RE: VW Scirocco R | Spotted

[PorkInsider]

The rear end is so ugly I can't get past that to consider the rest of the car really.

[JD82]

The Vambo said:

I had a facelifted one, excellent car in every way except the leather seats were as comfortable as a church pew.

It never did get under my skin though.

Assuming the seats are the same basic structure as the 2.0TSI then I completely agree - a year in, and they're the worst aspect of the car by a mile. Do all VAG of this era share them?

[Tuvra]

manracer said:

We don't say an E36 M3 isn't worth entertaining because it's now 3 generations old. So what gives?

This is a very good point.

[Unbusy]

I can’t see me ever buying a golf based on looks. I find them rather bland, but the scirocco always catches my eye as I prefer the coupe style.
How difficult would it be to put the 2.0 turbo engine into one? No doubt that would overpower the fwd so could one be made into awd? Maybe if I win the lottery!

[cerb4.5lee]

Unbusy said:

I can’t see me ever buying a golf based on looks. I find them rather bland, but the scirocco always catches my eye as I prefer the coupe style.

I'm the same and I almost fall asleep when I look at a Golf because they are so boring to look at. Whereas I like that these are a little different plus I always prefer two doors to four.

[asimmalik]

I'd have a Peugeot RCZ R over one of these. Better drivers car, quicker and about £2-3k cheaper. Looks are subjective but I prefer the RCZ on that front too.

[andrewparker]

asimmalik said:

I'd have a Peugeot RCZ R over one of these. Better drivers car, quicker and about £2-3k cheaper. Looks are subjective but I prefer the RCZ on that front too.

Better drivers car according to who? EVO would disagree with you – https://www.evo.co.uk/peugeot/rcz/14134/peugeot-rc...

"It might not turn as many heads, but in a magazine dedicated to the thrill of driving, the Scirocco has to win."

[The Vambo]

asimmalik said:

I'd have a Peugeot RCZ R over one of these. Better drivers car, quicker and about £2-3k cheaper. Looks are subjective but I prefer the RCZ on that front too.

Except the RCZ R is a worse drivers car, less powerful, slower and the same price new?

[asimmalik]

andrewparker said:

Better drivers car according to who? EVO would disagree with you – https://www.evo.co.uk/peugeot/rcz/14134/peugeot-rc...

"It might not turn as many heads, but in a magazine dedicated to the thrill of driving, the Scirocco has to win."

Neither car there is the R.

Here is the one you were looking for

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/comparis...

Edited by asimmalik on Monday 10th June 13:41

[asimmalik]

The Vambo said:

Except the RCZ R is a worse drivers car, less powerful, slower and the same price new?

They're not new cars are they so I've no idea why you would quote the price new which is irrelevant. As we speak the RCZ is the cheaper car.

And I stand corrected on the power front. I'd not realised they upped the power on the Scirocco mid cycle but on release they were 261bhp which was less than then Pug.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Surprised so many dislike the looks of the Scirocco. I have never bought into the 'coupe' label for it, as with the Alfa Brera but, if you think of it as a sleeker, three-door, then I think it's a decent looking car really, especially in R form.

I did consider one at one stage but, the issue for me is that, for £10-15k, it's up against some stiff opposition. For that money, if you want a slightly impractical three-door hot hatch, the Megane R.S. 250/265/275 or Astra J VXR would be higher up my list than the Scirocco. Obviously the VW is going to have a nicer dash/infotainment system and is a little better screwed together, but the Meg and Astra appeal more from an exterior perspective. The Renault will be a better drive. The same might be said for the Astra too, as I was very impressed by it, despite thinking I would hate it.

Regardless, I still like the Scirocco R. I think people are being a bit hard on it.

[Court_S]

I’ve always quite liked these as a slightly more interesting version of the Golf. I think it’s a bit of a shame that it limped on for so long without major changes.

[HRCM]

manracer said:

I see this mentioned a lot on PH about the chassis being 2 generations behind.

What real difference does this make to an average owner on the road? Because I regularly drive a Leon 290 and a 18 plate Scirocco R and I'm not sure it's that much.

