1985 Volkswagen Scirocco GTX review from UK and Ireland

Most of the usual things that affect VW GTi's:

Valve stem oil seals needed replacing at about 100K, as it started burning oil.

Fuel tank corrosion was putting rust particles in the fuel, which meant three fuel pumps in as many years.

The car eats wheel bearings and exhaust downpipes.

Oil cooler sprung a leak and a cylinder head gasket failed.

Excellent straight-line performance from 112 BHP due to high power-to-weight ratio. Close-ratio box ensures decent acceleration, 0-60 in just over 8 seconds. 8V engine very torquey, throttle response immediate.

Standard GTX chassis good, decently stiff with little body-roll. Grip and handling excellent in the dry, tends to snap-oversteer in the wet! Steering very heavy, particularly in town. Standard brakes abysmal: replacement with good competition front discs, fast-road pads and DOT 5 fluid transformed them beyond belief.

I find the driving position to be good, with supportive seats, although the interior is cramped and noisy, and the ride is crashy. Build quality is first-rate - my car is now nearly 16 years old and there is still no corrosion on the body or chassis.

As well as a daily road car, the Scirocco has been regularly thrashed to death on the racetrack without complaint