Good morning, and happy Friday to you all! Today, we’re throwing the rulebook right out the window, and looking at a couple of vehicles I would have gone gaga over in high school, and would still love to have today. Why? Because tomorrow is my birthday, and I can.
So first, let’s settle up on our crossovers:
I guess that’s what I expected. I, however, disagree, and would take the Tribute if given the choice between these two. I do all my own maintenance and repairs, and a two-wheel-drive vehicle with an inline four sounds like a whole lot less hassle than all-wheel-drive and a transverse V6. And Lexus or not, at 230,000 miles, something will need work soon.
But anyway. Yes, Autopians, tomorrow is my birthday, and it’s a major one: the big five-oh. Half a freaking century. It means I’m eligible for AARP, and people can start using adjectives like “hale and hearty” to describe me. And yet, I’m looking forward to it; turning forty didn’t bother me much, and fifty just seems like the same thing, only more so. I’m calmer and more comfortable in my own skin than I was when I was younger, and I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of my appearance, musical tastes, or vehicular choices any more. I just like what I like.
The only trouble is that, as my grouchy British colleague pointed out yesterday, so much of the pop culture and fashions of my youth have been co-opted by younger generations that it takes a lot of the fun out of reminiscing. What’s an aging Gen Xer to do? Screw ’em; this stuff was ours first. Nostalgia doesn’t come cheap, however, and I can’t shake the feeling that I should have bought one or both of these when I could afford them.
1985 Jeep CJ-7 – $9,450
Engine/drivetrain: 4.2 liter overhead-valve inline 6, four-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Bonita, CA
Odometer reading: 88,000 miles
Runs/drives? It had better, for this price
Our new California resident and editor-in-chief David Tracy isn’t the only one around here with a fondness for Jeeps. I learned to drive in a CJ-8 Scrambler, and I’ve been a huge fan of CJ Jeeps ever since. I’ve never had the opportunity to own one, but I would certainly like to one day. And this CJ-7, or something like it, wouldn’t be a bad choice at all.
This Jeep is powered by the tried-and-true AMC inline six, converted to electronic fuel injection, which sends power through what I’m assuming is a four-speed manual to the rear wheels, or, with the pull of a lever and the twist of the front hubs, all four wheels. It has a little bit of a lift, as so many do these days, as well as a roll cage. I’m not overly fond of the wheels the current owner has chosen, but they could be worse.
There is just something inherently cool about this era of Jeep. It has a no-nonsense look about it, and an eager countenance that is game for anything, ready for a good time, not Very Serious and Angry like so many modern Jeeps. This is a toy, and it looks like one. The seller says it is driven daily, but I don’t think I could put up with the harsh ride every day at my age. (Good grief; did I really just use the phrase “at my age”?)
I suppose I am a bit too old to set it up with a pirate radio broadcast rig and go tearing around town with Samantha Mathis, but I can pop in a Was (Not Was) tape and pretend.
1987 Volkswagen Scirocco – $12,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, 5 speed manual, FWD
Location: Tujunga, CA
Odometer reading: 135,000 miles
Runs/drives? Better than new, it sounds like
This one I’m a bit upset about. Back in 1989, when I drove a Scirocco, nobody thought it was cool except me. For decades afterwards, these early watercooled VWs languished in obscurity at the bottom end of the used car market, just waiting for me to have a place to park a project car, until just a few years ago when they suddenly became cool and prices went through the roof. I cannot believe that this car is twelve thousand dollars.
For a brief period, this Scirocco’s twin-cam 16-valve engine, also available in the Golf GTI and Jetta GLI, was the most powerful Volkswagen engine ever. I tried to get my Firebird and Mustang loving friends interested in this fact. No one cared. This 16V engine has been overhauled and had some head work done; it runs perfectly and just passed a smog test. It’s coupled to a five-speed manual, the only transmission available with this engine in those days.
It has had some suspension work done, and a little visual updating in the form of European-spec lights and bumpers, but it’s a lot closer to stock and original than you usually find these cars, and at least the suspension is merely lowered and not slammed. it’s fairly clean inside too, with only the characteristic wear spots on the driver’s seat bolsters and a little wear on the steering wheel. I do suspect there are a couple of cracks under that dashboard cover, but you’re unlikely to find one these days that isn’t cracked.
