What is it with you and your crappy old Volkswagens, Jason? - The Carmudgeon Show - Ep. 5
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- čas přidán 26. 11. 2019
- That’s the question Derek Tam-Scott asks on this week’s episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Jason has owned his 1987 VW Scirocco 16V since 1997 - and has had plenty of other Mk1 Volkswagens, including a Cabriolet - that have out-ranked, out-fun, and out-lasted the Porsches, Ferraris, Lotuses, BMWs, Miatas, and Cosworth-Mercedes in his collection.
Jason drives the fastest, best, and most expensive cars in the world - but hasn’t found anything to knock the Scirocco off its pedestal. Except possibly the Cabby. The A1-chassis VW is the giggle-factory pinnacle of fun, he says, telling the story of how this VW keeps him in love with it, why he’s built nearly ten engines for it, and how buying it was a con-job accident in the first place.
The Carmudgeon Show is a comedic, information-filled 25-minute conversation with Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott, two car enthusiasts who are curmudgeonly beyond their years. Proving you don’t have to be old to be grumpy, they spend each episode talking about what’s wrong with various parts of the automotive universe. Despite their best efforts to keep it negative, they usually wind up laughing, happy, and extolling their love for cars. Which just makes them angrier and more bitter.
Jason Cammisa is an automotive journalist, social-media figure, and TV host with over 250 million views on CZcams alone. Jason’s deeply technical understanding, made possible by a lifelong obsession with cars, allows him to fully digest what’s going on within an automobile - and then put it into simple terms for others to understand. Also, a Master’s Degree in Law trained him to be impossible to argue with.
Derek Tam-Scott still tries. He’s a young automotive expert with old-man taste in cars, and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering - which means he knows how to be civil to Jason. Or at least he tries. With a decade and a half’s experience buying, selling, driving and brokering classic and exotic cars, he’s experienced the world’s most iconic cars. And hated most of them.
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Jason is the kind of guy who stops daily driving an old VW because it’s too precious and buys a vintage Ferrari instead.
Yes, we do this now. E90 daily. Mk1 Golf on Sundays baby.
golden
He forgot about the dashers when referencing the diesel crossover and design.
I already thought he was cool. This makes him seem so much cooler.
Most genuine heart felt story about a car. Ever. Petrolicious level heart in it :)
BTW, Jason was on an episode of Petrolicious with his Scirocco 16v!
@@andyfrye3585 seen it many times. I watched that video and his E30 video so many times while deciding which one to buy for myself two years ago! Went with the E30 in the end!
@@prettynormalme27
Nice!
Please change the 20 minute timer to 20 hours. Thanks.
For real
Agreed
I talked my mother into buying an '83 GTI when I was 15 yrs old. I absolutely LOVED that car! Once I got my license, she basically never saw that car again.
Jason: "You were not born yet, because your a bastard"
Derek: *Shrugs and nods head*
The best $1,570 that anyone has ever spent! I could watch, listen and read about your love for the A1 platform all day long. I’m taking notes so when folks ask me why I drive one, I can articulate a response like this!
It's a cheap car
When my friends and I were just getting our drivers licenses, it was already decided which cars we’d all be pursuing. Our older friends, guys who were seniors or who’d already graduated HS, were VW/Audi drivers, and they made sure that we’d be the same, lest we be misled by questionable characters who’d attempt to convince us to drive Hondas. That was the 1990’s, and that circle of friends has since gone on to own a combined 20 or maybe even 25 different models of VW/Audi/Porsche. While most of us are married and have kids now, and find utility in larger comfy cars with heated seats and rattle-free interiors (lol), each and every one of us still gets nostalgic whenever we see or mention Mk2 VWs. Those torquey little 4-bangers, seemingly indestructible, revving out with a surprisingly pleasant tapestry of mechanical sounds.. We’d drive them up and down the eastern seaboard, we’d take them on spontaneous trips to Chicago, random visits to the local drag strips (RIP Raceway Park), they’d push on through the deepest snows and wouldn’t do much as flinch on the hottest of summer days. Everything was so tactile, the car felt alive beneath you and it communicated with your hands, feet and ass in ways that always kept you fully aware of its intentions. All a 16-valve needed was a freer exhaust and hot cams (Techtonics Tuning was a favorite at the time for both of these), a cup kit (or coilovers if you were trying to flex 💪), a decent set of rubber for your teardrops (because duh, best wheels ever), and maybe a few other little pieces here or there, and you had an honest to goodness, simple, unpretentious, relatively reliable and FUN daily driver. At that age, we weren’t trying to run 10s or hit 600 on the dyno.. We were far more interested in stoplight to stoplight shenanigans with the Civic boys, and taking our cars up to the curvy mountain roads where we could actually enjoy 9/10s driving without risking our lives or licenses.
