I'm amazed the Golf Gti MkII 8v hasn't been mentioned yet
I had a 1992 J reg in Atlas Grey with the original BBS RA wheels - a truly beautiful beautiful car. Was totally standard, in immaculate condition, and I did a very happy 30k miles or so in that. I actually preferred the 8v to the 16v, because although it wasn't as fast, it was much easier to drive quickly more of the time than the 16v, whose power was all at the top end and you had to rev the nuts of it to get anywhere.
Build quality was brilliant for the time, as reliable as any Japanese motor, and much more discreet than the XR3i and Astra GTEs of the time...
ps.. pics aren't of my own car... can't find them
