The worst car I've ever owned was a 1998 Oldsmobile 88. I bought it the day after Christmas 2011 to replace a car that I totaled. I owned it until June 2019, but during that time there might have been a total of 2 years that it was actually running. Had all kinds of issues with it, but it was the best riding car I've ever had.
1994 Suzuki Swift GA. But if you don't think about it as a car, but something between a lawnmower and a car, it's actually pretty good. It also had A/C, amazing gas mileage, and looked great. Simple, straightforward design. Things we don't see anymore. I miss it.
I never owned a 'worst' car. I have owned several cars that were decent from the factory but should have been retired before I wasted my hard-earned money on them. 🥺
The worst car I've ever owned was also a Volkswagen, a 2002 Golf with the base engine (2.slow) and 4 speed automatic. The engine and transmission were reliable, but other parts of the car had their issues. The alternator failed, the radiator fan broke (twice), and the A/C ran out of gas three times. I was tired of fixing all the issues every time, and the car was quite underpowered, so after two years I replaced it with a 2012 Toyota Matrix.
I had a flash silver 87 scirocco 16v as my first car, bought it for $500 when I was 16. It never left me stranded and never let me down, one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. Even when I had to drop the transaxle and do a clutch job overnight in time for work, there’s just something about these A1 Volkswagens that is so special.
I had a black 88 16V for my first car back in 1991. I've owned 9 Porsches and a Maserati since then, but that Scirocco still still hits the top of my all-time favorites list. I loved that thing!! Congrats on getting yourself a beautiful example! 👍
What an entertaining review! The rope story was hilarious. This car is a keeper if you have the space…you’ll never find another great example like the one you have. It’s SO RARE! In 1980 I bought a brand new Scirocco in Burgundy. What a fun car. Never had any issues but traded in after a year for a New Trans Am (LOL). Your car is the one everyone will gravitate to at a car show. Congrats. 👍
That is one sharp-looking Scirocco. It does not look its age. I hope that you have much better luck with it this time around. I can't imagine trying to drive at highway speed stuck in third gear.
2002 I found an 8V (86?) at a dealership that wanted $485 cash. Even then that was cheap. The manual sunroof wouldn't close and it didn't have AC (thought the dealer), so I took it on a test drive and it drove great. Even got the air to work. Took it home, cleaned and lubricated the sunroof rails, and all was good. The AC condensation would build up in the vents and spill into the passenger floor board when I made a turn, so I got under the car and used a shop vac to suck out the drain pipe. Other than that it was super reliable and I loved that car. Drove it about 2 years and the fuel pump went out. Replaced that and not long after the repairs escalated, I was getting bored with it and sold it. Wish I could get it back. By far my favorite VW.
Beautiful car. I especially like the 70s ones. which are absolutely gorgeous. I'm a boomer who grew up with VWs which included Beetles, busses, and a Squareback. My old man had a 78 Rabbit diesel. Out of the more than 30 cars I have owned, I miss my 67 Split Window bus the most.
My first car was an 88 GTI 16v, tornado red. It had over 240k miles on it when I sold it. It never left me stranded except the one time I ran out of gas. You’re lucky to have that car!!
Still have my 87 16V Scirocco! Owned it since 92 when I bought it from my girlfriend's father - with... a broken timing belt. Saved up money to get it fixed and daily drove it throughout the 90s and then got an Audi TT in 2001 and retired the Scirocco to garage queen. They are parts eaters but very unique and fun cars.
DUDE, congrats! This would be hard to say no to...Nostalgia is a hell of drug! I think it's beautiful, gotta be one of the best around. Will this be your Radwood entry??
@@HelloRoad Aw man, my buddy has already rented a car to get us down there! Otherwise we totally would've. Thank you though! I also have a present for ya that I found at a used book store, I'll bring it Radwood. We will be in costume, seeya there!
I had an 88 16v and the only problem I ever had was the fuel pump and general maintenance. I got it with 36k miles and got rid of it with 250k. BEST CAR EVER!! Man I wish I still had it.
Ethan, no! 😭 Worst car I ever owned was a 4AT RX-8. Never really went wrong, but the anxiety it gave me was wild. It was totaled when a FedEx truck hit it, and I bought a second one. But not a third time!
I got an identical one brand new for my 16th birthday from my indulgent grandparents. I drove it all through high school and college and cross-country to my first real job and kept driving it until I could save up for the down payment on a BMW 320. I drove it like I stole it and it never failed to start or left me stranded. It had 158,000 Mi on it when it got rear-ended at a stoplight because the distracted lady in the minivan forgot it takes a lot longer to stop on snow than it does on dry payment.
