mk1 2 door VS mk1 4 door...

[Volksee77]

Well Jarred actually in the very early days there were a couple of 4 door GTi's made so in truth no, GTi's were not strictly only 2 doors. As for weight yes the four door model with side intrusion panels in the doors do weigh about 20kg more than a two door but if you put early model doors without the intrusion bars the weight is a little bit less. On the downside without side intrusion bars in an accident it ain't gonna be pretty for the occupents if the hit is in the door. I'm with Dom on the looks too from 3/4 it looks like something is missing from the shape

[Jarred]

I was going for greater percentages. Most GTI's were 2 doors, and we're very popular. I reckon lots of people (back in the day) would have aspired to have GTI's, and would have bought 2 doors to do up as GTI's if they couldn't afford a real one etc. Thats the point i was trying to get at

[jayjay]

+ 1 for lack of practicality. 2 doors ftw...?

i think the lack of an extra 2 doors make them look even smaller.

[cartertronic]

i personally think the 2 doors look odd on a 3/4 profile... the door looks too big and somethings missing on the rear quarter

dom

That's just something people with small doors say

[Jace]

I would've definitely chosen 2-door>4-door if K's and condition was the same.

[Tim]

not that there is anything stiff about a mk1. But on older generation cars the body is generably stiffer on a 2 door version than the equivalent 4 door.

[Sharkie]

GTI was also only ever 2 door

Actually no .... in South Africa the MK1 GTI was 4 door only ....

(I have an original 1 (1982 1800 82kw) coming July/August/September, along with a 1988 Caddy)

EDIT: both currently being restored to mint & original condition by my brother-in-law at his panelbeating shop in South Africa.

Also in South Africa, you could get a GT (1981-1983) in 2 doors, which had all the GTI goodies but a 63kw 1600 engine. I've been unable to find 1 in a good enough (and original enough) condition to bring across.

[Tim]

nice! there are a lot of unique cars in South Africa. BMW had some interesting SA only cars.

Were the 4 door GTIs built in Germany?

[Sharkie]

nice! there are a lot of unique cars in South Africa. BMW had some interesting SA only cars.

Were the 4 door GTIs built in Germany?

All the MK1s sold in South Africa were built there. The GTI had the Wolfsburg edition steering wheel (with the metal spokes) as did the GTS and GT. Also, all had the tartan cloth seats. The GTI's also all had the later dash.

GTS was a 4 door with all the GTI goodies except the same 1600 63kw engine (carby fed not the FI of the 1600 GTIs)as the GT. Essentially a 4 door GT ....

My family had both GTS's and GTI's at the time. In fact the 1st Golf in our family was a canary yellow 1981 GTS and was my mother's car.

More interestingly was the GLI MK1 Jetta, which essentially a MK1 GTI with a boot (and aircon)

And the BMW's yes were really interesting, 325is (2.7 155kw) and even the 333i ....

325is had lots of aluminium body panels to keep the weight down. I've been looking for 1 to bring across but also unable to find a good unmolested example. Post 1989 was better also, but not eligible for import.

[Jarred]

i'm not even going to bother, seems everyone missed my point about the GTI's anyways.