Is this VW Golf VR6 worth around 25,000 euros?

When the VW Golf III was launched at the end of 1991, there was a big surprise under the bonnet: a six-cylinder engine. VR6 was the name of the new top-of-the-range model with 174 PS and 235 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. No wonder this top-of-the-range Golf is highly prized by collectors today, while most other Golf IIIs have hardly any fans.

At the time, the German automobile club ADAC said of the VW Golf VR6: "A completely new way to drive a Golf! Six-cylinder comfort in a compact front-wheel-drive car - you have to experience it. Despite its enormous power, which makes drivers of the sporty BMW 3 Series or Mercedes 190 pale in comparison, the Golf is all about cruising, not speeding. The smoothness of the six-cylinder engine makes for a confident drive. And the standard equipment - including ABS, traction control and electric windows - is impressive".

Gallery: VW Golf VR6 (1992) for 25,000 euros at the Retromobile 2025

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Source: Motor1.com

Starting price in 1991: around DM 38,000, for which there was already a BMW 318i. Almost 35 years later, the ratio has almost reversed. Two 318i for one Golf VR6. At least in the case of this example, which we spotted at the Retromobile show in Paris. Yellow headlights give away the French version, the dark paintwork is typical of many Golf VR6s.

But it's the price that will knock your socks off: €24,990 (approx. £20,800) is written on the sign. The car is first hand and was registered on 11 May 1992. It has 140,438 kilometres (87,264 miles) on the clock. And for just under €25,000? In this country, good examples start at around €10,000.

But there are two reasons that could justify the high price: Firstly, the Golf VR6 is much rarer in France than in Germany. Secondly, the car has a service history and was last serviced in January 2025.

Wikipedia also admits: "As VR6 engines provide a good basis for performance upgrades, many examples have been modified. Vehicles in their original condition are therefore now very rare and fetch high prices on the used car market." But the question remains: Would this Golf be worth that much to you?

More on the Golf:

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