When I was 16, my vehicle of choice was a MK3, or third-generation, Volkswagen Jetta. After seemingly seeing this era of economy sedan on the road for years, it has all but disappeared. I suspect this is due to it being a cheap car that was never particularly coveted, even in top-shelf trim levels. Therefore, it’s surprising when you see any model from this era appear in nice shape such as this MK3 Volkswagen Golf listed here on craigslist with under 30,000 miles for $8,000. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.

It really is a plight of cheap cars that they don’t survive. After all, once you’re onto your third or fourth owner, chances are that owner really is only buying this car because it’s under $5,000. I can still remember seeing my Jetta – which I poured way too much money and time into – being driven by an absolute maniac years later, weaving in and out of traffic in Poughkeepsie, NY. Eventually, the Carfax showed it as “destroyed” and I’m sure most MK3 Volkswagens (and economy cars from other makes) end up in the giant junkyard in the sky. This little Golf was clearly elderly-owned, as both the low mileage and lack of obvious abuse go to show.

The MK3s represented a bit of a leap at the time in terms of quality. Volkswagen hadn’t quite landed on going totally upmarket as a strategy but it definitely wanted to shake the image of just being a cheap car with decent fuel economy. The interior quality gradually improved and the options list also grew more generous. Leather seating surfaces, upgraded factory stereos, traction control, and heated seats were all on the menu for cars like the Jetta and Passat. It was also a time when VW’s marketing machine kicked into high gear and some of the best automotive ads of the 90s were produced by the German company, calling to mind some of the irreverent Beetle campaigns of the 60s and 70s. The 2.0L 8V engine under the hood is good for about 115 b.h.p., which can be woken up a bit with a chip and exhaust.

The seller has chosen to swap out the factory steel wheels and hubcaps for a set of aftermarket wheels that represent a style often associated with European cars (I call them “basketweaves,” or “Euro mesh” if you want to get nerdy.) The automatic transmission is a bit of a bummer but it’s absolutely a major reason why this hatchback hasn’t been modified, as the 5-speed would have made it a target for high school-grade modifications. The MK3 Golf will never be a major collectible but if you like clean German cars that you simply don’t see anymore, this preserved example is worth a look.