Worst car, or least reliable? My 2004 RX8 gave me the most headaches; flooding, coils, cat (2x), one more thing I can’t remember. I’d buy an RX8 again, not a first year, but a 2007+. Chassis and trans were along the best I’ve driven.
My 2006 RX8 GT MT6 was awesome, except for the rusty rear brake rotors that looked terrible through the open wheels, and the CD changer that always jammed. Best chassis EVVVVVER.
this is awesome. I also had an 88 Scirocco 16v when I was 18. It was my first car. I bought it needing a clutch for only $500 from a co workers and I spent at least $300 a month repairing it to keep it on the road. I called it my "shit rocket" instead of Scirocco. Eventually, I just bought a 98 Civic and just made a $300 car payment and didnt worry about repairs lol.
Great to see new 80’s & 90’s cars to your fleet Ethan. I hope they work well for you, & to be honest if they don’t I’ll enjoy the videos & gleaning knowledge from your ‘terrible mechanicshipery’ : I’ve found your knowledge exhalts you higher than your claim! I can’t not ever remember seeing one of these Siroccos in Australia. Looks great i think
I was hoping you would do this, so glad to see it come to fruition. The story of your original Scirocco is a lot like mine, but it was with a '79 Rabbit (obviously, I wanted the GTI or Scirocco, but neither were in the parental budget). That stupid car stranded me so many times, and I'd joke that I pushed it more than I drove it. Also came from this shady dealer run by an old German guy who put a smog-illegal engine in it, and my dad either had to take him to small claims court or at least threatened to until they took the car back. I also vowed to never get a VW again, but now I have my '87 Scirocco 16V with over 200k miles and practically everything is broken or worn out, but I went in prepared to deal with such things. Hope to see more videos on your 16V. 👍
3:12 I know someone with a 1991 Pontiac Bonneville SSE and it is exactly what you are describing! I believe they had this similar design element on later Fieros as well
Your Scirocco reliability stories are similar to my 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 experience. (Those are "affectionately" called Crapis.) Very happy for your purchase. Sciroccos are a 1980s dream car. Love the looks of it! Even in red. A family friend had one but had the euro headlights. A great look. No map-light boom on the dash?😢 That was an iconic feature. This one better get the garage. It is really nice!
It's a Volkswagen.. it's been ruining the life of everyone around them since 1937 until today.. so, i just have much hope on that not breaking down so.. good luck dude! 😂😂😂😂 (It does look pretty sick though!)
I had a 79, an 84, an 88, an 87 and an 87 now. No water, just the trans on the 84 8 valve, and a fusebox overheating issue on the first 87. Present one is at west coast roccos almost done
Love it, you’re truly living the dream. My first car was an 87 Scirocco 16V, except mine was silver. Weird thing is, mine was totally reliable, except for the fact that it was running on three cylinders the whole time I had it and didn’t realize it till I sold it to the next owner who replaced the spark plug wires, how much faster it could’ve been.
I just had to clarify that I sold it to the next owner not the second owner. I’m sure I was either the second or third owner by time I got mine in 1995 or 96. It had like 120,000 miles on it when I got it.
I have owned a 92 GTI 16v since about 99. I go to a reputable VW mechanic. The downside is vacuum leaks. They never end. The distributor is faulty, I’ve had a few, and seal with I could. Otherwise it’s normal car stuff, like fuel pumps, radiator with dog house cooler. It’s had two timing belts. On time. 45k. To be aware. It’s at 189k and moves Out. Coilovers came about 10 years ago, I went all out KW. Neuspeed sway bars. Audi TT trailing arm bushings. Momo Race wheels, bought brand new Hella headlights (I think I bought the last ones). It’s my 700 Mile a year use car. Change conventional oil every few years. I don’t let it Sit. Kills these. I haven’t enjoyed a car like this one, but I wouldn’t use it daily. I had a buddy put new plastic in the doors. My sunroof works wonderfully. The TT exhaust is still Intoxicating to hear. The shift kit is lovely. My AC never worked. My tach dash light is out (I’m not replacing it, too involved removing the dash, and I seldom drive it after 4pm). The headliner got replaced professionally for $350 8 years ago. It needs a few trim pieces, has a few scratches and little dings.. dash is like new. Sears are really nice. I can’t let it go. It will be my ⚰️ It’s a great addition. It will be a love/hate relationship. That’s VW Life.
I had thr some nostalgia, i bough a 87 16v with 60k on it. Let me say this now that i have money and knowledge, fixing it is so mutch easier then the one i had back then.
if the worst car you've ever owned was that, you've lived a pretty good life man, as its all about the setup, and sorting them out, and every car has bad examples one thing though, watch the jay leno video on it, and check the transmission if any of that is true, as you may wanna tremic switch it if its that bad as my cousin martin had one of these and it wasnt a bad piece of kit, convertible though, silver with a roll bar damn quick too, real old school german with a decent amount of space in the back
Imho, that's another great purchase! The car looks to be in extremely good condition as well. Where I'm from, the 16v has always been nearly impossible to find. I haven't seen one in person for probably 20 years.
