1988 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V review from North America

This is the most reliable VW/Audi product I have ever owned (this is my 7th). I've experienced a minimum of non-routine repairs, considering my driving style.

In over 150K miles, I've replaced 2 front wheel bearings, 3 batteries, 1 alternator, and 1 exhaust flex joint.

Wearable parts (brakes, belts, wipers, etc.) have lasted a surprisingly long time. I'm still running the original clutch, plugs, wires, and (except for the flex joint) exhaust system. I have only replaced the brake pads and rotors 1 time, belts 2 times (precautionary), and cap and rotor 1 time.

Upgraded suspension with an aftermarket performance kit (springs, shocks, sway and stress bars) and upgraded to 15" wheels with 205/50 series tires. The suspension parts have a lifetime warranty, which I took advantage of recently (new springs and shocks).

(I suspect that some of these upgrades, in combination with my driving style, may have lead to the premature demise of the wheel bearings.)

Of course, the usual assortment of unreasonably expensive VW garbage accessory and trim items have either broken or fallen off. These include headlight switch, driver's seat recline knob, driver's seat tilt forward handle (the rear seat is useless anyway), rear hatch locking mechanism, rear seat latching knobs, "Karmann" logo and black-out tape on the B-pillar, etc.

I will never, ever part with this car. They will have to pry my cold, dead fingers off the steering wheel.

More fun than any car in its class, more reliable than any VW/Audi product I've ever owned.

This car is relatively light, so the 16V DOHC 1.8L engine is more than adequate; short gearing in combination with a "point-and-shoot" driving style in traffic provides excellent take-off and stopping power.

At 75 - 80 mph, the car takes on an Autobahn personality, travelling smoothly, and feeling well connected to the road. The silver metallic paint has faded to a nice dull gray, making this car a great "sleeper" at speed on the highway (when you don't want to stand out too much).

As with other VW products, many high-quality aftermarket performance pieces are available. In addition to the suspension and wheels/tires, I've addressed other less-than-perfect items, including a short-shift kit, cross-drilled rotors and metallic pads, stainless steel/teflon brake lines, European market headlights (the US sealed beam units are junk), etc.

I'm 6'0" and 200 lbs., and I think VW made my Scirocco to specifically to fit me. The sunroof doesn't help though, but I'd rather lean back a bit, than live without it.

The leather seats are incredibly supportive and comfortable on long or short drives. All the important controls fall easily into my hands.

(Sciroccos don't really come equipped with many non-important controls or accessories anyway. I chose to avoid power windows and door locks. After all, who needs them on such a small car, and since it's a VW, they would inevitably break anyway.)

In the USA, insurance companies don't particularly like performance-oriented VWs, so insurance is astronomically high. This of course probably has something to do with the astronomically high cost of VW parts, and the tendancy of VW drivers to actually DRIVE (unlike the seemingly infinite number of far eastern economy cars on the roads with absolutely NO personality).

I ask people who are interested in a VW two questions:

1. Do you really like to DRIVE?

2. Do you have a sense of humor?

They have to answer "yes" to both questions before I'll recommend they check out a VW.

If they don't LOVE to DRIVE, then the intense, almost religious, joy of driving a performance VW will be completely lost on them.

If they don't have a sense of humor, then when the stupid little accessory pieces break, and the large repair bills for these stupid little pieces hit them, they will really need to just laugh it off and go for a DRIVE.