That other British automotive show recently took the latest VW Scirocco to the track to a straight-up fight against the stock MINI Cooper S. The result is incredibly close. Take a look below.
<p>Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t saying anything against Jason Plato – it’s just they have very different driving styles. Ditch the runflats might make the biggest difference.</p>
<p>VW made the boneheaded decision not to bring the car stateside. The next closest thing to it from VW? The all new GTI/Golf due up here next year.</p>
<p>I don’t like the styling at all. The looks pale in comparison to a MINI and are too akin to the GTI, despite the wider platform and interesting body angles. I do love the concept though. I owned a 1982 Scirocco and a 1986.5 Scirocco 16V. They were both great cars but the 16V is a car that I was truly in love with. I drove the hell out of that car and had more fun in it than I had in my MCS. I guess youth had something to do with that…</p>
<p>What is with building cars with only 4 functional seats? I also really like the new VW CC, but could not consider it due to the interior layout (4-seats). Automakers, please bring back the split bench, with 3 belts, as a rear seat option!!</p>
<p>Being selfish, I believe this car should come to the U.S. However, I do not see this as a winner for VW. I would anticipate lean sales in the U.S. The fact is, there just aren’t enough “enthusiasts” out there who can afford a car like this, or a MINI Cooper S, for that matter. That’s too bad.</p>
<p>I am still holding out hope for a VW-Porsche 914 reincarnation. Now that’s hot!</p>
<p>Sorry Dave, my comment, while in reference to yours, was also in reference to a few other blogs/forums where Plato is getting a bit of a kicking.</p>
<p>The good thing with owning an MCS and a GTI is that I was going to be happy with whichever car came out trumps. :P</p>
<p>Am I the only person that actually prefers Fifth Gear to Top Gear? I like James May, and Richard Hammond, but can only really take Clarkson for about 45 minutes at a time.</p>
<p>Seems to me if you put the same driver in both cars the result would of been different :)</p>
<p>Is that Scirocco coming to the states? That’s a nice lookin car.</p>
<p>Not sure why there seems to be so many people bagging Jason Plato. He’s a bloody good driver.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-251760" rel="nofollow">Liam</a>: And a BTCC Champ no less.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t saying anything against Jason Plato – it’s just they have very different driving styles. Ditch the runflats might make the biggest difference.</p>
<p>i wonder how many tenths the dsg saved on that track vs plato.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-251759" rel="nofollow">rs</a>:</p>
<p>VW made the boneheaded decision not to bring the car stateside. The next closest thing to it from VW? The all new GTI/Golf due up here next year.</p>
<p>I don’t like the styling at all. The looks pale in comparison to a MINI and are too akin to the GTI, despite the wider platform and interesting body angles. I do love the concept though. I owned a 1982 Scirocco and a 1986.5 Scirocco 16V. They were both great cars but the 16V is a car that I was truly in love with. I drove the hell out of that car and had more fun in it than I had in my MCS. I guess youth had something to do with that…</p>
<p>What is with building cars with only 4 functional seats? I also really like the new VW CC, but could not consider it due to the interior layout (4-seats). Automakers, please bring back the split bench, with 3 belts, as a rear seat option!!</p>
<p>Being selfish, I believe this car should come to the U.S. However, I do not see this as a winner for VW. I would anticipate lean sales in the U.S. The fact is, there just aren’t enough “enthusiasts” out there who can afford a car like this, or a MINI Cooper S, for that matter. That’s too bad.</p>
<p>I am still holding out hope for a VW-Porsche 914 reincarnation. Now that’s hot!</p>
<p>Sorry Dave, my comment, while in reference to yours, was also in reference to a few other blogs/forums where Plato is getting a bit of a kicking.</p>
<p>The good thing with owning an MCS and a GTI is that I was going to be happy with whichever car came out trumps. :P</p>
<p>Am I the only person that actually prefers Fifth Gear to Top Gear? I like James May, and Richard Hammond, but can only really take Clarkson for about 45 minutes at a time.</p>