I think this might be a decent purchase. It seems like all things in the retro car market. If it made it this far, it might make it a long time in the future, especially with proper maintenance. Definitely want to see the receipts on that timing belt. Other than that, I would say a mechanic that can really really really look into it might give you some peace of mind. The problem, of course, is going to be parts if you need them. The good part of that is that I think almost all Volkswagens from that era use the same parts. The bad thing is if that part is no longer available you’re competing with everybody else looking for it. It is so tempting to daily drive something like that, but you just might kill it if you do that, and then trying to repair it is going to be a headache.
When I bought my second MGB, I still had my Escort. The Escort was boring but reliable and the MGB was not. I learned to have a boring reliable backup up car if I was to own a fun sporty unreliable car too. Yes, I too would like to buy my first car again, a 77 Fiat X1/9. This time it’ll be different. First I need my big shop with two post lift.
It sounds like your previous Scirocco had never been maintained. Ever. The 5th gear thing is because it was low on transmission fluid. It was probably so low that it ate 4th too. Also, just because, I'd replace the timing belt in this new one right away! Insurance and all that. That is one lovely car. I still have my original 1981 Rabbit Diesel. It's been in the family since new, and I can't really get rid of it.
That looks fantastic! Hope it treats you well this time haha! Honestly though I love those cars, and this was probably peak VW, I say picking this up was a great choice!
The worst car I ever owned was the second generation Opel Corsa. It left me stranded in the cold for once. I sold it to the junkyard but somebody saved it from crushing.
Funny I have owned my 16v scirocco for 24 years and I don't feel it was that bad. I even picked up a second one to rebuild as a track toy (my first an 88 and my new one is an 87)...... my buddy has two of them too🙃. I have also owned serval 951's and some 930 SC's in the past. Are Scirocco's best upgrades are a set of KW V3's set up on scales, TT exhaust and TT ABF cams, Missing linkz shifter and to top it off SCCH bearing shifter ball....
This is one of my two favorite VW designs ever. It's hilarious, though, that a 35 year old VW is the nicest car in your fleet. The worst car I ever owned was a 4 cylinder 87 Taurus that I owned in the mid 90s. I would rather try to live without a car (which I could probably do here in the uptown part of New Orleans) than ever own another one of those.
You're not a masochist - you're just sentimental! I once owned two Corrados. Sat in one in a new dealer's showroom before I bought my '92 Mk.2 Golf. Bought my two when they were fully depreciated. Great fun, but high maintenance. Used to tell my GF, "Don't use the sunroof, it still works!" 🤣
Mileage may well be legit. Some of these cars got VDO speedos - which have plastic gears for the odometer and were notorious for breaking. But this car has a MotoMeter speedo, which have metal gears in the odometer and are quite bulletproof. So MAYBE that mileage number is indeed legit. Judging by how clean it is, the condition of the seats/dash and other wear areas, I'm guessing it's for real. Beautiful unicorn you just don't see in this condition nowadays. As a former 10-year 16V owner, I'm envious.
Ethan, This is hilarious brother. I think you are a glinton for punishment... Or you just picked it up for a great deal and it's going to go on BAT. One of my closest friends had the same exact car same trim. I got to ride in it once. I also remember reading about it in magazines and loving the rear tail lights and the rear spoiler also hatchbacks being practical and sporty looking was nice... I loved the body colored ground effects which in retrospect to look like a lifted pickup compared to my factory 2017 Prius 😂😂😂 I know I say this all the time but I hope you will let me know if you ever decide to let the Nova twin cam go... I know I'm the person to give it a great home 😊
AWESOME CAR! BTW, I'm also from MA, I also bought a car as a teenager with a loan from the Bank Of Grandma, also owned a terrible Scirocco that broke constantly (1st Gen) and currently own a Guards Red 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo. Ya know... for nostalgia. LOL. So I "get" ya.
Back in the day to me people that owned a Scirocco (and also an Audi Coupe) always seemed to have just a little more sophistication than the rest of us. Yes, they overpaid. Yes, their cars couldn't compete in a straight line, nor did they have half the features somebody's Starion did. But yet, but yet - they were ... German. And the drivers were initiated. They knew cars. There was probably money in the family - or they could drive better than you. Or not - so you climbed back into the Acord and thought that you had after all made a sensible decision and at least it wasn't a Camry.
