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Turn 10's Car of the Week [No.3] - Rabbit Stew

Euro-spec single headlight GTI. Drool.

Turn 10 Car of the Week: Volkswagen Rabbit GTI

By J. Mason

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. OK, here goes. I have an unhealthy passion for the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI.

Now hang on one second, Sonny Jim. Is an addiction to one of the most iconic cars ever, the soft-spoken car that created the term “Hot Hatch” and launched a series of clones, really a problem? My depleted bank account may think so, and the scars on my knuckles probably agree, but those in the Volkswagen cult community think otherwise (and they want me back in the fold, where it’s safe and warm).

It all started very innocently. Back in high school, a friend who was also a remarkable driver and mechanic owned a tan Rabbit C four-door. On a cold January morning he offered me a taste for free. “Dude, it’s snowing. I’m picking you up and we’re hitting some parking lots.” At the time I didn’t own a car because 1) I grew up raised by a pack of wolves, and 2) stupid me focused on an education rather than an after-school job. But look at me now!

I digress.

After a day full of five-passenger four wheel drifts, quick stops at the pay phone for SkyPager callbacks, and tire-smoking burnouts on ice, I knew I must own a Rabbit. I was addicted. Quick research revealed that only one model of the Rabbit would pass muster: it must be a GTI. Where else could you find 90 horsepower, 0-60 in under 10, .8g on the skidpad, a close-ratio gearbox, and enough space in the trunk to smuggle a buddy when escaping campus for a Fat Burger?

Snow plow!

The Rabbit GTI was everything a red-blooded high school sociopath could want. Throw racks on it and you could haul four clowns up snowboarding, passing 4x4s in ditches, without breaking a sweat. Don a helmet, take out the spare tire, run a full lapping day at your local track, and have enough gas in the tank to get home! Put two12s in the trunk for all the Wreckx-N-Effect rump shaking bass you can handle, and still fit in three bags of groceries. And the best part – it’s small, quiet and nearly invisible to the local constabulary, a must-have feature for anyone asking their car to perform backroad tom-foolery.

So I bought my GTI, and I modified my GTI, and I raced my GTI, and I wiped it down every weekend and thanked it for the joy it provided. In return it happily raised an inside rear tire whenever I pushed it to the limit, and it went those few extra miles when the gas gauge was buried way too far past empty, and it contently clicked and cooled when I parked it in my garage. I wonder where it is today.

Took another sip of the potion, hit the three wheel motion.

Hey! I think I’ve just reached my twelfth step to recovery -- spiritual awakening. I may need another dose of Rabbit GTI. Anyone know a good dealer?

Images courtesy of www.toutypasse.com and www.promosporttruellois.com.