Same with the engine. All this talk about ea888 vs ea113. Truth be told IMO there is hardly anything in engine performance or economy or chassis that I think it's worthy of discounting the older over the newer.

I actually think the dynamic chassis in the Scirocco seems to offer more of a change per driving mode that the newer chassis.

Also, given that the Mk6 is a Mk5 chassis, isn't it only one generation behind?

We don't say an E36 M3 isn't worth entertaining because it's now 3 generations old. So what gives?

Edited by manracer on Monday 10th June 12:01

Nicely put.

[Jayho]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Surprised so many dislike the looks of the Scirocco. I have never bought into the 'coupe' label for it, as with the Alfa Brera but, if you think of it as a sleeker, three-door, then I think it's a decent looking car really, especially in R form.

I did consider one at one stage but, the issue for me is that, for £10-15k, it's up against some stiff opposition. For that money, if you want a slightly impractical three-door hot hatch, the Megane R.S. 250/265/275 or Astra J VXR would be higher up my list than the Scirocco. Obviously the VW is going to have a nicer dash/infotainment system and is a little better screwed together, but the Meg and Astra appeal more from an exterior perspective. The Renault will be a better drive. The same might be said for the Astra too, as I was very impressed by it, despite thinking I would hate it.

Regardless, I still like the Scirocco R. I think people are being a bit hard on it.

I'm going to have to disagree slightly with you here. By all means I feel the Mégane and Astra are slightly more accomplished cars, but in terms of exterior, much prefer the sleek lines of the Scirocco. For me the Scirocco fits perfectly in any setting, whereas the other 2 would look slightly out of sorts in certain places.

Thinking back to the Monaco casino advert the VW Golf had those years back, I feel it can easily be replicated with the Scirocco. The other 2? Not so much.

[DoubleD]

Jayho said:

I'm going to have to disagree slightly with you here. By all means I feel the Mégane and Astra are slightly more accomplished cars, but in terms of exterior, much prefer the sleek lines of the Scirocco. For me the Scirocco fits perfectly in any setting, whereas the other 2 would look slightly out of sorts in certain places.

Thinking back to the Monaco casino advert the VW Golf had those years back, I feel it can easily be replicated with the Scirocco. The other 2? Not so much.

Sleek lines?! On a scirocco?!

[thecremeegg]

Used to see loads of Sciroccos but I barely see them now - what happened to them all?!

[smithyithy]

thecremeegg said:

Used to see loads of Sciroccos but I barely see them now - what happened to them all?!

I see a fair few on my commute and they're almost always driven by absolute bellends, probably just coincidence though

[manracer]

it would be interesting, for all that have an opinion on the looks of scirocco also state what they drive.

I have one on lease as it was mega cheap, and i dont mind it. I would rather drive it than an equivalent golf. (though i do admit i havent bonded with it like my gti edition 30)

some say a golf gti/ golf r is just a golf at the end of the day, perhaps even that a golf is a car your nan may own.

So they make it look different, change the shape - then everyone says they dont see the point and would rather have a golf.

[DoubleD]

manracer said:

it would be interesting, for all that have an opinion on the looks of scirocco also state what they drive.

What would that prove? It wont make the scirocco any less ugly.

[cerb4.5lee]

manracer said:

it would be interesting, for all that have an opinion on the looks of scirocco also state what they drive.

I have one on lease as it was mega cheap, and i dont mind it. I would rather drive it than an equivalent golf. (though i do admit i havent bonded with it like my gti edition 30)

some say a golf gti/ golf r is just a golf at the end of the day, perhaps even that a golf is a car your nan may own.

So they make it look different, change the shape - then everyone says they dont see the point and would rather have a golf.

It is a funny one I agree. The Golf has never done anything for me personally but I've been very close to buying a Scirocco a few times. I still may even get one in the future because I've always really liked the looks and the interior.

Generally the buying public don't seem to like 2 door cars though(lots of manufacturers are dropping 2 door cars now because they just don't sell), and they would much rather have a four door for the added ease/practicality. I'm the opposite and I'm happy to compromise for the better looks(imo) because I associate four door cars as boring family cars(rightly or wrongly).