Thanks for this episode!
And please make these LONGER!
Keep up the good work!
Nice writing 👏
Thanks for adding pics! Makes it so much better 🙏🏼
I agree with Jason, A1 platform is so special! I've owned 3 E30's (2 of the 24v swapped), 2 E36's (M3's) some of them really fast, but always came crawling back to a silly little Rabbit GTI. Even now, as I've gotten a tiny bit wiser, I bought a Mk5 Rabbit a few years ago with the silly 2.5 engine, and swapped all GTI suspension parts on it, with better shocks and struts and SS Pilots. For less the 5k I have a sweet daily!
The 2.5 engine is a Gem. Great induction noise, and probably the most reliable vw hardware of the past 30 years.... Rumor has it that the engine block mold is the same as the Audi Quattro/ trans am race cars.. but vw used a cheaper alloy..... Maybe just fanboy myth. One thing is for sure is they still make great power. Iroz Motorsports from Las Vegas make crate motors, 700 hp + for European customers.
Anyone who calls older water-cooled VW's (except maybe the 2.Slow MK3's) "crappy" has a fundamental lack of automotive knowledge.
I love the Cabrios
The show was already good, but the addition of pictures and small clips within, really bring it to great. Please keep it up.
In the 80's the love so many of us had for all things mark 1 was a fanatical obsession. When the new issues of VW Porsche then renamed Europen Car magazines came out, the heart would race at the cool mod possibilities that were out there.
I didn’t think I could watch the entire episode without getting bored. Well, I watched it and I wanted more. Good stuff.
Yeah, they were off to a slow start, but I'm glad I stuck around.
There's something about old VWs...My first car was a old (-ish) 06 Golf Euro-spec with the puny 102 horsepower engine, which from my understanding it's the "EA827", a engine very similar to the 80s GTI. I loved how that thing took a corner, due to the all around independent suspension. Heck, I even treated her with some Pilotsports and a less restrictive exhaust. Love them, I even repaired all the rust it had, even though it didn't make financial sense. VW...you either love them or hate them
10:01 For the record, these VW 16v engines came with 2 different oil dipsticks, one is for the 1.8 16v engine and the other one is for the 2.0 16v. Both engines looks almost identical so it's easy to assume that the dipsticks are the same... Not!!
I’ve had 2 MK4 GTI VR6’s and I loved them both. I still have some bucket list business with a MK2 16V (4 round lights) I may get one later I guess. Great show!!!
I had a scirocco and a cabriolet... Both 88s
The cabriolet, I really miss that car a lot!
Never too old to own and enjoy an A1 VW. Won't let go of my 1981 Mk1 Scirocco. Then got a G60 Corrado, almost too modern for me *lol*, but still have that, too. New cars? Nope. Thanks for the enjoyable episode!
The amount of people that called my mk1 a cabriogay and then drove it...they understood...magic & fun are just the best descriptions.the mk1 a1 chassis are an automotive classic
Love the story around the Scirocco. I'm happy I'm not the only one that goes halfway across the country for my cars. Love the history on VW as well.
I owned 3 Sciroccos......an 84 8v Wolfsburg Edition then a 16v lowered with a Borla exhaust that would do 140mph without a fuss and finally a custom 87 16v with Euro lights and bumpers, color white Enkei blade wheels, lowered with subframe connectors, Sony head unit, MP Quartz speakers. Kenwoods amps and a custom 10inch woofer box.....damn do I want one again!
