What is this car?

My wife took this photo and asked me what it was.  It looks like a Golf to me. WTF is this?

In reply to Shadeux :

Probably a Karmann logo on the B-pillar.

[edit for clarity: IIRC, the original post used to reference a "Porsche" logo on the B-pillar. Reference was removed.]

This is a Golf Cabrio.  Karmann has built VW convertibles since at least the '60s. 

Possible Karmann logo:

In reply to Leadfoot :

Is it imported or was it sold here? Never seen one before.  Looks mint! 

Shadeux said:

In reply to Leadfoot :

Is it imported or was it sold here? Never seen one before.  Looks mint! 

It was sold here, until 2002 when it was replaced with the beetle convertible and eventually the Eos as well. 

They were everywhere in the 90s. Not as many nowadays. 

Golf Cabrio

In reply to Slippery :

They were never as prevalent as the Rabbit cabrios from what I remember. Or maybe just not as iconic.

Keith Tanner said:

In reply to Slippery :

They were never as prevalent as the Rabbit cabrios from what I remember. Or maybe just not as iconic.

Probably because they were pretty expensive at the end of the run

Keith Tanner said:

In reply to Slippery :

They were never as prevalent as the Rabbit cabrios from what I remember. Or maybe just not as iconic.

They made the Rabbit Cabrio for longer - until 1992 or so, if the rusty brain-gears are spitting out the right number.  There was never an A2 based convertible, VW just kept cranking out Rabbits.  I can't remember if they kept K-jet until the end or if they switched to Digifant to make a somewhat rare way to put EFI in an A1 chassis car with all factory parts.  (I like K-jet but I had very very good luck with Digifant)

Likewise they didn't make an A4 based Cabrio either, they were still A3 based, just with an A4 looking front end.

I remember a novice bring one to an autocross and it had hilarious amounts of body roll. Like, '60s cars levels. It went around corners on its door handles.

I've seen them around a good bit. Seen them referred to as *female dog*baskets (not by me) as they were very popular with women.

Quite a few down here in south Florida, including a friend's mom, VR6 swapped them.

They are fun cars. I almost bought one for my wife, excuse to get one, about 20 years ago. 

Late Rabbit Cabbies were Digifart cars here in the US.  Did the changeover when the rest of the A2 cars did.

The later Cabrios were bases off the 2.0L A3 golf chassis.  

The last ones had a facelift to resemble the new A4 chassis cars.

I picked one up for the missus last summer.  I am no fan of the A3 chassis but she loves it.

As an unapologetic fan of the Rabbit Cabriolets I was hoping the Cabrio top might seal better than the A1 cars, Nope. Far worse actually.

Hers is the OBD2 ABA 2 liter with 5 speed. Dull as a dull thing but she thinks it is peppy.

Yeah, I remember it now. It's been so long since I've seen one I forgot about them.

I'm not sure I ever saw - or at least noticed - that generation of Cabriolet before. This despite having owned a Rabbit before, and having been interested in the old Cabriolets - at least until I drove one. Something about that car looks wrong. I think the wheelbase is longer and they end up with that goofy mini-trunk sticking out behind the top, coupled with the longer blank area behind the door, makes one goofy looking side profile. The old Rabbits were good looking cars, that Golf is not.

Much better looking, in my opinion.

These were so ubiquitous around me that I was honestly surprised anybody could forget them, but I cannot remember the last time I saw one. 

I always eschewed the idea of "hairdresser cars" and other such stereotypes, but somehow I could never think of these as anything but girly no matter how hard I tried. Looking back now, I'm not sure why entirely - it is a handsome design for sure.

Apexcarver said:

*female dog*baskets

Only thing I've ever heard them called. I think I leaned so hard into calling them all that because my buddy drove one and got super offended over it. I think because he always called my trans am a mullet ride and it didn't bother me.

dculberson said:

I'm not sure I ever saw - or at least noticed - that generation of Cabriolet before. This despite having owned a Rabbit before, and having been interested in the old Cabriolets - at least until I drove one. Something about that car looks wrong. I think the wheelbase is longer and they end up with that goofy mini-trunk sticking out behind the top, coupled with the longer blank area behind the door, makes one goofy looking side profile. The old Rabbits were good looking cars, that Golf is not.

Much better looking, in my opinion.

The original Golf/Rabbit had such nice clean lines, and those sharp edges were mirrored nicely in the shape of the top. I think that's why it worked. Everything's crisp, while the later one was just blobbly.

As for girl's car - Laura Holt had a white one in Remington Steele. So we always called them "Laura Holt cars".

In reply to Keith Tanner :

So many good shows/movies featured the OG Cabrio. 

I remember this one: