What happened to VW Scirocco's ?

Getting hard to find, and those of us who have them don't want to let go of them.

- Bill

The last year for North America was 1989 if memory serves me. It was avaliable with either a 1.8 litre, 16 valve motor or a 2.0 litre 8 valve motor for most of the late 1980s, although I'm not sure if both engines were avaliable in 89.

I guess that's debateble. I don't like the MKI Scirocco much and I prefer the Corrado even to the later Sciroccos.

Check the Penny Saver and local classifieds, and make friends with the internet. Ebay and Auto Trader are places to start. Just figure out which options you want the car to have and keep your fingers crossed. An 88 or 89 model with 5 speed, 1.8 litre, 16 valve motor and sunroof would be my pick. Steve Grauman

My SO bought one new in 85, 4 years before we got married. We sold it to a neighbor in 91..she used it as a daily driver for at least 5 more years before she sold it. About a year ago, we were driving about 15 miles from home, and it passed us on a local interstate (this particular unit was very recognizable due to a slight mis-match in taillight lens colors).

The heating and a/c produced lots of fan noise, but the little in the way of actual warm OR cold air. I always felt like I was peering out of a pillbox and trying to steer a brick. Once you got past those issues it was a decent ride, and I always felt well planted on the road...

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends

We're so glad you could attend Come inside! Come inside!

Links abound in the former, leading to more and more links, many crazies abound in the later, leading to more and more craziness.

Good site to find person to person sellers. And a bunch of other stuff.

TBerk

The scirocco line was replaced by the Corrados which turned out to expencive to produce.

I bought a 88 16v fully loaded scirocco in 96 and drove it til my ex ran into the back of an 77ford ltd in 01 . I did put it back together and sold to a friend. the only real problem I had was a bad tranny at 145k.

look on thesambia.com I've seen a few for sale on there at times.

Mario Vintage Werks Restorations

The heating on mine (16V) works great, once I figured out that (1) the valve was busted , so I replaced it, then (2) the control lever never turns it full on OR off. In order to get good operation I change the setting at the reach adjuster under the hood for summer and winter. During the summer I adjust it from full off to as far as the lever will reach (about half on). During the winter, the other way. The AC has never worked. I replaced the trans when I got the car.

I'd been restoring it bit by bit, primarily mechanical stuff first but some other improvements (like power windows), since I'd always wanted a 16V. Then about three weeks back I got hit in the drivers side by someone trying to pass me while I was turning into my driveway. Sigh. Still, since I "always wanted one" and restoring a '87 with some rust and dents didn't make since anyway, I'm still working on a restoration. The guy I took it to went looking for a donor car for doors and body panels and turned up an '88 16V that's been parked for ten years and has been partially stripped (engine, trans, some mechanicals), had never been hit, and has very little rust. He's proposing swapping all my new mechanical parts into that one. Looks to actually be cheaper. For something that's flat out illogical anyway, it kinda makes sense.

- Bill

Hey, that's the same symptom and procedure I had for my 1978 Fiat 131 Super Mirafiori (Brava in N.A.).

Glen McLean - Ottawa

'87 Jetta GLI, '97 Golf CL, '03 GTI

(Remove the ".NIT.invalid" from the end of my address)

The only Fiat I ever owed was an X-1/9, which I loved. Didn't accelerate worth anything, but I damn near never had to slow down for anything either. It was my first real experience driving something that handled really well. In a lot of way the Scirocco, especially the 16V version (I've had both 8V and 16V) reminds me a lot of that X-1/9... except it's a lot more comfortable, and there's actually room to carry stuff.

- Bill

Had 3 Fiats -

1970 124 Sports Coupe, 5sp, 1400cc; 1974 128 Wagon, 5sp, 1500 (and the parts bin that the X1/9 was made from); 1978 131 SuperMiraFiori, 5sp, 1756cc.

I loved all 3 cars WHEN THEY WERE WORKING. With every one I could watch it rust in the driveway (Ottawa, Ontario), and something mechanical would break once a month. Fiat quality never improved from year to year. Mine were all bought new, and regularly maintained (Boy, were they regularly maintained).

When they were running, they were great. All engines (DOHC) had great throttle response, revved beautifully, loved to be red-lined, and all performed better when being driven hard and fast.