Published Friday, February 15, 2008 1:33 PM by chespace

Comments

	Anon said: Oh man, I owned an '83 GTi. I loved that car. It had so much acceleration in first! Volkswagen will never get back what they had with that car, no way. February 15, 2008 6:52 PM
	General FRANKZ said: Need a good dealer? You need a therapist. All the found memories of small, light, fast and quiet will come crashing into reality if you get back in now. Yes its small (really small), light (does the driver side dip down more than you remember in high school when you get in), under ten seconds (most family cars are under seven seconds now) and quiet (well years after not listening to Metallica at full blast quiets alot more relative now). Oh well I have the same the foundness for my 96' Hyundia Accent (0-60 in 12.3 secs!, 2000 lbs) which limits were so low that I could drive it to its limits on public strees and over its limits and still not risk my life. As terrible as that car was I loved it much the same way you love the GTI. That being said I'm deep in the throughs of Volkswagen addiction being the owner of a 2004 VW GTI VR6 and need help as well. Volkswagen will tell you they have found the cure to someone like you in the new reborn Rabbit GTI but you may now be happier in the 2008 R32. Old memories die hard, some are not meant to be relived. If you find help for your addiction call me, I wallo in my addiction at VWVortex.com. Good Luck February 15, 2008 8:14 PM
	vwinjen95 said: Yea man i guess all Volkswagens do that to you. My current car (and first VDUB) is a 1995 volkswagen Jetta 2.0. When i first got it, i thought it was the best car in the world. Yea its known as a "2.Slow", but this car gave me a profound love and apreciation of Volkswagens all over the world. It only had 115hp stock (now its running like 125hp est) but driving it felt so fun...some times words cant describe your first VW. Later on this year im getting a VR6 Jetta like mine, only like a 96 or a 97... when they said "Once you get into a volkswagen, it gets into you", they weren't just using a fancy slogan...(why you think my gamertag is "VW"injen"95"?) And this car of the week is proof. Oh yea, if you guys wanna check out my VDub, the URL should be listed up top. February 15, 2008 11:04 PM
	Poncho400 said: Everyone has an addiction. Thankfully in your case, it's not as bad as say...I dunno...crack cocaine. And most people loved their first car, no matter how crappy it was. They say 'oh I loved it because it was fast, comfortable, powerful...yadda yadda yadda'. I think the real reason is it meant freedom. It meant you didn't have to ask your mom to take you to pick up your prom date, or drop you off at a friends place. It meant you got to do what you want, when you want (as long as Mr. Lawman didn't know about it). Freedom baby. The only bad part is the whole paying for extremely high insurance and gas prices, because Mr. Insurance Man thinks kids are the devil, and OPEC is the devil... On a side note, it'd be nice if the staff chimed in a little more. I'd love to hear what they have to say about cars. Besides, the whole car of the week thing was spawned from the staffs love of cars, so I'd like to hear their thoughts too. February 16, 2008 12:58 AM
	Sparky4prez said: I knew this would turn up in the car of the week eventually. My dad had one of these, and it really was one of the best cars i have ever been in. It felt ready for anything. I just hope i can find one cheap enough when i get my license. It's also good to see VW getting back to their old ways with the Mk. 5 Golf GTI, after the somewhat abysmal attempts before to recreate the original GTI. Lets hope they keep it up. February 16, 2008 8:36 AM
	ih8thisname said: As life is full of different views and opinions, I hope people see mines as my personal one. I am not saying the GTI is a crap, Not at all. But it just does nothing for me. I mean be honest, Its not very pretty is it? Yeah, Yeah it is about 30 years old this year but thats not really an excuse. This was the period where Ford were making Mustangs and BMW had the 2500. Would the ladies be impressed if you went to pick them up in a car you stuggle to move your legs in? I agree however, that it was one of the pioneers of the Hot Hatch scene and for that alone it's rightful home is in the "Car of the Week" blog, and there it should stay. It should stay as a "Car of the Past" as well. Things have moved on, we have the R32. It's bigger, It's good looking and it's fast. I would feel much more comfortable behind one of them at an uphill junction.. And if it is a VW you want, just remember, life goes beyond the GTI!! February 16, 2008 12:23 PM
	vroompsht said: I am also a proud VW fan for life. One of the first cars I owned was a 1987 VW scirocco 16v. I have two now, a 96 2.0l for a commuter and a 01 1.8t for modding/autocross. I love them because as the blogger mentions, you can drive it to work and then drive right onto the track with a VW. February 16, 2008 1:34 PM
	Oddball_E8 said: "Took another sip of the potion, hit the three wheel motion." actually... thats a two wheel motion goin there buddy! NASTY! (but i do miss the three wheel turn in forza 2... still cant get that with a stock Mk2 golf) February 17, 2008 12:59 PM
