Decision time: 306 GTi6 or Corrado VR6?
Discussion
Following the other thread I've whittled my car dilemma down to two choices (well three if you include the 306 Rallye I guess).
I prefer the looks, noise and cruising manners of the Corrado. The straightline performance is also significantly stronger and more effortless. Of the examples I've driven (only one of each and at different times) I'd be inclined to suggest the 306 handles better though; it's also more practical, even more discrete (for leaving unattended) and cheaper to buy condition-for-condition. I'd also hazard a guess that consumables were cheaper (smaller tyres etc) if I were to venture on track?
So it's more or less a dead heat. As a general rule I prefer coupes to hatches, but the GTi-6 makes quite a compelling case for itself.
The main thing that's left to consider is cost. Has anyone here run both?
Within reason I'm not too fussed about fuel costs as I do quite a small mileage (about 7,500 miles a year) and a lot of it is on the motorway. What I am concerned about is the cost of keeping a nice Corrado VR6 in good order. I think I've got a reasonable feel for that from the VW section of the forum (about £3k in total, with nearly £2k of that taken up by fuel and insurance) but I don't have any direct comparison on the Peugeot side.
I prefer the looks, noise and cruising manners of the Corrado. The straightline performance is also significantly stronger and more effortless. Of the examples I've driven (only one of each and at different times) I'd be inclined to suggest the 306 handles better though; it's also more practical, even more discrete (for leaving unattended) and cheaper to buy condition-for-condition. I'd also hazard a guess that consumables were cheaper (smaller tyres etc) if I were to venture on track?
So it's more or less a dead heat. As a general rule I prefer coupes to hatches, but the GTi-6 makes quite a compelling case for itself.
The main thing that's left to consider is cost. Has anyone here run both?
Within reason I'm not too fussed about fuel costs as I do quite a small mileage (about 7,500 miles a year) and a lot of it is on the motorway. What I am concerned about is the cost of keeping a nice Corrado VR6 in good order. I think I've got a reasonable feel for that from the VW section of the forum (about £3k in total, with nearly £2k of that taken up by fuel and insurance) but I don't have any direct comparison on the Peugeot side.
The Corrado definitely wins it emotionally - they do feel genuinely special, despite being an old Golf in drag, whereas the 306 feels like a regular hot hatch. However, in many respects I thought the 306 drove better and there's surely the potential for bigger bills in a 6-cylinder coupe than a 4-cylinder hatch?
The thing is, I'm hoping the running costs of the Pug would be low enough to allow me to keep running the Caterham as a track toy. I suspect the VR6 would take most of my budget to maintain.
The reliability question is very relevant too. You would assume nice solid Teutonic engineering would take that accolade, but people do seem to spend a lot of time and effort keeping on top of Corrado issues, so it's not a foregone conclusion.
While the Corrado is undoubtedly a modern classic I reckon a smart low-ish mileage 306 GTi-6 or Rallye would retain quite a following too.
The thing is, I'm hoping the running costs of the Pug would be low enough to allow me to keep running the Caterham as a track toy. I suspect the VR6 would take most of my budget to maintain.
The reliability question is very relevant too. You would assume nice solid Teutonic engineering would take that accolade, but people do seem to spend a lot of time and effort keeping on top of Corrado issues, so it's not a foregone conclusion.
While the Corrado is undoubtedly a modern classic I reckon a smart low-ish mileage 306 GTi-6 or Rallye would retain quite a following too.
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 12th April 11:55
It might be worth considering a 4-pot Corrado? They handle considerably better than the VR6 (and considerably better than the GTi-6 IMO) because the nose is quite a bit lighter. The 16v still does 0-60 in around 8 seconds, and the Supercharged version is a bit faster, although considerably more expensive to run.
Corrados are getting old now, though, so don't except a completely trouble free ownership experience. The suspension bushes tend to wear out at somewhere around or just over 100k miles, which is a fairly time consuming job to sort out because everything will be ceased solid.
