1992 Volkswagen Golf GTi Rivage |

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1992 Volkswagen Golf GTi Rivage

Sold Price

£5,565

Mileage~170,763
TransmissionManual
Engine1.8L
LocationSidcup

SOLD

1992 Volkswagen Golf GTi Rivage

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

Classic Golf styling with some sporty elements, a lovely example of the final iteration of the Mk1.

The VW Golf, an enduring icon among 'hot-hatches', has consistently delighted enthusiasts with its diverse variants. The introduction of the Golf GTi Convertible in 1980, crafted by Karmann, eliminated the need for drivers to compromise between open-air motoring and hatchback comfort. These convertibles seamlessly blended exhilarating drives with an open cabin experience, epitomising versatile enjoyment in any weather. The Golf GTi Rivage, a swansong for the legendary Mk1 GTi Convertible, further elevated the allure of this model. Adorned with Recaro cloth seats, Le Castellet forged alloy wheels, a powered mohair hood, and a five-speed manual gearbox, the Rivage transcended the ordinary.

This car comes to market after ~16.5 years, with the car having had ~£3,900 spent on repairs in April this year, it comes with a valid MOT until 17.04.2025. As the run-out special for the first-generation Golf, the Rivage is one of the most sought after MK1's available, only ~470 of this limited edition were built making this a very rare example indeed.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Matt the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

One of my favourite cars of all time - classic, stylish and beautiful looks.

Having owned the Golf for the last ~16.5 years, Matt, has always been a keen admirer of these cars, "I've always been a fan of the VWs, with their cult following and build quality". He tells us "I'd already looked at 10-15 MK1 Cabriolets before I came across this Rivage. The others I'd driven had the lower mileage factor, but none of them drove as well as this one, I purchased the car with ~150K miles on the clock".

When asked what he liked most about the car Matt told us "The colour is gorgeous, in some lights it's a deep blue, in others it's deep purple. The car drives and handles better than anything else I've owned, she sticks to the tarmac well". The car comes to market as with a growing family, there is a need for an upgrade for the family car "Its sad to let it go as the car is great, but my circumstances have changed, it's now time for someone else to look after and enjoy the car. Who ever the next owner may be, they will not be disappointed with their purchase!". Matt will be available to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Matt

Vehicle Owner

Matt saved £0,900* when they
sold their VW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

With unique colours and trim for the limited edition Rivage, it's become a collectable model for enthusiasts.

Wheels and Tyres

The VW is fitted with original "Le Castellet" polished and forged 15" alloys. The wheels look in good condition, although we did note marks to the wheel edges and some swirl marks on the forged alloy, although these would likely polish out.

Fitted with Dunlop SP Sport 01 tyres, both sets showed a tyre spec of 195/50. The tyres appear to have a good amount of tread left and date codes from 2008. For a more detailed view of the Golf's exterior and a closer inspection of the wheels and tyres, please refer to the photos and videos.

Bodywork

Looking over the Golf on our visit, the doors, roof, bonnet and the boot open and close smoothly. Largely the car maintains well-aligned panel gaps, although the nearside front bumper sat proud from the wheel arch. During our visit, we noted a small ding to the front nearside bonnet edge and rear nearside boot edge, although these didn't detract too much from the overall appearance of the car.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The original "Classic Blue Metallic" paint is even in colour across all the panels, overall showing in respectable condition. We did spot several stone chips to the front bumper and bonnet section where some restorative work would really benefit the appearance, to be expected given the mileage the car has covered. There are also some marks to the rear and also the wing mirrors.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this Rivage looked good and in line with the age and mileage, we didn't notice any cracks, or discolouration to the front windscreen or rear window on our visit. Front and rear lights looked well-maintained and we noted no cracks or damage to the glass.

The window seals look good too and in line with the condition of the rest of the car. Badges and emblems look good around the Golf's exterior. The Rivage has a blue mohair power roof, replaced in June 2006, which showed well when we looked over it. The roof fits nicely, with no noticeable creasing to be seen. The roof looks to work as quickly as it should, operating smoothly as it opens and closes.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The GTi was built for driving comfort, the Rivage featuring some model specific trim.

Seats and Carpets

The Golf is fitted with a blue diagonal patterned cloth interior (with small green, red and blue flecks). Overall the seats look respectable given its ~32 years on the road although we noted the usual signs of wear to the driver's seat bolster, the front seats are also heated. Over in the rear, the seats showed in good condition with slight signs of fade to the seat edges.

