Has anyone seen a 3DR GTI in the flesh?

[hooba]

Smells of protectionism...

That and bureaucrats who need to justify their existence by governing and administrating an Australian specific set of rules. I'm no soap box speaker, I've had enough practical experience in this area to know what actually goes on.

The Scirocco looks gorgeous in the flesh, enough that if it was available in Oz I'd consider trading off the inconvenience of having only 3 doors just to own one.

[AdamD]

The Scirocco looks gorgeous in the flesh, enough that if it was available in Oz I'd consider trading off the inconvenience of having only 3 doors just to own one.

+1. Scirocco R would be fantastic.

[Converted]

Haven't seen a Scirocco in the flesh but initially did think it looked better than the GTI. Now after months of admiring/looking at both, I actually prefer the GTI over the Scirocco. The front of the Scirocco may look better but the rear silhouette looks a bit odd from some angles, in my opinion. Internally, there would be one feature in the Scirocco that would concern me, the rear 2 seater. The centre (seat) is not as user friendly as the GTI.

[triode12]

Haven't seen a Scirocco in the flesh but initially did think it looked better than the GTI. Now after months of admiring/looking at both, I actually prefer the GTI over the Scirocco. The front of the Scirocco may look better but the rear silhouette looks a bit odd from some angles, in my opinion. Internally, there would be one feature in the Scirocco that would concern me, the rear 2 seater. The centre (seat) is not as user friendly as the GTI.

Not to mention that the rear boot sill is very high. It is not as practical as the Golf. But that is the price you pay for a sportier looking car.

[Corey_R]

Well same thing in a roundabout way, that is, ADRs make it a PITA for manufacturers to import cars. AFAIK ADRs were set up back in the day when we started local manufacturing and its been a slow process to keep the up to date with the rest of the world in the subsequent 50-60 years.

The other reason for the ADR's is that we've allowed trade with countries that have no safety standards of their own, like Malaysia with the Protons and China with their cars and things like that. These cars are not necessary available in Europe and thus not manufactured to their standards either. This is surely another reason why they're holding onto the ADRs.

[triode12]

The other reason for the ADR's is that we've allowed trade with countries that have no safety standards of their own, like Malaysia with the Protons and China with their cars and things like that. These cars are not necessary available in Europe and thus not manufactured to their standards either. This is surely another reason why they're holding onto the ADRs.

I'm pretty sure the Protons are available in the UK...unless the UK isn't considered part of Europe. Does the UK have their own set of standards like our ADRs?

[Corey_R]

Yeah - they had them at some point. But not necessarily at the time we got them way back, and not necessarily the same models etc. But you know what I mean... you can't always be reliant on another set of standards. If we adopted Europe's standards, that doesn't necessarily help with Holden or Ford's local cars. It may not help with Great Wall etc, or various other Asian only cars, or American made cars. Even with the manufacturers which are present in Australia and Europe, the models aren't always the same.

I'm not saying I like the ADR's, I'm just relaying another reason I've read for their existance in the press over the years.

[Getti]

If VW Australia had the Scirocco in Australia I would not have purchased my 3 Door Golf GTI. Simple.

I asked the head of VW at the time via Email what the plans were and that I was very interested, but they have said that it wont happen.

Which is a great shame, because they look great.

I spoke to my dealer less than a couple of months ago and he said the Scirocco was more likely to come than not and VW Australia are just negotiating pricing. Will be interesting to see if the Scirocco comes to Australia then.

There is one imported one here in Townsville ... although the dealer mentioned that importing the car voids the warranty.

[Banzai]

Internally, there would be one feature in the Scirocco that would concern me, the rear 2 seater. The centre (seat) is not as user friendly as the GTI.

Not to mention that the rear boot sill is very high. It is not as practical as the Golf. But that is the price you pay for a sportier looking car.

And the problem is?

I'd be more than happy if the Scirocco was just a two-seater. That would stop people complaining about access to the back seats.