Volkswagen Scirocco Video Reviews

I've always had a soft spot for VeeDubs, ever since my Beetle days. The old Beetle that is, not the new fangled contraption. I had a '76, the very last model they sold here. The money I poured into that car . . .Learned to drive on a Beetle too, not that one but that's another story. It's not surprising I fell in love with the gorgeous Scirocco the first time I laid eyes on one. That was overseas somewhere, probably in Germany and I've had a hankering for one ever since. "When's it coming here?" I kept badgering Volkswagen. I even managed to corner the then manager of Volkswagen Australia Jutta Dierks in a car one day driving through Germany and boy she copped an ear full. The problem was, she explained, dealing with head office and getting the car in the exactly right specification, so it wouldn't upset VW's best selling Golf GTI. After months, no years of asking, my dream came true in 2011 when VW announced the Scirocco was finally coming here. It's ironic that it took me almost 12 months to get around to driving one?In terms of price, Scirocco sits between the Golf GTI and Golf R, priced from $47,990 $2500 less than the R and $7000 more than the GTi. The big gap between the GTI and Scirocco leaves some headroom for special editions like the recent GTI Edition 35 that also featured a more potent engine.Performane wise, the Scirocco also sits somewhere between the GTI and Golf R, with the latter's more powerful 188kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged engine (but not all-wheel drive). That is not necessarily a bad thing, because it makes the car lighter and more agile, with an adaptive chassis as standard equipment.The XDL (Extended Electronic Differential Lock) from the GTI provides maximum traction and generates plenty of fun through corners. It's no mistake that you can no longer buy a three-door Golf R either the three door/four-seat Scirocco is designed to fill that role. The choices are 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG for $2500 extra. Ours was the DSG - beggars can't be choosers.Even though this car is a few years old, it still looks as fresh as a daisy. The sweeping feline curves turn the Golf, for in reality it's still a Golf underneath, into one of the world's more desirable coupes. It will be interesting to see where the stylemeisters from Wolfsburg take the car next?As the benchmark for Euro hatches you'd have to include VW's own GTI regardless of what they think. Focus ST is also in there as is the Megane RS and soon to be released Opel Astra OPC  the latter promises 206kW. You'd also have to include the ubiquitous WRX and its long time sparring partner the EVO. What the Scirocco brings to the equation besides performance and does so with plenitude is style.Renault's Megane RS265, itself a super stylish hatch, takes the cake for performance in our estimation. The Scirocco lacks the Megane' razor edge, but is a more comfortable day to day proposition. That's not to take anything away from its performance, because it goes hard too and sits flat in corners, just as you'd expect with a wheel at each corner.The DSG might be quicker, but we reckon the manual is more fun to drive. In terms of fuel economy we were getting 12.8 litres/100km and it takes premium.Where do I sign? Bugger the fact it’s a bit long in the tooth, it still ticks all the boxes as far as this fan boy is concerned.

The new Golf-based Scirocco isn't actually very new. As a nameplate, Scirocco has been around since the 1970s and pre-dates even the Golf. But Australian buyers have spent decades lusting after the small coupe in vain.Until now. This model has been on sale in Europe since 2008 but arrives here, mid-lifecycle, for the first time. In the past, Volkswagen was concerned that the Scirocco would hit three-door Golf sales - or vice versa. The Scirocco is a Golf coupe, in effect, and the two models share engineering.So it has compromised. Only the top-spec Scirocco R is offered and the three-door Golf R has been deleted to make room. The Golf GTI still comes as a three-door or five.VALUEThe Scirocco R sits between those two go-fast Golfs on price and performance. It has the same 188kW turbocharged four-cylinder as the R but lacks its all-wheel drive, instead directing power to the front wheels only, like the GTI. It costs about $5000 more than a GTI but is $2500 more affordable than a Golf R.Aside from other Volkswagens, European performance three-doors under $50,000 are thin on the ground. Its closest rivals are a Mini Cooper S or a Renault Megane RS250. Both are desirable and slightly cheaper.DESIGNThere's less flamboyance about the Scirocco, although it's impossible to dislike its cultured Teutonic curves. Inside, it's as dark and sober a cabin as we've come to expect from Volkswagen, enlivened here and there by pleasing details, including a great wheel. The upholstery disdains the leather usually offered at this level for two-tone micro-fibre sports seats.The fronts tilt-slide for access to the back, where there's enough room for two adults although they sit a bit skewed because the rear seats are set inboard. The headrests need cut-outs to avoid obstructing rear vision. It's adequate, but forward sight is compromised through corners by extremely thick A-pillars.DRIVEThere were corners aplenty on the drive this week into the Victorian Alps, which turned on torrential rain and thick fog. It was an unwelcome test, but showed the car would be a podium chance at the winter Olympics. It lapped up the wet roads without missing a beat, holding its line through corners with unexpected levels of sureness. Against the odds, given the conditions, it was an enjoyable drive.The accurate steering makes it easy to place on the road and even though it isn't the most tactile relationship with the front wheels, you get a sense of what they're doing. I was left wondering whether the all-wheel drive in the Golf R was worth the extra cost. Removing the all-wheel-drive components mean the Scirocco is 125kg lighter than the Golf R and it felt lighter and more agile.This is partly thanks to a differential that works with the electronic stability control to selectively brake the inside wheel during hard cornering. The Scirocco also gets an adaptive suspension system as standard, with three modes from comfort to sport. Its wider track and larger 19-inch standard wheels also help, but I had doubts about what they would do for the ride quality. Even on the surprisingly good surfaces in Victoria's High Country, the ride could get fidgety. And noisy, with too much tyre roar.On pure straight line pace, the Golf R still has an edge. They share the same direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-litre with identical power and torque figures except for a slightly broader torque band in the hatchback. The Golf R's superior all-wheel drive traction allows it to overcome its weight disadvantage and sprint more quickly to 100km/h, by 0.3 seconds. In practice, they both feel respectably quick and the Scirocco DSG -- at 6.0s to the limit -- is almost a second quicker than the Golf GTI.This unit has an addictive mid-range that seems to go for ever and it's very flexible, so third gear is often low enough even for slow-speed corners. It pulls strongly uphill and doesn't even sound too bad for a turbocharged four, which can be a bit industrial on the ear.What it loses in pace, the Scirocco gains in efficiency with an idle-stop system making it easier on fuel. Unusually these days the manual, at 8.1 litres per 100km, slightly outperforms the six-speed double-clutch automatic. Since this engine requires 98RON, any margin is worthwhile and the gearbox has a neat action.VERDICTOf course, coupes mean compromise. You won't be able to load up at Ikea quite like you can in a Golf. It's a small price to pay. With the Scirocco, Volkswagen has a winner.