Rusty But Trusty

Going a little bit more recent for this one, but I’ve got several reasons to include this as a good, affordable car to play with. Back in 1981 when we moved to California, my parents’ first car (after looking at a number of old Beetles) was a silver 1980 Rabbit L, one of the cars built in Westmoreland, PA. I washed the car when I was a kid, and learned to drive on it in the Foothill College parking lot when I was 14. More importantly, I think GTIs are actually a good investment. Yeah, you’d have to think a little longer term for this, but this is one of those cars kids lusted after in the 1980s, kind of like kids lusted after a GTO or a Cobra in the sixties. Within a few years, these people will be getting close to the empty nest stage, and will be looking to spend their extra cash fulfilling the dreams of their youths. Like owning a GTI.

But lucky you, you’re thinking ahead and fulfilling that dream right now, with this 1984 GTI on vw.vortex.com in Campbell, CA for a mere $2600. So many of the GTIs for sale these days are up to their ears in modifications, many of them half done, but this is a complete, original-looking car. The only deviation is a cat-back 3″ exhaust.

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