THE original Scirocco back in the 1970s proved to any doubters that Volkswagen could do a sporty car too if it set its mind to it.
In the way that the Audi TT helped to redefine an entire brand, the same could be said for that original Scirocco.
I can still remember sitting in a car showroom wishing for all I was worth that my parents would buy one as they continued their search for a new car.
'It's not very big in the back,' my mother said.
'Big enough for me,' I replied as I tucked my knees in tightly.
The Scirocco was nothing short of a soaraway success and enjoyed sales aplenty until it was discontinued.
Its purposeful and sleek wedge-shaped profile proved so timeless it was eventually revived quite a lot later for the not so sexy sounding Corrado.
Sometimes the names car makers come up with leave something to be desired and this one sounded rather like a replacement for an Allegro or a character from the Sopranos.
There was a second Scirocco in the 80s but it lacked the character and style of the original.
And so to the next Scirocco revival, which comes at a time when the Volkswagen range is going from strength to strength.
I confess when it was first unveiled I thought it was something of a pretender to that hallowed original Scirocco crown.
It looked a little too gauche and gaudy for my liking.
But to be fair pictures of cars sometimes don't really do them justice - in the same way that some people are not particularly photogenic.
My dislike was starting to waver when I saw one on the road for the first time and by the time I took delivery of one to road test, I confess my opinion was well on the way to being fundamentally revised.
Just like that original there is a sense of individuality and purpose about it.
It may share much with the current Golf but it also stands apart and there's no denying there's something about it that's extremely appealing.
As far as the inside goes, it even manages to share that slightly compact (some might say cramped) kind of feel but if you want a genuinely sporty hatch then there's a price to be paid somewhere along the line.
In truth, like many cars these days, it is way bigger than its predecessors.
In line with the current crop of Volkswagens, the interior is very premium feeling and there are plenty of sporty touches that help give the Scirocco added sparkle.
As a driver's car, its relationship to the Golf contributes to its strengths. It feels stiff, agile and exceptionally nimble - in short a dream to drive.
The ride is firm as one might expect but comfort has not been compromised and it is a pleasant car to travel in - even on long journeys.
Handling matches something like the Golf GTI and in all honesty it doesn't get much better than that in this class.
Some might say Volkswagen is shooting itself in the foot by producing two cars that are in competition with each other but in reality, it's just a case of more choice being available.
So, would I buy one? It has to be a resounding yes - if only for the fact I've never quite forgiven my parents for not taking the plunge back in 1977.
They went and bought a Passat instead.
FAST FACTS
Volkswagen Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI
Price: £21,945
Mechanical: 200ps 1,984cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 146mph
0-62mph: 7.2 seconds
Combined mpg: 37.2
Insurance group: 16
CO2 emissions: 179g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles