How the Mk1 Golf lived until 2009 - In South Africa! Citi Golf

In this episode, we deep dive into a corner of VW lore with possibly the most passionate group of VW fans - the Citi Golf in South Africa.
Get your Citi shirt here!
427motorsports...

[@simonjoshuafriedrichs1267]

I'm from Durban South Africa. As a kid I always wanted a MK1 golf . My first car was a MK2 golf (Jumbo golf as we call it). The MK2 is now my favourite of all VW golf. I support you all the way. Thank you

[@JethroBronner]

I remember when VW announced the end of production, there was a period of national mourning.

[@evangilbert90]

Love this ode to a South African legend - well done @427 Motorsports! Alongside the Citi Golf, the Volkswagen Caddy pick-up also stayed in production until 2007 and saw similar 'refinements'. It was replaced when the Caddy panel van, as we know it today, first entered the local market. The Caddy pick-up (or bakkie as we call it) competed with another SA legend, the Nissan 1400 - later known as the 'Champ'. A locally-produced RWD time-capsule from the 1960s, which is based on the Datsun Sunny and continued production until 2008. These workhorses, both Caddy and Champ are now a rare sight and quite sought after.

[@o0Donuts0o]

Even rarer is finding a Caddy that doesn’t have a Nissan or Toyota engine swap in it.

[@mrpepps]

Bloody love this Golf series 👍👍

[@jacqeuswillemse7323]

Loved the red blue and yellow theme. Was Designed by a great South African Model turned Designer, Jenny Button, and was inspired by Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian.( was sooo 80's). Last year they were made, got a black one aslo, bui i havnt seen one in decades..😢 We did get mk1 5 door Gti's with the 1.8 DX engine. ( i regularly "borrowed" my cousins, while she was away, "cleaned the carbon off the valves " for her. ) The CTi was awesome, what I wanted as a schoolboy in the 90's. The Last 1000 made in Utenhage, was a numbered limited edition series "mk1", with a 1.6i, AFX code motor.. N01 is in VW museum in Germany, ,No2 is here in the Pavilion museum in "Ute-N-Hauge"(english pronounciation)😅 . PS: The R-line was semi assembled, then transported down the road from factory to VW Motorsport SA, who fiddeld with the 1.8i 272 cam, ECU updated, exhaust manifold. BZF code. Fitted the body kit, is a version of your UK " clipper" kit, iirc, and adapted to our new bumpers.... Great channel. Love it.

[@paulwhite7475]

Memories from the back seat as a kid . Ive driven over 750000 kms in mk1 golfs my 1600 citi sport and my 1600 caddy club . I have some adult memories in the back seat too .

[@169hoi]

Wow, didnt know this existed. Cool to see the interior upgrade haha

[@AntJoseph_]

Loved the GT4 soundtracks!

[@Dave_Stafford]

Again.. nicely done!

[@alexmacdonald4270]

Great video as always Tomo, love your no nonsense content 🏆

[@mattmilford]

I agree with your R line rant entirely.

[@MLC...]

Few interesting things about the Citi Golf. Firstly, the most stolen car in South Africa maybe 10 or 15 years ago. I had two and both got stolen. They were mostly stolen for parts, so they were stripped rapidly and if recovered (almost never) you did not get your car back. This meant there are actually not many left on the roads now, all stolen up. They used to be everywhere you look, but not anymore. Few South Africans take care of cheaper older cars, used ones are in terrible condition mostly. Fortunately there are some good ones owned by car enthusiasts. Some variants of the Citi Golf did not have the greatest build quality, with stuff like poor interior trim or even rusting prematurely. Some of them were really nice, especially the fuel injected post 2000 cars. The 1.6i "Life" or "VeloCiti" models were especially nice, that 1.6i especially was very lively. I think the Skoda dash came in 2004, so I would think my favorite would be a pre-2004 1.6i with the old mk1 dash. But try to find one. I think they are starting to become collectable now, hopefully a few good ones will survive.

[@DieBaas01]

Thanks for the Video from a proud SAFFA, absolutely love the Citi Golf, now for a video on what's standing in my garage, the MK1 Pick-up aka Golf Bakkie or Caddy Bakkie. The 2009 end was and still is emotional for us South Africans, it was singlehandedly the worst decision VW could have made.

[@MLC...]

I think so too, but there was so much negative publicity about safety and emissions nonsense, I think VWSA was pressured into ending production. The stupid motoring press played a part in this. What South Africa needs is a cheap quality car and the Citi was that to a degree. The new Polo Vivos are just way too expensive. VWSA made a massive profit on each Citi Golf as tooling costs were paid off way back, they could have sold them much cheaper.

[@sleepyweasel447]

Awesome video! You should visit VW Campfest 2025 here in SA next year😂

[@blinkyd4952]

Dude , I'm from South Africa, and I own a 2006 citi golf 😂 when the carbs second stage opens , the thing becomes alive 😂

[@wernersmuts9112]

I've owned a "BRAND NEW" Citi Golf 1.8 Sport in 1990 which gave me such good memories that I wish I could just buy it back. Probably will never see it again. For many who rememer, although not fuel injected, I think it was a quick drag race Robot to Robot (traffic lights for anybody outside South Africa) pocket rocket which at top end lost to a Mazda Rustler 1.6 LDV (light delivery vehicle) which South Africans calls a Bakkie (sounds like bucky)... But it's times like that I wish I never sold my CITI Golf....

