Citi Golf listed near R1m

Johannesburg – Another ultra low mileage Volkswagen Citi Golf has stirred conversation among motoring enthusiasts after being listed at close to the R1 million mark, The Citizen Motoring reports.

The vehicle is a 2010 Volkswagen Citi Golf 1.8i R Line currently advertised at a South African Volkswagen dealership for R999 900. The red hatchback has only 55km on the odometer and is described by the seller as brand new, unused and retaining its original mileage.

Interest in rare Citi Golfs has been growing. Last year, a Citi Golf Mk1 LTD drew attention when a reported R550 000 bid was rejected at auction, with the owner said to be holding out for a R1 million offer. That car had just 29km on the clock and was number three of the final 1 000 Citi Golfs produced at the Volkswagen plant in Kariega. Numbers 001 and 002 are housed at the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg and the Autopavilion in Uitenhage, making that example the only privately available vehicle from the trio.

The Citi Golf 1.8i R Line, while not a numbered special edition, is regarded as one of the rarest variants of the long running model. Volkswagen South Africa developed it as a modern nod to the original Mk1 GTI. Fewer than 400 units were produced between 2006 and 2008.

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 1.8 litre petrol engine delivering 90kW and 162Nm of torque, surpassing the output of the original Mk1 GTI. The car drives the front wheels through a five speed manual gearbox and has a claimed top speed of 190kmh. Volkswagen stated that the roughly 900kg hatchback could accelerate from zero to 100kmh in 8.5 seconds.

Styling upgrades included a bespoke body kit with revised front and rear bumpers, wheel arch extensions and side skirts, along with a rear spoiler and 15 inch Velociti alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin featured elements borrowed from the Mk1 Skoda Fabia, such as brushed aluminium trim on the dashboard, aluminium pedals and red detailing on the seats and carpeting.

When it was introduced, the Citi Golf 1.8i R Line carried a price tag of R115 920.