Discussion
I have a hankering for a scirocco as a daily. As far as I'm aware there were a few types but for the life of me I don't know the difference!
What sets the GTX, GT2, Storm, Scala, Base models apart?
Also, any info on what to look out for would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance, Dan
What sets the GTX, GT2, Storm, Scala, Base models apart?
Also, any info on what to look out for would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance, Dan
I had a Scala once. I'm no expert but the only difference the "Scala" model had from the others were alloy wheels the same colour as the bodywork.
Great cars, and seem to have shot up in value lately. I picked mine up for £200 with a years tax and test in 2005, but I doubt there's any chance of getting something that cheap these days.
Great cars, and seem to have shot up in value lately. I picked mine up for £200 with a years tax and test in 2005, but I doubt there's any chance of getting something that cheap these days.
Scala can be carb or injection, depending on the year.
I had a scala inj for a while, - disappointing. Steering lifeless and heavy, crappy brakes, generally a bit boring to drive, felt too heavy.
Much better off with a Mk1 Scirooco GTI, which are great fun, try finding one though. Golf GTI Mk1 or 2 are also a better drive imo.
I had a scala inj for a while, - disappointing. Steering lifeless and heavy, crappy brakes, generally a bit boring to drive, felt too heavy.
Much better off with a Mk1 Scirooco GTI, which are great fun, try finding one though. Golf GTI Mk1 or 2 are also a better drive imo.
I had a mk1 about 20 years ago, it was badly rusting even then . The mk1 was made by Karmen Ghia and the mk2 taken back in house by VW, so they have better rust proofing. The mk1 looks much better though IMO. I had the 1.6 carb engined version, with a four speed gearbox, but it handled very well.
The Storm was a mk1 special edition with a leather interior, the GTI (1.6 I think) engine, and a five speed box.
The scala was a mk2 carb engine with a bodykit, without the bodykit I think it was called a GTII. The GLX was a mk2 with the 1.8 GTI 8 valve engine.
. The mk1 was made by Karmen Ghia and the mk2 taken back in house by VW, so they have better rust proofing. The mk1 looks much better though IMO. I had the 1.6 carb engined version, with a four speed gearbox, but it handled very well.The Storm was a mk1 special edition with a leather interior, the GTI (1.6 I think) engine, and a five speed box.
The scala was a mk2 carb engine with a bodykit, without the bodykit I think it was called a GTII. The GLX was a mk2 with the 1.8 GTI 8 valve engine.
Edited by Strawman on Friday 5th March 20:55
HAB said:
I had a scala inj for a while, - disappointing. Steering lifeless and heavy, crappy brakes, generally a bit boring to drive, felt too heavy.
I had a GTi Scirocco, about 1987 vintage and it felt the same, probably the most unsporty coupe I've every driven!Edited by TallPaul on Friday 5th March 23:26
Strawman said:
The scala was a mk2 carb engine with a bodykit, without the bodykit I think it was called a GT. The GLX was a mk2 with the 1.8 GTI 8 valve engine.
Scala could also be injection, There was also the GT2 which was 90bhp carb 1.8. It was the GTX that had the 1.8i GTI motor. Edited by HAB on Friday 5th March 20:59
TallPaul said:
HAB said:
I had a scala inj for a while, - disappointing. Steering lifeless and heavy, crappy brakes, generally a bit boring to drive, felt too heavy.
I had a GTi Scirocco, about 1987 vintage and it felt the same, probably the most unsporty coupe I've every driven!crofty1984 said:
I have a hankering for a scirocco as a daily. As far as I'm aware there were a few types but for the life of me I don't know the difference!
What sets the GTX, GT2, Storm, Scala, Base models apart?
Also, any info on what to look out for would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance, Dan
I can't help with the prettier MKI, but I ran an a 1987 Scirocco GTX for several years in the late 90s. Of all the cars I've owned it's the one I wish I'd kept. Someone will be along to correct my dim recollection, but as far as the 1981 MKII is concerned there where two main engine sizes at 1.6 and 1.8 with and without fuel injection, as well as a short lived 1.5 in the base model.What sets the GTX, GT2, Storm, Scala, Base models apart?