I had a 1984 Rabbit Diesel. 4-door with a crank sunroof, and a rust hole that I superglued to seal it… then realized that even the new weather seal leaked! 🤣 Loved that car! I had to hand tighten the tie rods because they’d vibrate loose. There was one (1) mount with four 13mm bolts holding the the Alternator, AC compressor and water pump. One bolt was sheared off, and the other three would vibrate loose. Lost all my water in Atlanta and drove overnight in September to Sarasota with zero water running through the engine. Never had an issue. Drive it for another 30,000 miles (168,000 total) until the $700 to replace the diesel fuel pump gave out. College car and I had a blast. Drove that car everywhere!
the scirocco 16v came out while in college and i fell in love with that car as well!! In silver was just so beautiful!
Great show, the Carmudgeon show. This episode struck a chord with me, as I still have my first car, a VW Lupo. I've had it for 11 years, it's a 1.0 petrol, basic, manual everything, completely stock, just clocked 250k km. I enjoy driving it everytime, and I want to keep it for as long as possible.
Can confirm- currently have Mk2 Rocco and two Golf diesels, having also owned and sold Alfa's, BMW's, Miata's, etc. Have driven a lot of new and late model iron; 85% of it sucks, and the 15% I'd consider still never quite sells itself to me. Having had old Toyota Land Cruisers in the past, I did go out and buy a FJ80 though- probably the only thing I can recall that has had that same 'soul' to it. Automotive design is a tricky business, and when you compound it by individual taste, things can go sideways.
Great episode! I could listen to your car stories and arguments for hours if they went that long. I too had an automotive revelation when I drove a first gen Beetle for the first time. Prior to that, I had only been exposed to 90's and newer cars. Even though the car was slow as balls, it was one of the cars that til this day, I remember having so much fun driving. It got me to appreciate the mechanical feel and sounds of older cars that you don't get in newer cars. It made me realize that fun isn't always about the best speed and grip numbers. It's about the whole experience a car can give.
Another great ep. I liked this one even before I actually saw it because the content has been that good 👍🏾
Has Jason tried the Alpine A110? It was good enough for Gordon Murray to not only daily drive, but became the benchmark for the T.50's development.
I can’t remember what it was but I think he talked about the reason he didn’t want to own one in the revelations episode on the Elise
0:28 seconds in and I'm like, "HOW DARE YOU DEREK TAM HYPHEN SCOTT!" I miss my MKIII VR6 Jetta.
I miss my 2 door MK1 VR6 swapped jetta GLI.. and my 2.0 Rabbit what great little tanks they were.. so fun too
I could never get enough of Jason over at Motor trend.
I’m glad I found this channel
This is why I like your videos Jason, you are a pistonhead and a motorhead and keep the good work man and cheers from Bulgaria 🍻
Love this show
Don't ever limit yourself to a time limit Jason. I could watch this for longer!
Loved my 64 bug.
all my mk2 gti's and gli, my 92 corrado vr6 and my 01 vr6 gti have been some of my favorite cars!
Wow old video but just gave me a flood of memories watching this. Bought my parents mk3 2.slow and it was a blast. Fast forward as an immature young greasemonkey, and had a G60 trans/block with the 2.0 cammed head, ripped out the s/c and threw on a T3 turbo. Then, as with Jason's, block pooped the bed and by that time, the car was so rusted...broke my heart. Gave me the drive to save up, get more money, and eventually financed a Fiesta ST, a car that I will fight tooth and nail for as the modern reincarnation of a Mk1 GTI
I owned a 87 VW scirocco 16V. I owned it from 1993 to 1998. The engine was reliable and only once needed the ignition coil replaced. I had to start it by pushing it and popping the clutch. The car never left me on the road but everything broke in it. I cant even tell you the milage but that broke too. The car was a piece of junk and even back then the parts were so rare and super expensive. I cant imagine how you get the parts now.
