£2k TEUTONIC TUSSLE
German hatchbacks don’t get much more fun – or affordable – than this
Things became rather tricky for Volkswagen during the early Nineties, having single-handedly founded the hot hatch concept with the original Golf GTI in the Seventies and then cemented its place in drivers’ affections with the MkII during the Eighties.
The market had become crowded by the time the third-generation GTI arrived in the early Nineties and almost every global manufacturer had its own hot hatch – case in point, BMW of all marques, attempting to muscle in on this lucrative sector with its 3 Series Compact. Uncompromising competition served to highlight that the Golf GTI MkIII was a little underwhelming, largely as a result of VW’s decision to produce a more grown-up hot hatch that was bigger and safer but also a bit slower than many had hoped.
Likewise, not everyone was a fan of the 3 Series Compact’s abrupt rear styling, meaning that most traditional BMW enthusiasts stuck to the saloons and coupés.
Today they remain under-the-radar Nineties classics and as such offer stupendous value for money while at the same time – and just as importantly – being great fun to drive.
Starting with the BMW, the UK never got the six-cylinder 323Ti that was offered in other markets, but you’ll easily get a four-pot 316Ti or 318Ti with a budget of £2000 or less, with or without a manual gearbox.
There’s also a hierarchy within the Golf GTI stable, with prices of models today mirroring their positioning in the pecking order. A VR6 is over budget, though you might get lucky and find a GTI 16v for less than £2000 An eight-valver is a dead cert.
Which of our overlooked pair you go for depends on your own preference – CCW’s Events Editor Charlie Calderwood opted for the BMW, but for some only a Golf GTI will do.