h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The VW Golf GTI Story - A2746839
Author: DaveBlackeye - U656560

I've seen a few mentions on this site about the need for a GTI entry, so here's my attempt. Would be very interested to hear from anyone who actually owned one in the 70s or early 80s.
DB

An excellent article All I can suggest is to point out a few typos and things that need altering to suit the house style, and I'll be back to do that as soon as I get time.

Cheers,
Number Six

Nice entry.

I love the Golf - it's the car of my generation - they used to drive my dad insane when we would be hurtling along the Autobahn in our big family car and one would easily cruise past us in the outside lane.

Was the American version of the Golf called a Rabbit?

Here's some extra info that I have dredged up that you may care to use as you see fit:


MKI: 6.8 million cars produced between 1974 and 1983. VW South Africa still markets it as the CitiGolf. Wheelbase 7'1".

MKII: 6.3 million of them. Wheelbase 8'2".

MKIII: 4.8 million manufactured at 1,030kg each. Wheelbase 8'2".

MKIV: 4.3 million manufactured at 1,140kg each. Wheelbase an inch longer than its predecessor.

MKV: At 13'9", it's as long as the original 1973 Passat. Wheelbase 8'6".

Thanks for the feedback

Yes the US version was called a Rabbit - I thought about including a bit about the US market but was conscious that the article was getting a bit lengthy.

Will include these new bits when I get a chance,

Cheers,

DB

OK, have incorporated most of this, changed the title and tweaked a few other things, but sadly haven't managed to make it any shorter.
Montague - I'm having a bit of trouble with weights, as there seems to be a lot of different answers. I think the 1140Kg for the MkIII is for the standard version, GTI being heavier, so have stuck with the original weight. If I'm wrong, please speak.

Comments please....

I think it's a really good article. It's instructive to see how much power is needed nowadays to propel a car at the same rate as the original GTi. The copper next door drives an Octavia vRS, which has 180 bhp but still manages to get to 60 in 7.9 s. Still, at least it's safe.

I suspect the Octavia has the same engine as the MkIV GTI.

Pondering weights - My 'ol Fiat Panda (god(dess) bless its soul) has far smaller than the Golf MK1, had a sub 1 liter engine and didn't even have cloth covering the interior metal, yet it weights in at 750kg, just 30kgs lighter than the MK1 Golf.

You also mention the MK2 was slighly hevier - 162 kilos - the weight of two people. Are you sure about the weight of the MK1 GTI? Could this have beent he weight of a base model with a smaller engine ?

Just asking, most likly I'm barking up a wrong tree

Hmm. I'll check that, but it sounds about right to me - I had a Nissan Cherry Turbo (don't laugh) that was around the same size and weight. Having said that, there's lot of contradictory figures flying around and I never had a Mk1, so it could be wrong. Anyone else got one?

Hi DaveBlackeye

You still working on this?

Not exactly - I thought I'd pretty much finished but it didn't elicit much of a response.

Well, I think it's pretty well good enough for the EG as it stands.

I'd suggest taking out the subheader with the prologue title in it, which is a house style thing and I don't think the entry would miss it.

The only other things I'd mention are mainly typos:
In the 'Sporty' section, I think it's 'homogolation' rather than 'hologation' that you need for racing. And maybe 'bandwagon' rather than 'bandwagen', or are you making a bit of a German pun there?

The Mk IV section - maybe "appeared to repeat the mistake made with the MkIII." rather than "appeared to repeat the mistake of the MkIII."?

In the bit with the rivals to the original cars, maybe include the Vauxhall Astra SRi in the rivals to the Mk2? Always seemed to be quite popular with the wide boys around our way... I do find it very interesting that the original Golf GTi never acquired the 'lager boy racer' image that many of its competitors did.

Anyway, it's a great article and - particularly if you can make those changes I mentioned, Dave - if I've got any sway round here still as a former Scout and Sub-Ed, I'd certainly recommend it for the Edited Guide.

Cheers,
Number Six

Dave,

Sometimes a thread needs a posting to remind everybody that the thread (and entry) exists

Let us know when those final niggles are ironed out

Thanks guys .

Have incorporated all those points. The "bandwagen" bit was supposed to be a pun, but with hindsight it was a bit naff so I've taken it out. Also tweaked the Mk V section as things have moved on slightly.

Hope this is good enough...

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

I wonder who that might have been?

Hi DB,

I've been given your fine entry to subedit, and the result is at A3152657. If you spot anything that needs attention, please drop me a note.

SchrEck Inc.

Hi SchrEck,

the only thing I can spot is the US spelling of "carburetors", which has (I think) two 'T's in English spelling -> "carburettors".

Cheers,

DB