I still think this is a cool car, even though everyone else thinks so now too. And it’s a car I absolutely would drive daily, five-figure price tag be damned. And I would absolutely get an original Fahrvergnugen window sticker for it.
We’ll get back to our usual junky fare on Monday, after my odometer rolls over to the next big number. In the meantime, which ride are you taking with me?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I’m a bit older and I still haven’t warmed up to the second gen Scirocco. I had a friend who bought the first gen Scirocco. That car was pretty and more fun than it had a right to be. The second gen wasn’t bad I guess, the styling just went kind of soft. If I recall, it was a heck of a lot more expensive too. Here in Canada, at least, it was not competitively priced.
Sciroccos are cool now? And people ask $12k for them?
Gives new depth to “I know what I got”.
I’d take the Scirocco, but not at that price. That’s almost the exact same as it was new. I’m a solid gen-x 50+ too, but damn, get off my lawn with that 12K crack pipe.
Used to have a CJ-7 as a project. It sent rolling fireballs through the air sideways from a softball sized hole in the muffler. That was really cool at night. That project was passed on to the next fool when my son was born. Only got to drive it a couple times once I got it running, but the new owner intended to off-road Death Valley in it. That’s a special kind of crazy.
Voted CJ-7 because I’d like another swing at that project.
God… That Scirocco… I love it so much.
About 10 years ago, there was a guy in my little town in Illinois who had a later MK2 Scirocco for sale for like $1200. The thing sat on his front lawn for MONTHS. I don’t even know if he ever sold it. Interior was straight, very minor rust on the outside, and it ran pretty well. I wanted to buy that thing in the worst way, but I had nowhere to put it. I still kick myself for not buying that thing.
I’ll be joining you in the 50-year-old club later this month.
And I make no apologies for listening to Duran Duran. Or 80’s music in general. I’m just not stuck there.
Happy Birthday.
I’d take the Scirocco. But I liked the Corrado more.
I literally just bought a 8v Scirocco last night. Still for the money I’d pick the CJ.
“Runs/drives? It had better, for this price”
Somebody needs to do a little research on CJ prices.
Never VAG, but I voted Scirocco cause, for a brief period, my dad had one and I thought it was so cool. Then he smashed it.
Everyone and their brother has a Jeep CJ-something. There’s like four of you with that qualification on the writing staff of this website! How many people have a VW Scirocco?
Scirocco without a second thought.
My first car was one of those GLIs mentioned with THE EXACT SEATS IN THIS SCIROCCO! Huge waves of nostalgia means I’d chose it even if it was the irrational choice.
Having owned two CJ-5 variants back in the day, my kidneys can feel the ride of that Jeep from here. I’d have to go for the Scirrocco, simply because I haven’t seen one on the road in like, forever.
The Scirocco was an average sport coupe at the time. The twin-cam engine should have been amazing but it was kinda gutless. I remember test driving one and being underwhelmed. Also, the headroom (I’m 6’3″) was non-existent – You’d have to be under 6′ to fit. $12k with that interior would be a definite no-go for me.
Back then, I ended up buying a sweet 1986 Celica GTS instead. I loved that car and would still like to find a GT-4 version but they belong in Mercedes’ Holy Grail column.
If you’re into Jeeps, that one seems a decent choice.
If you have any torso, you won’t fit in 80s VWs!
My first car was an 96 Jetta GLi with a sunroof. The only way my head didn’t poke out the roof was to crank the seats all the way down to their lowest position!
Huh? I’m 6′-1″ with an ape-like build (longer torso) and had no problem fitting in my friend’s Scirocco, and my Rabbit was never any trouble in that department either. Neither had sunroofs though, maybe that’s the thing?
A HS friend drove a Scirocco, had to be about this same year. Always thought it looked cool, and since his family was rich (or so they presented), I thought it had to be extra cool.
My vote goes for the Jeep, I feel like it would have better resale value, and it would be a fun car to have on the side to scratch both convertible and excursion vehicle itches, even if you could never have a conversation in it at speed.
I’ve noticed over the years that many of my fellow veedub buddies/acquaintances would occasionally leave ship for a Jeep or two, then come back to VWs. I don’t know what it is, but somewhere there must be a Venn diagram that explains this. (For the record, they were always going to go back to a veedub, but there’s something about a Jeep that gets a euro lover into them.. is it the authenticity? )
As for the choice here, cool Jeep, sure, but will you just look at that ‘rocco!! And it’s a 16v too ??? NO CONTEST!