The 124 was a poor mans Alfa, the 128 was a fantastic econo-box that handled just great (for an econo-box), and the 131 could do anything a BMW of the time could, only a bit noisier and harder on the senses (no flames please).

Unfortunately, like the British manufacturers, employees were always on strike, the cars were not designed for Canadian winters, quality control didn't exist (although hey tried with the Mirafiori, named for the plant where they were made), and no real effort was made to sell the cars, or keep valued customers.

There are rumours that they may come back to N.A. (relations with G.M.?), but, like the Brits cars, they will have to appeal to a whole new, younger crowd that doesn't know any better. When I see photos of the new ones, or in the flesh when visiting U.K, I still like the looks tho'.

Glen McLean - Ottawa

'87 Jetta GLI, '97 Golf CL, '03 GTI

(Remove the ".NIT.invalid" from the end of my address)

Why does this comment seem appropriate for a VW news group? :)

Seriously, I know what you mean, and I could have added that the Sciroccos also had the advantage of being more reliable than the Fiat. On the other hand, once I found a really GOOD Fiat mechanic, mine ran a great deal of the time, even in winter. But the same thing has been true of both of my Sciroccos. The first one had all kinds of failures every few months, until I found a good mechanic, one who really looked for the root of the problem rather than just swapping in a new part, to get it reliable. When I got the 16V, which had been dead for a year with a blown trans, it went to him for the trans and numerous other work before it went on the road. It now has 215K miles, 30K since I got it, starts every time and has been one of our more reliable cars. But it does have to be paid attention to. It's like having a kid who gets sick easy (and we have one, so I know what that means). At the first sign of trouble, you get the car, or the kid, checked out to avoid trouble.

- Bill

I think the Fiat group does have some sort of working relationship with GM, although I'm not sure on any details. I too have heard rumours of both Fiat and Alfa Romero returning to the U.S., and while the Alfa GTA with the 3.2 litre motor sounds like a lot of fun and looks great, I'm to scared of reliability issues to really want one. 3 of my relatives own 2004 Jaguars, and while they have certainly improved overall, none of them is a great deal more reliable than the Jags other realtives owned in the early 1960s. When 40 years of development can't teach a company how to build a reliable car, even under the wing of the wealthy Ford Motor company who can afford nearly endless R&D, something is worng. Steve Grauman

I too have read the Alfa is being brought back to the States. However, reading

it seems that maytake a while.

Yes, GM owns a 10% stake in Fiat Auto, and they have a joint venture for parts sourcing etc. They also share platforms for new cars. The new Fiat Punto shares the platform with the Opel Corsa to be released in about a year.

Fiat has recruited Stefan Ketter, the former head of quality at VWoA to its management team. We can all have our thoughts about what that will do for Fiat's quality. Actually, my dad had 6 Fiats through the 60's,

70's and 80's. Reliability was good, on par with other cars of the time. Throughout the 80's the German ADAC (equivalent to AAA in the US) found VW Golf to require roadside assistance at a higher rate than Fiat models.

I doubt that Alfa could keep up with Toyota or Lexus in quality, but then VW and BMW can't beat Toyota/Lexus either. And just like VW and BMW, Alfa has plenty of appeal in other areas. Landrover quality is on par with Kia and Hyundai, but plenty of people pay good money for a Landrover.

1988 was the last year in the US for them. They were replaced by the Corrado for 1990. No 1989 model of either was here in the US.

The Scirocco continued overseas for a few more years alongside the Corrado, but was killed off I think about '91 or so.

1988 - USA 1989 - Canada 1992 - Europe.

The Scirocco *never* got a 2.0L motor...

Browse here:

. Greg :)

OK. Here's another "did they ever" question.

I'd always thought that the (USA at least) 16V Sciroccos were only available in black, red and silver.

I've now seen a white '88 one which the owner (she's not the original owner) says she was told is original paint.

Possible?

- Bill

And white.

It could be. I knew someone in college in the late 1980s with one of these.

Thanks. First I'd heard this.

- Bill

They came in Toronado Red (Bright Red), Black, Silver, White, Mars Red (Orangish), Pewter (Greyish silver), Brown, Green and I believe a few other odd colors.

yes although the 16V didn't come in that entire range of colors.