The Golf is not ten times more expensive today than 30 years ago, not even close, non even in nominal dollar value. Adjusted for inflation, a 1986 Golf would have to have retailed for less than $1000 for the 10x number to hold (the 2016 starts at $20k, which is about $9k in 1986).

Also, FWIW, the Golf of today seems to be more of a upscale car, where the 80's models felt substantially more of a no-nonsense workaday car.