Scirocco Central

Hi all – first time poster, long time lurker!

I’m thinking of buying my first car after passing my test a month or so ago at the tender age of 23. Why a Scirocco? I simply just love the look of them. I think if I got any other car (I have looked at the Megane Coupe, Citroen DS3, VW Golf) I would end up regretting not going for the Scirocco. So now my only things to choose are which engine would be best for me and whether I would benefit having Diesel over Petrol.

I will be doing a maximum of 7K personal miles and around 300 business miles for work.

I will be buying used, so this may mean the extra price of a Diesel doesn’t have any effect on whether I should go for Diesel or Petrol. So basically I want to know if a Diesel would suit me, or would I still not get any benefits due to the small amount of mileage I will be doing? My daily work commute is also only a few miles each way, so would the filter get clogged?

This leads me to think of the 1.4 TSI. Would I be better off going for the 160BHP version over the 122? I would think 122BHP would be plenty for me being a first time driver and having only driven a 1.2 Corsa as my daily driver since passing my test. I’m also thinking of the MPG figures and whether there is much difference between the two engines?

Any help appreciated!

Cheers

I have been looking for a Scirocco for some time now, and am in a simialr position to you (young (20), although this is my second car, not first, and do similar milage) so I have an idea of what the used market is like.

At first I thought the price difference between the Dervs and petrols was next to nothing. But when I actually looked I found that the petrols were generally a lot tidier for the money (low miles means less time with someone in the seat scratching it up in parking lots). I dont know your budget, but like I say, for the money the petrols seem tider.

At 10k (I guess you mean 10k, not 7,300...) I would say the derv isnt worth it. They also hate short trips generally. They arnt an ideal car for in and around town IMO. So from my point of veiw a petrol is better for you.

As for the 122 vs 160 is totally up to what you would prefer. If you are still in the super-cautious new driver stage then you wont notice any difference because you will be accelerating gradually and sticking to the speed limits. But if you are a faster driver, or as you gain confidence you become one then you might want a bit more. I have never driven "slow" cars. I dont mean super cars, but I have always driven hot-hatches, so always had a bit of grunt under my foot, which is what steered me away from the 122. But if you are happy with the power of your corsa, then the 122 is bound to be enough. But will you grow out of it? Like I say, only you can say if you want a faster car or not Not sure there is a huge difference in MPG between the two.

Other things to note from what I have found in my search:
A 170 Deisel was marginly more expensive to insure than the 160 petrol (about 10%)
There are some reports of problems with the 160 engine pre MY2011. If that bothers you, look for ones with full red TSI on the back. That indicates its MY2011.
The 122s are substantially cheaper and more plentyful.
170 Deisels are rare and hard to find (well, for me they were)
In 2012 the 160 (and 122) I think started getting toys as standard such as Nav.

Im still looking for mine, but im very particular on what I want... *sigh*

Cheers for the info regarding the engines and stuff. Insurance between the two 1.4 models is a matter of £50 or so for me (around £810 and £860), whereas I found the Diesels to be a couple of hundred pound more (just over £1K).

I think i'd probably go for the 160 version, incase I do end up gradually wanting more (doesn't everybody?! )

I haven't test driven any yet, so that's on my list of things to do next. For the 1.4 models i'm looking at cars around the 2011 year mark.

I'm also quite particular in what i'm after and don't see the point in jumping for something that doesn't tick the right boxes because one will come up eventually.

Ideally i'd like:
- Candy White or Viper Green
- Sat Nav
- Parking Sensors
- 18" alloys (would like black, but will get that done myself)

Parking sensors i'm not sure about, but have read they are needed. I can find out if i'd need them with a test drive though I would imagine

Have you test driven any yet?

160 is the way forwad I think, everyone does indeed want more! Haha, it is also a bit more Mod-able, if you are into that.

I have test driven:
1.4 160 DSG
1.4 160 Manual
170 Derv Manual
140 Derv Manual

I thought the 140 Derv was a bit plain jane. The 170 was very nice to drive. Smooth and not too noisy for a deisel. I like the 1.4 DGS, although it was a short test drive, it felt a bit of a novelty and I just wanted to change gear when I wanted. So Settled on the manual.

My spec list is:
MY2011
Rising Blue
18" alloys
The lower miles the better.

Candy white is very common (along with black) so you have an advantage in your search there. The other options (Nav and Sensors) might be trickier from what i have seen although both are retro-fittable if you REALLY wanted (Nav is expensive, and apparently not that great... I need camera alerts ). Visability is pretty bad out the back, but I have never tried to park one, so I coulnt comment on parkability.

