VW Scirocco for Australia. Any Golf R buyers thinking of swapping?

[ethosguy]

it was originally designed as a small car.

Yeh, it was a small car...quite middle weight these days...

[Corey_R]

This topic has already been debated to death in older threads, but for all the newbies who are instantly discounting this stuff as "a load"...

The front door on a 3 door hatchback is significantly longer. Whilst some view this as a bad thing (if someone parks too close to you in a car park for example), it moves the B pillar back further.

My major complaint of the Golf and Polo (including new Polo) in 5 door form is that the B Pillar is too far forward, meaning you need to basically lean forward to look around it when looking left and right. There are so many pictures on the web which show that this isn't just my issue, but I think in a way people who are used to 5 door hatchbacks must just be used to it, since it doesn't bother them. But I cannot stand it. Even when I'm looking straight forward, the B pillar of a 5 door hatch is in my peripheral vision. It's silly.

I'm currently driving a 5 door Ford Focus hatchback, and this B pillar issue isn't nearly as bad. But then, the rear door is smaller on the Focus than on the Golf.

The other thing which doesn't affect me, cause I'm only 5'10", but the 5 door version of the new Polo is more difficult to get into the drivers seat for someone tall. I had to laugh at the difficulty my 6'5" workmate had getting into the 5 door Polo GTI at the motorshow. This was after having no issues getting into the 3 door Trendline Polo. He needs to have the seat back a lot further than I, and therefore he's actually having to climb in AROUND the B Pillar of the 5 door. He doesn't have the issue looking left or right though, because his head is COMPLETELY BEHIND the B Pillar. But this creates other even more dangerous vision issues. He actually loves the new Polo, but he could only consider a 3 door because of this.

But in any case, just because it's not your opinion, SilvrFoxX, does mean someone else's opinion is "a load". Lets not drag this thread down to the point where I have to start handing out infractions.

[Corey_R]

Lol Dermot. Yeah, it's so totally comes down to that sometimes.

It used to frustrating the hell out of me back in the Golf R 3/5 Door thread, when someone would come along and say "VGA should get rid of the Golf GTI/R 3 Door and bring the Scirocco instead". It's like, no way! Just because one person likes something more/needs something specific/whatever, doesn't mean that everyone else should think the same way.

People should just respect each others likes/needs/whatever more.

Each car has its place.
If you like 5 door hatchbacks, great.
If you like 3 door hatchbacks, great.
If you like the Scirocco more than the Golf, well that's great too.

But don't assume that everyone else thinks the same as you, and don't assume that you're RIGHT. Because when it comes to likes/needs, no one is wrong or right.

[Lams]

The Scirocco would be great if you already have something else as the practical car.

But I reckon our Eos could carry more than the Scirocco with the roof up, and we can lower the roof to carry tall things like grandfather clocks. Looking good is not cheap!

[Converted]

Oprah should give away Scirocco Rs to her audience while she's down under.

[dave_r]

Oprah should give away Scirocco Rs to her audience while she's down under.

Is that because they'd appeal to the same people who Beetles do

(Yeah, I don't get the fuss over the roc.)

[REXman]

Is that because they'd appeal to the same people who Beetles do

(Yeah, I don't get the fuss over the roc.)

+1 Fully agree. Its a completely different car.

[ethosguy]

Is that because they'd appeal to the same people who Beetles do

(Yeah, I don't get the fuss over the roc.)

...hairdressers.

[Nath]

hmmm, don't think I'd sway but I'd look hard at it when buying my next car, it is a fantastic little car, its also the quickest of the current VW hatches... and before people harp on about the AWD Golf R, consider this

Autozeitung test track, Germany
Porsche GT2 RS - 1:33.84
ZR-1 - 1:34.10
GTR R35 - 1:35.60
EVO X MR - 1:41.60
Audi TT-RS - 1:41.8
Sirocco R - 1:42.6
Megane RS MKIII - 1:42.7
Golf R - 1:43.7
Focus RS MKII - 1:44.1
Mazda 3 MPS MKII - 1:45.3
BMW 335i - 1:45.8
MKVI Golf GTI - 1:45.9
Focus ST - 1:46.9
BMW 135i - 1:46.9
Sircco 1.4 TSI - 1:47.1
MKV Golf GTI - 1:47.7
MKV Golf R32: 1:47.8
MKV Pirelli GTI - 1:49.2
MY10 POLO GTI - 1.49.7
Civic FN2 R - 1:51.0

[ethosguy]

Conceeded. Fine set of lap times for a Hairdresser car...spose some hairdressers are quick peddlers too.

Wouldn't mind commenting if these laps are all high speed flowing ccrts?

A couple of seasons back in the WRC a Citroen F2 French round (I think is was the then new C4 while the WRC crews were still using the Xaria WRC) was setting better stage times than the WRC front runners, Loeb included. Malcom Wilson countered a question about the comparitive pace by stating if you want an all conditions car you build AWD.

Now I never intend to run my road car like a WRC on WRC global conditions, couldn't if I wanted, but I wouldn't prefer a FWD, sports oriented coupe in preference to an AWD versitile hatch. And if I had a spare let's say $65k to play cars It wouldn't be a dedicated sports car chioce either. The real downer is the lack of rear drive options in the market...which is why Haldex Controllers were invented.

[bcm]

A couple of seasons back in the WRC a Citroen F2 French round (I think is was the then new C4 while the WRC crews were still using the Xaria WRC) was setting better stage times than the WRC front runners, Loeb included. Malcom Wilson countered a question about the comparitive pace by stating if you want an all conditions car you build AWD.

It was the 306 Maxis that Wilson was talking about. Their major advantages were that it was a tarmac round, they were hundreds of kilos lighter than the WRC cars, they were allowed traction control and it was a dry rally. The cars weren't built to the same rules.

[sharkablue]

Would it be safe to assume that if anything, VW Australia will show off the Scirocco to the Australian public at the 2011 Melbourne Motorshow?

If it does indeed come to Australia, I will be very very tempted to sell my GTI for it. I love the look of it and the whole 'practical' thing does not concern me as I dont have offspring and I do not plan to have any of those anytime soon.

[Corey_R]

Would it be safe to assume that if anything, VW Australia will show off the Scirocco to the Australian public at the 2011 Melbourne Motorshow?

Not necessarily. Volkswagen display cars at the Motorshow if it lines up with the schedule that they're following for releases/impending releases. But VW are equally happy to setup their own press/track days to launch a car. As they did with the MK6 Golf GTI and Golf R etc.

[dave_r]

hmmm, don't think I'd sway but I'd look hard at it when buying my next car, it is a fantastic little car, its also the quickest of the current VW hatches... and before people harp on about the AWD Golf R, consider this

It could be at the top of the time sheets, that doesn't mean anything to me. While impressive performance wise, I still wouldn't buy one.

[ethosguy]

It was the 306 Maxis that Wilson was talking about. Their major advantages were that it was a tarmac round, they were hundreds of kilos lighter than the WRC cars, they were allowed traction control and it was a dry rally. The cars weren't built to the same rules.

Ta for the 306 clarification.
Quite so about not from the same formula. Different tyre regs too more tyre/kg?
My clumsy statement...a FWD can be able & fast, but as you say, much narrower parameters.