	Unkle said: I have a 84 GTI cabriolet tucked up in my garage, I rescued it from a women who hadn't run it, started it, or even opened the doors in five years!! Needless to say it was white with mold and the handbrake had been left on all that time... I got it home, put a new battery on it, and it spluttered into life again. I know its an old cliche, but they don't make them like that anymore. These things we over engineered in most departments, and 23years of age is not going to hold it back!! February 17, 2008 3:01 PM
	RaFaby said: THAT's a car with some personality. I want it in-game for the Cobra :P February 17, 2008 3:23 PM
	timbo1977 said: Such a shame this old classic that gave birth to the HOT HATCh is not in Forza 2 :P February 17, 2008 8:08 PM
	Apoc112 said: i definitely have to throw in my +1 for one of the greatest autos ever created! February 18, 2008 2:09 PM
	matin rabbits said: the rabbit and GTI is probbably one of the ugliest cars ever made. but the more you stare at it the more you want it. it's the underdog in every race event it might not win but it's how it drives that matters. the spedometer on my rabbit says 85 mph but i don't think it can even go that fast. It can fit two but with the backseat well it's good for little kids not grown-ups. you feel like a total badass drivin a rabbit around. wen you say VW most people think the Rabbit/GTI well the fact is the rabbit set the standards for all of VW and hatch backs. February 18, 2008 4:21 PM
	grimreaper said: its known as the golf gti in germany and the uk, cant figure where they got rabbit from? February 19, 2008 7:31 AM
	Latka said: Ahh... the wabbit. What a sweet little ride the A1 platform was! I never owned one myself, but I did own an A2 GTi. Funny that we thought it was a really heavy car at the time! ;) We need more classic rides like the 83/84 GTi, Austin / Morris Mini Cooper S, etc in the game! February 19, 2008 1:15 PM
	J0KER 1337 said: i own a 91jetta vr6 and a 97jetta vr6 and i love them both. it seems like when something breaks, all have to do is give it a nights rest and its fixed. i think the next car download package should have a 97jetta/golf or a 91jetta. that would be awesome. i could drive my actual car online and wipe that stupid smile off all of those honda lovers. Volkswagens are a cult, all serious owners would gladly die just to driver there vdub. February 19, 2008 2:09 PM
	RaFaby said: VW makes the best cars in the world, I'd cut my balls if someone already saw a seriously broken VW, unless if it's its owner's stupidity. Reliable, handle great, relatively small but yet performant engines (for the majority i mean), not expensive... February 19, 2008 2:30 PM
	Unkle said: The one in the middle pic is dropped on P slots, which are always nice. The Mk1 weighed 810kg when launched in Europe. A Mk2 was 929kg, the Mk3 was 1110kg and the mk 4 was like a heavy weight at over 1200kg. The Mk1 produced over 100bhp per 1000kg, the 2lt Mk4 never got close and they never got that balance back between great handling and responsive performance. Get the mk1 and 2 in the game!!!! February 19, 2008 5:18 PM
	toodeep said: I miss my 83 Rabbit GTI too. Had 250,000 miles on it. went away for school and came back home and my mom sold it for $50 while i was away. February 20, 2008 10:06 PM
	DMC14 said: Not a fan (front wheel drive) plus i dont think they had too big a following in Australia at the time. (if we even got them). February 21, 2008 7:12 PM
	VdubbinVr6 said: hey i had a 83 rabbit gti wit a cabrio bodykit on it ...it was amazing it had so much low end torqe ..cuz i had a callaway turbo in it...and it was sittin on sum 17in bbs rc's that came on the gli ...i miss that car....but now i have a 94 jetta vr6 ...so ...i would def love to see this car and many many more volkswagens in forza 3....cuz im a vw fanatic...thanks February 23, 2008 1:13 AM
	Jechts1983 said: The MK1 golf or "rabbit" was the best of the GTI's as it was the lightest, its tiny little 1.6L 8v engine was not that good compared to the mk2's 1.8L 16V but the rabit was simply ALOT more fun to drive than the mk2 and still quicker. a mk1 with the 20v V5 turbo engine in it is something mental to drive... February 24, 2008 9:40 AM
	GreenRabbit said: I own a 16v Rabbit on dual 45 dcoe webbers. Any time I need to have fun I just fire it up and take it for a trashing. Man, there is nothing like the sound of those carbs at 7,000 RPM's. I also own a MK2 GTI with a 2.0 swap. Thats fun too. February 27, 2008 9:20 AM
	MrStabby1981 said: Its the Golf in most of the world and the american GTI was the weakest as they dident upgrade the suspension and left it standard from the lower spec model. March 2, 2008 11:58 AM
	Digital K said: interesting. I took that tom foolery photo :P March 6, 2008 1:25 PM
	D3TH D33LR said: i love taht car, one of my fav's in forza. I have a tricked out gti at 998pi. I could make it faster but i dont want it an ultimate. If i can actually get my hands on one of these bad boys i'd buy it. March 19, 2008 10:56 PM