It’s a long-running trope that Europe often gets the good versions of European cars while Americans pick up the scraps. The North American E24 BMW M6 was down 30 horsepower to the European model and used a completely different engine. The European W126 500SEL was so much quicker than the American 380SEL that European models came in droves through the grey market, leading to the 25-year import rule. However, although North Americans have sat on their hands watching Europe enjoy the added power and significant chassis tweaks of the hot Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport, America’s getting a special GTI 40th Anniversary Edition that might be even better than the Clubsport. Let me explain.
The GTI 40th Anniversary Edition doesn’t mark 40 years of GTI production, but it does mark 40 years of GTI sales in America. See, America didn’t get the GTI until 1983 and at first, it wasn’t the same car Europeans got. Instead of a fizzy 110-horsepower 1.8-liter engine, American Rabbit GTIs made do with 90 horsepower, still a bump over standard Rabbit models but not quite the full Monty. Still, it quickly built a reputation as a fun, refined hot hatchback that did everything well. No wonder Volkswagen’s been building GTIs for Americans for 40 years.
In the 40th Anniversary Edition, stickier summer tires than the standard all-season gumballs get wrapped around multi-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels from the Clubsport 45 model that are somewhat reminiscent of the OZ Aristo wheels on American 20th Anniversary Edition GTIs. Best of all, those summer tires are paired with Volkswagen’s DCC adaptive dampers that do a great job of breathing with rough roads. However, the handling tweaks alone don’t explain why this might be the best Mark 8 GTI.
Color selection is largely superb. Opal White Pearl and Pomelo Yellow are straight from the current car’s palette, but Urano Grey and Tornado Red are iconic heritage colors. I loved Tornado Red on the Mark V GTI and I love it here as it’s just so much louder than Kings Red. Plus, the roof and mirror caps come painted black regardless of color choice for some extra contrast, while a set of stripes boldly proclaim that this GTI is special. On the inside, the 40th Anniversary Edition GTI gets iconic plaid seats and a golf ball shift knob on manual models, although those can also be had on a standard model. There’s a little 40 badge on the steering wheel to denote this special model, but that’s it for interior cosmetic tweaks. It’s tasteful restraint in a place where it’s so easy to go overboard. However, that still doesn’t explain why it might be the best Mark 8 GTI.
The GTI 40th Anniversary Edition might be the best Mark 8 GTI because it takes all those special bits and puts them on the base S model, meaning it gets a physical volume knob and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Volkswagen says that the manual car will carry an MSRP of $34,150 including a $1,095 freight charge, with the DSG model clocking in at $800 more. The GTI has a legacy of being a great all-around package at a reasonable price and the 40th Anniversary Edition hasn’t forgotten where the model came from.
Mind you, the GTI 40th Anniversary Edition won’t be all things to all people. Such a great package is unfortunately limited to 1,500 units, roughly a half-and-half mix of manual and DSG models. Should you wish to get your hands on one, you best hurry. Still, that should make this special model coveted by Volkswagen fans for years to come.
All photos courtesy of Volkswagen
I enjoyed the VW driving dynamics. Spending every other paycheck at the service counter was less enjoyable.
Original, maybe. Certainly not the best, though.
I still want the Golf R Wagon! Please!
Unfortunately, never gonna happen.
You and me both. And sadly VW decided to complete stop making wagons available stateside. 🙁
The capacitive buttons are so bad on these that I cannot recommend a new golf. They are that terrible. I honestly think VW should replace all those for free.
They’re getting rid of the steering wheel ones at least. Haven’t heard anything about the ludicrous volume slider, etc though.
I’d be much more inclined to buy if it had the rumored re-introduction of buttons to the steering wheel and dash.
Didn’t realize they were putting adaptive dampers on GTIs. That’s cool.
I just can’t get on board with Mk8. Mk7 = far better looking vehicle, imho.
And, you left out the MOST important thing about the base model … the tartan plaid seats!
The plaid seats are giving me a lot of…feelings.
I’m a former GTI owner and a fan of the car in general but I think this is underwhelming. It’s a few aesthetic touches and 0 performance upgrades. I was hoping that for a big anniversary like this they’d finally give us something more along the lines of a Clubsport, but alas. And the colors are…white, piss yellow (seriously-my neighbor has one in this color, it’s horrific in person), slightly louder red and slightly different gray? They finally had it right with the Rabbit edition colors and the Golf R acid trip insanity back in 2018-2020 but we can’t have nice things forever.
Plus, the VW dealership experience is like diet Kia/Hyundai. It took me days on end of getting the run around from different dealers in my area just to buy a friggin base GTI in 2020, when they couldn’t give cars away…and all the MK8 Rs near me are currently listed for SIXTY THOUSAND….so I assume they’ll ask $45,000 for these and VW fanboys will pay it.
I love the GTI and VW will always have a special place in my heart despite the headache that my GTI proved to be, but unless you can magically walk on to a lot and get one of these for sticker I don’t see what the fuss is about. It’s a couple aesthetic touches you could do yourself with the massive aftermarket this car has. Give us the Clubsport or base trim Golf R already, you cowards.
Couldn’t give cars away in 2020? I swear I was getting calls every other week that year from local dealers trying to buy my 2014 GTI Wolfsburg because of the pandemic/supply chain/etc issues.
Got to back up Nsane here, my last new vehicle purchase was in October 2020 and was for well below sticker with dealers competing for my business. The big run up in prices began in mid 2021 at least around me.
My GTI stickered for $30,500, the price we agreed on was $26,500, and it was financed at 0% APR. Just nuts to think about compared to today. Feels like a decade ago.
It’s giving you DCC on an S model – which was reserved for Autobahn trim and Golf R in the Mk8 – not just aesthic bits. And evidently Summer tires on special 19″ wheels. Not that I am a fan of 19s