Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 – 2017) Review

Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Volkswagen Scirocco might be feeling its age these days, but in a number of areas, but this is still a very appealing, likeable car.

+Good to drive, with strong performance and keen handling, improved from 2014 with up-to-date equipment.

-Poor rear visibility, firm ride with large wheels, rear seats aren't very practical.

Insurance Groups are between 18–39
On average it achieves 86% of the official MPG figure

With undeniable style, impressive quality, a surprising amount of practicality and a fun-yet-comfortable driving experience, the Volkswagen Scirocco still has appeal. If you’re looking for glamour, fun and desirability on a budget, it’s a very solid choice. A very decent alternative to the Audi TT and BMW 1 Series Coupe, and a good bit better than a Vauxhall Astra GTC, Alfa Romeo Brera or Volvo C30.

None of us are getting any younger, but despite our ever-advancing years, we all like to think we’ve still got something to offer the world. Besides, it’s not nice to think we’ll be headed straight for the knacker’s yard the instant a wrinkle or a grey hair appears.

But while age comes to us all (if we’re lucky), some of us wear age better than others. Just look at the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Having been released in 2008, this car is a proper old-timer in car terms. And yet, this Golf-based coupe has grown old incredibly gracefully. Even today, it still looks the part, with its slinky lines and its swish details, and although the slightly dated cabin design is a small indicator of the car’s age, the interior is still hugely impressive in terms of its quality and solidity.

It may be old, but it’s still very desirable. Think of a grey-haired George Clooney in one of those coffee adverts, and you’re about there.

It’s still pretty light on its feet for an old boy, too. The suspension provides a good blend of comfort and control, meaning the car can keep up with most young whippersnappers in the bends, but not at the expense of a ride that’s bone-shaking enough to dislodge a hip. The engines haven’t lost it, either, with plenty of performance from most of them, along with really impressive refinement.

The Scirocco is still reasonably useful from a practicality perspective, too. It only has four seats, but the ones in the back have a surprisingly generous amount of space, and the boot is a very useful size. Sure, it’s not as roomy or as versatile as a conventional hatchback, but if you were that worried, you’d just buy a Golf instead.

Granted, there are one or two areas in which the Scirocco can’t conceal its age. The steering is a little slow by modern standards, fuel economy is no great shakes and some of the cleverer safety kit that’s now widely available on far more affordable models - things like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning - is not offered at all.

A rather dated infotainment with no Apple Carplay or Android Auto stops the Scirocco from being totally ‘down with the kids’, too. Otherwise, though, there’s no doubt that the Scirocco has still got it, and if you’re after glamour and fun at a reasonable price, there’s a lot to like.

Ask Honest John

I have £6000 for something reliable and stylish. Recommendations?

"I have up to £6000 (could push for a little more) to spend on a car. I want a reasonably economical to run/repair model, but with a bit of punch and flair. I'm an older driver so the insurance bracket isn't so expensive for me. Head says Ford Fiesta, heart says DS3 or Scirocco! I drive around 8000 miles per year, mixed motorway/town. Very rarely more than two people in the car."
I'd recommend a Suzuki Swift Sport. It's fun to drive and has a very strong reputation for reliability: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/suzuki/swift-2010
Answered by Dan Powell

A garage lost our fully stamped service book, what difference does this make to the value of the car?

"My son's 2012 Volkswagen Scirocco was recently serviced by our local autocentre, which lost the fully stamped service book. We are dealing with it through the head office. But we're wondering what difference the loss is likely to make to the value of the car? "
Give them the choice of buying the car from you for the full trade value or compensating your son £1000 which is the value of the lost service history. For the latest Volkswagen Scirocco pricing, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/used-prices/Volkswagen/Scirocco/2012
Answered by Dan Powell

Our newly bought car failed after six weeks - the dealer refuses liability, but do we have a case?

"I recently bought Volkswagen Scirrocco 1.4 TSI for my son. It has had two previous owners and was bought from a second hand car dealer with 39,000 miles on the clock (sadly not a Volkswagen dealer). In the first few weeks after purchase the oil light came on and we found it was empty of oil. After refilling, it was still burning through significant amounts (litres) of oil and ultimately broke down completely in about week six following purchase. The dealer collected the car, identified the turbo as the issue and replaced it at a cost of £1500. He claims the cause of the turbo failure is solely down to my son's bad driving in the first month of ownership as the car was perfect when it left them. He also claimed turbo failure in a petrol engine is unheard of and can only be down to bad driving. My son is a careful and modest driver. Can even the worst driving possible destroy a perfectly good turbo in the space of four weeks? If we take legal action, will it be possible to prove the dealer is incorrect in this scenario?"
The dealer is liable for any fault that could have been present or developing on date of sale for six months from the date of sale. Take the matter to Small Claims: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money / My general advice: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights If this car is the 1.4 TSI Twincharger, then I would try to reject it altogether and get all your money back (maximum £10,000) because it will only be the start of your problems. The Twincharger engine is a disaster zone.
Answered by Honest John

Can we reject a car because the dealer lied about the service history?

"My son has just purchased a Volkswagen Scirroco from a 'dealer'. We checked the service record book before purchase and the last service filled in the book did not have a garage stamp, but it was completed only a few days before. I asked about it but he shrugged his shoulders and said they must have forgotten to stamp it. When we arrived home I examined the book again along with the hand written receipt he gave us on purchasing the car. I realised then that he had filled it in himself. We had also asked if the cam belt had been done and he said he thought it probably had been. I then phoned the last garage that had done a real service in June 2016. They told me that they had advised the owner that a new cam belt should be fitted at the next service. Of course it looks like it hasn't been serviced at all. We have thirty days from purchase as a guarantee. Is there anything we can do about what the dealer has done?"
Yes, you avail yourself of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and reject the car immediately for a full cash refund. If he tries to wriggle out of this, hold over him a threat of criminal prosecution under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. These contain a general prohibition against unfair commercial practices and, in particular prohibitions against misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive commercial practices. The Regulations are enforceable through the civil and criminal courts. These create an offence of "misleading omissions" which would not previously have been an offence if the consumer had not asked the right questions. So if a salesman knows a car has, for example, been badly damaged and repaired and does not tell the customer, he could later be held liable if the customer subsequently discovered that the car had been damaged and repaired. More on your rights in general here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ If you simply use the County Courts to make a Small Claim against him he might find all kinds of ways to wriggle out of paying, especially if he claims to have no assets.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 – 2017) cost?