28 Aug 07
8. Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (1994-2001)
There are plenty of now-cheap older convertibles out there - Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 306, Renault 19 or first-generation Megane - but the Golf was always the poshest of its type. Conservative and Sloaney, perhaps, but entirely credible in the smartest of company.
The Colour Concept models - with fully colour-coordinated bodywork, trim and leather upholstery, special alloys and Recaro seats - are the most desirable, but the Avantgarde had nice BBS alloys. Restyling in 1998 bought a more modern-looking front end.
This Golf Mk3-based model has a long way to go before it has the classic appeal of the long-running Mk1, but with those earliest Golf soft-tops now dividing into two distinct categories - ropey old rust-buckets in need of restoration and optimistically-priced 'collectors' cars' with very few in between - you stand a better chance of getting a sensibly-priced, decent everyday car to just run around in and use. It's cheap to run and maintain, with independent Volkswagen specialists and parts suppliers all over the place and, if well-maintained, should prove reliable.
Road Test: Volkswagen Golf 1999-2004 (including cabrio)
