VW GTI MKI cabrio’s hairdresser image blows away

Ican remember when real men didn’t eat quiche or drive VW Golf convertibles. Even having a GTI badge on the back wouldn’t save you from mirthful mates mumbling about your masculinity. Maybe that’s why prices of Golf MKI soft-tops have always commanded less than the tin-tops – not usually the case with classic convertibles. But I reckon that’s going to change, not least because the supply of lovely original unmodified GTI convertibles is much greater than the three-door Mkis.

A Nottingham enthusiast has a red ’88 GTI convertible with 72k miles, history, rare optional leather interior and recent new roof for £5995 while a London private seller has a black ’89 GTI cab with 59k miles, two family owners, history and the desirable PAS option for £6950. Good luck finding similar mileage and condition saloon MKI Gtis for that sort of money. Because of this gender-prejudice hangover against Golf cabriolets I see real opportunities in finding fine original examples for undermarket money. And I don’t think they’ll stay under-market for long. The rare run-out Rivage and Sportline models – 470 and 449 sold in the UK respectively – are really heating up with CCA recently drawing £26,085 for a 26,000-mile ’93 Sportline and West London Classics currently asking £29,995 for a 77,000 mile ’92 Rivage. Rare, special, great to drive, easy to mend and one of the best built VWS ever, the MKI Golf cab is much more sinned against than sinning. Exceptional original examples can’t stay this cheap for much longer as prices of cherished threedoor saloon Gtis keep heading skywards.