Faults:

Not a thing, as it was mechanically restored to high standards before I bought it.

General Comments:

Manufactured in August 1983, the 'Campaign' Golfs were the last Mk1 GTIs to roll off the production line in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Featuring a 1.8 GTI engine, producing 112Bhp and 0-60 in 8.2 seconds; plus a sunroof, Pirelli alloys, green tinted windows, and 6 stylish colours to choose from - the Campaign Golf was every boy racers' dream! And it still is.

As only limited numbers were produced, the Campaign Golfs are now probably the most valuable models of Mk1 Golf to own. But aside from their historical value and prestige, the 'Campaign' is still a Mk1 at heart, and a wild heart it has!

A good quality Mk1 will run as good as it's ever done, and perform with the confidence of time-worn experience; a raw pleasure no longer obtainable in the modern car arena. The 8v engine growls a primal tone, the sound of something old and powerful awaking from a deep slumber.

Instant torque is at hand, the rear of the stiff chassis sinking back as the car rockets forward in 1st and 2nd gear. The Pocket Rocket's reputation is much deserved. The simple pleasure of driving this car is an experience to be marvelled at. I drive a Renault Clio Williams as my regular car, and look forward to the weekend when I can jump into the Golf and experience driver's heaven!

The Mk1 Golfs fall under classic car insurance, so if you only drive around 5,000 miles a year, this is an insurance deal worth looking at. I used my Golf as a regular car for 3 years, driving it daily, and not a thing went wrong.

Please note that if you buy a Mk1 privately, the chances are it will need some work to get it truly road worthy and trouble-free. The safest bet is to find a specialist Mk1 Golf dealer who will perform all the restoration work before selling the car (there are a few in the UK). You are also more likely to get a service and MOT history (and of course - the log book).

Any good quality Mk1 Golf GTI will be a worthy car to own, especially since there's no devaluation on it. A standard un-modified Mk1 can be sold for anything between 3-5k (GBP), depending on whether it's been restored or not. So owning a Mk1 is an investment - an asset that gets more valuable every year. And best of all - it's flawlessly fun to drive! Sip from the cup of GTI and you will never turn back...

Faults:

Fan belt and water pump required replacement due to old age. Spoiler fell off due to old retaining clips.

Drivers seat bolster worn through on purchase.

Dash light bulb wiring became unclipped at high speed :-O

General Comments:

Bought for a thousand pounds midsummer, we spent a few hours servicing this 2 owner, FSH cabriolet before going to France on a camping holiday. To its credit, the Golf never missed a beat, and despite the minor problems detailed, hasn't cost much either.

Appreciating in status and value each week, this car has been a dream buy, and my girlfriend (the owner) doesn't miss her Mundano, which had PAS, EW etc one bit. In fact she has fallen in love with the car and vows to join the owners club next year.

On the back of this, I am looking to buy a Mk2 Golf :-)