I don’t have money… But I can do things… !
Probably because the Jeep saved their ‘arse’s’ in WWII
I need some hot Teutonic wind in my travels.
I’ll blow outta here in that Scirocco.
Scirocco for 2 reasons. My neice has a Scirocco Storm of similar vintage, so loyalty. And I could never have the Jeep as it looks to me too much like the one in the “Last Christmas” video by “Wham”. I do not know if they were a thing in the US. It offends me mightily because there is a close up of it braking on snow and the wheel is locked. That is just shabby driving.
Cut the vw price in half and the jeep is still the clear winner here.
That Scirocco is gorgeous. Reminds me of a story.
When I was 17 and became a newly-minted driver, my older brother offered to help me find a car I could afford with my part time job at Hardee’s (Carls Jr. for you non-Midwest folks). I looked at a number of different vehicles, but there was an old, closed shop off of the east side of main street in my town where people parked their vehicles for sale. We found an ’89 Scirocco parked there and checked it out. It was black once but the paint was faded to a chalky dark gray. The dash was weather checked to the point of looking like a jigsaw puzzle, the tires were dry rotted, and the interior was meh at best.
In spite of all that, I wanted so badly to lay down $500 of my hard earned money for the full asking price. My brother told me try to get them down to $400 due to the condition issues. So, we jotted down the phone number (this was 2001, after all) and I gave the owners a call. Suffice it to say they weren’t interested in my offer and I never got a chance to drive it. My brother told me I was better off since the tires were past it. But I never forgot the design of that sweet hatch, and the distinct Giugiaro-esque design (the first gen was penned by him, this gen was VW’s internal design team, I believe).
In spite of all that history, and in spite of how beautiful this example is, I think the CJ-7 is the better buy. It looks like I’ll never get my Scirocco after all.
Happy Five-O! I’m not far behind. This was fairly easy as I’ve just never been into Jeeps. That VW cost premium though! I know what you mean about the days of cheap Sciroccos. I remember seeing a super low-mile mint red one locally with a $4K for sale sign in it. Coulda Shoulda. I do still have an ’88 Fox in the fleet, and this would be look extra sharp parked next to that. That said, if I’m going to pick a mid-life crisis car, it needs to put a bigger dent in the 401K – that green, ’57 Imperial that Mercedes found recently would fit the bill quite nicely.
Oh, and anyone questioning the “why” behind the Scirocco, check out Jason Camissa’s “Forgotten Fury” that he did for Petrolicious. It’s a beautiful little film and sums it up perfectly.
https://youtu.be/ngDTa4xjYYw
Gah! VW people and Jeep people make me nervous. I don’t feel like I have enough feels to ever devote myself to a brand like the hardcore in those groups do. But I admire them from a distance unlike the Ferrari flag waving folks who will never actually own the objects of their desire. So toss up and Jeep wins.
I’m not a “Jeep Guy”, but I’ve had a couple over the last decade. I’ve had an early CJ-5 and a YJ, so the completist in me says I probably should get a CJ-7 at some point. That said, there’s something very meh about this one. Not impressed, and I can’t put my finger on why.
So shockingly, I guess I’d vote VW. Which may be the first time I’ve ever chosen a VW for Shitbox Showdown.
The inside of the Jeep is rusty. The roll cage connections started the decay, now it is all over the inside. That made me say no to $10,000 on that Jeep.
I just turned 52, so the 16v Sciroccos were my dream car back in high school. Irrationally, they’re still my favorite car. I test drove a new one in ’87 and it was mind blowing to me. Given, my car was a hunk o’ junk ’80 Rabbit (I did love it, though). As others have said, I do have the Gen X attitude on the price being too damn high. But, it still gets my vote.
I had buddies that had CJ Jeeps of this vintage throughout HS and college and they’re great. It’s just that the Scirocco has my heart.
I was going to vote for the Scirocco, but that interior, yeesh, not for $12K! Besides, I’d rather get my Giugiaro-designed Radwood fix from an Isuzu Impulse. Drives the correct wheels and looks better doing it.
So, I’ll take the overpriced Jeep over the overpriced VW and see what all this rock crawling nonsense is about.