To Rocco or Not to Rocco?

[ShouldIRocco?]

I have a bit of a conundrum. I need and what a replacement car, currently suffering a 25 odd mile with a Ford Ka of some vintage.
I test drove a bmw 1 series 118d and was pretty impressed, but had set my eyes on a 1 series coupe until the scirocco arrived. I was very impressed with test driving the Scirocco and convinced myself - probably in part because of some very favourable reviews in the car press - of its merits. My girlfriend - for reasons that are slightly beyond me prefers the look of the bmw 1 series, audi a3 and even a vanilla golf. She rolls her eyes when i use start talking about 'how a scirocco drives'!

I'm struggling with the following.

Scirocco - In my mind - exciting, good looking, novel, currently fairly few and far between, space for 4 (just about) but on the very upper limit of what i could reasonably spend.
Audi TT - possibly more exciting, however less good looking, seem 10 a penny and no realistic space for >2 [which while isn't absolutely crucial would be a potential pain in the posterior). Whereas a second-hand, two year old, specced up version might be available in fairly good nick for less than a scirocco and a good chance of holding onto that already-second-hand value for a few years.
BMW 1 series coupe - Better economy with the diesels, and some low mileage 2nd hand options for less than a scirocco but see plenty of car magazine reviews for reasons why the scirocco could be the pick. Not a particular fan of the looks and haven't driven one yet.

BMW 1 series, Audi A3, Golf - Less exciting to my mind, but cheaper to ensure and run, more practical and may represent a good 8-10k saving over the scirocco.

But.... If i'm not going to get a slightly exciting car now when am I?

Currently commuting 25 miles each way to work, but probably less after 6 months. No offspring and none for 2-3 years if all goes to plan.

What do you think!?

Sorry for the essay. Pretty sure I know whether the forum I'm posting in gives away the head or the heart's perspective.....

Either way I'm sure this forum will be very objective!

[albertz33]

Sounds to me like you know which one you want already!

I was in your position 2 months ago, new company car after being a very satisfied golf GTI owner for 3 years,.. i looked at the following, and came to the conclusion:

Audi TT - This is a womans car, no really, you would just look stupid getting out of it, unless its outside your salon..

Audi A3 - Join the pack, you can hardly move for them on the roads, audi is becomming a very boring brand indeed, i sat in an R8, and even it had something lacking..

Golf - had one, couldnt complain, but the current GTI is obselete against the scirocco.

BMW 1 series, - same as the audi, their everywhere, and they seem to think they have a god given right to sit on the outside lane, do you want to end up like that?

I also looked at a C30 T5, nice, niche looks, but heavy and thirsty.

The scirocco is by far the best option, all the rest just blend into the background, and dont listen to your girlfriend, since when did women know anything about cars?

[shooms]

S

The scirocco is by far the best option, all the rest just blend into the background, and dont listen to your girlfriend, since when did women know anything about cars?

He's got a point you know

Go for it - you won't regret

[rehmondo]

Go for the Scirocco, I'm not saying that because I'm getting one but because the other 2 cars you compared it with don't really match the standard VW have set with the Scirocco in terms of style, drive, excitement and value for money.

Watch this review if you haven't seen it already....
http://drivers-republic.co.uk/dr_tv/ind ... rea=videos

Now the interior of the Scirocco is ok nothing wow about it unless you get the leather but what does your gf see in that BMW? The looks aren’t great, interior is dull and drives ok (after all it is a BMW) - very cramped in the back though where as the Scirocco has plenty of room but the rear view is very limited!

At the end of the day you need the keep the Mrs. happy, maybe she likes the 1 series more because it has a badge on it that says "BMW"? My suggestion is take her to a VW garage and get her to test drive a Scirocco with DSG!

[CTRnutter]

The 1 Series screams poor mans BMW, couldnt quite afford the full reps mobile (3 Series) and we all must know how they fair in the top gear cock-o-meter

To be honest, its all a matter of opinion I'm sure there are plenty of people who cant stand the Scirocco, I'd test drive all the cars on your list and weigh up the pro's and con's. If your in no hurry to buy maybe hang on till January, there will be a few more rocco owners and because of the current financial climate better deals might be had etc

[wigit]

i somehow think the majority of will say yes, cannot think why....

[debdeb]

Sounds to me like you know which one you want already!

I was in your position 2 months ago, new company car after being a very satisfied golf GTI owner for 3 years,.. i looked at the following, and came to the conclusion:

Audi TT - This is a womans car, no really, you would just look stupid getting out of it, unless its outside your salon..

Audi A3 - Join the pack, you can hardly move for them on the roads, audi is becomming a very boring brand indeed, i sat in an R8, and even it had something lacking..

