From the Publisher
Autoist, April 2007
Publication of the Volkswagen Club of America (USA)
Picking up a copy of my quarter-century old book "Getting The Most From Your Rabbit" – especially if one were lucky enough to have the three updates done for it in '82, '83 and '84 in the pages of this magazine – one might be motivated to ask, "What happened after that?" As if in answer, Veloce Publishing, of merry old England, just sent me its new book, VW Golf – Five Generations of Fun.
The roughly 8-by-l0 firm-cover book is written by Richard Copping, with many of the photographs taken by Ken Cservenka. It's available at Amazon.com for about $23. You can check it out at www.veloce.co.uk (type "Golf" in the search box), where the publisher says: "The combination of model history, coupled to hot hatch performance, all comprehensively illustrated through major photo shoots and detail pictures, make this the complete guide to the five Golf generations. With all models, including Golf spin-offs, assessed, enthusiast-driving opinions shared and marketing policy discussed, this book is a unique hot Golfology!"
U.S. readers are going to be surprised at the publisher's use of color (colour, the Brits say) – on every page. It's packed with bright photographs that are sometimes dazzling, even under-hood shots coming alive in both factory photos and show shoots. While there is obviously a GTI emphasis, no UK model, even minor decorative series, is left out.
Of course, the book concentrates on the UK versions of the cars, but the rest of the world is not completely ignored: The author notes, for example, that in the United States, it was – and is now again – the Rabbit. In fact, American readers are going to find the most familiar territory in the last chapter.
Wheelspin, August 2008
The magazine of the London & Thames Valley VW Club, UK
When I was asked to review 'Golf – Five Generations of Fun' I wasn't expecting much – most model specific books I've come across in the past have usually been all glossy photographs and minimal text, but that view swiftly changed when I opened the book and turned to the contents page. Commencing with a brief history pre-Golf and concluding by mentioning the Rabbit, Vento/Bora/Jetta and cabriolet models this book has it all, but it is the chapters covering the five generations of hatchback that people will be interested in and where I was most impressed. So comprehensive is this book that I defy any anorak to come up with a missing fact - along with background information on each model the text provides detailed specifications and documents the changes and upgrades afforded to each generation of Golf. Concluding the hatchback history are the MK5 R32 and GTI Edition 3o models which to my knowledge only leaves out the later release Pirrelli Edition and very recently announced MK6! While the text is well written and detailed, that is only half the story and it is the images which really impress. With a mixture of brochure images, original advertising posters and show car pictures the glossy detailed images that accompany each chapter richly illustrate how the Volkswagen Golf has evolved from cute baby (MK1) to chubby teen (MK4) and on to current grown up incarnation that is so plentiful on the UK roads – testament to the enduring popularity of Volkswagen's family hatchback. I'm sure you've realized by now that I really enjoyed this book and as a MK5 owner perhaps I'm a little biased, but with comprehensive information on each of the five generations of Golf and those wonderful photographs it is a must-have for any Volkswagen fan.
"At a chunky 176 pages and filled with more than 200 pictures, it really is a definitive guide for VW fans amongst us." – Track Driver