How much could it possibly cost to have a dash board covered in leather? My girl had a car that popped out of gear, i was told it was caused by drivers resting their hand on the shifter while cruising. Seems early on yours tho
Congratulations to the Scirocco it looks really good. I am also addicted to cars and even if my brain tells me not to buy, my heart is a great partner to support the next purchase.....so I am lost... :)
Nice catch... Yes the 86.5 16v first of the batch had the 160 mph speedo .. rest had 140mph. Vw always did quirky things to new yr cars. I had 86 16v with 160 mph.. sure miss mine
The car I had recently that gave me nothing but troubles was a 1992 honda civic that hit a bmw come to find out it was beat to hell by the 2nd owner before the guy bought it then I bought it for $600 it was just a endless nightmare of neglect and but maintance got rid of it got a 1998 vw jetta tdi similar story however its all fixed now
The Scirocco was a cost-cutting solution by VW. In the 1970s, VW commissioned Porsche to create a compact sports car but ran out of money and sold the rights to Porsche. Then, Porsche made a few adjustments to the car and sold it as the 928 and 944.
Actually, the original Porsche 924 was supposed to be the next VW sports car, but Porsche ended up keeping its design and marketing/selling it as a Porsche. In Europe it was sold as a VW/Porsche. The Golf based VW Corrado came along, and VW had to market it in such a way as to not cannibalize 944 sales, so it wasn't super powerful or fancy. Awesome car though!
I literally had the same red car that broke it's timing belt while I was delivering pizza! I guess I dodged a bullet though, no damage. Put a new belt on by myself. I thought I read somewhere that these were non-interference engines? Sorry you had so much trouble!
If you're going back to buying cars again, might I suggest importing a Ford Puma? It will look and feel just like your Probe but more unique and European.
@@HelloRoad Only joking Ethan. If it makes you feel any better, I now have a car problem, as I can't bear to get rid of my old car as it's too reliable.
![6 Forgotten Performance Cars of the 1990s [Can We Find Them?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2mnWIXuspNo/mqdefault.jpg)
What was the worst car you've ever owned? Would you buy one again to give it a second chance?
The worst car I've ever owned was a 1998 Oldsmobile 88. I bought it the day after Christmas 2011 to replace a car that I totaled. I owned it until June 2019, but during that time there might have been a total of 2 years that it was actually running. Had all kinds of issues with it, but it was the best riding car I've ever had.
1994 Suzuki Swift GA. But if you don't think about it as a car, but something between a lawnmower and a car, it's actually pretty good. It also had A/C, amazing gas mileage, and looked great. Simple, straightforward design. Things we don't see anymore. I miss it.
I never owned a 'worst' car. I have owned several cars that were decent from the factory but should have been retired before I wasted my hard-earned money on them. 🥺
The worst car I've ever owned was also a Volkswagen, a 2002 Golf with the base engine (2.slow) and 4 speed automatic. The engine and transmission were reliable, but other parts of the car had their issues. The alternator failed, the radiator fan broke (twice), and the A/C ran out of gas three times. I was tired of fixing all the issues every time, and the car was quite underpowered, so after two years I replaced it with a 2012 Toyota Matrix.
The best and the worst was the Honda CR-Z... It caused a lot of headaches, but also a lot of smiles.
Ethan: "It only has 30,000 miles!" Narrator: "It had 1,030,000 miles".
I had a flash silver 87 scirocco 16v as my first car, bought it for $500 when I was 16. It never left me stranded and never let me down, one of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. Even when I had to drop the transaxle and do a clutch job overnight in time for work, there’s just something about these A1 Volkswagens that is so special.
I had a black 88 16V for my first car back in 1991. I've owned 9 Porsches and a Maserati since then, but that Scirocco still still hits the top of my all-time favorites list. I loved that thing!! Congrats on getting yourself a beautiful example! 👍
"Worst car" - Jason Cammisa would like a word 😂
They drive like a Tacoma 😂
What an entertaining review! The rope story was hilarious. This car is a keeper if you have the space…you’ll never find another great example like the one you have. It’s SO RARE! In 1980 I bought a brand new Scirocco in Burgundy. What a fun car. Never had any issues but traded in after a year for a New Trans Am (LOL). Your car is the one everyone will gravitate to at a car show. Congrats. 👍
That is one sharp-looking Scirocco. It does not look its age. I hope that you have much better luck with it this time around. I can't imagine trying to drive at highway speed stuck in third gear.
2002 I found an 8V (86?) at a dealership that wanted $485 cash. Even then that was cheap. The manual sunroof wouldn't close and it didn't have AC (thought the dealer), so I took it on a test drive and it drove great. Even got the air to work. Took it home, cleaned and lubricated the sunroof rails, and all was good. The AC condensation would build up in the vents and spill into the passenger floor board when I made a turn, so I got under the car and used a shop vac to suck out the drain pipe. Other than that it was super reliable and I loved that car. Drove it about 2 years and the fuel pump went out. Replaced that and not long after the repairs escalated, I was getting bored with it and sold it. Wish I could get it back. By far my favorite VW.
