK

One of the front foglights is loose and suffering from internal condensation and the offside indicator repeater is loose. However a recent full respray means there’s none of the fading to pink often found on Tornado Red Golfs of this era. There are no scratches, signs of overspray, microblistering, bubbling or signs of rust. The panel gaps are even, suggesting no previous accident repairs. The original glass

EXTERIOR Recent respray Foglight condensation INTERIOR Small nick on the driver’s seat MECHANICALS Minor misfire on start-up

still has its Volkswagen-Audi security etchings, and there are no scratches or cracks. The bumpers are intact but contain some small scratches and have faded to a light grey with age. The 14in BBS alloy wheels are in good condition and while the tyres are mismatched, there’s plenty of tread left.

HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

There’s a small nick in the driver’s seat and a smooth shine to the steering wheel consistent with the car’s mileage, but the door cards and carpet are intact, there’s no sign of damp and the seat trim and headlining are in very good condition. The manual sunroof operates as it should and the dashboard trim and instruments are intact and work correctly, likewise the heater, auxiliary controls and aftermarket Kenwood CD player. The boot floor is rot-free.

UNDER THE BONNET

The engine appears to have been well looked after. It’s a bit grubby, but everything appears to be in good nick, there are no signs of fluid seepage and the oil on the dipstick has a healthy golden colour. The sizeable pile of paperwork also shows that this car has been looked after by its four previous owners, and had its belts and oil changed as part of an extensive service last summer. There’s no bulkhead or inner-wing corrosion and no dented components near the bumpers indicating any previous shunts.

THE CCW VIEW

There are a couple of little things still to sort out but it’s clear that this GTI is a fundamentally sound – and refreshingly standard – 1980s hot hatch. It’s clearly been well looked after by its previous owners, and has plenty more B-road fun left in it. The asking price seems fair.