1990 Volkswagen Golf 1.8 GL 4+E
One former keeper and circa 40,000 miles

Registration No: G314EPL
Chassis No: WVWZZZ1GZLW394904
MOT: December 2020

Motor Car Location: Wirral

• One former keeper and circa 40,000 miles from new (see description below)
• Fifteen service stamps and two cambelt changes (the last change being carried out by a main dealer in 2017)
• Extremely well specified example with Black leather upholstery, power steering, air-conditioning, five-speed manual gearbox, sunroof, central locking and electric windows
• Said to be in 'very good overall' condition
• Better equipped than many a GTi and a rare survivor

Vendor Condition Ratings:

Bodywork: 'Very Good'
Engine: 'Very Good'
Electrical Equipment: 'Very Good'
Paintwork: 'Very Good'
Gearbox: 'Five-Speed Manual, Very Good'
Interior Trim: 'Very Good'

Supplied new by Walton Lodge Garage of Walton-on-Thames to local resident Mrs Pflaumer, ‘G314 EPL’ provided her with twenty-eight years’ faithful service. In return she had it serviced by marque specialists and main dealers no fewer than fourteen times including two cambelt changes (the most recent one being in 2017). Purchased from Mrs Pflaumer by Wheelbase Volkswagen & Audi of Hersham in March 2018, an accompanying letter states their reasoning for believing that the Golf has covered approximately 40,000 miles from new. Although the hatchback’s odometer reading was stuck at 33,272 between 2010 and 2018, MOT records show that it had only been driven a bit over 4,000 miles during the preceding five years (c.800 miles per annum). Wheelbase repaired the odometer and added another stamp to the service book before selling ‘G314 EPL’ to the vendor who describes its engine, five-speed manual gearbox, bodywork, paintwork, electrical equipment and interior trim as all being ‘very good’.

These days a well-equipped hatchback might well be able to boast a sunroof, air-conditioning, leather upholstery, central locking and electric windows but back in 1990 such a luxurious specification was decidedly unusual. Indeed, there would have been plenty of BMWs, Mercedes-Benzs and Jaguars running around at the time with more spartan interiors. Imagine the smile on the salesman’s face as Mrs Pflaumer started ticking option boxes on the order form!

According to www.howmanyleft.co.uk there are just 414 Volkswagen Golf GL 4+E 1.8 cars currently registered with the DVLA. Though few, if any, can be as well preserved as ‘G314 EPL’. Surplus to its second registered keeper’s requirements, this ‘time warp’ Golf MK2 is offered for sale with book pack, sundry paperwork and MOT certificate valid until December 2020.

Model Background:

Introduced in September 1983, the MK2 version of Volkswagen’s iconic Golf retained many of its predecessor’s styling cues. A featherweight by today’s standards despite its longer wheelbase, wider track and more spacious cabin (most versions weighed less than 1,100kg), the fitment of MacPherson strut independent front suspension, trailing arms and a torsion beam at the rear, rack and pinion steering and disc / drum brakes made for an entertaining drive. Powered by a range of four-cylinder engines, the Golf MK2 could be had with the novelty of a fifth gear for improved economy. Manual transmission cars thus equipped being labelled ‘4+E’. A detuned, carburettor-fed version of the engine found in the 8-valve GTi, the 1781cc unit which powered the 1.8 GL boasted 90bhp and 107lbft of torque; outputs sufficient for a 107mph top speed. Crowned ‘Car of the Year’ by What Car magazine in 1985, the Golf MK2 was facelifted in both August 1987 and August 1989 gaining ‘Big Bumpers’ on the latter occasion. More fondly regarded than its MK3 successor, the MK2 was also the subject of one of the 1980s most memorable TV adverts. Directed by David Bailey and starring Paula Hamilton, ‘Changes’ introduced the British public to the phrase: ‘If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen’.