Awesome episode. Really enjoyed the discussion about driving experience between modern and vintage cars. I DD a Mk7 GTI, which is very fun to drive but too fast to enjoy within the law; my RX7 is my A1 experience. Always have a huge grin on my face when hustling that car on the road or track... like they say, its fun driving a slow car fast.
Got the same obsession with my 92 Rabbit cab, onto 3rd motor now 20v turbo had the car 22 years, lost my licence in it, used as a wedding car twice, bought it originally cause I couldnt afford an integrale
Been wondering this for a long time; let's gooooo! I love this podcast
Hypothermiic thanks!
@@JasonCammisa Gotta say though, you guys could definitely make these longer--20 minutes seems to chop the discussion a little short every time. I could listen to you guys for a lot longer, say at least 30-35?
Old video I know but my first car was an 87 VW Jetta GLI 16v. Loved that car and still love those old VW’s. My dream car was always a Corrado…
I drove a mk 1 cabbie. I loved it
Have you ever tried a Mk1 Scirocco. I owned to two when I was 17 (one to drive and one as a parts car to replace all the pieces that rusted away :-)) and I preferred it to my friends Mk2
10 year old scirocco 16v rust free with 50k km easy 3k us.. great car great motor..had a 91 passat wagon with the 16v ran that from new to 400k km.. no rebuilds just proper maintenance oil and vroom vroom..
My all time favorite is still an 83 gti with the stock injection tuned , yup little hole on the kjetronic a small screw driver and adjust the misture.. extra 10 hp easy.. that chasis was a blast.so was its 5 speed close ratio ..
Hope you guys read the comments and know that we will listen/watch this podcast if it were greater than the 20ish minutes. Great content! Love the channel! 👌
I absolutely love hearing this car story. My first 2 cars we A1 Sciroccos, and the 1st was go good I found a 2nd that was an S with Neuspeed throttle body, proper suspension, and it ignited a love for VWs that I have to this day (maybe not for the mk8). That being said, I ordered a Soul Red Crystal George Mica Club Miata with all the fixings and as far as new convertibles go, is the most analog experience you can get.
Great stuff guys!
Yep. The funnest cars i've ever owned were my 79 and 81 scirocco's. I think the funnest cars i've ever driven was an 83 GTI and 911's from the 70's and 80's.
I know what you mean. I have the exact same experience w/ my Corrado VR6. An absolute joy to drive every single time.
Really nice episode, I dig the detailed subjective dialogue of ya'lls car experience and the overview of technical details, good show chaps.
Having ventured to the A2 platform, towards the end of the episode, that would open up talk about the VR6 and the Corrado, ....next time maybe?
again thanks for the episode.
Nice to hear someone who has driven lots of fancy cars rate the Scirocco. I thought it was great, but also thought I probably didn't know any better. I had the 1.8 8v that someone had put a Weber carb on: that engine never needed touched or used any oil between changes (and it had over 160,000 miles). On the other hand, everything suspension/hub related exploded. The brakes were also spongy as hell on the UK cars as there was a huge linkage over to the master cylinder, but nobody remembers a car as special because of the brakes. Practical, reliable, cool and was great to drive. Good to know the memories were accurate!
I used to have these big posters of VW back in 90's... and Scirocco was my favorite, a long with Mark 1 and 2 GTi.... that's about all the posters I ever had... never a supercar.
Good Episode!
I loved this story! Such love and dedication to such a cool good looking simple car ! A tech when I worked at Benz service had a rust piece of shit one but he kept it going forever.
I loved my old volkswagons, great little tanks, kinda miss ripping the 84 Rabbit through the reservoir on 3 wheels with the 2.0L swap..
There was a time when my brother and I each had 16v Scirocco's; mine was red and his was silver. That was ~30+ years ago, and since then I've not driven a more enjoyable, fun and capable sports car. So eager, so drivable, toss-able. Its not that fast, but driving it you feel unbeatable. Driving is a true sport-like experience...joy like skiing in powder or surfing the perfect. It wants to be aggressive, and asks for more. And that 16v sound... What I wouldn't give to have another. (PS: yes, like all GTIs, GLIs and Sirocco's from that time, they do go through engine mounts, and yes, they can be replaced in minutes).
