VW Corrado info

[bimmer8604]

anybody just have some good information on the VW corrado's? I know they're supercharged, and the VR6 is a common swap, but i want a few more tidbits of info before i look at one in a few days.

Kyle

[decay]

early models ('90/91) are supercharged and hell for maintenance. even as a vw enthusiast i can't recommend one. however, should you feel like swapping, the digifant1 injection used has a MAP sensor (zero restriction) and is very tunable.

'92+ were VR6 already, but with a shorter final drive than all other VR6 models except the passat. better for maintenance than the g60, but you can still expect to fix stuff on a regular basis.

[M-technik-3]

https://www.vwvortex.com

94 Corrado finally got the distributer free ignition block from the Passat. these are prone to failure. VW did a volunteer recall bring your old one when it fails we will replace free of charge.

Automagic tend to fail. Wife's Passat has not due to I change the tranny fluid and the filter on it regularly. Motor belts suck ASS. I converted her's to Europe mechanical belts, they work awesome but you need all the trim for the interior. I used to sell theses for $500 a kit.

US headlights another suck ass thing, swap them with EU spec lights. Glass instead of plastic. VR6 ones are the ones to get. Don't go big bulb in fogs you'll melt the plastic housings.

Corrado's had a 2.9l block as opposed to 2.8l block in Passat and Golf GTi. A plus for 8 hp. G60 has more tune able options read swap G-lader for a Turbo from the 1.8t units and you can have 240 hp easy. millions of cams and bottom end has a forged crank.

VR6 is a square lazy engine and need about 4.5k invested to make big numbers. Read install a Quaife if you want to put power down. Europe got a 2.0l 16v engine.

A friend of mine who build nutty VW's built a Corrado Syncro from a Golf Rallye from Canada that was wrecked. It bolts in for the most part due to Corrado's being based on the Golf II chassis. years of production 88-95 europe. Scirocco II years of production 81-94, it was supposed to replace the Scirocco II but cost on G-lader then VR6 cylinder head sky rocketed and the German economy got stronger driving cost up up and up.

If you have any more I'll try to help, or Chris out in Washington with the crazy M3 and Corrado's. Been mainy years since I've been a VW head. I'm trying to unload my 53 VW type I fire bus right now. As I love to do a 63 bug with a 2.1l stoker or do a 914 2.0 FI engine.

[decay]

Corrado's had a 2.9l block as opposed to 2.8l block in Passat and Golf GTi.

you lucky bastards over in EU got those- here in the states, corrado vr6's were 2.8 just like every other stateside six.

[george graves]

Pm "M3 ryan" - he'll give you the low down...

[bimmer8604]

ok, i looked at the car today, its a 1990 VW corrado, 110k miles with only about 20k on the bottom end. He blew up his G60 and put on a bigger Eaton Super Charger. He's running 13-15 psi easily. I'm sure this is what, a 1.8L? I couldn't tell if it was a 8 or 16 valve, so some help with that would be nice. Hes asking 4500, but its really dirty, inside and out, and has some minor surface rust on the hatch. Other then that, there is NOTHING cosmetically wrong with the car which is nice, cause my car needs paint badly!

I love the "PSSSSSHH" sound that this bad boy spits out, too cool for schooL!

kyle

[Pat W]

its an 8 valve....i too am looking at a corrado to replace the e30...im looking at a g60 with cams and i/e..for 2500 with 102k....i havent seen the car but it sounds too good to be true....

[decay]

im looking at a g60 with cams and i/e..for 2500 with 102k..

that'd be "cam".

[e30fiend]

First and foremost, the Corrado (any) is a maintenence nightmare, especially with electrical gremlins.

Unless you purchase a Corrado that's been well taken care of (read: at least $5000-6000+) then these things are practically guaranteed to fail:

Sunroof will fail to slide but will still tilt in the back
Spoiler in the back will fail to rise, or will constantly blow fuses
Fog lights will crack due to heat
G60 supercharger will fail between 60-120k (there's a reason they're called grenades...)
one or both seatbelt motors will fail
ignition will die (starter buttons are extremely easy/cheap to install)
Oh, and keep jumper cables in the car

Not to mention that parts are more expensive than most cars. New headlights go for around $250 and they're as rare as IS lips, seriously.

