Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall. (Pride before the fall). The gen1 Scirocco (CC here) is a gem, one of those rare cars that has always looked good since it first appeared in 1974. It’s crisp, dynamic, and as and tight and tidy as a lacquered jewel box. One of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s finer mass-consumption pieces, it and his companion Golf Mk1 made a brilliant two-some. It would be hard to find two more enduring cars, especially considering that they arrived in the mid seventies, a low point in American and Japanese design. No one will ever say the same about its successor Mk II.
When it came time to consider a replacement for the do the Mk I, VW’s priorities were more passenger and luggage space, and better aerodynamics. But VW didn’t just press the speed-dial number for Ital Design. VW had survived its most difficult crisis thanks in part to Giugiaro’s masterpieces, and that irrepressible German – how shall we say it delicately? – self-confidence had fully re-emerged.
A sort of design competition took place between several in-house designs were considered along with one from Giugiaro, whose proposal apparently strongly echoed his original Mark 1. It was rejected in favor of the home-baked one. More interior space indeed, but that came at quite a price.
Obviously, the Scirocco II was meant to be the companion toy to the Mk II Golf (above), which was also designed in-house. Being that the Golf is the quintessential German car, the Golf II works, well enough. It too will never go down in history like the Golf I for its timeless design, but it’s adequate enough, and expresses its practical and conservative German roots.
But a sporty coupe is another thing altogether, and the Scirocco II would be VW’s first stab at such a thing. The brilliant and classic Karmann Ghia was outsourced for a very good reason. It established an Italo/VW tradition that would have been better to keep going.
The Mark 2 looks like it had collagen injections; all the sharp edges and tight skin have been softened and rounded, and that brilliant C-pillar and door-stop wedge shape tossed out. In its place are elongated rear side windows, and a drooping rear hatch with glass bisected by the spoiler, one of the earlier examples of its kind on a mass-production car. Better rear visibility indeed; how practically German is that?
As someone who’s always complaining about visibility, the Mark 2 definitely offers an improvement in that regard. And of course, it benefited from the improvements in engine capacity and outputs. That really applies to the later 16 valve versions, which upped the performance ante considerably.
The Scirocco 2 appeared in the US in 1982, with a carry-over 1715 cc 74 hp engine from its predecessor. That was a less than stellar start, considering that the lighter Mark 1 had about the same horsepower almost ten years earlier. In mid 1983, the Wolfsburg edition had the 90 hp 1.8 L engine as used in the US GTI. A long-overdue step in the right direction. This JH engine would power the basic Scirocco through its final US appearance in 1989.
The 16 valve 1.8 finally arrived here in 1986. The unsmogged Euro version had a healthy 139 hp, but even the US version’s 123 hp was healthy kick in the rear. Given the Scirocco’s light weight and excellent handling, there was plenty of fun on tap.
The Scirocco 2 just never sold adequately in the US. Its styling wasn’t that bad, really; but it also just didn’t sparkle like the Mark 1. Performance came along too late, and the mid-late eighties were the glory years for the Prelude, Celica and the other Japanese coupes, not to mention the Miata. The tide had shifted, and the Scirocco reflected the general malaise that engulfed VW in the US for all too-long.
The Mark 2 undoubtedly makes for a fun cheap toy, given the huge range of options available for upgrades. But one sees very few around, and they just don’t generate the love that the Mark 1 does. This particular example is not exactly typical, given the unique touches it has garnered. Let’s just say it reflects the Mark 2′s status perfectly: you’d never see a Scirocco Mark 1 given this treatment.
Nice find, you don’t see many of these around anymore (not even here in Europe) As an avid VW oppposer (I’m a Ford Guy, with a certain affection for Hondas) I always liked how the Scirocco was just a squareish version of the Accord Hatchback, and a bad try at being a Capri. Nice car for VW though, and I actually think the MK2 is a good design, even if it’s a hard act to follow when the original is a Giugiaro, one of my favourite european designers.
I test drove a 1988 model and fell in love with it. It went way better than my ’86 Jetta 1.8 litre and the car handled beautifully.
The deal breaker was the total lack of headroom. I am not particularly tall but my head was stuck to the headliner. I also told myself that the reason I was getting rid of my Jetta was the fact it was a reliability nightmare and was about to go out of warranty.
So I bought a Honda Accord LX four door five speed, which gave me (and several family members) stellar service. It only expired last year!
For a brief period in the 80s I was a VW guy. When I was ready for my first new car in 1985, I wound up at the VW showroon. I think that 1985 was another bad year for new cars, kind of like 1961. But anyway, I was drawn in by the GTI. While I really liked the Scirocco, it seemed like the GTI was where all of the action was. Also, I seem to recall that the Scirocco cost another couple thousand dollars. Maybe that was a side effect of importing from Germany in the mid 80s. I do know that my loaded GTI stickered right at $12K. I just recall that the Scirocco never really made the final cut, but do not specifically recall why.
Like you, the 2nd Gen lacked the magic of the 1st. Ditto the GTI. I missed the original Rabbit version by a year. The Gen 2 of both cars seemed cleaner and more modern at the time, but both lacked a certain crispness of line that was in the originals.