First car 88' Jetta W/ 5spd.
Now onto a mk4 wagon for practicality reasons. The 88 was a fun car, not a very reliable one but a fun car!
Getting my TDI wagon ready for autocross over the winter.
Bad ground on a MK1. Been there done that. Hahaha! Never forget the handling. My friends would always be following me and I’d lift the inside rear wheel off the ground when cornering. “Man, you nearly flipped your car.” Never had the heart to tell them it was normal.
Civics and Integas can come close to the fun experience as well too.
Great show!
I love the Scirocco.
I understand him. I have the same exact relationship with my fiesta st.
Cool collections Buddy!
I spotted a Lancia Delta Integrale in the backround, I want to see a review of that beast from Jason.
The Scirocco engine swap story about the dipstick made me go check mine. Fresh build, ran well, smells like oil a little after a road test.Wrong dipstick. I had 1/2 qt. too much oil according to the gray dipstick that came w/the 9A block. Thanks Jason.
This show is fire.
mk2 gti 8V(euro,CIS) owner since 09. Restored it twice. Having a transmission build at the moment (with the shortest gearing for a gti ACD).
Damn, you're making me miss my '92 GTI 8V. Also my 1980 Scirrocco. Both cars were a hoot, but it seemed like I was always working on something or other. I never could get the GTI alternator belt to stop squealing when it got wet.
I love how you love a shit box that you won't give up on. My first car was a Silver 89 Escort GT and it wasn't special in any way but I loved that thing for 10 years.
This talked to me so much! I had a 1984 Scirocco and loved it. And I believe that broker underestimated it in 2000, maybe by a thousand.
In 2000, that was a $1500-2500 car, at best.
Jason - you're driving up the price of old V-dubs - stop it!
But I totally get it. I had a crappy old Lynx XR3 in college - and just couldn't get rid of it, even when I bought other cars...and even after its 3rd alternator caught fire. It was just too much fun to drive that slow car fast, and did things just well enough to always be entertaining. If I could find one of those again, I'd buy it in a second, but sadly nobody has (or wants) one anymore...
I think my 78' was the best car I ever had in its time. Would like another MKI one now (with a TFSI engine)
I feel your bug. My first car was a flat window ‘72 Super repainted in Caddy Gold (fourth paint color in its lifetime) and paid $500 for. It hadn’t run in years. I was 14 and my dad and I spent weekends working on it to get it running in time for me to turn 16. He taught me everything I know about wrenching on cars and ultimately triggered my love of fixing things. That car was an absolute POS and vowed I’d never own another Super. Since then I’ve had a ‘70 Ghia, a ‘68 Westy bus, and a slew of water cooled veedubs including a GTi, a GLi, and a new beetle turbo S.
I bought my 92 GTI 16v in 99. I could never sell-it. In 2020 I got a 2015 XB manual (needed something a bit more versatile and reliable with 2 kids). Surprised how much I love it, first Toyota I really liked. Bought a 2000 Cabrio 2 yrs ago. Adore it. Never realized a MK3 vert was so good. I checked out Cabriolets, they were a bit of a Shit Show. Tge Cabrio was so well sorted.
Loved my 92 GTI 16V too, which I bought in 93. I read VW & Porsche magazine religiously in high school, so I was all over it when I saw it on the lot at the VW dealership in Dallas. I sold it in 2001 to get a Passat wagon because I had a kid on the way. Man, I miss that car! Maybe it's still alive and well in Austin. I sure hope so.
@@voyageurdeux9922 me too! I still have old articles.
Great show guys. Ditch the timer!
...when Jason asks "Are we done??" and the interview goes cold lol LESS TALK- MORE SCIROCCO ACTION!!!
First car was an ‘83 Rabbit, a few cars later an ’85 Jetta, then next a ‘91 Jetta. Loved them dearly, and would take that ‘91 again today.
(Wife’s first car was a ‘96 GTI-4 but that’s an A3.)