Beautiful car. I especially like the 70s ones. which are absolutely gorgeous. I'm a boomer who grew up with VWs which included Beetles, busses, and a Squareback. My old man had a 78 Rabbit diesel. Out of the more than 30 cars I have owned, I miss my 67 Split Window bus the most.
Ethan, I feared the Storm was just the thin edge of the wedge.For the record, 4:49 you should have kept the Tercel. 🤣
The Tercel didn't last long. Threw a rod at 110k miles! Although maybe that was because my sister drove it without oil for a couple weeks 🫠
My first car was an 88 GTI 16v, tornado red. It had over 240k miles on it when I sold it. It never left me stranded except the one time I ran out of gas. You’re lucky to have that car!!
Amazing Scirocco 16V! Doesn't matter why you bought it, please keep it looking great!
Still have my 87 16V Scirocco! Owned it since 92 when I bought it from my girlfriend's father - with... a broken timing belt. Saved up money to get it fixed and daily drove it throughout the 90s and then got an Audi TT in 2001 and retired the Scirocco to garage queen. They are parts eaters but very unique and fun cars.
DUDE, congrats! This would be hard to say no to...Nostalgia is a hell of drug! I think it's beautiful, gotta be one of the best around.
Will this be your Radwood entry??
Thx!! Yeah I'm bringing this to Radwood. If you really have an itch to bring a rad car to Radwood, you can bring my Geo! 😆
@@HelloRoad Aw man, my buddy has already rented a car to get us down there! Otherwise we totally would've. Thank you though!
I also have a present for ya that I found at a used book store, I'll bring it Radwood. We will be in costume, seeya there!
@@RetroCarsForever Oh nice!!!
I had an 88 16v and the only problem I ever had was the fuel pump and general maintenance. I got it with 36k miles and got rid of it with 250k. BEST CAR EVER!! Man I wish I still had it.
Ethan, no! 😭
Worst car I ever owned was a 4AT RX-8. Never really went wrong, but the anxiety it gave me was wild. It was totaled when a FedEx truck hit it, and I bought a second one. But not a third time!
I got an identical one brand new for my 16th birthday from my indulgent grandparents.
I drove it all through high school and college and cross-country to my first real job and kept driving it until I could save up for the down payment on a BMW 320.
I drove it like I stole it and it never failed to start or left me stranded.
It had 158,000 Mi on it when it got rear-ended at a stoplight because the distracted lady in the minivan forgot it takes a lot longer to stop on snow than it does on dry payment.
Worst car, or least reliable? My 2004 RX8 gave me the most headaches; flooding, coils, cat (2x), one more thing I can’t remember. I’d buy an RX8 again, not a first year, but a 2007+. Chassis and trans were along the best I’ve driven.
Hey, me too! 2005 both times, but I just couldn't deal with the anxiety of ownership anymore after 8 years.
My 2006 RX8 GT MT6 was awesome, except for the rusty rear brake rotors that looked terrible through the open wheels, and the CD changer that always jammed. Best chassis EVVVVVER.
@@citrusjuicebox I’ve had multiple RX7s and never had the anxiety or lack of trust that I did in that RX8. When it ran though, I did love it.
@@jergervasi3331 mine was a GT Manual at well! Mine didn’t have the changer but had the awful navigation that I tried once and never used again.
@ Oh, the nav was TERRRRRRRRIBLE! I forgot about that!
I had a silver Scirocco, and yours is beautiful!!! Just love it.
I owned my 16v for nearly a decade, and it seldom gave me any problems. Had damn near 400k on the clock when I sold it.
I wish there were cars that looked like this now.
My Scirocco was the biggest POS I ever owned but it never failed to put a smile on my face. Thing handled like it was on rails.
This is beautiful I have a red 87 16v with 60k miles I absolutely love it.
Finally a Scirocco video that doesn't have Jason Camisa's annoying voice.
this is awesome. I also had an 88 Scirocco 16v when I was 18. It was my first car. I bought it needing a clutch for only $500 from a co workers and I spent at least $300 a month repairing it to keep it on the road. I called it my "shit rocket" instead of Scirocco. Eventually, I just bought a 98 Civic and just made a $300 car payment and didnt worry about repairs lol.
Great to see new 80’s & 90’s cars to your fleet Ethan. I hope they work well for you, & to be honest if they don’t I’ll enjoy the videos & gleaning knowledge from your ‘terrible mechanicshipery’ : I’ve found your knowledge exhalts you higher than your claim!
