Volkswagen Golf GTI

I love our long-term Golf GTI Edition 30. But even after more than a year behind the wheel, one question keeps coming back to haunt me. Where does it stand in the line-up of all-time Golf greats?

It’s a big debate among the Golf GTI fans in our office, since so many of us used to own a VW hot hatch. Road test editor Oliver Marriage had a MkI, followed by a Jetta GTI, and I owned two different MkIIs for a period of three years in the mid-Nineties.

But undoubtedly the biggest fanatic is motoring writer James Disdale, who owns the very tidy MkII you see opposite – and has done so for the past six years!

Our Edition 30 – although far more sophisticated and mature than its predecessors – is a constant reminder of all these motors, as it has the same basic DNA. It’s well built, punchy, secure and solid, successfully capturing the earlier models’ sense of fun.

Now it’s leaving the fleet, I can safely say that I’ve never been so upset to see a long-term car go. And I’m not alone...

A look back through the comments book in the glovebox confirmed there’s not a single negative note in it. Put simply, everyone in the Auto Express office who drove the VW loved it. That’s a sign of a great car!

Having recently tested two of the most driver-focused hot hatches money can buy – the Ford Fiesta ST185 and Renaultsport Clio Cup (Issue 997) – I’ll happily admit the Golf isn’t the most thrilling model in the class for race-inspired handling. But as an everyday proposition, it’s a very tough act to follow. In fact, it’s testament to the Edition 30’s charms that regardless of which car I have been driving in my role as one of the magazine’s road testers, I never feel short changed when getting back into the GTI.

After all, what’s not to like? The cabin is robust, ergonomically excellent and well detailed, making it a great place to spend time.

The handling strikes a perfect balance between comfort and involvement, so it’s an easy car to live with, too.

OK, so the 2.0-litre turbo isn’t quite as smooth and progressive as the 197bhp powerplant in the standard GTI. Nor does it have the charisma of rivals, such as the five-cylinder Focus ST. But it’s still punchy, flexible and efficient. As with all previous GTIs, this VW has a reputation for rock-solid reliability. And after 21,000 miles of hard use, our Golf didn’t disappoint. Aside from a mystery ‘chugging’ noise at cold start-up, and the slightly squeaky rear damper we mentioned in the last update, OY56 ZVE has been absolutely faultless. There’s not even a single scratch on any of the expensive black alloy wheels.

It has been cost effective to run, averaging more than 30mpg, while all the trim and materials have stood up well to the rigours of a life that’s included everything from track tests to tip trips. More than any other hot hatch, the Golf GTI has proved to be a superb all-rounder.

So, where do I put it in the rank of all-time greats? Well, it may not have the classic appeal of the early cars, but for my money this is the most complete GTI ever built.

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