One of the most enjoyable cars I had was an '87 Jetta GLI - 8 valve motor - but it was a little rocket, at least it felt that way.
Great debate as usual 🙌
my first car was a 72 flat window super beetle and i bought it at 14. still have it in college now
Yeah, he makes me miss my 84' Scirocco that I had all supped up. But the electrical started going out and the dealers wouldn't work on it so I got ride of it. I put some 205/50 Yokohama AVS's on the car and it would grip the road enough to start pulling up pavement. I think VW Trends came out with a "how to" in getting the car ready for rally racing and I followed every step excepts the roll cage. From Neuspeed's upper and lower stress bars and Autotech anti-stress bar across the rear shocks, plus Autotech's 22mm and 28mm hollow sway bars with all the rubber taken out for the harder type stuff of which I have now forgotten the name and you name it. I even got a Eurospecs head, and bubble block 2030 crank which made first gear totally useless. I'd race V8 cars and a lot of times I'd win due to all the tricks of the trade VW Trends had me do.
I haven't found another car that can equal that level of fun but times change and I'm old now so I drive an SUV like most everyone else my age now, lol.
im from germany and i have worked for a vw audi dealership for about 7 years. i drove a lot of vw's and audis. also allmost all golfs, polos, passats and so on. and i allways found them to be pretty boaty handling, shifting wasnt as nice and precise, steering feel was pretty nice but especially the stiff rear end allways felt wobbely on the brakes. then i drove an old civic (i know, this might get me hate) from 1990 and compared to the mk1 mk2 and especially to the mk3 golf it just felt more agile, shiftet nicer more slick, steering was a bit on the light side but delivered still a good feel and even though it only was a d-series 90hp 1.5 it felt nimble, agile, rev happy and very responsive. gearing was also very fitting for the engine and it just felt more fun, "sportier" and also the ergonomics where more on the sporty side. the civic is build lower over all and you just sit lower in the car wich gave it even more of a nice feeling. and when you compare the engines, every honda engine from that era felt more responsive, nippy, agile and willing to rev. people allways keep saying that hondas dont have any torque wich isnt really true. they tend to compare a honda b-series 1.6 with 160hp to some 2.0 16v with 150hp. of course a n/a 1.6 wont pick up as quick in low rpm as a 2.0 but thats the point of a high reving engine. you need to use the revs to keep it going quick. compare that honda 1.6 with any other 1.6 and then youll see how good it is. besides that, civics from that era have double wishbones on the front and independent suspension in the back. depending on the model sometimes with quite conservative alignment but you can actually play with the alignment. get some swaybars from a sir or on later 90s models from an integra type r or civic type r and youll have a fwd thats so much fun that you wouldnt belive its just a honda.
these cars just get way to much hate. they cant do anything about thier (sometimes very questionable) owners. they are great fun to drive. even the little d-series are pretty fun just because of thier lightness, shifter, responsive engines and ergonomics. i forgot, heel toe is also extremly easy and fun because of the pedal placement and the responsive engines.
just ignore the automatics.
Love this story about buying a VW scirocco
Das Auto
I love this guy and his Rocco. I've got an 8v 1985 Rocco had it for 6 years and I plan on keeping it forever. Not as quick as the 16v but I think the 8v is more reliable. As for the ground effects .. ehh I'm indifferent.
I have a mk2f VW polo great driving car and a vw corrado vr6 that is amazing drivers car yes it breaks alot but I think that's more mine sat for so long before I started painstakingly slowly restoring it
Really late to the game, but this sums up exactly how I feel about Sciroccos and Mk1's. Currently have a 16v 83 Rabbit pick up I am restoring. It is so incredibly fun to drive. But still doesn't match the Rocco. I've had five, miss every one of them, and am on the hunt for another. Even the R32 I had wasn't as fun. The closest I've come to that much fun is our 68 Westy and for far different reasons. It's an e ticket every time you are in it.
I’ve owned a 1990 Corrado G60, a 1997 Golf GTI and a 2006 Passat with the 6 speed manual and I loved them all. They were really fun cars to drive and I had people begging me to sell them my VW’s all the time.