I can’t not ever remember seeing one of these Siroccos in Australia. Looks great i think
I was hoping you would do this, so glad to see it come to fruition. The story of your original Scirocco is a lot like mine, but it was with a '79 Rabbit (obviously, I wanted the GTI or Scirocco, but neither were in the parental budget). That stupid car stranded me so many times, and I'd joke that I pushed it more than I drove it. Also came from this shady dealer run by an old German guy who put a smog-illegal engine in it, and my dad either had to take him to small claims court or at least threatened to until they took the car back. I also vowed to never get a VW again, but now I have my '87 Scirocco 16V with over 200k miles and practically everything is broken or worn out, but I went in prepared to deal with such things. Hope to see more videos on your 16V. 👍
I want one of those…I think they look great!
3:12 I know someone with a 1991 Pontiac Bonneville SSE and it is exactly what you are describing! I believe they had this similar design element on later Fieros as well
that thing is very clean
can we get more nova videos??? love the all the videos, have a great day thanks for the content
NOVA! NOVA!! NOVA!!!
Back when every car had to make you look like you were Inspector Gadget driving a time machine.
I really enjoy hearing your car stories this was interesting!
I was sitting in grad school in 1986 choosing between a 12 valve Scirocco and a Honda CRX Si, luckily I chose the Honda......yours is super clean
i had four and still own one now. they all ran great. save for one self machining trans in my 84.
Your Scirocco reliability stories are similar to my 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 experience. (Those are "affectionately" called Crapis.)
Very happy for your purchase. Sciroccos are a 1980s dream car. Love the looks of it! Even in red.
A family friend had one but had the euro headlights. A great look.
No map-light boom on the dash?😢 That was an iconic feature.
This one better get the garage. It is really nice!
It's a Volkswagen.. it's been ruining the life of everyone around them since 1937 until today.. so, i just have much hope on that not breaking down so.. good luck dude! 😂😂😂😂 (It does look pretty sick though!)
My red 84 8v Scirocco was also the worst car I ever owned. It was only 7 years old when I owned it too. Horrible reliability.
I had a 79, an 84, an 88, an 87 and an 87 now. No water, just the trans on the 84 8 valve, and a fusebox overheating issue on the first 87. Present one is at west coast roccos almost done
Love it, you’re truly living the dream. My first car was an 87 Scirocco 16V, except mine was silver. Weird thing is, mine was totally reliable, except for the fact that it was running on three cylinders the whole time I had it and didn’t realize it till I sold it to the next owner who replaced the spark plug wires, how much faster it could’ve been.
😭
I just had to clarify that I sold it to the next owner not the second owner. I’m sure I was either the second or third owner by time I got mine in 1995 or 96. It had like 120,000 miles on it when I got it.
The gauge cluster makes me miss both of the Mk2 Jettas I had years ago. Mine were pretty junk too but were fun!
I have owned a 92 GTI 16v since about 99. I go to a reputable VW mechanic. The downside is vacuum leaks. They never end. The distributor is faulty, I’ve had a few, and seal with I could. Otherwise it’s normal car stuff, like fuel pumps, radiator with dog house cooler. It’s had two timing belts. On time. 45k. To be aware. It’s at 189k and moves Out. Coilovers came about 10 years ago, I went all out KW. Neuspeed sway bars. Audi TT trailing arm bushings. Momo Race wheels, bought brand new Hella headlights (I think I bought the last ones). It’s my 700 Mile a year use car. Change conventional oil every few years. I don’t let it Sit. Kills these. I haven’t enjoyed a car like this one, but I wouldn’t use it daily. I had a buddy put new plastic in the doors. My sunroof works wonderfully. The TT exhaust is still
Intoxicating to hear. The shift kit is lovely. My AC never worked. My tach dash light is out (I’m not replacing it, too involved removing the dash, and I seldom drive it after 4pm). The headliner got replaced professionally for $350 8 years ago. It needs a few trim pieces, has a few scratches and little dings.. dash is like new. Sears are really nice. I can’t let it go. It will be my ⚰️
It’s a great addition. It will be a love/hate relationship.
That’s VW Life.
I had thr some nostalgia, i bough a 87 16v with 60k on it. Let me say this now that i have money and knowledge, fixing it is so mutch easier then the one i had back then.
if the worst car you've ever owned was that, you've lived a pretty good life man, as its all about the setup, and sorting them out, and every car has bad examples
one thing though, watch the jay leno video on it, and check the transmission if any of that is true, as you may wanna tremic switch it if its that bad
as my cousin martin had one of these and it wasnt a bad piece of kit, convertible though, silver with a roll bar
damn quick too, real old school german with a decent amount of space in the back
My bro had like a 89 16v i think there good looking cars
Imho, that's another great purchase! The car looks to be in extremely good condition as well. Where I'm from, the 16v has always been nearly impossible to find. I haven't seen one in person for probably 20 years.
