| Volkswagen dealers must be feeling rather | | | | the disappointing Mk3 and 4 variants, but it |
| nostalgic this year with the return of their | | | | looks like an old lady next to the Scirocco. |
| prodigal son - the Scirocco. There's | | | | |
| something special about the return of an icon | | | | Designed by Giorgetto Guigiaro, the Scirocco |
| that tugs at the heartstrings of the human | | | | is longer, wider and lower than the Golf |
| race. As a child I remember watching my | | | | which gives it an aggressive stance whilst |
| beloved Manchester United tear apart teams in | | | | avoiding boy racer comparisons. The |
| an era when football had just become big | | | | Volkswagen brand is built upon bullet proof |
| business at the dawn of the English | | | | reliability and practicality. The Scirocco |
| Premiership. At this time I recall seeing | | | | takes these elements and wraps them in the |
| Eric Cantona lash out at an opposing 'fan' | | | | finest cashmere coat and suddenly everyone |
| with a kung-fu kick that equalled a nine | | | | stops and stares. The Volkswagen badge is |
| month suspension. For all the uproar, the | | | | pushed up onto the bonnet allowing the |
| media backlash and preaching, his return | | | | narrower grill to give the bonnet a frown |
| against Liverpool was a modern-day | | | | that neatly marries up with the headlights. |
| resurrection. | | | | |
| | | | The doors are pillar-less and gigantic, |
| When a band reforms for a tour you know that | | | | meaning that side-on the VW looks like one |
| 99 percent of the time it's because someone's | | | | beautiful sweeping sheet of glass. The |
| money has been blown on private jets and | | | | driving position is low slung and comfortable |
| glamour models and a new tour will keep them | | | | thanks to big fat seats. All this style and |
| in paradise for another few years. Regardless | | | | comfort is predictably to the detriment of |
| of this fact, we all clamour to see true | | | | rear passenger space and visibility. My |
| greatness one 'last' time, so we go wild at | | | | repost would be that if you buy a Scirocco |
| the prospect of seeing the Police, Sex | | | | for these two features you shouldn't be |
| Pistols and um the Spice Girls and pray for a | | | | allowed out in polite society anyway. |
| glimpse of their former glory. | | | | |
| | | | Currently Volkswagen dealers offer the car |
| The Scirocco was a legend in its own lifetime | | | | with a 197bhp, 2.0 litre turbocharged engine. |
| before it went on hiatus. These days an | | | | Early 2009 will see the arrival of 1.4 litre |
| affordable sports coupe comes with front | | | | petrol and 2.0 litre diesel engines, all with |
| wheel drive, it's an accepted fact. Back in | | | | the option of Volkswagen's DSG dual clutch |
| the late 70's when the Scirocco was born this | | | | auto-gearbox with F1 style paddle shifters. |
| was seen as a bit lightweight and flighty. | | | | As seems to be the way these days, the car |
| The car initially was underpowered and wasn't | | | | has different modes depending on driving |
| handsome but pretty, making it impossible for | | | | conditions, in this case 'Sport' and |
| any man to be taken seriously amongst their | | | | 'Comfort'. More importantly, the Scirocco has |
| mates. Soon after its launch however, the | | | | a lower centre of gravity than the Golf GTi |
| Scirocco was fitted with the same 1.6 litre | | | | thanks to a wider track and as a result it's |
| engine found in the Golf GTi and suddenly the | | | | a very able car through the twisty stuff. The |
| pretty car had balls of steel. | | | | steering felt slightly uninvolved despite the |
| | | | car being beautifully balanced and handling |
| Thus it became a legend. Women loved its | | | | corners with ease, but this is a personal |
| prettiness and men loved telling the women | | | | preference and not a major issue, |
| they owned one. It was in many ways the most | | | | particularly when you switch to 'Sport'. |
| successful 'bird puller' ever. Unfortunately | | | | |
| I don't have the exact statistics to back up | | | | With a price tag starting at £22,000, |
| this claim. It didn't drive particularly well | | | | it's not going to pension off the Golf GTi |
| but it looked the part upon arrival and that | | | | but should happily run alongside its brother |
| in a sports coupe is priority one. | | | | in the Volkswagen family. The best thing |
| | | | about the latest Scirocco is that it retains |
| As I've already established true icons have a | | | | the most important feature of the original |
| second coming and Volkswagen dealers will be | | | | model. It doesn't matter how you got to your |
| reintroducing the new Scirocco into the wild | | | | destination, sport mode or not, it's how you |
| a full 34 years after the original. History | | | | look when you get there that counts. I don't |
| has repeated itself as the new car shares the | | | | have my statistics book to hand but I reckon |
| same platform as the Gold GTi, beneath its | | | | the Scirocco will have men telling women |
| sleek exterior. I'm a big fan of the latest | | | | everywhere they own one. |
| GTi which is a welcome return to form after | | | | |