Quoted: My first car was an 84 Rabbit GTI. I learned how to drive with that car. 5 speed with a little 16 valve 4 cylinder engine it was quick. Loved the hand crank sunroof, . Ahh, good old days.
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I owned a white '83 Rabbit GTI for seven years (from 1989 to 1996). It was a stock 1.8 liter, 8 valve engine. I don't think VW offers four-valve heads until 1987. That motor was a torquey SOB. Loved to drive it, except on the highway. 5th gear was WAY too short, would wind the motor out to stay at 80 mph. Previous suggestion to install a Euro 5th gear was wise. I also had to replace the axle shafts after about 100K miles, and the struts/rear shocks at 115K. Driving it hard took it's toll on the suspesion with some sticky Pirellis on the stock 14" AL wheels. The biggest performance robbing item on a Rabbit GTI was the 4into1 cast iron exhaust manifold. It sucked. The single down pipe was WAY to restrictive. The best solution was to replace it with a later model dual down pipe/manifold. Opened up the top end big time. I never did it, as my GTI was a daily driver, and an only vehicle. The other easy upgrade was larger roll-bars front and rear, and a strut tower brace in the front to really stiffen it up and give much more responsive steering feel.
Good luck with your search.