Sorry about the incident with your engine! However, hope you get to enjoy your newest vehicle for many years to come! 😎
3:07 Are those Euro-spec tail lights? USDM tail lights are supposed to have outward red corners (?).
I've only seen amber corners on US 16V Sciroccos 🤷♂️
I had a similar experience as you. And vowed never to buy another VW again. Hope this works out for you.
Always wanted one!
I think this might be a decent purchase. It seems like all things in the retro car market. If it made it this far, it might make it a long time in the future, especially with proper maintenance. Definitely want to see the receipts on that timing belt. Other than that, I would say a mechanic that can really really really look into it might give you some peace of mind. The problem, of course, is going to be parts if you need them. The good part of that is that I think almost all Volkswagens from that era use the same parts. The bad thing is if that part is no longer available you’re competing with everybody else looking for it. It is so tempting to daily drive something like that, but you just might kill it if you do that, and then trying to repair it is going to be a headache.
When I bought my second MGB, I still had my Escort. The Escort was boring but reliable and the MGB was not. I learned to have a boring reliable backup up car if I was to own a fun sporty unreliable car too. Yes, I too would like to buy my first car again, a 77 Fiat X1/9. This time it’ll be different. First I need my big shop with two post lift.
It sounds like your previous Scirocco had never been maintained. Ever. The 5th gear thing is because it was low on transmission fluid. It was probably so low that it ate 4th too. Also, just because, I'd replace the timing belt in this new one right away! Insurance and all that. That is one lovely car. I still have my original 1981 Rabbit Diesel. It's been in the family since new, and I can't really get rid of it.
That looks fantastic! Hope it treats you well this time haha! Honestly though I love those cars, and this was probably peak VW, I say picking this up was a great choice!
I had one Ethan, didn’t really have any major problems. Just typical things in that era.
I learned to drive on one of these, a manual early 80s. Fun times.
Great addition dude.
The worst car I ever owned was the second generation Opel Corsa. It left me stranded in the cold for once. I sold it to the junkyard but somebody saved it from crushing.
Funny I have owned my 16v scirocco for 24 years and I don't feel it was that bad. I even picked up a second one to rebuild as a track toy (my first an 88 and my new one is an 87)...... my buddy has two of them too🙃. I have also owned serval 951's and some 930 SC's in the past. Are Scirocco's best upgrades are a set of KW V3's set up on scales, TT exhaust and TT ABF cams, Missing linkz shifter and to top it off SCCH bearing shifter ball....
My friend had exact car in high school, i got to drive several times and it was so much fun! We also had to fix it every other weekend 😂
This is one of my two favorite VW designs ever. It's hilarious, though, that a 35 year old VW is the nicest car in your fleet.
The worst car I ever owned was a 4 cylinder 87 Taurus that I owned in the mid 90s. I would rather try to live without a car (which I could probably do here in the uptown part of New Orleans) than ever own another one of those.
im glad you prefer the american bumpers, I love usdm bumpers!!
You're not a masochist - you're just sentimental! I once owned two Corrados. Sat in one in a new dealer's showroom before I bought my '92 Mk.2 Golf. Bought my two when they were fully depreciated. Great fun, but high maintenance. Used to tell my GF, "Don't use the sunroof, it still works!" 🤣
Mileage may well be legit. Some of these cars got VDO speedos - which have plastic gears for the odometer and were notorious for breaking. But this car has a MotoMeter speedo, which have metal gears in the odometer and are quite bulletproof. So MAYBE that mileage number is indeed legit. Judging by how clean it is, the condition of the seats/dash and other wear areas, I'm guessing it's for real. Beautiful unicorn you just don't see in this condition nowadays. As a former 10-year 16V owner, I'm envious.
if its not your only car then why not its a cool car! I loved my old 14 jetta se 1.8 tsi 5 speed till it blew up.
Ethan, This is hilarious brother. I think you are a glinton for punishment... Or you just picked it up for a great deal and it's going to go on BAT.
One of my closest friends had the same exact car same trim. I got to ride in it once. I also remember reading about it in magazines and loving the rear tail lights and the rear spoiler also hatchbacks being practical and sporty looking was nice... I loved the body colored ground effects which in retrospect to look like a lifted pickup compared to my factory 2017 Prius 😂😂😂
I know I say this all the time but I hope you will let me know if you ever decide to let the Nova twin cam go... I know I'm the person to give it a great home 😊
This is exactly why I would avoid belts like the plague. Chains for me folks.
Looks great, reminds me of an Audi 100gt
Awesome buy :) Car seems to be in great condition, so hopefully it'll give you nicer memories than your original one.
