In late '83, I'd grown tired of my crappy quality '72 Corvette, and decided to buy my first new car. I'd read so many great things about the Rabbit GTI, but on the lot was a schweet Scirocco. Sure, the engine was a few HP less and had smaller wheels than the GTI, but the body was vastly better looking:
I'd read the engine oil could run hot, so I fitted a small oil cooler. It dropped temp a solid 15%, and never a bit of trouble. That said:
Six months: sunroof jammed/broke
Three years: fuel pump failure (the rest of the CIS was 100% reliable).
Year five: A/C compressor failure, left rear tire tried to exit the stub axle while at speed (bearing failure).
Year seven: water pump failure
Year eight: blown head gasket
Year nine: Need a work van for a new business. Trade-in time!
Nostalgia is a vicious liar. - Voltaire