RE: Volkswagen Scirocco: Spotted

[Chris1973]

I've had 3 in a row as company cars, clocking up nearly 500,000 miles since 2010. They've all been diesels I'm afraid (due to the miles I do) but all have been fantastic and I'm genuinely gutted they've stopped making them and I can't get another one.

I love the black wheels (although there's not much love on here for them!) and I do love a bread van so I love they way they look. The only real problem has been the afore mentioned wheels which are made of chocolate and with the current state of our roads I have managed to break 7 (yes SEVEN) of them in that time. At £875 each...

Montage of all three on my the old army road, Spittal of Glenshee!

[anonymous-user]

I remember being rather disappointed when I saw the new Scirocco, and it was really more like a three door Golf with a bit less practicality than an actual coupe in exchange for being ever so slightly more interesting looking. Seemed a bit pointless, but owners seem to like them a lot.

[xjay1337]

dme123 said:

I remember being rather disappointed when I saw the new Scirocco, and it was really more like a three door Golf with a bit less practicality than an actual coupe in exchange for being ever so slightly more interesting looking. Seemed a bit pointless, but owners seem to like them a lot.

Bodyshell is quite substantially stiffer as well.

[giveitfish]

And wider track too.

[RJG46]

Would have loved a MK1 Scirocco at some point but most had rotted away by the time I started driving. The MK2 sold very well in comparison with the earlier one. The MK1 Golf didn’t really take off until the arrival of the GTi. Let us not forget these cars were launched at a time when most people were happy to buy British made st over anything else.

[vrtrooper]

Anorak time. The MK1 & 2 were made by Karmann. The MK3 were made at the AutoEuropa factory near Lisbon, which was originally a joint Ford and Volkswagen operation.
Think the list of cars made by Karmann would be a separate topic.

[2172cc]

Maybe I was just unlucky and got a bad one but for me it was the most unreliable disappointing car I've owned. Wanted desperately to love it as it looks great but never really gelled with it and couldn't wait to get rid.

[JD82]

Got mine in May this year on 104k miles. 2.0TSI 211PS and DSG. Enjoying it a lot as a jack of all trades kind of car. It was cheap enough that I don’t worry too much about the kerbs and car parks, but it polishes up well. All I’ve done is oil service, change the dsg oil, new wiper blades and new air con pipe seal as it had corroded. Other than that, all good... BUT I cannot for the life of me get on with the seats. Backache from them pushing me into a hunched sort of driving position and even though I’m only 5’10 my head is very close to the roof, even with the seat at its lowest. Weird.

Edited by JD82 on Monday 12th November 07:25

[Frimley111R]

GT03ROB said:

I had both Mk1 & Mk2 GTi's. The steering was never heavy. Well except when I damaged the rack on the Mk1.

I had a 205 GTI with wider 195 section front tyres on and never noticed the heavy steering despite no pas. However a few years after cars with pas and my sisters 1.0 Citroen AX on skinny tyres was a nightmare to park. It's amazing what you get/got used to.

[Pericoloso]

vrtrooper said:

Anorak time. The MK1 & 2 were made by Karmann. The MK3 were made at the AutoEuropa factory near Lisbon, which was originally a joint Ford and Volkswagen operation.
Think the list of cars made by Karmann would be a separate topic.

Many cars made by Karmann are right old rust buckets ,even the deity that is the Escort RS Cosworth has it's body problems.

[greenarrow]

Frimley111R said:

GT03ROB said:

I had both Mk1 & Mk2 GTi's. The steering was never heavy. Well except when I damaged the rack on the Mk1.

I had a 205 GTI with wider 195 section front tyres on and never noticed the heavy steering despite no pas. However a few years after cars with pas and my sisters 1.0 Citroen AX on skinny tyres was a nightmare to park. It's amazing what you get/got used to.

the wife had a 1.9 GTI for 11 years, only sold it 4 years ago. One thing I admired about her really, that she would drive around in a car without PAS years after PAS became standard on almost everything. TBH not many women would put up with that. However, I have to disagree that about not noticing the heavy steering. It was a bit of a pig when parking as even our burly garage owner used to comment when he took it in for its servicing!! Obviously when up and running, the steering feel was a delight.

On the topic of Sciroccos, always baffled me that VW never developed it. It just soldiered on for best part of 10 years during which time the Golf GTI got major updates with the Mk6 and Mk7. I'd imagine though that like most VWs its a great all year rounder. Softer than something like a Megane RS, so something that will be easy to hack about in during the current wet and slimy weather, but still a decent steer in the summer on that empty B road.

Would definitely consider one in the £5-6K bracket.

[1974foggy]

Drive Blind said:

I wanted to like the Scirocco but I just couldn't get over the looks. The front was fine but the back 3/4's view was a mess. After seeing one in the flesh I couldn't unsee it.

Same, Ive always had a love/hate relationship with the looks.
I would pick a nice unmolested Golf GTI over one every time.

[Jon_S_Rally]

When I saw this article, I knew there would be the standard "Black wheels are awful". This place is so predictable.

I like these. A friend had one for a couple of years. Nice looking cars though, like the Alfa Brera, I think it's a stretch to call it a coupe, given it's length-to-height ratio. Regardless, they're a handsome car in my eyes.

[LennyM1984]

I've had mine for 9 years and it has been a fantastic daily. Fast enough to be fun but comfortable enough for trips around the m25.

Ironically It is being traded in on Friday for a Jaguar Xe but that is only due to the stipulations of my work car allowance and the need for a few extra doors.

[rallycross]

They really missed a trick with these new shape Scirocco's, its just a very slightly squished Golf, these are so high it's barely even a coupe.

My first VW's were Mk1 Scircco's loved how they looked and the low down driving position.

[cuprabob]

I've had one for over 7 years but I alway reverse Park it so I don't have to look at the rear

[Black S2K]

JD82 said:

Got mine in May this year on 104k miles. 2.0TSI 211PS and DSG. Enjoying it a lot as a jack of all trades kind of car. It was cheap enough that I don’t worry too much about the kerbs and car parks, but it polishes up well. All I’ve done is oil service, change the dsg oil, new wiper blades and new air con pipe seal as it had corroded. Other than that, all good... BUT I cannot for the life of me get on with the seats. Backache from them pushing me into a hunched sort of driving position and even though I’m only 5’10 my head is very close to the roof, even with the seat at its lowest. Weird.

Edited by JD82 on Monday 12th November 07:25

Glad it's not just me, then! I thought it was.

I never got beyond the showroom, as I could not get on with the ergonomics at all.

[dickew]

On their new car website, VW GB had the Scirocco listed under hatchbacks and the Beetle as a coupe. Says it all, really.

[godzilla84]

Bought a 2.0 (170bhp) diesel one for my fiancée about a year ago. We both love it. It’s a fairly low spec one but it’s a riot to drive. Same colour as the one in the article but with silver wheels.

[cobra kid]

Spotted??

Are these now a rarity on our roads?