1998 Volkswagen Golf: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

6 builds left the factory as a 1998 Golf, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN.

  • 2 main configurations
  • 86 vehicles built
  • 1 for sale right now

Which Golf is yours?

Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.

Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.

Pick your Golf

Cost to run

19/26 mpg city/highway. Roughly $2,110/yr on fuel at 15,000 miles.

EPA estimate for the 1998 Golf

Safety, in plain English

What 3VWFB81H-W means

3VW FB81H · W
3VW
the World Manufacturer Identifier Volkswagen registered — assembled in Mexico
FB81H
together encode the Golf line — Hatchback, 2L 4cyl — as Volkswagen filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
W
in position 10 — model year 1998
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
4 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific Golf?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.