Few cars have left me with such a positive vibe in the past, and having the keys of a VW Scirocco R again after almost six years was like meeting a old friend.

A Little Bit of Perspective

The world was a very different place when the VW Scirocco R first made its appearance. We were still recovering from the shock delivered by the 305hp Ford Focus RS Mk2, still wondering how on earth can a car transfer so much torque on the tarmac through its front axle so effectively, when VW came out with the 265hp Scirocco R, using essentially the same powertrain with the Audi S3 minus the all-wheel drive.

Back then, the 265hp power figure was proven a tad pessimistic, with the car easily reaching the 300hp mark on the dyno while independent performance figures showed that the Scirocco R was every bit as quick as the fast Ford, at least on a straight line with the in-gear accelerations to be even quicker than its then nemesis.

I can still remember the group test we organized back then for the magazine I was writing for, with the Focus RS taking the overall win for its sharpest handling but we couldn’t feel but impressed by the sheer depth of the Scirocco R’s character: this was a FWD car that could give Ford’s finest a close run for its money and retain at the same time an everyday friendliness usually found in lesser Golfs.

But this is 2015

Fast forward to today, where I meet the Scirocco R again in a very bright green paintjob and wearing all the small updates from last year’s facelift, including a power figure which now stands corrected at 280hp. I still quite like the shape of it which remains sporty and attractive to this day until you step inside, where there is no escape from showing its age.

That’s because the interior comes straight from a Golf MK5, upon which the Scirocco was built in the first place. It still remains a hospitable place to sit in, with a spot-on driving position and the perfect ergonomics VW is famous for, but these three gauges that sit on top of the center console look cheap and out of place with the rest of the car.

On the Road

It doesn’t take long behind its wheel to remind myself why I was impressed the last time I drove one. The engine remains a gem to work with, having an exceptionally linear character for a turbocharged motor. You can deplete the revs, all the way up to the limiter and the Scirocco R will follow you without losing its breath or you can throw a sixth gear from 25mph and enjoy its elasticity. If you ever want to shut a N/A fanboy’s mouth, this is a very nice way to do it.

And yes, it remains a very rapid machine, gathering speed with an alarming and effortless way, transferring the power down on the road without any hesitation. The grip on offer is really really good for a car without a limited-slip diff. The electronic XDS system is working very well on the road in keeping the front end in line and frankly that’s all it matters. Even the hotter of the Sciroccos remains a polished road machine, albeit one with serious performance. Understeer will eventually present itself, especially if you keep your right foot pinned down on exiting slower corners, but it always remains easily controllable and progressive.

The electro-mechanical steering offers nice feedback, communicating with enough clarity and good precision what the front axle is doing. Whatever your pace, the friendly Scirocco makes you feel secure, transmitting the sense of a car that hugs the tarmac rather than digging into it.

The only thing left to criticize is the involvement which was never right there with the sharpest of the hot-hatches. That planted feel I was talking about on the previous paragraph also means that you can’t really play with the balance of the chassis, like you could with say, a Focus RS MK2.

Bottom Line

But since this is today we are talking about, the Scirocco R remains a truly enjoyable car, with all the real-world performance someone could ask for, blended with an exceptional everyday usability. Throw into the mix the coupe looks, forget about the dated interior and what you have is a mighty fast performance car you can live with, leaving outside all the usual compromises.

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