The main carpet of the interior showed in a good condition, looking underneath the mats showed the car had no concerns. In the boot area, the carpet is respectable with the spare wheel hiding beneath the carpet, complete with the jack and wheel brace. We cover the cabin area of the Golf in further detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

The dashboard is in good condition with no cracks. The instrument cluster is clean and smart, with all the numbers appearing clear, legible and we noticed no scuffs or marks here.

Dials, switches, and controls all appeared to be in good condition, with surfaces appearing free from fogging or scratching. The odometer displayed ~170,763 miles at the time of our visit.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is in good condition with some wear to the finish. The leather gear knob is the same, with just some light wear to the leather, which we would say this matches the mileage.

We've detailed some more images of the cabin area including the steering wheel in our Interior Gallery section - head over to see more shots of what's on offer with the Golf GTi.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 1.8L fuel-injected inline-four engine delivered ~112BHP from factory, enough to deliver a 0-60MPH time in ~10.2 seconds.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting up the car, we noted no concerns with the engine, idling smoothly. The current owner, Matt, reports that the engine and gearbox are very smooth, as you would expect, and everything is working as it should to his knowledge. We noted there was a slight oil leak highlighted as an advisory on the last MOT.

Fitted with a 5-speed manual, the gear change is reported to be smooth. Take a look at the mechanical video also, for a closer look underneath the Golf and an overview of the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs, or issues from the suspension when we were on the road, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. Matt let us know that the front shocks would likely need looking at by the future owner.

The brakes felt great and brought the Golf to a stop without issue. We did note on the recent MOT, that an advisory was shown for the front brake discs, Matt has since had the front discs and pads changed by Rodney Garage.

We cover the underside of the car in our 'Mechanical Gallery' section. Head over to our video section, where we've summarised our visit in more detail for you to view for yourself. We take you around the mechanical elements of the car and give you an overview of what's on offer here.

The Drive

A 1.8L engine is what powered the GTi to gain the status of best hot hatch - together with the handling, this makes it an extremely fun car to own and drive.

We took the car out on some local roads with the current owner Matt, to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. During the drive, we went through the motions, shifting through the 5-speed manual gearbox, and seeing how the car performs.

Electrics and Other

There is a spare wheel and tyre located in the boot. The Golf also has electric windows, power roof and an aftermarket Alpine CD stereo unit matched to 5 and a 1/4 inch Alpine speakers, Matt still has the original stereo too. The Golf is equipped with a Thatcham Toad alarm system.

All switches, dials, and gauges appear undamaged and in good condition. Matt mentioned that he's had no issues with the electrical elements of the car and believes that everything should be working correctly to the best of his knowledge.

Matt told us the hood may need slightly tightened/adjusted as it sits lower on the passenger side and needs a helping hand before the the seals sit on the window and the latches lock the hood in place, Matt has made this adjustment previously and it solves the issue.

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History and Paperwork

A limited edition Golf, this car comes to market from ~16.5 year ownership, and has recently had ~£3,900 recommission work.

Over the last 12 months, the car has undergone a full KE Jetronic Fuel system re-build / overhaul by Alex and his team at Rodney Garage, along with a new fuel tank, lines, hoses, rear shocks, front/rear brakes. Since late 2019, the car has also had a new Starter Motor, Dizzy Cap, Rotor Arm, Spark Plugs, HT Leads, Battery, In-Tank Fuel Pump, Ignition Switch, Fuel filters, Air Filters and SAMCO Silicone hoses.

The Golf wheels are all original, as is the paint. The GTi still has the original Sidlow dealer plates on, along with the dealer tax disc holder and VW keyring. A new blue mohair roof was fitted in June 2006.

For a comprehensive look at the car's history and maintenance, please refer to the history and paperwork media, which includes previous MOT reports and service receipts. Matt will be on holiday from 6th-14th of June so the car will be available to collect from the 15th of June.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
26.04.2024	Various Work	170,679
18.04.2024	MOT	170,679
22.04.2010	Oil Filter	-
24.02.2010	MOT	167,088
06.11.2009	Oil Filter & Front Brake Discs & Pads	-
02.03.2009	MOT	163,651
22.11.2008	Oil Filter	-
13.06.2008	Oil Filter	-
03.03.2008	MOT	155,733
30.11.2007	Oil & Air Filter	-
13.03.2007	MOT	142,010
07.06.2006	Roof Replacement	-
05.06.2006	MOT	124,531
30.11.2005	MOT	120,367
12.10.2000	MOT	79,510