{"id":25927,"date":"2020-09-03T12:34:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25927"},"modified":"2020-09-03T12:34:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:34:48","slug":"payne-pocket-rockets-progress-1984-vw-rabbit-gti-vs-2020-jetta-gli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/09\/payne-pocket-rockets-progress-1984-vw-rabbit-gti-vs-2020-jetta-gli","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Pocket rocket&#8217;s progress, 1984 VW Rabbit GTI vs. 2020 Jetta GLI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The modern car is a technological wonder. Quiet, connected\u00a0and smooth, it\u2019s the rolling equivalent of a soothing, electronic pop song.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But sometimes I get nostalgic for a raspy rocker with a string guitar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I was reminded of that feeling as I flogged a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI around the hills of Oakland County this summer. The Rabbit GTI (and its sedan stablemate Jetta GLI)\u00a0are the 1980s ancestors of the all-new Golf GTI\/Jetta GLI \u2014\u00a0performance versions of the German brand\u2019s entry-level hatchback\/sedan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I had a chance to compare 36 years of progress when I tested a roomy, high-tech\u00a02020 Jetta GLI recently as well. It\u2019s not a hatchback, but the GLI sedan is otherwise the 2020 Golf GTI\u2019s twin making it suitable for this week\u2019s comparo. It shares the Golf GTI\u2019s 228-horsepower engine, chassis\u00a0and suspension,\u00a0giving them serious punch over the base 147-horse Jetta\/Golf.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/9054c11a-c10c-4ba8-9af0-c064aaf15d4b-jetta_engine.JPG?crop=4000,2223,x0,y0&amp;width=660&amp;height=367&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/9054c11a-c10c-4ba8-9af0-c064aaf15d4b-jetta_engine.JPG?crop=4000,2223,x0,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=734&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 2020 VW Jetta GLI sports a 2.0-liter turbo-4 with 228 horsepower and a strong 258 pound-feet of torque.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 2020 VW Jetta GLI sports a 2.0-liter turbo-4 with 228 horsepower and a strong 258 pound-feet of torque.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The \u201984 Rabbit GTI, of course, was the original pocket rocket, coming to our shores in 1983. The second generation of the car adopted the Golf name in 1986.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The 1984 GTI was the first car I ever owned. It was a hoot. And a revelation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Taking a compact car and stuffing it with a performance engine, the Rabbit GTI was\u00a0the automotive equivalent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It was affordable, seated four \u2014 yet could instantly transform into a Tasmanian Devil picking on luxury cars twice its price. The V-dub\u00a0inspired a revolution of pocket rocket\u00a0including the Mazda3 Speed, Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Si.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Getting behind the wheel of the ol\u2019\u00a0\u201984 with its hot red interior (VW keeps it in its Virginia heritage collection, occasionally letting\u00a0it off its chain to play with journalists) brought the memories rushing back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Rabbit GTI was my post-college\u00a0daily driver. I flogged it for hours from my Charleston, West Virginia, home to court the future Mrs. Payne in St. Louis. On the odd weekend, I would ring its neck at a local autocross. We bonded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">We even shared some hillbilly DNA, as Rabbit (and sibling Jetta) body stampings were made in Charleston\u00a0before shipment to Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, for assembly. The Pennsylvania\u00a0factory \u2014 which punched out VWs\u00a0from 1978-87 \u2014 was the first\u00a0modern\u00a0foreign \u201ctransplant\u201d in the USA, to be followed by Honda and others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The \u201984 GTI\u00a0still felt relevant. It was the second historic VW\u00a0I\u2019d driven this year\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a 1964 Beetle.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/286a3cec-20a0-4ca5-a5f6-d24d55ee2b1e-jetta_lot.JPG?crop=3190,2252,x810,y0&amp;width=660&amp;height=466&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/286a3cec-20a0-4ca5-a5f6-d24d55ee2b1e-jetta_lot.JPG?crop=3190,2252,x810,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=932&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"America has gone gaga for trucks and SUVs -but compact cars like the 2020 VW Jetta GLI have kept up - providing interior size that nicely fits four.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"America has gone gaga for trucks and SUVs -but compact cars like the 2020 VW Jetta GLI have kept up - providing interior size that nicely fits four.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But the Bug felt like a museum piece, like an\u00a0old-fashioned typewriter. For sure, the Rabbit GTI lacked the technological wizardry that makes the Jetta so much more livable today. But I didn\u2019t feel like I&#8217;d\u00a0be blown off the road by a passing Chevy Suburban as I did in the (72 mph top speed) Beetle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Not that the Rabbit GTI was a Brink\u2019s armored\u00a0truck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Tipping the scales at just 2,100 pounds, it is remarkably lighter than its 3,200-pound Jetta GLI and Golf GTI successors. Credit that difference not just to more technology, safety systems\u00a0and sound insulation,\u00a0but to simple dimensions. The Jetta GLI wheelbase is 105 inches compared to the 95-inch Rabbit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Today\u2019s compact cars have gotten fatter, just like its drivers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I had to\u00a0stuffed into the Rabbit while the Jetta was a Barcalounger by comparison. But that also means the Rabbit felt whip-quick. Its 90-horsepower 1.8-liter four-banger seems puny by today\u2019s standards, but so does its one-ton weight.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">With an intuitive\u00a05-speed manual, the GTI was a treat to drive fast. Adding to the fun was a bratty engine note\u00a0that rewarded hard driving. The GTI is a VW icon,\u00a0its square shape and red highlights as recognizable as the Beetle\u2019s bulbous profile and round headlights. I got more than a few thumbs-up from motorheads as I sped around town.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Four decades on, the current Jetta GLI has a more\u00a0establishment feel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/9ab0c573-ec73-4844-80cb-3484678c0e54-rabbit_civic.JPG?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/9ab0c573-ec73-4844-80cb-3484678c0e54-rabbit_civic.JPG?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 1984 VW Rabbit GTI inspired a wave of pocket rockets including the Honda Civic Si (right).\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 1984 VW Rabbit GTI inspired a wave of pocket rockets including the Honda Civic Si (right).