Golf - had one, couldnt complain, but the current GTI is obselete against the scirocco.

BMW 1 series, - same as the audi, their everywhere, and they seem to think they have a god given right to sit on the outside lane, do you want to end up like that?

I also looked at a C30 T5, nice, niche looks, but heavy and thirsty.

The scirocco is by far the best option, all the rest just blend into the background, and dont listen to your girlfriend, since when did women know anything about cars?

im a girl and im waiting for my scirocco to be delivered

[albertz33]

im a girl and im waiting for my scirocco to be delivered

kudos for you, you are the exception.

[DavidH]

I would actually expect the Scirocco to be more appealing to the girls than the TT,you can get people in the back and the tailgate isn't such an effort to close,just for example.Girls tend to consider these kind of practicalities more than we do,they tend to have more sense.I think the scirocco is a great car for a young woman to drive personally.Plus the styling is very feminine,apart from the scowling face,the flanks and the rear for example has some nice soft curvey lines,it's a much more feminine car than the TT which is more masculine.

[albertz33]

I would actually expect the Scirocco to be more appealing to the girls than the TT,you can get people in the back and the tailgate isn't such an effort to close,just for example.Girls tend to consider these kind of practicalities more than we do,they tend to have more sense.I think the scirocco is a great car for a young woman to drive personally.Plus the styling is very feminine,apart from the scowling face,the flanks and the rear for example has some nice soft curvey lines,it's a much more feminine car than the TT which is more masculine.

You are so wrong i dont even know where to start....

The Scirocco is a far more masculine car than the TT, it has haunches, an aggressive face, low profile etc. If girls were so concerned about tailgates closing, then why do so many of them drive XC90's??? X5's etc? and ive lost count of the amount of women i have seen in TT's, if you ask most women ( and i hate to generalise ) they do not look at the practicalities unless they have to account for a family, and if so, then the scirocco and TT are out of the question. My ex girlfriend bought her yaris for the colour, when i started telling her about Toyotas legendery build quality, i got a blank stare. And when was the last time you were in a womens car? havent you noticed how they never clean them?

How on earth can you say the TT is masculine? i wouldnt be seen dead in one! really if someone gave me one for free, i would still hesitate, you just know everyone thinks your a hairdresser.

And as final proof, how many women are on this forum?

[DavidH]

The styling of the TT is definatley more aggressive.More masculine and chiseled.When i first saw the Scirocco my first impression was just how feminine the shape is,as i walked around the car.I was pleasantly suprised.It's part of what attracts me to the car and also why i ordered it in rising blue.If you're that worried about having a more masculine car you might look at BMWs,Evos,STIs.

I think you may be confused about the difference between masculine/feminine features in a car's shape and preconceptions that you've attached to particular cars about who you expect to see driving them.

[danwuk]

im with albertz - it definitely has a masculine shape to it, i dont know where you get the idea that its feminine. it so isnt.

[CTRnutter]

Masculine, its a guys car through and through.. It s probably the most aggressive and masculine looking VW we have had for a long time, although I think it will attract a very broad audience, the old TT was a womans car the recent car has grabbed a larger male audience but unfotunately the previous car has well and truely labelled the car!

I tend not to get wrapped up in the whole image thing too much, I buy a car because I like it and I dont really care what anyone thinks, I use to get grief from my mates when I had my S2000 (hairdressers car) I always argued some hairdresser, rev limit at 9000rpm, 250 Bhp Vtec, No TC or traction aids and rear wheel drive

[rehmondo]

I buy a car because I like it and I dont really care what anyone thinks

Same here, I would have maybe gone for the TT if there wasn't one already in the household - my brother has the new one and he is not a hairdresser.

[silver130]

Not a design point. But i agree with the " i buy a car because I like it and sod what anyone else thinks brigade "
I personally did not like the original scirocco at all but i didn't let that blind my view of the new one !!

[albertz33]

DavidH,

We will just have to agree to disagree! as for my 'confusion' over masculine / feminine traits, no need for that!

I was never confused...

New TT is far better looking than the old one, saw one in white recently while working in Staffs, sweet, but..still suffers from association though, and since its an Audi, you will be off the scale on the cockometer! As i said, hate to generalise, but the TT does suffer from an image problem.

[DavidH]

Thing is,every car maker has an image problem,if you have a problem with the people you associate with them.Every car on the market suffers from association to me.I have a problem with pretty much any stereotype or social group i can think of,wouldn't want to be associated with any of them,you might consider me rather antisocial,but it means i'm free to drive/wear/listen to/buy whatever the f#ck i want basically,one problem solved.