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Less suitability for everyday use, but a sleeker look: The VW Scirocco should in contrast to its gene donor Golf be less boring. The question remains whether it will be boring or exciting at TÜV.
One or the other will indulge in blissful memories while remembering the VW Scirocco. The first generation of the coupé (1974 to 1981) and also the second (1981 to 1992) were particularly popular with fans. When the third edition (until 2008) made its debut after a 2017-year hiatus in 16, the hype about the sporty two-door car had long since flattened out. Other categories, especially SUVs, appealed to customers better. The series did not have a successor. Anyone who enjoys a used Scirocco must therefore look around the used car market.
Body and interior
The genetic donor of the 4,26-meter-long Scirocco is also the VW Golf in its last production unit, namely the one with the number VI. Unlike before, the relationship cannot be denied optically. Too much independence was waived in the development for cost reasons. What has remained is that the Scirocco is a little flatter (1,41 instead of 1,44 meters) and the rear is elongated. And of course the big doors are noticeable. These allow easy access to the front seats, provided that the portals can be opened wide enough.
The back is too cramped. The vehicle is intended for singles or couples who rarely need transport in the rear. At least the rear seat backrests can be folded down so that the trunk volume varies between 312 and 1.006 liters, depending on the seat configuration. Speaking of the rear: the rear view is limited. Parking beeper and reversing camera are recommended.
The Scirocco also does not have an independent cockpit. It was taken over from the Eos convertible. Operation is simple, the interior design is of high quality. The good seats deserve another plus. In 2014 the Scirocco received a facelift. There were small retouches on the lights and on the front apron. Since then, the tailgate has been opened using a handle disguised as a VW logo.
Motors and drive
The range of engines has the right unit for every type of driver, from restrained to sporty, and includes four-cylinder petrol and diesel. Buyers should be aware, however, that the vehicles with the 92 kW / 125 PS 1,4-liter entry-level version and the expansion stage with 118 kW / 160 PS feel anything but comfortable. The chassis is basically designed for hardness and should contribute to the overall sporty impression. The other TSI petrol engines do not give any cause for doubt about their sporting orientation: there is a choice of the two-liter TSI with 147 kW / 200 PS (since the end of 2009: 155 kW / 211 PS) and the top model R with 195 kW / 265 PS . The top speeds of the Otto engines range from 200 to 250 km / h, and the consumption is between 6 and 8,1 liters.
More economical are the 2,0-liter diesels, which produce 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS (since 2013: 130 kW / 177 PS) and impress with their torque of 320 and 350 (380) Nm respectively. On average, 4,5 to 5,1 liters flow through the lines here.
VW used the facelift to replace the engines with the then current Golf VII. Four petrol engines with the output levels 92 kW / 125 PS, 132 kW / 180 PS, 162 kW / 220 PS and - in the Scirocco R - 206 kW / 280 PS were introduced. Compared to the predecessor, the engines are up to 20 percent more powerful and 19 percent more economical. The two 2,0-liter diesels now developed 110 kW / 150 PS and 135 kW / 184 PS. The diesel engines are partially affected by recalls as part of the VW diesel scandal. Those interested in used cars should make sure that these recalls have been carried out.
All engines drive the front wheels, including in the R model, which, unlike the corresponding Golf, does not have all-wheel drive technology. The power is transmitted via a manual six-speed gearbox; as an alternative, most engines are also available with a dual-clutch gearbox.
Equipment and safety
In line with the high new price level of more than 22.000 euros at the time, the basic Scirocco is better equipped than an average Golf. Always on board are 17-inch wheels, air conditioning and sports seats, among other things. The desire to individualize was awakened by the long list of options, which in addition to leather upholstery, navigation or a panoramic roof also included a reversing camera or the adaptive chassis. In addition, the Scirocco could be visually enhanced with decorative inlays or larger light metal rims. Interested parties can look out for one of the many special models such as “Team”, “Edition”, “Match”, “Allstar”, “Sound” or “GTS”. Well-equipped specimens can be found here. In terms of safety, the two-door was up to date. It received a five-star rating in the 2009 NCAP crash test.
Quality
The TÜV inspectors are quite satisfied with the Scirocco vehicles driving up for the main inspection across all years. Compared to the average of all examined vehicles, the two-door models up to 7 years of age score better than the average in the “no defects” rating; from 8 years of age they are slightly higher. The biggest weak point is the broken strut. The generally more sporty driving style of the users is also likely to be the increased brake wear of the vehicles. In the case of older models, there are also more frequent defects in the exhaust system and oil leaks in the engine. Used car buyers should be aware of the well-known timing chain problem with 1.4 TSI engines.
Conclusion
The VW Scirocco is suitable for those who find the Golf too boring but still rely on familiar VW technology and quality. The fact that the Scirocco requires compromises in terms of utility compared to its compact brother is due to its nature. The offers in the used car portals start at around 4.500 euros.