I cannot tell you the last time I saw a Scirocco. Even when new, the Mk II was never common, although Golfs and particularly Jettas sold pretty well. In truth, I rarely see any Golfs or Jettas of that period either. Funny, but I don’t remember the bowler hood ornament on the cars I saw. Dealer option maybe?
I agree the 82 and up just didn’t have it like the earlier version. I owned a white 80 Scirocco S and would have kept it except I had to have the 83 GTI with the extra power!
Interesting photo of the interior with the driver seat leaned back like that…mine looked exactly the same…that was the only way to fit! Two of my friends had them too and their seats were adjusted the same way. You felt very comfortable driving it but it sure looked weird.
I remember a VW 411 having seats that you could tilt the entire seat back and forth but there was no independent backrest adjustment. I’ll bet that’s what happened with these.
Oddly the 2nd gen Scirocco looks even more like the Isuzu Piazza/Impulse that was derived from the same Giugiaro show car as the first gen. I almost bought an 82 Scirocco in 89 as a replacement for my rusted out 78 Scirocco but I ended up with an 81 (last of the old shape) with a 16V engine conversion (thereby hangs a tale). The 82′s interior was a little out of sorts but not as bad as this beastie.
As an aside you can identify 82-83 second gen cars by the single wiper and body color B pillars. The 84-87 cars reverted to twin wipers and had blacked out B pillars.
Actually without the bumpers it looks prettier and cooler. And not that the Porsche 928 was a pinnacle of German design either but I can definitely see some 928 influence there.
I’ve always had a soft spot for this model. Most likely by association: my favourite primary school teacher, Miss Litchfield hooned around in a (then – 1985) brand new 1.8 in bright red. I swear I remember her handbrake turning it into her space in the faculty car park one morning… even if that’s an exaggeration of memory (which it must be) she was that kind of primary school teacher. She unconventionally team taught the science/maths half of our class for a year with an equally cool young arts/english teacher called Miss Austwick (who drove an older metallic blue Rover 3500, similarly enthusiastically) and my 8 year old self was besotted with them both (along with the rest of the class).
Even allowing for my associative bias toward the MkII though, I think you’re a little hard on the design there Paul. It is a product of its era, in much the same way as the MkI was. Taken as an 80s design in its own right (rather than as the successor to a 70s classic) i think it’s a pretty successful design. Viewed along side contemporary 80s euro designs like Audi’s UrQuattro or Ford’s (then) groundbreaking Sierra the Scirocco MkII’s softened angularity, and focus on visibility make much more sense.
There are a handful of these still knocking about Edinburgh and looking far better cared for than this sad specimen. It may not carry the MkI’s status, or aesthetic grace, but there are some of us for whom this will always be the Scirocco.
A Rover 3500! There’s a car that deserves a long appreciative article on CC!
Yes. Now help me find one!
There is a sweet 1982 (original paint) VW Scirocco for sale in Texas. In the last 2 years it has had close to $5,000 in mechanical and body work done on it. It runs good… no AC… radio works… excellent gas milage. Lots of interior room! Used as crew/equipment carrier for small film company. (It’s a star! …has made appearances in several short films.)
Owner loves driving it but can’t take it along for move to another state. Best offer. (Call 830-875-0016)
They took an elegant swan and turned it into a crude wooden bath toy. It looks like at least two different cars welded together in a last desperate all-nighter before the design homework was due!
Shame on Paul for posting photos of the most vile and ugly Scirocco ever driven. Immaculate versions exist. Even one in between that is actually driven to work needs to be featured.
That 8v has plenty of torque if actually have something in the back seat. The miserly headroom is due to the sunroof using 2 inches of space, This could be why Scirocco seats tilt way down.
A blast to drive not necessarily trying to beat a ridiculously overpowered 20xx car off the line. Adding the lower crossbrace on the 8v a must. Larger throttle body from a 1991 Cabriolet a relatively easy power boost (need to dremel the intake a bit).
My 1987 anyways did not miraculously avoid accidents, What is funny is that because so few Sciroccos are on the road in the Midwest, people will say ‘”nice Scirocco” even with the banged up door & quarter panel from being T-boned in a parking lot, and the unfinished paint repairs. Note the car took a 10 mph T-bone without so much as a broken window or a jammed door.
What is that blue and pink thing with no trim?? ~If that was parked at the side of the road in the UK it would be towed away for scrap – for one thing its illegal here for not having bumpers (fenders).
I’ve got an ’86 1.8 GTX with loads of spares and thought I would get nothing for it.
Are you serious with those photos or have I got it all wrong.
Mk2 is nearly a classic now, based on the Mk1 Golf – also a classic.
Sorry – no offence.
In the UK Mk1 & 2 ‘Roccos are quite rare but really wanted by enthusiasts. There is a great following for them (in good condition). There is a site (may I say it, moderators?
SciroccoReg??te?)
Hope that helps with the(‘orrible wreck)
Porshe 928??????????????????????