I don't know about the rest of my teammates, but I have a weakness for the Scirocco. And judging from the high mileage on Sciroccos on AutoTrader, previous owners certainly felt passionate about their cars as well. Scirocco drivers who traded in or sold their Scirocco's probably did so only because they racked up high kilos or because they needed something more practical, like a Volkswagen Golf or Golf GTI.
The new-from-the-ground-up, third-generation Scirocco landed locally in 2009 and ended its short South African stint in 2017. It was never replaced, sadly. It didn't look good for the overseas markets either; despite selling very well in the beginning. By 2016, everyone in Europe was all coupé-hatch'ed out and shortly thereafter, Wolfsburg put a stop to production once and for all.
If you're keen on getting into a pre-loved Scirocco, here's what you need to know first.
1. It's spacious for a three-door coupé, but not very practical
No one said that this body shape was going to be ideal for daily life. The view through the tiny rear window is especially bad, and that's why it's important that you ensure that you opt for a model with parking sensors to assist you. When you're on the road, however, it's a little unsettling. The cabin is quite sombre and the wide A-pillars create a bit of a blind spot.
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Although it's not cramped, rear passengers who are prone to carsickness may need medication on longer journeys. That said, all of these niggles are not Volkswagen-specific, they're coupé specific. The Audi TT, for example, has hardly any legroom for rear passengers, so in comparison, the Scirocco is one of the more child-friendly coupé/hatchbacks.
The boot, although sizeable, has a high loading lip and the bottom of the loading area itself seems rather low. This makes lifting heavy objects into and out of the Scirocco's boot difficult, and even more so if your lower back has seen better days. The two rear seats can be split 50/50, and once folded down, the surface is not flat. Yet again, not an issue if it's just you or your plus one, but families would need something more suitable for the daily grind. On the upside, VW has done well with the good amount of storage cubbies in the cabin.
2. You really want one of the 2.0 TSI models
The entry-level 1.4-litre turbo doesn't quite have the go to match the show, and sadly we never received the frugal diesel models, so the 2.0-litre TSI (turbocharged) petrols will be the ones to look out for, including the Scirocco R.
The Scirocco's last round of updates included new engines (2015) in SA before the nameplate was discontinued 2 years later:
- The 1.4 TSI 118 kW was replaced with the 2.0 TSI 132 kW engine, while the 2.0 TSI 155 kW was fitted with the Golf GTI 2.0 TSI engine that delivered 162 kW.
- The 2.0 TSI with 132 kW became available with a 6-speed manual transmission and 280Nm of torque. On this model, top speed is 227km/h and the 0-100 km/h sprint is done and dusted in 7.4 seconds. The average fuel consumption (claimed) amounts to 6.1 litres per 100km — a little ambitious, if you ask me!
- The 2.0 TSI Scirocco GTS with 162 kW is mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission which takes it to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 246 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is claimed to be only 6.4 l/100 km — yet again the figure supplied by VW is almost ridiculously low. (We all know what happened at Dieselgate!)
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There was a Scirocco R model as well, introduced to SA in the middle of 2011. With 188kW and 350Nm of torque it completes the 0-100 km run in 5.8 seconds (6 seconds in the manual model) before topping out at 250 km/h. Again, Volkswagen pulls our leg with average fuel consumption of a mere 8 litres per 100 km in a car with nearly 200kW.
3. Ensure that the car you buy has a full service history with Volkswagen, and take out a comprehensive mechanical warranty
As we've said before, low-mileage Sciroccos are as hard to find as hen's teeth. Any older, high mileage sports car certainly poses a degree of risk, and it's no different with the Scirocco. Should something go wrong, you don't want to be left out of pocket (or transport), hence the importance of a good mechanical warranty.
The reason why a full Volkswagen service history is so important, is because Volkswagen would have updated the Scirocco’s transmission and engine software with each service. This makes for a more reliable drivetrain in the long run.
According to Martin Pretorius, our technical expert, this specific generation of 2.0TSI (EA888) engine is also known for carbon build-up in the inlet-system which often needs to be cleaned every 120 000 km. There have also been issues with the high pressure fuel pump on earlier models. Also, if the DSG transmission has been subjected to some punishment by its previous owner, or it was serviced incorrectly, it may need to be rebuilt in its entirety - an expensive exercise. But, if you take the necessary precautions, you'll have many years of reliable service and enjoyment behind the wheel of your stylish Scirocco. And on that note, we hope you find the Scirocco of your dreams.
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