Jason, exactly the same way I feel about driving my restored E30 "iS" coupe. There have been so many close calls with people being on their phones etc. You're right. To them it's just a 30 year old shitbox. Thank God for collectors car insurance (agreed value).
These two argue so well they should be a couple.
Why do people want to imagine everyone as being romantically/sexually into each other instead of just respecting and appreciating the friendship they clearly have?
Wow, was the german KA licence plate the original one of your 16V scirocco? Feels like a part of my home was steady companion in your life!
My friend had a 95 Corolla DX 5-speed for years and it was a fantastic car, the very definition of "cheap and cheerful"! I'm kinda like Jason about crappy VWs...but with MkIVs. I had a tweaked 2004 GTI 1.8T, minimal options so it weighed in surprisingly light, and I have a NA Miata now because "ya gotta". My Miata is fun for sure, but that MkIV was not far off (with aforementioned tweaks) and a lot more livable.
When i lived in ( Darmstadt, Germany), i owned the same car( 90ps engine).
Unfortunately, it caught on fire..😪😪😪😪
I had a 1988 Scirocco 16V that I put a 2.L Passat motor in in 1996. I loved that car but the CIS went bad while sitting and possibly had a bad ground that I parted out. I totally mis that car. It was so awesome.
Hence my screen name!
3 mk1 gtis, a Scirocco, a mk2 Golf Gti...love old watercooled vws!
Hearing you talk about your cabby has got me looking for one for sale
Porsche 993. That’ was my favorite to drive when I worked for a Porsche, Audi, VW, and BMW dealer from 1993-2000. No one understood why I loved my 16V scirocco so much and why I thought it was better than anything they had, other than the sweetheart 993. Later on I had an RSX type S that was awesome, but I still yearn for my 16V. Did I mention it was perpetually broken? The tow guys new my voice on the phone. Still miss it.
what was actually better on the vw compared to the rsx?
99Lezard99 Nothing. Nothing tangible. The Acura was tight, handled better, waaaaaay more reliable. Made a great noise when you flogged it. Best Asian car I ever drove. The Scirocco punished me for being stupid at a stupid age. It never left me stranded dangerously but when it let go it was never something small. It felt great in my hands, all my friends loved it, most of my girlfriends loved it and hated it, too. It looked like a million $ on and off the rollback. Wasn’t all that fast, but it felt fast.
A very rare insight into what makes a car guy truly a, 'car-guy' surrounded by those that supported his habit and can live to tell the story.
Long-stroke engines always seem to have great sound 'character'. Each individual pulse has sort of a deep and pleasing note. I'm thinking Jag XKEs, and other old British sports cars with 4cyl engines fundamentally designed for torque at low revs. A huge part of an MGB's charm is the sound it makes, for example.
maybe toyota trucks too? ive always wondered why they sound the way they do
12:25+ sums it up.... I also have a 16V scirocco that I've had for 2/3 of my life and I'm scared to death to drive it these days as, it too, is my most cherished material possession.
I gotta drive a Mk1, somehow this has never happened. I've owned Mk2s, I currently own a Mk3 (my winter daily) which is the underpowered Mono-Motronic 1.8 we got as a base model here in Canada, and I've owned four Foxes, which I think are widely, and wrongly, unappreciated. Going back to a Mk2, even my friend's 300hp turbocharged Mk2, from a Fox just doesn't do it for me. To me the thing that makes or breaks a car is the shifter, and the direct mechanism on the Fox kicks the butt of every other water cooled VW ever made. It also makes people grin uncontrollably, I've got a hot rodded 8v GTI engine in it, 5 speed from a Quantum diesel, crazy stiff suspension, 16v Scirocco brakes, and a whole host of other little tweaks. It doesn't make quite enough power, so you have to cane the shit out of it if you want to embarrass the Mk7s in the twisties, and it responds by giving you everything it has and surprising you constantly with what it can do.
Cabriolet steering: do not brake, lock the steering wheel and don't move it anymore, from then on it's just throtle: press for understeer, lift for oversteer.
Easy, simple, fun.