To be a fan of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is to have already taken a step away from the ordinary. With the GTI celebrating its 50th edition this year, we spoke to three owners who are eager to explain the merits of their beloved car.
Anthony Phelan from Thomastown, Co Kilkenny has three Mk1 Golf GTIs, and one in particular is special.
“I have two convertible Golf GTIs,” says Phelan. “One of those is the Rivage model, which is pretty rare.” And he’s not kidding. About 470 Golf GTI Rivage convertibles were made in right-hand drive and Phelan is working on making this one perfect, while keeping it original. No modifications here from its oh-so-simple alloy wheels to its mohair convertible top.
“I was originally a mechanic by trade,” he says. “I’ve always been into Golfs, and I’ve had about six or seven now. I just love the way the Mk1s drive and handle – it’s old-school driving, you know? No power steering, no mod cons, you just feel everything on the road. I was a Ford man for years until I got into the Golfs, and now I wouldn’t dream of going to anything else. I absolutely love them.”
READ MORE
When he’s not driving the local schoolbus, Anthony works on his Golfs in a dedicated wooden garage, which he built beside his house. When the gorgeous GTI Rivage convertible is back on the road, let’s just say he has plans for it: “My partner is insured on the other cars, so we can bring two of them and go to classic car shows, and I’m going to get some history written up about the Mk1 GTI and the Rivage. I can tell you now there’s no one else in Ireland has one of each!”
In Midleton, Co Cork, 57-year-old Don Burke is also sitting on a rather special Golf GTI, and this one has a deep emotional connection.
“This is a 25th Anniversary MkIV Golf GTI,” Burke says. “There was only 1,800 of these made – 900 with petrol power, like mine, and 900 with a diesel engine. And then 300 of each in black, red or silver. As far as I know, mine is the only one brought new into Ireland, by Blackwater Motors originally.”
Burke bought his GTI in 2014, having never actually driven it – seeing the car up on an inspection ramp revealed how immaculate it was underneath, and that was enough to seal the deal. You can tell it apart from other Golf GTI models thanks to its red badges and 25th anniversary decals. “I didn’t haggle, I didn’t drive it,” he says. “There’s just something more special about these Golfs.”
This is more than just a nice Golf GTI, though. It’s a car far closer to Don’s heart. “In 2016 I was diagnosed with a very severe form of liver cancer and I actually had some friends ready to sell the car if I didn’t make it through surgery. My wife is really responsible for me keeping the car. I was going to sell it when I was sick, but she said, ‘No, we’ll get back into it.’ And the first drive I took after recovery was to the VAGE [car] show at Watergrasshill, [Co Cork]. So I’m glad I kept it.”
‘It’s reliable, it’s sensible, it can be quiet when you want it to be and noisy when you fancy it. It’s the Swiss Army Knife of cars’
Bringing us a little more up to date, is a gorgeous MkVII Golf GTI – reckoned by many to be the best GTI Volkswagen ever made – owned by 27-year-old Niall Walker from Co Cavan.
“We were always a Volkswagen and Audi family,” he says, “and my dad had two Golfs when I was growing up, just regular ones. So I always had respect for the Golf.”
Having spent many years commuting behind the wheel of a diesel MkVI Golf, the IT consultant decided he needed a new car. “I kind of had the idea of getting something sporty for weekends and still commuting in the diesel, but the budget just wouldn’t allow that. So I decided to combine the two into one, and I tracked this car down. I was very specific; it had to be a three-door model, and it had to have the manual gearbox.
“As soon as it rocked up at the door, I just wanted to get out and enjoy it. It just does everything so well. It’s comfortable when you get into it on a Monday morning, but it does the performance car thing too. It’s reliable, it’s sensible, it can be quiet when you want it to be and noisy when you fancy it. It’s the Swiss Army Knife of cars.”
Walker has brought his GTI on some of the scenic events organised by the Drive Ireland club, which puts like-minded car enthusiasts into convoys to seek out some of Ireland’s more beautiful spots. “You get to hear all these amazing stories from people, the stories behind their cars. This Golf really makes you meet people. I was washing it on the driveway just recently, and a neighbour came over asking ‘is this a GTI?’ Turns out he had one, a MkIV, years ago and it’s the one car he wishes he could go back to.”
With so many enthusiasts having similar stories to tell about their GTIs, there is sure to be interest in the new Golf GTI Edition 50. For more information or test drive visit volkswagen.ie/golfedition50
