Faults:

I've had to replace the alternator belt, and before I got it, the previous owners had replaced the spark plug wires and spark plugs.

The car also didn't come with carpet; the previous owners also ripped it out.

The seats are badly worn too.

The odometer doesn't work either.

General Comments:

I've only had this car for a year now, and I absolutely love it!

I've taken it through 3 different states, and it handles great on the highway and mountain driving. It pulls the mountains great!

Faults:

The electrical system is a little crazy but it's nothing rerouting can handle. also a few new switches.

The seats were in poor condition when I found the beast.

General Comments:

An amazing car! I found it in a junkyard with a blown ignition, so I rerouted my own and she started right up in the yard and I drove her around. I note This junkyard was in Minnesota, from Minnesota I then drove her to Washington state. From Washington I went all the way across America down to Florida, in this one beautifully built scirocco. My car is a beautiful tornado red and has deluxe sports seats that were ruined by the previous owner. This is a wonder of a car and has had me intrigued since I first found it. I love driving, repairing and just over all knowing that I have one. It handles like a rally car moves like a japanese flapper and is as reliable and as a stone. Thank you volkswagen for making such a fun inexpensive car, even beyond the electrical flaws it's still amazing.

Faults:

Fuel pump failed when I drove the new car off of the lot.

I went through three alternators and two starters.

Fuel pump went out at 228,000 miles.

General Comments:

I loved this car and drove the first 85,000 miles on the autobahn in Germany.

It did 120 miles per hour at ease.

Faults:

Nothing outside routine maintenance.

General Comments:

This is a driver's car, not a passenger's car - the back seats do not fit an adult. All the enjoyment that is to be had with this car is the driver's alone.

It is very quick and nimble, the 90hp 1.8L 8 valve engine is peppy. I have an '88 16V also , but it is a slightly different animal, with more horsepower, performance suspension, and braking. I love them both equally.

As a 1980's German sports car, it has all one needs with no extra bells and whistles. Not a lot of fluff here - one of the things I like most about it.

Being a well-executed simple car, it is easy to work on and maintain. That means there's very little need for dealer service.

The engine seems immortal - My '85 has 156,000 miles on it and it is running as strong as ever. I have no doubt it will be running strong at 200,000+ miles.

The shifter bushings wear out easily, giving a sloppy feel to the shifter, but an inexpensive replacement of the bushings restores the feel to 'like-new'.

Overall, this is an inexpensive to maintain, easy to maintain, high gas mileage, fun to drive car. Who could ask for more? After 20 years of ownership, I surely can't!