| HISTORY | | | | around £18,500 for one of these cars whereas a |
| Golf coupes were by no means a new idea when this | | | | 140bhp 2.0-litre diesel on the same plate will be £500 |
| Volkswagen Scirocco was launched in 2008. The first | | | | more. The 2.0-litre TSI was the first Scirocco on the |
| car to carry the Scirocco name (derived from Sirocco, | | | | scene and these still command £20,000 for an |
| the Italian for wind, if you're interested) was launched in | | | | 08-plate car that was £20,700 when new. The DSG |
| 1974 and based around mk1 Golf mechanicals. It was | | | | gearbox works a treat and comes at a £1,200 |
| superseded in 1982 by a heavily revamped Scirocco | | | | premium while GT trim is worth another £1,000 more. |
| mk2 which shared the same platform. The Scirocco | | | | WHAT TO LOOK FOR |
| didn't disappear from the Volkswagen range until 1988 | | | | Keep a look out for cars that have been flogged by |
| when the Corrado arrived on the mk2 Golf platform to | | | | overenthusiastic owners and ensure that servicing has |
| replace it but when production of that car ceased in | | | | been attended to diligently. Otherwise the Scirocco has |
| 1996, so did the burgeoning dynasty of cars combining | | | | a strong reputation for reliability. If the car has been |
| Golf basics with coupe bodywork. | | | | equipped with the optional DSG paddle-shift |
| Though the Golf GTI models were on hand to satisfy | | | | gearchange, check that all ratios engage smoothly and |
| Volkswagen customers looking for something sporty, | | | | cleanly, especially reverse. DSG problems are a very |
| they have never been cars with the power to | | | | costly fix. |
| transform pedestrians into gawping fools with a simple | | | | REPLACEMENT PARTS |
| drive past. Volkswagen went without a real | | | | (approx based on a 2008 Scirocco 2.0TSI GT ex Vat) |
| head-turner for more than a decade before the | | | | A clutch assembly will be around £150 and an |
| long-awaited revival of the Scirocco in 2008. | | | | alternator should be close to £200. Brake pads front |
| This Scirocco is based on the oily bits of the Golf mk5 | | | | and rear are about £65 and £55 respectively. |
| which aren't a million miles away from those employed | | | | ON THE ROAD |
| in the mk6 car. It was unveiled to much appreciation at | | | | With a zingy turbocharged petrol engine installed, the |
| the 2008 Geneva Motorshow, having been strongly | | | | Scirocco is nothing short of infectious. The |
| hinted at by the IROC concept car which starred at | | | | underpinnings, as we've said, are purloined from the |
| Paris two years earlier. | | | | mk5 Golf but VW's engineering trickery has |
| Launched with the Golf GTI's 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged | | | | succeeding in making the little coupe feel more than |
| petrol engine and the option of standard or GT trim, | | | | the sum of its parts - and the Golf itself is no slouch in |
| the Scirocco was soon bolstered by the arrival of a | | | | the driving enjoyment stakes. In many cases, drivers |
| 2.0-litre TDI powerplant in 140 and 170bhp guises. The | | | | will be predisposed to bond with the Scirocco, having |
| engine range grew further with the inclusion of the | | | | been seduced by its pert and beautifully detailed |
| 160bhp twin-charge petrol engine which made up for a | | | | exterior prior to lowering themselves inside. |
| smallish 1.4-litre capacity by bolting on turbocharger and | | | | The TDI diesel definitely removes a little of this sheen. It |
| supercharger. The flagship 2.0 TSI unit was upgraded | | | | isn't as sweet-sounding with a power delivery less |
| from 200bhp to 210bhp in 2009. | | | | linear than the petrol options and a less than thrilling |
| In 2010, an entry-level 1.4 TSI petrol engine was | | | | 0-60mph acceleration time of 9.3s in 140bhp form but |
| introduced with a turbocharger and 122bhp. At the | | | | the essential vitality of the Scirocco remains. The |
| opposite end of things, Volkswagen launched the | | | | 2.0-litre TDI might lag behind in a straight foot race to |
| Scirocco R high performance model. This used the | | | | 60mph but with 320Nm of torque output even in |
| 265bhp version of the 2.0 TSI engine that was | | | | 140PS guise, it has a mid-range surge of power that |
