Former Top Gear and The Grand Tour host James May does, like many of us, have a love for certain cars. There is one car that always stood out to him, however, and in a recent video on YouTube, May has bought what might be the coolest hot hatch ever, and his dream 1980s car.
May has bought the Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI eight-valve, possibly one of the coolest cars ever made in the 1980s. The video on his Planet Gin YouTube channel sees May talk through his new car and why he wanted to buy it.
There is no denying that the Volkswagen Golf GTI is an all-time classic. Many regard it as the greatest hot hatch ever made, and the 1980s seemed like a very special time for the German car. It clearly left a mark on May, hence his desire to finally own one.
He said that his explanation for buying it was long-winded and that we should all get comfortable. But this is James May, a master of storytelling. So, we really can sit back and relax and enjoy listening to a motoring legend discuss a dream car.
Why Did James May Buy the VW Golf GTI MK2?
May explained that back when the Golf GTI Mk2 was new, a few of his mates had one of them. However, he didn’t. “I had a crappy job, and I was poor. I lived in London, and I moved around mainly by bicycle,” said May. He said he could never have the “money, the clothes, or the connections to be upwardly mobile” in the 1980s to be able to buy one of the amazing hot hatchbacks.
However, since then, things have changed. May is now super successful and is in a position to finally own one of these incredible hot hatchbacks. So he now does. As he said in the video, “I’m not bitter or anything, but I think this is what is called closure.” It probably doesn’t take a genius long to work out that May was incredibly happy to finally own one of these epic cars.
The 1.8-liter engine produces 112hp, which isn’t a lot by 2026 standards. But for the 1980s, it was perfect, and something else you have to remember is how light the GTI is. It weighs less than a tonne, around 2,000lbs, which is incredibly light by modern standards. Few cars now weigh that little, which means it is incredibly perky and agile in the corners. Something May absolutely loves.
Smaller Than a Fiat Panda
One other thing that amazed May about the car was its size. Or more accurately, how small the VW Golf GTI is compared to the Fiat Panda. The Panda itself is already quite small, and May even looked up the size difference between the two, and yes, the Golf is smaller than his Panda. May allows himself to indulge in a few of the car’s quirky features, such as the manually operated windows and sunroof, which seemed to be a trend in the 1980s.
“This is perky,” May said as he put the car through its paces. He did admit that the interior felt a little brittle, especially compared to how refined they are in modern cars. He even said the car felt vulnerable on motorways due to its size, but on twistier and slower roads, the car comes alive. “It becomes a thing of great pleasure,” smiled May.
May Was Clearly in Love With His New Golf
It was quite clear from the video that May had fallen for his new purchase. May was also astounded that the car had survived in such good condition, with only around 30,000 miles on the odometer. The smile on his face really did say it all, and the Golf GTI, as May said, “pretty bloody good.” It was perhaps only natural that he should finish the journey at the pub he co-owns and enjoy a nice, refreshing pint.