[@mattalki]

I still have my 1981 mk1 Rabbit that my parents bought new when I was a kid. The mk1 isn't a great car, but I still really love it for whatever reason. They aren't too comfy, and they have no creature comforts, but they are hella fun to drive. It's wild how the Citi Golf lived for so long in SA. Pretty neat!

[@Low760]

They were great at the time in 1976

[@mattalki]

@@Low760 I was 7 when we bought mine. I drove it in college. It’s part of the family now. They were a definite improvement over the Beetle, but the mk2 really improved on the mk1 a ton.

[@Die_Dylan]

Man here in SA you will see more than 5 MK1 golfs on a daily bases 😅, I prefer the MK2 but that's just me being a Mk2 Jetta CLI owner( by the way I don't know why but here in SA the MK2 JETTA CLI came with the rally headlights and big bumpers).Love your content, keep it up.🤙🏻🇿🇦

[@MITCH14411]

Good man, great tracksuit. Up the orange men

[@PjPatton-qr7sm]

Ah but tomo the citi r wasn't a r line as we khow it today, it was the most powerful rhd mk1 ever built (121 bhp).Only the 16s, built by oettinger had more power (136 bhp)but only came in lhd. Have a "93 citi fitted with a vr5 here in donegal, needs paint and a few loose ends tied up, hopefully have it out next year. Excellent job by the way caddy pick up/ baki next please 😊

[@427Motorsports]

You have to show us when it’s done!!!

[@BERLINGO4255]

All your videos are class I love them all. I know your a mk2 man at heart but I was wondering if there’s any chance you could cover a mk3 especially TDi variants. NOT THE 1.9d, they were gutless. Keep up the good work

[@427Motorsports]

Cheers! Maybe someday, we're covering the more obscure stuff for now! :)

[@jeffstreck]

06:10 "You Ten Hague" 😊 Uitenhage. Or in Afrikaans pronunciation, "Ay Ten Har Ge"

[@viper2help]

Do a one on the Bosnian Golf.

[@Jonny_5]

Yaay!

[@dru0pa]

I have driven about 6 different versions over the years. 1.3 Carb,1.6 Carb (a few different ones), and a 1.4 injected but not the 1.6 or any of the 1.8. Would have loved to have driven one of the 1.8 injected

[@MLC...]

Injected 1.6's and 1.8's were a great drive. You really got a bit of that GTi feeling.

[@vwdrvrfoundat420]

Good video

[@tomsmith2209]

Huh, strange that we don't get imports from SA like we do from Japan. I personally would love a newish Golf mk1 with an updated interior and from a country that is unlikely to salt their roads. RHD and a favourable exchange rate should make it a no brainer, and I wouldn't feel bad about 1.8t or PD130 swapping a car from the 2000's.

[@tinybartini]

The most important question is - are U bringing one from Africa ?? 😜😜 and I'm only asking just because I was always curious how much it would take to bring a new-old car from different countries (i.e. pug 405, santana/vento, some lada models and so on - I know it'll be a different for each country).

[@427Motorsports]

Not with our feckin budget, take a lot more t shirts before we can do anything 😂😂😂

[@c1house]

Hi I know the R was called the R-line but this should not be confused with the modern idea of the R-line. This was just not a trim level, Citi R was fully developed Hothatch with its own engine, Body kit and suspension etc. This was not a nice looking base trim car.

[@oomstu]

Uitenhage has recently had a name change, try saying this one: Kariega in the city of Gqeberha :P

[@427Motorsports]

I think I’ll pass. 🤪

[@johanslabbert2869]

Anavver Seff Efrikkin hearr 🇿🇦 Firstly, the town Uitenhage is pronounced “You-tin-hague”. At least for the English pronunciation, that is. To say it in the native Afrikaans, erm… let’s not try explaining that 😅 The Citi Golf, THE Citi Golf, my what a car. Yeah Mk2 Golf moved upmarket, which left VWSA without an offering in the emerging entry level segment. An important segment, not only ito immediate sales but also to capture a buyers loyalty early on. The idea was, start with a Citi Golf, upgrade that to that Jetta CLi you so lust after, and maybe award yourself with a Passat or something interesting like a Caravelle Syncro later in life. The garish colour schemes upon release fitted right in with styles of the 80’s. Notably in later versions this was considerably toned down / matured. There was a plethora of models, drivetrains and equipment levels available over the years. Literally dozens. To the huge credit of VWSA, a tremendous amount of development work continued throughout the model run. The last models were so far removed from the original Mk1 that it felt like a much more modern design. Towards the end, the only Mk1 compromises that remained were the heavy unassisted steering, tight rear seats and luggage trunk, and the iffy brakes. For the rest, you could have factory aircon, sound system, even a driver’s airbag. It was an immensely popular car. Built well, economical on fuel and maintenance, good reliability, easy enough to drive. But the biggest factor was that the vehicle was completely classless. You could be a struggling student, a young executive, a housewife, a retired CEO or a granny in a nursing home, and you would fit right in driving a Citi Golf. Especially with the tuner crowd, these had a massive following. Easy and cheap to modify of course. Sadly, it was also one of the most stolen vehicles in SA for a long time. The Polo Vivo that replaced it was probably a better (certainly safer!) car, but it never had a patch on the pure character of the Citi Golf. The concept of an extended model run was so successful that it became copied by several manufacturers. Tazz, 323, etc… But to VWSA, hats off for a great execution of a good idea. 👌🏼💯

