Motoring
One thing that annoys me of modern mid-range fast cars is that first gear is a waste of space. You need it but the legs are so short that you are grabbing second in a jiffy, and, with front wheel drive, suffering detestable tyre scrabble. Not so the GTi. It has great first gear stretch and feels smooth through the power band all the way to 153 mph. It is firm and that has been a characteristic of the GTi since time began but the trade off is the great handling, secure in any hands, and great rate of acceleration. Inside, l chuckle to see the Jacara check cloth interior. I hate non-leather interiors but here, it would of been a travesty to change it. Everything in here is as it should be (they’re Germans), the layout is superb (they’re Germans) and the quality is top notch (they’re …oh, you get the idea!) The other novelty back in 1974, was the hatch concept
“The GTi was groundbreaking in many respects and therefore it was with great trepidation that l took delivery of the first one l have driven for over 20 years.” that didn’t make the profile of the car look like a Zephyr estate yet provided this yawning chasm at the back. This one will take a huge load and with a 40/60 rear seats split and a low loading lip, it fits the bill. Being a very immature speed freak, l would plump for the R variant and with 296bhp and four-wheel drive - it’s a barnstormer. For you mere mortals, the GTi is every thing you will need to be stylish, fast, safe and cool, in whatever order you so desire, all in one automobile. A place in my fantasy 7-car garage? Probably.
TECHNICAL STUFF Model tested: 2.0-litre TSI 220PS Engine: 2.0-litre Power: 220 PS Performance: 0-62mph 6.5 seconds Top Speed: 152 mph Economy: 47.10 mpg Price from: £25,845.00
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