First car I bought was a 2nd-hand, Golf GTi Mk II. Loved it to bits. just fun as hell to drive, no matter how beat up it got. Practically toured the UK and picked up a few points on me license...
Do you need a back seat? The 4/5 seat convertible market is fairly depressing to be fair unless you look at the German cars, and they're silly prices. For two seaters though, you're spoilt for choice. Honda S2000 is probably my favourite 2 seater non-supercar one of the best cars I've ever driven. Far superior to any German 2 seater in it's class.
Really? I'd disagree and many others would too. The Golf GTi doesn't need the power of a Focus ST to be a top hot hatch, it handles better in and out of corners, especially better than the Focus. Focus is at a loose end at the minute in my opinion, no longer being developed as a WRC and the ST was unnecessary, it's not even in touching distance of it's brother the Focus RS. The Fiesta is a cracking car, the 1.6 Ecoboost engine is amazing, styling is poor compared to the Polo R-line though. If they released a Fiesta R5 limited edition road car, that would clean up.
Ford are developing the RS now. The Golf is too expensive. It might be the better car, but when buying something like this, a couple extra grand + a few less gadgets go a long way. VWs just don't look as much the part from the standard versdions.
I don't think I've liked the look of any Golf GTi mate, they are boring to look at really, I completely agree. From the company that styled the Polo WRC you'd expect better, or the Scirocco R, amazing to look at but the Golf is bland to look at, good job the drive makes up for it. Renault and Vauxhall just keep producing hot hatches with silly power, they can't compete with that Golf. The Focus RS is in the same price range but it would be on the scrap heap long before the Golf would, and would cost a lot more to maintain and service I'd imagine. Looks amazing though.
