Coming back from a knock down, drag out, bloodied knuckles fight.. the current reigning champion... the VW Rabbit/Golf Mk1.
A new contender arrives, fresh off of the boat from across the pacific. The "poor man's BMW" THe Datsun/Nissan 510
Weighing in with a multiple selection of engines and bodystyles. It could be had as a 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan, 2 door coupe', and a 5 door wagon. Engines ranged from an adequet 1.3 to a storming 2.0.
Beloved of Fanbois and gear heads....
FIGHT!
If you're going to put up a Mk1 Golf, at least use a Wolfsburg-built one. I've pulled fenders off one of each, and there is an enormous difference in build quality. Besides, they look better.
No question for me. One invented an entire genre of vehicles. The other won a few races against prettier Alfas. VW FTW.
510.
VW, /thread.
And I like 510s, just not the same thing.
510 all the way. It's the grand father of every imported tuner car ever built.
510 done up all BRE trans am like. Love love love the trans am 510's. Love them.
Bone stock, a GTI. Tweaked, say to street prepared form, a 2 dr. 510.
510.
510 any day of the week. Never ridden in, or driven either. The 510 talks to me. VW doesn't... I'm also curious as to what category of vehicle Keith is talking about that the VW generated? Was it something the Mini wasn't already? The Honda CVCC wasn't already?
the Hot Hatch... VW defined that market segment with the GTI
jimbob_racing wrote: 510 all the way. It's the grand father of every imported tuner car ever built.
That is almost reason enough for me to VW LOL
Almost
510
I want to like the 510, but it just doesn't quite do it for me. VW - but german built.
Corolla......
5 and dime - for the win: 4 wheel independent suspension
Datsun. I really want to race one.
Still bowing to the VW, it was one of "the cars" that I wanted in my youth.
Dime all the way. And I owned a '83 GTi.
GLHS
Teh E36 M3 wrote: 510 any day of the week. Never ridden in, or driven either. The 510 talks to me. VW doesn't... I'm also curious as to what category of vehicle Keith is talking about that the VW generated? Was it something the Mini wasn't already? The Honda CVCC wasn't already?
Mad Machine got it. The Mini wasn't a hot hatch - it wasn't a hatch. The CVCC wasn't a hot hatch. The GTi was an eye-opener in its time. Not only quick for its size, it was actually quick. About the same as a 914 2.0. And if you don't think it didn't create a massive tuning industry, you haven't been paying attention.
It's interesting to note that while I've been aware of the GTi for as long as I can remember, I only found out about the 510 a few years ago. And it's still not as good looking as the Alfas that were damn near as fast on the track 
I like both. If I had to choose one over the other it is a very simple choice for me. 510 all the way. Mostly because I hardly ever see them. Mk1 rabbits are not exactly everywhere, but they are plentiful compared to 510's. I only want a 510 2 door though (or in a pinch a wagon).
I see Keith's point, but to me there is really nothing revolutionary about GTI. They are Mini Cooper S's plus 20 years and a hatch. Was not the first small sporty fwd car. Sure the Mini was not a hatchback, but it was the same in spirit just 20 years ahead of the GTI.
V dub
510, since the rabbit lost its last bout 
Datsun 510. This "poor man's BMW" blew the doors of the the 2002's and Alpha GTV's in the under 2.5 Trans Am series.
I owned one of the original GTI's, great car, but not a classic. The 510 is a classic.
Absolutely no camparison here. Go with the 510.
510.
T.J. wrote: I like both. If I had to choose one over the other it is a very simple choice for me. 510 all the way. Mostly because I hardly ever see them. Mk1 rabbits are not exactly everywhere, but they are plentiful compared to 510's. I only want a 510 2 door though (or in a pinch a wagon). I see Keith's point, but to me there is really nothing revolutionary about GTI. They are Mini Cooper S's plus 20 years and a hatch. Was not the first small sporty fwd car. Sure the Mini was not a hatchback, but it was the same in spirit just 20 years ahead of the GTI.
There's always an example of prior art. Heck, Professor Porsche was noodling around with wheel-mounted electric motors powered by an on-board generator in 1901 - so the Volt is old news. But look at the sales of the GTi and the enduring effect on the market. It really did kick off the hot hatch genre, spawning an enduring type of cars that are still one of the most feverishly contested niches on the road - especially in Europe. Heck, the current MINI arguably has more in common with the Golf than the classic Mini when you look at packaging and design.
Meanwhile, the 510 was just a sedan that could be made fast on the racetrack. Just like a lot of sedans before and since 
I couldn't find either here in drivable form.
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