\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In addition to its size, Jetta is loaded with safety and tech features that would have seemed out of a sci-fi novel in 1984: blind-spot assist, auto rain-sense wipers, anti-lock brakes, automatic windows, rear camera, automatic headlights, push-button start, heated seats and Apple CarPlay\/Android Auto connectivity are standard for just $26,890. As is a 10-color, LED ambient lighting system that changes depending on which Drive Mode you&#8217;re in (Eco, Normal or Sport).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Yes, the 21st-century car is a marvel of electronic advances. But Jetta GLI is hardly a numbing experience. Ford may have dropped out of the pocket-rocket race when it ditched the Focus, but the Honda Civic Si and Hyundai Veloster N are serious segment challengers. Jetta GLI (and brother GTI) are up to the challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">GLI\u2019s 228 horsepower is 150%\u00a0more than my ol\u2019 Rabbit GTI, more than making up for its increased heft. Power-to-weight ratio in the Jetta is 1:12 compared to Rabbit\u2019s 1:23. Combine that with a whopping 258-pound feet of torque, and the turbocharged, 2.0-liter Jetta GLI flat-out goes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">A limited-slip differential up front assures stability, so I could really keep my foot on this beast out of corners.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/a541925b-9108-43ca-a3f3-89633ec05c05-rabbit_rear.JPG?crop=3971,2252,x0,y0&amp;width=660&amp;height=375&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/a541925b-9108-43ca-a3f3-89633ec05c05-rabbit_rear.JPG?crop=3971,2252,x0,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=750&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Fastest toaster in town. The rear view of the 1984 VW Rabbit GTI includes a loud little tailpipe.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Fastest toaster in town. The rear view of the 1984 VW Rabbit GTI includes a loud little tailpipe.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Establishment it may be (check out the conservative black interior), but GLI is true to the GTI\u2019s original mission as a driver\u2019s car. In addition to the expected power, Jetta GLI has a manual transmission option. The shifter is one of the best in the business with its notchy throws. It even\u00a0adds a sixth gear over the \u201984 model, enabling 32 mpg\u00a0highway compared to the Rabbit\u2019s 26 mpg.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Readers of this column know my preference is for the hot-hatch GTI (just as in 1984) over the GLI sedan \u2014 but the GLI\u2019s $1,800 cheaper sticker price can\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">When I sold my Rabbit GTI in the early \u201990s it was starting to rust along the rocker panels. Modern, galvanized steel steeds like the Jetta are better protected, adding to the GLI\u2019s more robust feel. And yet. &#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">There was no denying the GTI\u2019s personality. Like a favorite raspy rocker\u2019s soundtrack, the loud GTI\u00a0left me with a lot of memories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">That\u2019s the challenge of selling modern cars in the electronic age. Jetta GLI has its predecessor\u2019s performance appeal, but will you remember it in 30 years?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/dddb54b1-8888-42e8-a22e-431dd570c6f0-jetta_fr3-4.JPG?crop=3931,2252,x69,y0&amp;width=660&amp;height=379&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/dddb54b1-8888-42e8-a22e-431dd570c6f0-jetta_fr3-4.JPG?crop=3931,2252,x69,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=758&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The front-wheel-drive, 2020 VW Jetta GLI starts at just over $26 grand and brings a stronger engine and suspension than the base Jetta.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The front-wheel-drive, 2020 VW Jetta GLI starts at just over $26 grand and brings a stronger engine and suspension than the base Jetta.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><strong>1984 VW Rabbit GTI<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive, five-passenger, compact hatchback<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $8,350 ($21,232 in 2020 dollars, adjusted for inflation)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Powerplant: 1.8-liter, inline 4-cylinder<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power:\u00a090 horsepower, 105 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: 5-speed manual<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 9.7 seconds (Car and Driver); top speed, 104 mph<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 2,100 pounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fuel economy: EPA 21 mpg city\/26 highway\/23 combined<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Quick handling; bratty exhaust note<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: Tight cabin; loud interior<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 3\u00a0stars<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/ff866035-4022-4aa3-8ac6-8c8137123c19-rabbit_road.JPG?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/31\/PDTN\/ff866035-4022-4aa3-8ac6-8c8137123c19-rabbit_road.JPG?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 1984 VW Rabbit GTI likes to party on Oakland County's twisty roads. \" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 1984 VW Rabbit GTI likes to party on Oakland County's twisty roads. \" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><strong>2020 VW Jetta GLI<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive, five-passenger, compact sedan<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $26,890, including $895 destination charge<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Powerplant: 2.0-liter, inline turbo-4<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power:\u00a0228 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: 6-speed manual<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 5.8 seconds (Car and Driver); top speed, 126 mph<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 3,225 pounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fuel economy: EPA 25 mpg city\/32 highway\/28 combined<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Roomy interior; gobs of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: Sleepy exterior; lacks personality<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 3\u00a0stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The modern car is a technological wonder. Quiet, connected\u00a0and smooth, it\u2019s the rolling equivalent of a soothing, electronic pop song. But sometimes I get nostalgic for a raspy rocker with a string guitar. I was reminded of that feeling as I flogged a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI around the hills of Oakland County this summer. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25927"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25927"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25928,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25927\/revisions\/25928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}