Man - what a find! Such a cool and unique car.
Always liked the Scirocco
Wow. Nice ride... :)
However these headlights are not as handsome as the original Euro ones. Is it possible to change them?
Yeah I do like the Euro ones better. But so many US-spec Sciroccos have been swapped over, I'd rather keep this one original.
I owned an 8V GTI that I consider one of the best cars I have ever owned. I miss it
AWESOME CAR! BTW, I'm also from MA, I also bought a car as a teenager with a loan from the Bank Of Grandma, also owned a terrible Scirocco that broke constantly (1st Gen) and currently own a Guards Red 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo. Ya know... for nostalgia. LOL. So I "get" ya.
Back in the day to me people that owned a Scirocco (and also an Audi Coupe) always seemed to have just a little more sophistication than the rest of us. Yes, they overpaid. Yes, their cars couldn't compete in a straight line, nor did they have half the features somebody's Starion did. But yet, but yet - they were ... German. And the drivers were initiated. They knew cars. There was probably money in the family - or they could drive better than you. Or not - so you climbed back into the Acord and thought that you had after all made a sensible decision and at least it wasn't a Camry.
Next to the egg 🥚 you had , the turbo Grand Prix , this is my favorite!!
🐞VW Beetle My father told me he got one Mexican Version
The car looks like it's in good condition at least rust free wise
How much could it possibly cost to have a dash board covered in leather?
My girl had a car that popped out of gear, i was told it was caused by drivers resting their hand on the shifter while cruising. Seems early on yours tho
Congratulations to the Scirocco it looks really good. I am also addicted to cars and even if my brain tells me not to buy, my heart is a great partner to support the next purchase.....so I am lost... :)
But, in your defense, it looks super cool.
Forget the geo, this needs to come to Radwood!
It will be there :)
Traumatic memories be damned - that’s a sweet ride.
My 86 had a 160 mph speedo but I've seen later ones with 140 what gives?
Nice catch... Yes the 86.5 16v first of the batch had the 160 mph speedo .. rest had 140mph.
Vw always did quirky things to new yr cars. I had 86 16v with 160 mph.. sure miss mine
The car I had recently that gave me nothing but troubles was a 1992 honda civic that hit a bmw come to find out it was beat to hell by the 2nd owner before the guy bought it then I bought it for $600 it was just a endless nightmare of neglect and but maintance got rid of it got a 1998 vw jetta tdi similar story however its all fixed now
Had one identical and yeah it was pretty bad but it was a prince compared to my 928s both were wonderful to drive ya just never got many chances.
I HAD THIS EXACT CAR! It was my first car I purchased in 1997!
This looks like a good purchase, unlike the Lexus, the Cadillac, the Altima, ...
Time will tell!!!
I had 82 and it was my third most worst car ever lol but it was fun to drive!!
The Scirocco was a cost-cutting solution by VW. In the 1970s, VW commissioned Porsche to create a compact sports car but ran out of money and sold the rights to Porsche. Then, Porsche made a few adjustments to the car and sold it as the 928 and 944.
Which the 16v Scirocco's could out perform the 944..so they made the 944 turbo
Actually, the original Porsche 924 was supposed to be the next VW sports car, but Porsche ended up keeping its design and marketing/selling it as a Porsche. In Europe it was sold as a VW/Porsche.
The Golf based VW Corrado came along, and VW had to market it in such a way as to not cannibalize 944 sales, so it wasn't super powerful or fancy. Awesome car though!
That is beautiful!
It's lovely, looks like an Audi Sport Quattro
Hey HelloRoad What first car do you recommend
The nicest used Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic you can find. Reliable, good on gas, safe, and did I say reliable???
After that James Pumphrey want that Volkswagen.
it had to be done !
Cool. Now the big decision. Will you be bringing this car or your pink-ish Geo to Radwood?
This one is coming to Radwood! I want to bring both though!
@@HelloRoad haha. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
I literally had the same red car that broke it's timing belt while I was delivering pizza! I guess I dodged a bullet though, no damage. Put a new belt on by myself. I thought I read somewhere that these were non-interference engines? Sorry you had so much trouble!
Oh nooooo! Glad to hear yours was fine. I think it can just depend on what position the valves are in when it breaks 🤷♂️
@@HelloRoad Lucky me I guess. Never get rid of your current one!
If you're going back to buying cars again, might I suggest importing a Ford Puma? It will look and feel just like your Probe but more unique and European.
Oooh interesting
Congratulations on falling off the wagon Ethan. Good to have the proper Ethan back.
😭
@@HelloRoad Only joking Ethan. If it makes you feel any better, I now have a car problem, as I can't bear to get rid of my old car as it's too reliable.
Jason Cammisa might have a different opinion....