Also, any info on what to look out for would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance, Dan
The boring details....
The CL had a 48bhp 1.5 engine, getting a 75bhp 1.6 unit in 1983, was rebadged the GT in 1986, and became the GT2 in 1989 when it received the 90bhp 1.8 carb
The GL had the 70bhp 1.6, getting a 90bhp 1.8 unit in 1983, and was rebadged as the GTL in 1985 and finished production in 1986
The GTi had the 110bhp fuel injected 1.6, getting the 112bhp 1.8 in 1983, and was rebadged as the GTX in 1985
The Storm was introduced in 1984 is basically a high spec GTi
The GTX 16V was introduced in 1986 with a 140BHP 1.8 16 Valve fuel injected engine, but was left hand drive only
The Scala was introduced in 1987 with the 90bhp 1.8 carb engine, and in 1989 got the 112bhp injected version of the 1.8, effectively replacing the GTX.
The Scala survived until 1991, with the GT2 lasting until 1992 despite the Corrado being on sale for a few years.
As for what goes wrong, well in my experience, nothing. It did suffer with a rusted fuel filler pipe which ultimately caused the death of two of the injectors (replace with donor items from a Golf GTI), but apart from service items I had no issues in 5 years of ownership, it's basically a MKI Golf with no rear legroom (but a huge boot). I sold mine to a friend and he is still using it in Spain to this day, 23 years old and by all accounts as reliable as ever. He promised me that if he ever sells it I can have it back, and I would, in a moment.
Edit: I'd forgotten about the steering, as others have suggested, it has the heaviest steering of any car I've driven, and very few if any had power assistance. The only thing I drove that was heavier was a 1950's GM Kaiser 6x6 military truck, even my 1962 Volvo Amazon was better.
Edited by GoodDoc on Friday 5th March 21:14
Yeah, they are heavy buggers.
Watch out for the rusty filler necks, common problem and one that saw my unsuspecting mate leaking fuel in much the same fashion as the plane at the end of Die Hard 2, in rush hour traffic on the M5.
Also when test driving, you will be alarmed at how poor the brakes are. This isn't likely to be a fault with the particular car you're looking at, as ALL sciroccos have terrible brakes.
Watch out for the rusty filler necks, common problem and one that saw my unsuspecting mate leaking fuel in much the same fashion as the plane at the end of Die Hard 2, in rush hour traffic on the M5.
Also when test driving, you will be alarmed at how poor the brakes are. This isn't likely to be a fault with the particular car you're looking at, as ALL sciroccos have terrible brakes.
I had a GTII. Was a pretty awful car tbh. If you get a carburetor model you might want to invest in a Weber twin choke carb and convert to manual choke. Mine was the standard pierburg carb with auto choke (worked via a wax stat) which made it run rough at cold, hot or full throttle.
The filler necks go rusty and there are no (to my knowledge) replacements available new - you can fit a Golf Mk1 filler neck if you can find one that also hasn't rotted through.
The bulkheads where the clutch cable comes through (drivers side) suffer from metal fatigue and make clutch operation bad, plates are often welded in to strengthen the wet card VW used.
Mine handled quite nice and looked stunning as they all do (imo) they are cheaper in general than a MK1 golf. I'd like to have another but doubt I ever will.
The filler necks go rusty and there are no (to my knowledge) replacements available new - you can fit a Golf Mk1 filler neck if you can find one that also hasn't rotted through.
The bulkheads where the clutch cable comes through (drivers side) suffer from metal fatigue and make clutch operation bad, plates are often welded in to strengthen the wet card VW used.
Mine handled quite nice and looked stunning as they all do (imo) they are cheaper in general than a MK1 golf. I'd like to have another but doubt I ever will.
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