Is a MK2 Golf gti a classic?

[soxboy]

retropower said:

We have a mk2 in for bodyshell restoration, estimated at £10k ( roughly 50/50 strip&metal/prep&paint) now it's blasted it's the best shell we have ever worked on, needed 8 hours metalwork, most of that tidying up jack dents in the rails. Will come in well under estimate! But yep, REALLY good ones are starting to get sought after

I'd love to see this, hope it's as good as the Manta and Ascona 400 threads.

[Madkat]

So as the Corrado doesn't have the plastic arch trims is this a better buy? Can see what i'm letting myself in for. I assume Galvanizing didn't turn up till the late 90's at VW then?

[aka_kerrly]

Since a Corrado shell is a big chunk of mk2 golf with a bit of Passat mixed in you would expect them to rot evenly and although they do share some common places to rot like the jacking points (as a result of people jacking the cars wrong and breaking the underseal!) the battery tray and the scuttle panel the Corrado fair better. On the whole Corrados do appear to be more resistant to rust other than on the front wings.

One thing for certain if you pick up a Golf door/wing/bonnet and compare it with a Corrado one the Corrado is much more solid but overall the whole car weighs only marginally more ( 975kgs for a 16v golf , 1090kg Corrado)

The biggest difference I find is that you can tell the Corrado was a a more expensive car at circa £20K vs £12k for a Golf (based on 1989 prices) from things like the sound deadening, the interior fabrics, the number of electric components aside from the spoiler things like sun roof, mirrors, windows, were all options on late GTIs

[Madkat]

Can you get a pair of bikes in the back of a corrado, not sure about the golf either?

Thinking of going to look at some come June. I've had a look at a corrado before but it wasn't in the best of nick but it did leave a lasting impression (a good one that is).

[soxboy]

Madkat said:

Can you get a pair of bikes in the back of a corrado, not sure about the golf either?.

Yes (to the Golf) as long as you take front wheels off. I did this on Sunday, after I had already done a big trip to the tip with all the Christmas boxes. Which reminds me - need to order some new gas struts for the tailgate as getting sick of it 'self-closing' on my head!

[Madkat]

soxboy said:

Getting sick of it 'self-closing' on my head!

Know how you feel lol. Thing that will probably swing in the golfs favour as i don't have a bike rack anymore and don't like having bikes fixed to the exterior of the car.

[aka_kerrly]

Madkat said:

Can you get a pair of bikes in the back of a corrado, not sure about the golf either?

YES to both. Only a week ago I had 2 full suspension bikes (front wheels removed) and rucksacks, full faces helmets, body armour, food/drink etc in the Corrado/Golf.

I should have taken a photo of my brother's corrado when it was twin engined with one in the boot! Due to the shape of the boot opening and the ability to fold the rear seats flat - or remove them completely in 2min - the golfs/corrados are surprisingly practical.

You can also get roof racks for them and most hatchback bike racks fit will fit a Golf but be careful putting one on a Corrado due to the rear spoiler.

I once even fitted a double mattress into the back of my mk2 Golf after conceding there was no way in hell I was going to be able to fold it enough to fit in my Saab 93 hatch (2001 era not classic 93)