[@o0Donuts0o]

Eight-en-nah-gah if you are a local clutch plate dutchy.

[@johanslabbert2869]

To expand a little further: The booted version of the Citi Golf was called the Fox. An updated Mk1 Jetta of course, not as popular or long lived, but it appealed to many. I have never owned a Citi Golf but several of my family members and friends have, some still do, and I’ve driven them extensively, including as a rental car many times. The one stand out feature of the car is the incredibly tactile driving experience. It’s not the sharpest handling tool, but the chassis has great composure, steering feedback is beyond anything even twice the price, suspension is supple with good grip. Another great is the acceleration. No model ever weighed much, so down to the entry level 1.3 carb it felt lively, with the injected 1.8 ones being properly quick! Top speed, a factor of aerodynamics, was never stellar, the fastest ones could not crack a genuine 200km/h on the level. Which is a good thing, because the one area the Citi was lacking, under the skin at least, was passive safety. For the 1970’s it was as good as it got, much better than most of its contemporaries. But against anything more modern than say the mid 90’s, a crash in a Citi Golf usually meant a far worse outcome to the occupants compared to the other car. If EuroNCAP ever tested one, it would likely score zero stars. That said, it was well designed to avoid having an accident in the first place. Good visibility and excellent dynamics made it a very controllable vehicle. So safety gets a pass in my opinion. Lastly, the much more modern dashboard fitted from 2004 onwards was superbly done. You really could not tell it wasn’t designed like that from the very start. The then local “Polo” (a Seat really) received a similar upgrade during its model run. Not sure if that was also exclusive to SA but it too looked very good. I went to school in Uitenhage (DP, Matric 1998), several of my classmates Dads were employed at the VW factory, and let me tell you, there were some serious petrol heads on the engineering team at the time. Many VW models received a local flavour, often as some mechanical upgrade, and every time very well done. The dash upgrade is just the kind of thing the local team excelled at. Nice one!

[@johanslabbert2869]

@@o0Donuts0o Baie mooi, well done 😂

[@o0Donuts0o]

@@johanslabbert2869 The Citi will live on for a helluva long time. There is an entire aftermarket industry supporting that car. You can almost buy spares for the car at the corner shop let alone chain stores like Goldwagen which are everywhere. Citi broke down? Just have gasket maker, cable ties and some wire in the boot. Or just put on your hazards and someone will stop in the next 5 mins who has experience working on the engine.

[@newtronix]

Skyline?

[@stevenharpervw]

Do a review of the actual mk1 Golf since you keep saying “celebrating 50 years” and then go and talk about every other car in Volkswagen line up …. Also hate R”line”

[@427Motorsports]

We’re covering the more obscure things, everyone and their dog has done the standard Mk1. Plus we don’t have one to do a review. 😂

[@porsche911235]

The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the city golf 🤓

[@427Motorsports]

Honestly at this stage we know rightly that left hand drive is the handiest if everyone just stuck to the same damn thing but as we’re in the minority we have every right to be excited as feck when we see something cool in RHD 😂

[@porsche911235]

@@427Motorsports I had the privilege of taking a seat aboard a McLaren F1 last century. I pointed out that access was from the correct side and that the gear shift was in the right place for a right-handed person... I was kindly invited to get fecked and to return to my rotten continent 😂😂 Changing subject, just by curiosity, do you know if is there any mark2 or Corrado RHD with original AC ? I know there was some italian davia AC kit in UK, buy since I don’t find any references on etka and since U’re addicted to mark2, maybe you have some info on that matter 😉

[@427Motorsports]

As far as we know with the Mk2 it wasn't offered here... but the Corrado, we know nothing about!

[@JambonJovii]

320d M Sport owners that think they've an M3 😂🤡🤭

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Background music is set a little bit high. It's actually annoying and makes it difficult for me to concentrate on what is said. I don't really want to be that guy because you're doing such an incredible job otherwise.

[@427Motorsports]

Apologies - we check it over with headphones, without, from the Mac, from TV and from phones before publishing. Sadly just can’t test every possible set up - but we’ll be more mindful in future. Appreciate it :)

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

@@427Motorsports I'm watching from a tv, so perhaps that's it? I've never encountered this before with you so that's why I commented. I think the level in mixing is set just a tad too high. Difficult thing, those tads... ;)