If you want to talk about seriously cool cars, then I must draw your attention to the Volkswagen Scirocco. When it burst on the scene, everyone was taken aback by the striking looks and cool design. Today, we’re going to have a look at this car and find out what’s good and bad about it. And, we’ll answer the question; is it the coolest coupe on the market?
(Photo source: https://goo.gl/KiXSxB) 
Design & Looks
One of the standout features of this car is its design. Throughout the years, the models have undergone slight tweaks here and there. But, every model is extremely stylish, in my eyes anyway. What I like about the Scirocco is that it looks like a sportier VW Golf. Golfs have always looked cool, but they just seemed a bit too big and robust for me. This car takes the classic VW design and makes it better. It’s lower than the Golf, and a tad wider too. You end up with a fantastic streamline shape; that adds to the sportiness.
I think my favourite thing about the exterior design is the front. The grill and lights work together so well. They’re designed in a way that makes the car look menacing. If you take a look at a Scirocco face on, it looks like it’s glaring at you. I love this because you know the car means business. I’m all for sporty cars with mean looks; I don’t think they should look friendly. Volkswagen has done exceptionally well with the exterior design of this car.
Take a trip inside the car and things are very crisp and refined. It looks like a Volkswagen interior, but with a bit more class. The air vents have a nice trim to them, and I like the overall colour scheme. Having said that, there are a couple of things that aren’t quite up to scratch. The main center console screen is a bit crazy. There are so many buttons, and it just looks too cluttered. Secondly, the gearstick is a bit odd as well. It just doesn’t have a very good grip on it; I think it can be improved.
Overall, the design and looks of this car are very good. It’s certainly one of the most stylish coupes out there on the market today.
Drive & Performance
Naturally, the thing most people are interested in is drive & performance. When you’re looking for a sporty coupe, you want one that can give a little more than your average car. So, let’s take a look at what the Scirocco is packing under its bonnet.
At the top of the spec range, you can get a Scirocco with a turbocharged 267 bhp engine. That’s a lot of power in a medium sized coupe like this! If you think this is too much for you to handle, then don’t worry! There are versions further down the chain with around 100 bhp to satisfy you. Generally speaking, all Sciroccos are great to drive. They feel smooth on the roads, and you definitely feel some quickness when moving through the gears.
Part of the good driving experience comes from a great suspension. It makes the car glide over bumps and deals with difficult road surfaces. All in all, a Volkswagen Scirocco does everything you want it to do. It can get you from A to B in a comfortable manner. And, if you want to put your foot down on the motorway, this little beauty will bring the thrills.
Price/Value For Money
The price of a Scirocco does depend on a few factors. Firstly, are you going to buy used or new? A new one can set you back between £20 – 33,000. Naturally, the base models are the cheaper ones, and they’re much closer to that £20,000 mark. The more you pay, the more features available for the car, hence the higher price.
As far as used Sciroccos go, you can get some pretty good bargains. The great thing about this car is that it’s ultra modern. Even ones that were built back in 2010 can hold their own today. It won’t take you long to find one within your budget if you shop around online. In fact, a quick look at AutoTrader coupe’s and you’ll see some for around £10,000. So, ask yourself, do you want a new model with all the updated specs and tech? Or, would you rather pay half the price for a used one? There’s no right or wrong answer here, it all depends on your personal budget.
So, having looked at the prices, does this car represent good value for money? Looking at the current market, I’d say the Scirocco comes in at an attractive price. Some of its rivals, like the Nissan 350z are far more expensive, both new and used. For what you get, a sporty yet practical coupe, you end up with great value.
Safety Features
Everyone is always keen to know what safety features a car has these days. Throughout the course of time, Sciroccos have had more and more cool features introduced. If you find parking a wee bit tricky, then the parking sensors will make life easier and safer for you. There’s also something called ESC which is pretty cool too. This is Electronic Stabilisation Control for the more modern versions. I won’t bore you with the technical mumbo jumbo, but this feature helps prevent skidding. So, you can feel much safer when on wet and slippery roads.
Volkswagen also makes sure that all their cars have proper airbags installed in case of collisions. Furthermore, Sciroccos also have an exceptionally sturdy body. This means you’re safer if you ever get hit by another vehicle.
Generally speaking, the safety features are a little underwhelming. Other than ESC, there’s nothing here that you wouldn’t find in any other coupe. The fact that Volkswagen brag about the airbags on their site shows that there’s not a lot to cheer about in this department.
To conclude, I think that the Scirocco is a fine car. There are very few negatives about it, and it’s a hugely practical coupe. When looking at similar cars, you’ll find it tough to beat a Scirocco regarding looks, performance, and value for money. Is it the coolest coupe on the market? In my eyes, it certainly is!