Sympathetic Golf-with-butt
It took some getting used to when Volkswagen gave the Jetta successor a different name in the 1990s. The Volkswagen Vento became a short chapter in Volkswagen history, which is being opened again thanks to this copy.
In terms of appearance, the Volkswagen Golf III clearly went in a more modern direction than its predecessor and that certainly applied to the ‘Golf with butt’. Volkswagen also thought it was time for a different name and decided to switch from the Jetta to the Vento. Not a name of a well-known wind, as with the Passat and the Scirocco, but simply the Italian (and Portuguese) word for ‘wind’. To set it apart even more from the Golf, not only a butt, but also a significantly different front was introduced under the leadership of then Volkswagen designer Herbert Schäfer. Just like with the Golf III, the design critics certainly did not like it at the time. The high trunk lid in particular looked a bit unusual, although it did ensure that the Vento had quite a bit of luggage space for a compact sedan (550 liters).
In the 1990s, the Vento often found its way to sales representatives who appeared a little more serious with a Vento than with a Golf. They often drove the less fortunate examples, not a fairly luxurious 1.8 GL as we have in front of us here. On the fourth day of 1996, this Vento simply went home with a private individual, who would then keep it with him for eleven years. He did not have a busy life there, nor did he have a busy life with his second owner, who drove it from 2007 to 2021. After all, the odometer only shows 141,000 km. That, together with the machine, may indicate that they may have been elderly people. The Vento has ended up with an older audience more often than the Golf. The optical condition also testifies to careful handling.
All in all, it’s still quite a handsome car. One that, with its electrically operated windows, electrically adjustable side mirrors, central locking and Thermotronic climate control, has quite modern conveniences on board for its age. All in all, is it worth the €3,500 that is being asked for it? There is undoubtedly someone who has a soft spot for this model and then this is a nice Vento to go for. There may be some room for reduction in the price.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl