The Scirocco is a different beast altogether. The noise it
makes on full throttle gear- changes is simply superb, and the low-down driving
position with the figure-hugging chairs envelops you in quasi-motorsport surroundings.
There is absolutely no sign that the Scirocco is inferior to the Golf R in any
way.
Volkswagen
Scirocco R front view
So it's sexier and faster than the Golf but, by virtue of
its smaller lower roofline, less practical. Or so you may think. While all up
space is less than that of the Golf, owners tell us that the ’Rocco will
swallow a mountain bike relatively easily, and two if you remove their front
wheels. In real world terms, you don't necessarily need volume to carry your
stuff; you need a decent sized boot hatch and enough real estate to stash it.
Two bikes and a bit of cycling gear is about all the Golf manages - and kite
surfers reckon they can get their kit in and live with the amount of space too.
If you opt for the Scirocco R over the Golf, you'll get a
car with a lower centre of gravity and a front end that bites into the tarmac
with vigour. There's no trick diff in the front to plant that 255 horsepower,
just the usual electronic stability control and its traction control bedpal. Switch
them off, and the front-end gets lively, the steering wheel wriggly and the
front end pushy. In typical and traditional front-wheel drive style, you simply
lift the throttle to get the nose turned in, and the rest is simple.
Volkswagen
Scirocco R interior
The rear remains planted throughout, and you really have to
push it hard and do some fairly silly things for it to lose interest in
communicating with the tarmac.
So, the Scirocco is better looking, almost as practical and
faster than the Golf R Mk6. Have we left anything out?
Oh yes, the price. Here's where our argument for the
Scirocco founders a bit because it's more expensive than the Golf. The new Golf
R which arrives this month opens at around $41k before you start ticking
options. The Scirocco is a little over $44k despite having two fewer driven
wheels, less power, a little extra headroom and a chassis that is now two
generations in the red.
Five spoke split
alloys are standard on the Golf R
That all may change with the new one which is due out in the
coming months. It's a facelift model with a new front bumper and lights, and it
sounds like VW is packing more power into the inline four for the European
market at least.
That's not a shoe-in for the Middle East of course. With the
kind of weather we see in the Middle East, manufacturers like to play it safe
by dialling back peak power a bit, which means we may get saddled with a
watered down version.
Volkswagen
Scirocco R back view
Until then, the current Scirocco R maintains a tentative
grip on its honours for ultimate three door VW hatch. Most will look straight
past it when considering their next hatch, but it's worth at least sitting
behind the wheel and taking it out for a spin.
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Specifications
·
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheeldrive, 4-passenger,
3-door hatchback ·
Base price: $44,000 ·
Engine type: turbocharged and intercooled dohc 16-valve
inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection ·
Displacement: 1984 cc ·
Power: 261 hp @ 6000 rpm ·
Torque: 350 nm @ 2500 rpm ·
Transmissions: 6-speed dual clutch automatic with manual
shifting mode Dimensions ·
Wheelbase: 2578 mm ·
Length: 4256 mm ·
Width: 1810 mm ·
Height: 1404 mm ·
Weight (dry): 1298 kg Performance ·
Zero to 100 km/h: 5.2 sec ·
1/4-mile: Not tested ·
Top speed: 250 km/h Projected fuel economy ·
Combined: 7.9 l/100 km
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