47
engines arestrong,andany nigglesare likelyto bewithancillaries.
Hot start problems are quite common but canberesolved by
careful setupofthefuelinjection.Abiggerconcerniscorrosion
in the rearvalance,sills,wingsandwheelarches,whichcanrust
underneaththeplasticarchextensions.Anotherhotspotisthelip
around thecabinwhere thehoodattaches.Mostbodypanelsare
availableandgenuinefrontwingsare stillavailablenew, though
trim piecesforbrowndashboardslike thisonecanbehard to find.
Early cabrioswiththeinjectionenginewerebadgedGLiandtrue
GTI cabrioletsdidnotappearuntil 198 3,justasthehatchbackwas
being replacedby theGolfMkII.From 1988 thecarsweregiventhe
Clipper bodykit,andthefinalcarsin 1991 weretwo specialedition
models –thegreenorblueRivagewithluxury trimandtheredor
black SportlinewithRecaroseatsandBBSwheels.Allofthemare
fun to driveandofferpainlessownership,soit surelycan’tbelong
before themarketwakesupto them.
OwningaVWGolfGTIMkICabriolet
DanPerkinsacquiredtheGolffromanother
memberofthefamily,thinkingit needed
littlemore thana goodclean.‘I openedthe
curtainsthefollowingday andthought, what
have I done? Thisneedsmore thana T-cut.
‘Refittingtheengineearthstrap,replacing
theseizedalternatorandfittinga newoilpumpgotthecar
running. In 2011I fixedsomeemergingrustandgavethe
cara properresprayintheoriginalMarsred.Witha cream
hoodandbrowninteriorit hadto befromtheEighties.It’s
oneofthefewstandardones left inthecountrybecause
manyweremodified,butthenumberof truestandardones
is growingagainnow.There’sa bitof a followingandpeople
have startedremanufacturingstandardparts.
‘I cureda hot startproblemwitha newfuelpumpand
carefulsettingupof thewarm-upregulator.A bolt-onwind
deflectormakesa big reductioninbuffeting,andkeepsthe
heatinwhentheroofis down.They’rewellworthit’.1983 VW Golf GTI Cabriolet
Engine Iron block/alloy head 1781cc transverse in-line four-cylinder,
ohc, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection Power and torque 110bhp @
5800rpm; 109lb ft @ 3500rpm Transmission Five-speed manual,
front-wheel drive Suspension Front: independent, struts, coil
springs, anti-roll bar. Rear: twist beam, coil springs. Steering Cam
and roller, power assisted Brakes Disc front, drum rear, servo-
assisted Weight 960kg (2116lb) Performance Top speed: 125mph;
0- 60mph: 9sec Cost new £6500 CC Price Guide £5000-£16,500The Golf’s hood arrangement
looks pram-like when down
but snug when raised‘The Golf Cabriolet has
enough performance and
deftness to be a thrilling
B-road partner’