| previously seen in the Audi S3 but unlike the | | | | puts even the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol unit in the shade and |
| four-wheel-drive Golf R which debuted around the | | | | it makes a surprisingly capable long-distance car. |
| same time, it stuck with the front-wheel-drive layout of | | | | There's also the little matter of 55mpg economy to |
| the standard Sciroccos. | | | | factor in. |
| WHAT YOU GET | | | | The 2.0-litre turbo is the engine to have with its smooth |
| The styling is a big part of the Scirocco's attraction. | | | | power delivery and involving engine note. 0-60mph |
| The car is poised, shapely, modern and suitably far | | | | takes 7.2s in the 200bhp version and economy will still |
| removed from the Golf it shares its platform with. The | | | | come close to 40mpg. The 160bhp 1.4-litre TSI unit, if |
| powerful rear haunches and the dramatic roofline that | | | | anything, is even more effervescent with an 8s |
| drops to meet them still stand out while the thin grille | | | | 0-60mph time and 42mpg making it a decent |
| serves to visually widen the car. Volkswagen isn't | | | | substitute for the range-topper. |
| known for its stylistic innovation but this is one model | | | | The key to the advances made by the Scirocco's |
| where the marque hit the nail on the head. | | | | handling over the equivalent Golf centre around its |
| The Scirocco cabin cocoons its occupants in familiar | | | | dynamic aids. Most models feature advanced |
| Volkswagen design cues and build quality. The cocoon | | | | Adaptive Chassis Control offering three |
| will be on the tight side for adults in the rear seats but | | | | driver-selected settings - comfort, normal and sport. |
| the two front berths provide comfort, space and a | | | | The system's influence extends to the steering |
| well judged driving position for the person behind the | | | | system: should ‘sport' be selected, the steering |
| three-spoke sports steering wheel. The interior is airy | | | | firms up to provide more feel while ‘comfort' mode |
| and light, and the optional panoramic sunroof further | | | | makes the steering lighter and easier to operate at low |
| emphasises the feeling of spaciousness. | | | | speeds or around town. The standard six-speed |
| The Scirocco is quite practical for a sports coupe but | | | | manual gearbox is light and slick but Volkswagen's |
| a good few notches less so than a three-door Golf. | | | | excellent 6-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox is well |
| There's a reasonably wide boot aperture which opens | | | | worth seeking out. It lets you select automatic mode or |
| up 292 litres of luggage space. Fold the split rear seats | | | | flick between ratios with the paddle shifters. |
| down and you've got 755 litres. The Scirocco features | | | | OVERALL |
| four, individual sculpted seats finished in either cloth or | | | | A thoroughly well-executed small coupe, the |
| leather. The sports seats aren't just restricted to those | | | | Volkswagen Scirocco is tailor made for buyers who |
| up front - the contoured rear seats feature integrated | | | | find a three-door Golf a little dull. Based on the |
| headrests to offer plenty of support. Proportions for | | | | excellent Golf mk5 chassis with some of that car's |
| this car are classically short, low and wide although the | | | | best engines, the Scirocco looks and feels special |
| dimensions betray its reliance on Golf mechanicals. The | | | | while turning in a highly polished performance on the |
| vehicle measures 4,256mm long, 1,404mm high and | | | | road. Practicality is down on what you'd expect in a |
| 1,810mm in width. | | | | three-door hatchback but a reasonable boot and |
| WHAT YOU PAY | | | | usable rear seats put the car well ahead of most |
| Demand for the Scirocco was strong from the off | | | | compact sportscars you care to mention. |
| and residual values have remained buoyant with lightly | | | | By Andy Enright |
| used cars initially changing hands for more than the list | | | | If you are thinking how can I sell my volkswagen for |
| price. The cheapest way into one is to seek out a | | | | cash to a dealer visit dealerbid.co.uk. |
| 160bhp 1.4-litre TSI model on a 58-plate. You'll pay | | | | |