Corrados are getting old now, though, so don't except a completely trouble free ownership experience. The suspension bushes tend to wear out at somewhere around or just over 100k miles, which is a fairly time consuming job to sort out because everything will be ceased solid.
Edited by kambites on Monday 12th April 11:55
I probably wouldn't buy either, both wrong wheel drive. But that aside I can't even see it being a question really, to me the answer is obiovus 
Corrado is more exclusive, will hold it's money better, rarer, looks better, is a coupe not a regular hatch, isn't French and a Pug, better noise, faster, arguably more fun and better handling.
Corrado is more exclusive, will hold it's money better, rarer, looks better, is a coupe not a regular hatch, isn't French and a Pug, better noise, faster, arguably more fun and better handling.
kambites said:
It might be worth considering a 4-pot Corrado?
In a word, no. I'm a sucker for sonorous engines and a big part of the draw for me is the VR6. The engines also seem to be relatively reliable - I think it's mostly electrical, brake/ABS, suspension and heating issues that crop up.
ETA Wrong wheel drive is very handy when you're half asleep and it's snowing outside; more importantly it's also less relevant when you have one of the best front drivers of the '90s for the week (potentially, depending on what I get) and a something with 280bhp/ton going to the rear wheels in the garage for the weekends.
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 12th April 12:00
Chris71 said:
kambites said:
It might be worth considering a 4-pot Corrado?
In a word, no. I'm a sucker for sonorous engines and a big part of the draw for me is the VR6. The engines also seem to be relatively reliable - I think it's mostly electrical, brake/ABS, suspension and heating issues that crop up.
kambites said:
Chris71 said:
kambites said:
It might be worth considering a 4-pot Corrado?
In a word, no. I'm a sucker for sonorous engines and a big part of the draw for me is the VR6. The engines also seem to be relatively reliable - I think it's mostly electrical, brake/ABS, suspension and heating issues that crop up.
I didn't say I wouldn't consider a 4-cylinder, just that if I went for a Corrado the VR6 would be a no brainer. Sadly they never made a 2.9-litre V6 306.
Chris71 said:
It's cheaper, more practical and arguably better to drive.
I didn't say I wouldn't consider a 4-cylinder, just that if I went for a Corrado the VR6 would be a no brainer. Sadly they never made a 2.9-litre V6 306.
Is the 306 really more practicable? It can carry five people, but how often do you do that? I'd argue that the 306 is significantly worse to drive and not significantly more practicable. I'm not even sure that the 306 is much cheaper to buy than an I4 Corrado.I didn't say I wouldn't consider a 4-cylinder, just that if I went for a Corrado the VR6 would be a no brainer. Sadly they never made a 2.9-litre V6 306.
Still, it's your choice so I guess I don't have to understand it.
Baked_bean said:
Urm if you prefer a good b road blast go for the gti-6. Another point to consider is the price of panels on corrados, i've heard they are VERY expensive due to their rare nature?
This is sadly true. Some items are from the VAG parts bin (eg. door handles are Passat items) but the panels and bumpers are Karmann parts. And they are indeed expensive - £500 for an unpainted rear bumper last time I looked.
Which is why the Corrado VR6 is Group 18 insurance.
kambites said:
I'm confused. In that case why are you considering a GTi-6 which also has a rubbish sounding engine and is inferior in almost every way to the 16v Corrado?
I'll bite...! The GTi-6 engine is a great engine, and is known for making a great noise too.I can well see the appeal of the VR6, me and Chris have spoke about this recently! But a 4cylinder Corrado? Missing the point, IMO. And the GTi-6 looks to be considerably quicker than the 4cylinder Corrado's. I would hazard that it also drives better, (although its a long time since I've driven a Corrado).
The GTi-6 will be cheaper to run, im sure. Brakes, tyres etc are all pretty cheap. Reliabiltiy on mine was good - theres a number of common issues but certainly my research led me to be believe that the Corrado requires much more commitment to keep working properly.
Chris - If your looking for a GTi-6, make sure you speak to Carl Grimsley from Leicester, he is the man, and will be able to source you a nice one and do it with the belts, MOT etc etc.
