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

[G-rig]

Its not 10x better its just 10x cooler cos it says "I bought this car for me" not "I bought this car cos my wife told me thats what I was allowed to have"

Well they are basically the same. You still got a hatch, when you could get a proper 2dr sports car or coupe/ 2-seater-selfish man's car.

3dr looks good in some shots but makes the car look 'short' in others. I agree 3dr probably looks ~10% better.

[kaanage]

Thats fine for the rear seat passengers, but the front seat people (and I'm assuming the owner / partner combo) still have to get wet when its raining to let rear seat people out!
Can't see that as being an ideal car.

Worse than that, I know a girl who got quite badly burnt when sitting in the middle of the rear seat of a 3 door car that caught on fire because of the time it took for the others to get out (the other rear passengers got burnt a bit, the front 2 didn't at all).

[simonm]

Worse than that, I know a girl who got quite badly burnt when sitting in the middle of the rear seat of a 3 door car that caught on fire because of the time it took for the others to get out (the other rear passengers got burnt a bit, the front 2 didn't at all).

Moral - they may be the same manufacturer, but don't fit a Kombi engine to a 3dr Golf.

[Mountainman]

Re the 3 door/5 door argument - do what suits you but take some photos of the times when you have to access your little darlings in their baby capsules/child seats in your 3 door. It will give us all a good laugh.

[Corey_R]

Kids in baby capsules in modern 3 doors ain't hard either. Not too diff to putting them into a baby capsule on the floor of your house. Hold baby against your chest, lean forward (and step into the car) and place baby in from directly in front of the capsule. The step part is the only real difference when dealing with the car, yet is no troubles.... unless your hips are too wide to fit between the B Pillar and the front-seat back. In which case, you maybe should be walking some more

Admittedly, I've never had to do this with a rearward facing baby capsule... so I can't comment on that. (Although if you came in from the other side of the car to the rearward-facing-capsule, I'd imaging it's really not much diff to putting the baby into the capsule from outside a 5 door hatch, except you're sitting down instead of standing).

[Tim]

I thought people who had babies bought SUVs?

[dave_r]

Its not 10x better its just 10x cooler cos it says "I bought this car for me" not "I bought this car cos my wife told me thats what I was allowed to have"

I thought people who had babies bought SUVs?

hahahah go for the hat trick mate!

The baby thing comes up with every 3dr convo. But the owners don't care about passengers, kids or the occasional extra practicality, I know I don't.

Corey, we all know the 3dr physically has more space in the rear but as an anti-kid crusader even I wouldn't go with that argument. You're on crack if you think a 3dr is suitable for an infant. I thought I got abused for parking in a pram spot, but I'd love to see you argue that one at a mothers club hehe

[teodeh]

The Scirocco is definitely pretty. If I want a pretty car I'll go by a TT or even a Pug RCZ (actually, no, bugger that ... too much plastic in the working parts of the clutch system!)

Having gone from a 5dr Pug 307 to a 3dr Pug 207, I will definitely go back to 5 dr cars from now on.

Passengers not being able to figure out the seat release (it's right in front of your face!), not being able to put packages etc on the back seat nearly as easily. Longer doors are simply a pain whenever you need to open them (and pug doors spring-load OUT as well as in!).

Now, where the &(*& is my 5 Door R?

[kaanage]

Admittedly, I've never had to do this with a rearward facing baby capsule... so I can't comment on that. (Although if you came in from the other side of the car to the rearward-facing-capsule, I'd imaging it's really not much diff to putting the baby into the capsule from outside a 5 door hatch, except you're sitting down instead of standing).

And you'd be dead wrong - instead of just leaning in and plonking a kid into the capsule with one foot inside, you have to get in without using your hands, since you're holding the bub, and turn and sit in a greatly reduced space (the capsule takes a fair chunk of the rear space) before being able to place the baby into the capsule.

That's one of the reasons I got rid of my 3 door 306 for a 5 door Focus (the other reason was mounting maintenance costs).

[Corey_R]

you have to get in without using your hands

You need hands to get into a car?
I mean, you need to be able to open the door, whether it's a 3 door or a 5 door you have that same task, but actually using hands to get INTO a car? I don't buy that.... I use my feet to step into a car. But that's just me

[AdamD]

Wow, there's a lot of baby talk in this thread.

I chose a 5-door because I've previously lived with a 3dr Civic for 8 years, and was really over the general inacessibility of the rear seats. I'm not hugely fussed about the gymnastics my rear passengers may or may not need to perform - if they come with me they can deal with it - but I wasn't getting good use of the space myself. My last car was a 5-door, and I've really appreciated the ease with which I can open a rear door and throw bags/coats/etc on the rear seats, especially if I'm loaded up. It may be a small convenience to some, but when you multiply that over several years of ownership, it makes a difference.

Couple that with the potentially greater ease of resale of a 5-door, and the fact I like them equally from a styling perspective, and the choice was easy for me. Not that I'd ever knock anyone for buying either (or a 'Roc for that matter, wow!) - buy whatever suits your lifestyle, and live with it.

[tomtom_r32]

Just checked out one of these babies by chance when passing Scuderia Artarmon.

I must say that in the flesh the Scirocco R is a gem to look, awesome stance.

Completely different breed to any other model released in AUS.

Would definately consider one of these if or when release by VW.

C'mon VW AU bring it in!!

[kaanage]

You need hands to get into a car?
I mean, you need to be able to open the door, whether it's a 3 door or a 5 door you have that same task, but actually using hands to get INTO a car? I don't buy that.... I use my feet to step into a car. But that's just me

Try getting into the back holding something over 5 kg that you DEFINITELY don't want to drop or bump with the center space obstructed (a rearwards facing capsule sticks out further than the seat squab).

But hey, if you don't mind crippled/brain damaged kids... But that's just me

[Corey_R]

That's why I said you'd need to get in from the other side man. There is no obstruction on the other side of the car. The rearward facing capsules are large - but they don't take the entire width of the back seat...

I chose a 5-door because I've previously lived with a 3dr Civic for 8 years, and was really over the general inacessibility of the rear seats. I'm not hugely fussed about the gymnastics my rear passengers may or may not need to perform

Yeah, having a few friends with old 3 door civics and having owned a 3 door Toyota for 8 years too, I can understand that. But my MKV Golf GTI was a different story. No twisting or anything needed because you just lend forward and walk straight in. No then having to completely readjust the front seat, as it'd slide back to the same position (both base and seat-back angle).

In fact, one of my "gymnastically challenged" workmates (lol - he's mid 40's, but has serious movement issues due to way too many football injuries over the years) prefered to get into the back of my 3 door Golf GTI. He found it far easier than getting into the front seat of the car due to how "low" it was. The rear seat was just a walk in walk out affair (yes, leaning forward a bit so you don't hit your head!)

[G-rig]

That's why I said you'd need to get in from the other side man. There is no obstruction on the other side of the car. The rearward facing capsules are large - but they don't take the entire width of the back seat...

C'mon corey, it isn't as easy or as practical as a 5dr, expecially in a carparks where you can't open the longer doors enough. Even cleaning the car would be annoying with the longer doors.