With hopefully a bit more sunshine to come this year, the Golf GTI Cabriolet is now more tempting with its GTI 2.0-litre 208bhp turbocharged petrol engine.
There hasn’t been a go-faster cabriolet version of the Golf for nearly two decades and despite its fabric roof is instantly recognisable as a GTI with its distinctive ‘telephonedial’ alloy wheels, twin exhausts and honeycomb grille.
Inside its highly specced with air conditioning four electrically operated windows, flat bottomed sports steering wheel and retro style tartan seat upholstery.
Priced at £29,310 or £1,300 more if you want the DSG automatic gearbox, the two door GTI Cabriolet runs out at £3,660 more than the GTI three door hatchback and over £8,420 more than the starter price for the Golf Cabriolet 1.2-litre TSI but the high initial price is likely to be off-set in part by the iconic exclusivity when eventual trade-in times comes along.
The Golf GTI petrol powered hatch/cabrio models overall will have around 5,000 annual UK sales and the GTI Cabriolet is expected to account for just 10 per cent of those so it is a very niche model but with a big image.
With its fabric roof up or down the Golf GTI Cabriolet looks a neat prospect.
The electrically powered roof can be raised on the move at speeds up to 18mph in 9.5 seconds so that is a useful and practical feature given our changeable weather conditions. There is a 250-litre boot for luggage.
The GTI Cabriolet sits lower, 22mm at the front and 15mm at the rear than the standard Golf Cabriolet and it has stylish 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. With the roof in the up position there is no loss in structural rigidity but it is a different story with the roof down. Enthusiastic cornering, or travelling a speed over poorer road surfaces and scuttle shake appears even though there is 140kg of extra weight in the car for increased strengthening and torsional rigidity.
Roof up and the interior is comparatively noise free from wind, roof down and there is wind buffeting into the car unless the standard wind deflector over the rear seats is installed, although that limits the Cabriolet to being a two seater.
Roof up or down and the firm and lowered suspension does not cope that well with potholes and they send shudders through the bodyshell and the handling is unsettled over our poor road surfaces but it improves on smoother high speed motorways – unless they are of the concrete type.
In other handling respects the GTI Cabriolet remains true to the Golf GTI in terms of cornering grip thanks to the clever XDS electronic differential with sharp and precise steering. No doubt all the power and then taking the roof off is a compromise but one I suspect most enthusiasts of fast hot soft tops will put up with.
The value of wearing the iconic GTI badge for the latest Cabriolet addition to the Golf range will appeal to a small number of enthusiastic, top-down, go-faster motoring enthusiasts. But it is an expensive purchase compared to a lesser powered, but just as visually attractive, conventional Golf Cabriolet model.
MILESTONES
Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet 2.0-litre TSI 210PS 6-Speed Manual
Price: £29,310 manual or £30,610 auto.
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, four cylinder, turbocharged petrol 208bhp, 280lb ft of torque from 1,700rpm, 6-speed manual.
Performance: 147mph, 0 to 62mph 7.3 seconds, 37.2mpg, (39.4mpg on test), CO2 177g/km, VED road tax £325 First Year rate then £215 second year onwards, BIK company car tax 26%. Insurance group: 35.
For: Desirable and iconic soft top hot hatch, well equipped, well made, high kerb appeal.
Against: Pricey compared to non GTI versions, poor low speed ride quality, scuttle/body shake with the roof down at times.