I think if you want drama and an event, the VR6 is hard to beat, as an intereting sports coupe that happens to have a big boot.
If your after a more 'normal' car, then the GTi-6 is a great normal, cheap hatchback that also happens to be great to drive and usefully quick.
I had mine when I was at Uni so it was nice to have a car that blended in well, when parked in dodgier areas.
IYSWIM.
Interesting, I've driven several GTI-6s and the engine is OK, but I wouldn't say it's significantly more characterful than the VW I4 unit. I certainly wouldn't say that the GTi-6 handles anywhere near as well as an I4 Corrado. The only FWD car that I've driven which handles better is the Lotus Elan. The 'teg is about on a par with the Corrado, although it's a very different kind of car to drive, IMHO.
Small parts for the Corrado are dirt cheap if you don't mind pattern parts (they're all off the Golf or Passat). As someone said above though, body panels are a different matter.
For me, I think I'd say Corrado I4 > GTi-6 > Corrado VR6. But maybe that's just me.
Small parts for the Corrado are dirt cheap if you don't mind pattern parts (they're all off the Golf or Passat). As someone said above though, body panels are a different matter.
For me, I think I'd say Corrado I4 > GTi-6 > Corrado VR6. But maybe that's just me.
Edited by kambites on Monday 12th April 12:19
On the subject of tyres the Corrado wears 205/50 ZR15 which are really not that expensive. £70 a corner earlier this year for Toyo T1-R but has been as low as £50 a corner in the past when it was a more mainstream tyre. Ironically they're getting more expensive these days as they're "a bit on the small side to be considered mainstream now, Sir".
kambites said:
Chris71 said:
It's cheaper, more practical and arguably better to drive.
I didn't say I wouldn't consider a 4-cylinder, just that if I went for a Corrado the VR6 would be a no brainer. Sadly they never made a 2.9-litre V6 306.
Is the 306 really more practicable? It can carry five people, but how often do you do that? I'd argue that the 306 is significantly worse to drive and not significantly more practicable. I'm not even sure that the 306 is much cheaper to buy than an I4 Corrado.I didn't say I wouldn't consider a 4-cylinder, just that if I went for a Corrado the VR6 would be a no brainer. Sadly they never made a 2.9-litre V6 306.
Still, it's your choice so I guess I don't have to understand it.
That said, I think the OP's question is more about budget.
The biggest diffirence between the two of them would be budget imho, if that isn't an issue, the Corrado is the much more desirable car (comming from someone who loves the GTi6)...
I think people are reading into the problems a Corrado has too much. Most of what has been mentioned are very small niggly things that fixable. The community are very helpful and so most problems have guides and people with experience ready to help. I have a (horrible sounding ) G60 so don't have first hand experience of the VR but I'm sure if you sourced a nice example with history and an enthusiast owner I don't think you'll have any trouble. And for the small bit of time needed to fix the little things, the drive is worth it!
) G60 so don't have first hand experience of the VR but I'm sure if you sourced a nice example with history and an enthusiast owner I don't think you'll have any trouble. And for the small bit of time needed to fix the little things, the drive is worth it! kambites said:
Is the 306 really more practicable? It can carry five people, but how often do you do that?
I virtually never carry five people. I do, however, carry a couple of mountain bikes about once a week.I was pleasantly surprised just how much space there is in a Corrado with the rear seats folded, but it's still not as convenient as a (tall/upright) hatchback shape.
With all due respect to the GTi6 people I probably would go with the Corrado all things being equal - it does feel really quite special, which the Pug doesn't. However, there are two things. One minor consideration is that - while the Corrado may be discrete for an iconic performance car - a GTi6 is practically invisible! When you have to leave it in random car parks or parked outside on an unknown street that could be handy. Far more important, however, is cost; if I reckoned a Corrado would be as cheap to run as a 306 we probably wouldn't be having this debate. It's a question of whether or not I can justify the premium that I expect it to incur (and whether that's actually true - maybe I'm wrong and the Pug would be every bit as costly?) That's why I'd like to speak to someone who's run both.
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 12th April 12:29
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