That said, however, they really are a blast to drive. I was lucky enough to have my supercharger still put out 9psi when I sold my car with 130k miles on it. Of course not every single Corrado has these problems but check out vwvortex.com, you'll find a crapload of people who all have the same issues.

The Corrado is basically a really cool car to drive, IF you've got the money/time/energy to keep it running right. If you don't it might be fun for the first few months, until the first time the battery dies..... Hehehe no of course I'm not bitter =D In all honesty the Corrado is my "some day, some day" car. Some day I'll return to the Corrado world when I can afford it.

[m42technic]

Talk to "cramer," I'm sure he can give you a good low-down.

[bimmer8604]

i decided to pass on it. It had the rust on the back, but it was TONs of fun to drive when I had a chance to drive it. It had a new supercharger on it that was putting out 15 psi.

Thanks for your help guys!

Kyle

[natorious]

www.vwvortex.com

94 Corrado finally got the distributer free ignition block from the Passat. these are prone to failure. VW did a volunteer recall bring your old one when it fails we will replace free of charge.

{color=red]some 93 models also had this it was a mid year change, also 1992 VR6 is the fastest buy a small margin and has a higher top speed due differences in rev limiter[/color]

Automagic tend to fail. Wife's Passat has not due to I change the tranny fluid and the filter on it regularly.

Motor belts suck ASS. I converted her's to Europe mechanical belts, they work awesome but you need all the trim for the interior. I used to sell theses for $500 a kit.

[color=red[You can pick up the canadian manual belts for fairly cheap... the auto belts WILL fail but are fixable... [/color]

US headlights another suck ass thing, swap them with EU spec lights. Glass instead of plastic. VR6 ones are the ones to get. Don't go big bulb in fogs you'll melt the plastic housings.
Definatley get the EU spec headlights.... and the fog lenses will eventually crack from heat regardless of what you put in there for bulbs... there is a hella foglight lense that is nearly the same size that can be adapted but its not easy

Corrado's had a 2.9l block as opposed to 2.8l block in Passat and Golf GTi. A plus for 8 hp. G60 has more tune able options read swap G-lader for a Turbo from the 1.8t units and you can have 240 hp easy. millions of cams and bottom end has a forged crank.
g60 also has sodium filled exhaust valves and 8:1 compression... 240hp on a g60 is very high tho... very few have pulled that off without a turbo in place of the glader

SLC Corrado's (VR6) all had 2.8L blocks in the US and Canada.. the Euro only Storm model had a 2.9 the extra 6HP is due to lo slightly different intake manifold and free flow exhaust system (12V VR6 = 172hp in all cars besides corrado 178 in corrado)

VR6 is a square lazy engine and need about 4.5k invested to make big numbers. Read install a Quaife if you want to put power down. Europe got a 2.0l 16v engine.

A friend of mine who build nutty VW's built a Corrado Syncro from a Golf Rallye from Canada that was wrecked.
most likely this was a passat synchro donor... the swap requires the rear floorpan from the passat to work and the Golf Ralllye never made it to canda.

It bolts in for the most part due to Corrado's being based on the Golf II chassis.
its not entirly a2... its more a a2/a3 hybrid

years of production 88-95 europe. Scirocco II years of production 81-94, it was supposed to replace the Scirocco II but cost on G-lader then VR6 cylinder head sky rocketed and the German economy got stronger driving cost up up and up.

If you have any more I'll try to help, or Chris out in Washington with the crazy M3 and Corrado's. Been mainy years since I've been a VW head. I'm trying to unload my 53 VW type I fire bus right now. As I love to do a 63 bug with a 2.1l stoker or do a 914 2.0 FI engine.

if you have corrado question... cramer or I can probably help u out... also the forums at vwvortex are great for it.. but are getting a little ricey these days...

overall i like the corrado alot more than my e30... with one exception.. the e30 keeps running the corrado breaks down once a week... but i still have mine and it will get fixed... i LOVE that car

[OOMPH!]

:cough: junk....
stick with RWD

[bimmer8604]

:cough: junk....
stick with RWD

that was a main factor in my decision....besides, i found another e30 to buy instead :twisted:

kyle

[OOMPH!]

:cough: junk....
stick with RWD

that was a main factor in my decision....besides, i found another e30 to buy instead :twisted:

kyle

Hell yeah, now you're on the right track!