Want to know what all the fuss is about? Here’s our bite-sized guide to buying the original Golf

Driving

The real question here is ‘are your expectations high enough?’ There’s a reason the Golf GTI has always traditionally worn the hot hatch crown. It wasn’t the first of its kind, but is often referred to as such, simply because it set the bench mark.

The GTIs are highly-agile machines with taut handling and surprising performance. Steering is responsive and road manners generally inspire confidence (think sports car, only with a bit more body roll). The standard Golf is no slouch either, but to get the most out of these cars you’ve got to drive them close to redline. Don’t worry, the engine can take it.

If there’s anything to fault it’s the anchors in the right-hand drive cars: an extension pipe bridges the gap between brake line and servo. This delays brake response. If you’re in a Cabriolet then expect some scuttle shake, especially if there’s no strut brace fitted.

Fancy owning VW’s cheeky city car? CHRIS HOPE covers all you need to know if you’re looking to buy a Loop

Driving

Seriously, what is there not to like about Volkswagen’s Y2K city car? It looks smart, it’s incredibly refined effort compared to the rest of the competition and, best of all, it offers oodles of tuning potential.

We’ll cover engine choices later, but all promise performance that’s somewhere between adequate and punchy, whilst at the same time being very careful to sip fuel. Where Loops really shine though is the corners – handling is very impressive for such a small car – plus, as you’d expect, steering and gear changes are both positive and precise.

Of course, the GTI pocket rocket is a little different. The extra grunt justifies a six-speed ‘box (and ensures at least 35mpg economy), but 0-60 in eight seconds doesn’t begin to cover just how nippy this Lupo really is. Naturally, the GTI also takes corners best out of the lot, thanks in no small part to its wider, low profile tyres.

Instantly recognisable and with its own unique tail end party-piece, the Corrado is an impressive coupé alternative to the Golf’s established hot hatch formula. CHRIS HOPE covers all you’ll need to know

Driving
As the spiritual successor to the Scirocco, readers are right to expect big things from the Corrado. The fact that VW’s coupé straddles the production runs of both the Mk2 and Mk3 Golf is apparent as it boasts the hallmarks of both – these cars are comfortable, without being too heavy or too soft, and are renowned for their surprisingly responsive handling.
The engine decides the car’s personality. Four-pot versions make great daily drivers, with tons of traffic-beating bottom end torque. The VR6 undoubtedly offers the most excitement, but it’ll punish your enthusiasm at the pumps. Then there’s the G60, which can be tuned to over 200bhp (need we say more?)

Take a deep breathe as we condense over 35 years of Polo production down to a single page of helpful buying tips.

Polo Mk1 & Mk2 (1975-90)
Hot on the heels of the Golf, Scirocco and Passat came Volkswagen’s all-new prize fighting featherweight – the Polo.

Although all the credit should go to the Audi 50 (swap the badges and they’re practically the same) the Polo was nonetheless a brilliant runabout, being both incredibly refined and fun to drive.

The Mk2 arrived in the early Eighties and addressed the original car’s boot space issue with cavernous ‘bread van’ styling (the hatchback now being referred to as the coupé and the two-door, the classic). Engines included a larger version of the Mk1 Polo’s 895cc overhead cam engine (now 1043cc), plus 50bhp and 60bhp versions of the Golf’s 1093cc four pot.

When checking these early Polos, inspect for rot (wheel arches and sills are usually the worst for corrosion) and that the engine is in fine fettle. Points can be difficult to set correctly so the distributor could be the source of poor running. Note too a blocked breather will soak the air filter in engine oil.

Just like the early Golfs, a lack of servo-assistance means the Polo’s stoppers aren’t the best. They should be adequate though if front calipers and brake hoses are in good condition.

Electrics are few and far between, but you’ll need to ensure the heater fan works on all three speeds as replacements aren’t especially cheap.