So you've pretty much tried them all then except the 2l petrol engines? One of my friends has a Golf GTI. Damn it's quick! No point test driving one though because if i did i'm sure i'd want one straight away!

Nice spec list. I also like the blue ones, especially with Black alloys. I was thinking and i'm actually not too fussed regarding the sat nav, as it's no problem using the one I already have for unfamiliar journeys and like you say, I can have sensors fitted after.

Any idea in regards to what MPG we'd be looking at on the 1.4 160? I've seen someone say they can easily get 40MPG on here in one that has been remapped and pushes out 200+ BHP. I find it hard to believe you could even get 40MPG driving around town in the 122 version, nevermind and remapped 160!

Yep, and that is the exact reason I havnt tried the 2 litres! What I don't know won't hurt me. If I try a 2.0 I will have to have one.

It will make your search much easier if you arnt being put off by the extras it doesn't have. Most can be retrofitted anyway. I plan to put cruise on mine as soon as possible..

Like you, I have only been able to base my expectations on what others have said, so yeah, I'm expecting/hoping to average 40mpg. Although I drive mostly on motorways (or throwing it around a b-road). I avoid city stop start at all costs. Modern engines are pretty impressive, although I have to say, Scirocccos seem pretty inefficient compared to other cars (50mpg from a deisel? Most modern petrols get that...). But I suppose it's what you are used to. I'm driving a 1.8 mk2 Gti and get a solid 37mpg no matter how I drive it. But that's because it weighs nothings. I'm also not that fussed about mpg, I love driving, so me I just see it as the cost of my fun. Most of my petrol is paid for in business expenses anyway

Waspy wrote:Yep, and that is the exact reason I havnt tried the 2 litres! What I don't know won't hurt me. If I try a 2.0 I will have to have one.

It will make your search much easier if you arnt being put off by the extras it doesn't have. Most can be retrofitted anyway. I plan to put cruise on mine as soon as possible..

Like you, I have only been able to base my expectations on what others have said, so yeah, I'm expecting/hoping to average 40mpg. Although I drive mostly on motorways (or throwing it around a b-road). I avoid city stop start at all costs. Modern engines are pretty impressive, although I have to say, Scirocccos seem pretty inefficient compared to other cars (50mpg from a deisel? Most modern petrols get that...). But I suppose it's what you are used to. I'm driving a 1.8 mk2 Gti and get a solid 37mpg no matter how I drive it. But that's because it weighs nothings. I'm also not that fussed about mpg, I love driving, so me I just see it as the cost of my fun. Most of my petrol is paid for in business expenses anyway

A 2.0 would be amazing - could get one and also run it, but it would just be way too much for my needs. I would also probably live a lot less time...

Cruise would be good especially if you do the motorway miles as you say.

They do indeed seem to be a lot less frugal than other engines, but they probably perform a lot better as well i would imagine. Maybe i'll just do more work miles then as it's 0.65p per mile so would get a nice little profit from it as well as petrol

When driving the Corsa though it's only averaging around 37mpg around town and around 44mpg on motorways, which is not exactly great mpg from a small engine!

Griffo_ wrote:

Waspy wrote: A 2.0 would be amazing - could get one and also run it, but it would just be way too much for my needs. I would also probably live a lot less time...

Almost creepy how similar our thought path was on this... Haha

Anyway, pleased you have decided what you want. Makes it much easier to find what you are after. Means you can just go on autotrader or motors.co.uk or whatever and put your exact specs in and see what it throws at you. Be careful though, a lot of the ads don't specify if they are 122 or 160, so keep an eye out for the all red TSI on the back, and good luck!

Waspy wrote:
Almost creepy how similar our thought path was on this... Haha

Anyway, pleased you have decided what you want. Makes it much easier to find what you are after. Means you can just go on autotrader or motors.co.uk or whatever and put your exact specs in and see what it throws at you. Be careful though, a lot of the ads don't specify if they are 122 or 160, so keep an eye out for the all red TSI on the back, and good luck!

Hi,
Whats it difference in the TSI badges ??
Is one made before the other which that model is less reliable??

Halfway through 2010 the 1.4 160PS TSI badge became all red instead of just a red S and I. You should be able to search the posts on here and on other VAG forums to find out which of the pre-/early 2010 models were prone to the misfire issue. No misfire issues on Model year 2012 160s (i.e. 11-plate and beyond). Clutch judder is an issue across the VAG range for pre 2013 autos having the 7 sp box, so stay clear if you're looking for an auto.

Cheers moulin12 I'll have a look