1993 Volkswagen Scirocco GTII from UK and Ireland - Comments

Piersburg carburettor packed up, very complex apparently, but had a Weber fitted, unfortunately with a manual choke, but you get used to that.

I keep getting nagged to upgrade to something more modern, but I love this car so much and enjoy the looks of surprise on peoples' faces as you tear past them, that I fully intend to keep it all the way to the breaker's yard.

On the up-side - beautiful, straight, retro lines, rock solid handling, wonderful driving position, throaty acceleration, little or no mechanical problems apart from the carb, zero rust.

On the down-side - retro climate control that consists of 2 temperatures, freezing or roasting hot, navigating round multi-stories requires an upper body like Arnie, has brakes that belong on a bicycle and renders your lower back numb after long drives, but nothing's perfect.

Despite the flaws it is a wonderful car and look sbetter with age amongst the faceless and bland modern cars.

VW still sold carbureted models in 1993?

Last carbureted VW sold in US was the old VW Bug over thirty years ago!

I got it second-hand. It may well have been 1992 model that was registered late. It is K-reg and other people have commented on the fact that it is a bit odd.

Neil.

I have just re-read your comment. I live in Wales in the UK and I gather you live int the States, and perhaps it is just a difference of terminology. Maybe you are thinking of what we call "air cooled" (I'm not much of a mechanic!)

Neil.

No, carbureted is different than air-cooled. A carburetor is a fuel delivery system that predates fuel injection, in which the vacuum in the cylinders created by the downward movement of the pistons induces air to flow into the engine, through a device known as a carburetor, which is essentially a mechanical fuel metering device. The air flow induces a venturi effect through the bore of the carburetor, thereby drawing a mist of gasoline spray into the air stream, which is then delivered to the respective cylinders. This differs from fuel injection, in which a computer or circuit times the delivery of fuel to each cylinder via a dedicated injection unit. (god, I can't believe that I just explained what a carburetor is---can I really be that old?!)

In contrast, air-cooled refers to a kind of engine cooling system. Most cars utilize a system of hollow spaces cast into the engine block, through which a mixture of water and anti-freeze/coolant circulates, carrying heat from the block that forms as a result of combustion/friction and dissipating it through the cooling fins of a radiator. In air-cooled systems, there is no water jacket or radiator, the heat is simply radiated from the engine. It is relatively uncommon, used only by the old VW's (not even sure about now), the 1960's Chevrolet Corvair, and the Pinzgauer. If there are others, I'm unaware of them.

Very good explanation of the distinction between fuel delivery systems and engine cooling systems. Cars with carburetors are so rarely seen in the US anymore that probably anyone under the age of 25 or so has never heard of pushing down the accelerator before starting a cold engine in order to set the choke. Perhaps a reader from the UK or Ireland can confirm whether or not VW's still came equipped with carburetors from the factory as recently as 1993...

I guess different laws applied in the U.S. about emissions so the injection system was preferred. Not sure why though if that is the case as most cars over there have big engines and hence drink more juice anyway.

Been away from this discussion for while...didn't mean to patronise you about the air cooled/carburettor thing although a very nice explanation of the different systems it was too!

The GTII was never a fuel injected model as far as I am aware, although there were injected Sciroccos (I think the GTX and/or Scala, but could be wrong). I guess the fact that there was a mix of options would suggest that the early 1990s is when carburettors were on their way out.

To top it all, when the original Piersburg carb. threw its hand in a couple of years ago, the only model carb. my garage could recommend (a Weber) had a manual choke so my pride and joy has a fuel delivery system that wouldn't be a amiss on Noah's Ark.

Actually as memory serves the models following the Beetle were still using carburetion, but FI was becoming available... that's why stuff like the Rabbit would say 'Fuel Injection' directly under the nameplate.. I would've expected them to be all FI by 1993 but its not impossible that one could be specifically ordered that way I suppose.

All petrol engined cars sold in the UK since 1991 have had to have cats (and fuel injection) to comply with new legislation.

I think there was some leeway to allow manufacturers to sell on the last of their stock without cats, but I doubt if this would have extended to 1993.

I think the reviewer's car is older than its documentation states.

If anyone is reading this Id like to throw a question into the ring of conversion.I've got a 1983 sirocco that's got a mechanical fuel injector system (located on-top of the air-filter box) that's giving trouble. the question that someone might be able to answer is would I be better off getting a weber carb or fixing the injector problem. it wouldn't take to fix it, but they usually give trouble anyway.

If anyone could spare some advice id appriciate it loads.

Dony.Ireland.

My poor Skyrocket is back in the garage with problems with the Weber Carb (manual choke) that in truth, has never been right. Whilst in there I heard the mechanic tell his oppo that Weber had in fact gone bust so you may want to enquire about this.

I'm in a bit of a quandry what to do - replace the carb again or just let it go and get a newer car. The reason I read this forum probably tells the story.

Does anyone know what carburettor might be a suitable replacement on a 1992/3 1.8 GTII?

Your only options are the Pierberg that it left the factory with, or a 32/34 DMTL dual choke weber carb.

Or the extreme, and expense option is twin 40 webers.

Good convo :)

btw all sciroccos that were injection were the GT 16v GTX, GTX 16v and Scala :D.