1988 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V
The Scirocco is kind of the Red-Headed Stepchild of the Volkswagen Group. Of course, Volks has quite a few stepchildren (let’s just say he’s beaten Robert Baratheon by a considerable margin), but that shouldn’t mean that the Scirocco doesn’t deserve some love. While VAG has released their new Scirocco, it isn’t much more than a longer Golf with all of the aggression left for their GTIs and R32s. But this, the second generation Scirocco, is the best of the 80s—square everything, small wheels, and no “innovation” in regards to the interior and gimmicks. Unlike the Type 1, there are two windshield wipers on the front (although the Prius-like bar across the rear window remains).
Not necessarily a “hot hatch”, but a two-door houseboat, the Scirocco doesn’t need a roof rack, because (several) snowboards will fit nicely in the back and I wouldn’t be surprised to find one speeding down the interstate with a quarter of a kayak sticking out. While the seller lists it in “excellent” condition, there does seem to be a bit of trim sticking out on the front bumper and I wonder how essential the rosary has been in keeping it running all these years.
Pros
- The opportunity to see people try and name your car (The Skirocco, the Sriracha, the Rocky Rococo—we’ve heard ‘em all.)
- All the sliders and switches you could ever want to press
- “California” car
- No Dieselgate problems
Not-so Pros
- Ninety-nine percent of the people of the world will call it a Cadillac (when looking from the front) or a CR-X (when looking from the back). But you take that opportunity to be a one percenter.
- You’ll have to replace those wheels right after you buy it
- Passed smog and emissions
condition: excellent
cylinders: 4 cylinders
fuel: gas
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: hatchback
