What Car - E36 328 vs. Corrado VR6
Discussion
if my memory serves me, this one has been done before but i seem to have ended up staring at a fairly nice example of both, yet can't really decide between the both of them what i want.
the 328 seems a more obvious choice coming from a slightly focused mk1 mx5. i realise it'll feel heavier and less lightfooted than an mx5, but the 5's downfall eventuallly was/is it's lack of power and practicality which the 328 offers, plus staying 'right wheel drive' is a bonus after the 5 being my first.
was looking at something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1832970.htm
then a thread reminded me of how good the old corrado vr6 is. certainly a nice car to look at in my opinion, quite rare, esp. the storms and that engine note sounds fantastic on full bore. interior plastics are a bit low spec for a top of the range mid 90's coupe though, very mk2 golf in places - handbrake/gearshift surround etc. though the dash is atleast good, if the switchgear dated.
can't help but think, due to their rarity i'll be lucky to get one in a few years time that isn't pretty tired/high mileage
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2112936.htm
unbiased opinions?
328 is boring to look at, well, 10 a penny, wheras the corrado looks the part, fairly rare. of course, overwhelm the chassis and just push on into understeer. rather than being able to balance the car on the throttle, with ease, i'd imagine, the 328.
the corrado will be cheaper to fix though, with cheaper parts/tyre/servicing etc. but then, the bm's build quality really is that cut above, and the driving experience, is, i hear, very very good. but then, so is the corrado's, so say'th the motoring journalists. guess i'm just a little scared after my first rwd going back to a front driver is going to leave me a little dissapointed?
what about power, performance? (any standard dyno graphs knocking about?) both the same weight n/a 6 pots, corrado's traction disadvantage vs bm's drivetrain losses.
not getting very far here
the 328 seems a more obvious choice coming from a slightly focused mk1 mx5. i realise it'll feel heavier and less lightfooted than an mx5, but the 5's downfall eventuallly was/is it's lack of power and practicality which the 328 offers, plus staying 'right wheel drive' is a bonus after the 5 being my first.
was looking at something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1832970.htm
then a thread reminded me of how good the old corrado vr6 is. certainly a nice car to look at in my opinion, quite rare, esp. the storms and that engine note sounds fantastic on full bore. interior plastics are a bit low spec for a top of the range mid 90's coupe though, very mk2 golf in places - handbrake/gearshift surround etc. though the dash is atleast good, if the switchgear dated.
can't help but think, due to their rarity i'll be lucky to get one in a few years time that isn't pretty tired/high mileage
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2112936.htm
unbiased opinions?
328 is boring to look at, well, 10 a penny, wheras the corrado looks the part, fairly rare. of course, overwhelm the chassis and just push on into understeer. rather than being able to balance the car on the throttle, with ease, i'd imagine, the 328.
the corrado will be cheaper to fix though, with cheaper parts/tyre/servicing etc. but then, the bm's build quality really is that cut above, and the driving experience, is, i hear, very very good. but then, so is the corrado's, so say'th the motoring journalists. guess i'm just a little scared after my first rwd going back to a front driver is going to leave me a little dissapointed?
what about power, performance? (any standard dyno graphs knocking about?) both the same weight n/a 6 pots, corrado's traction disadvantage vs bm's drivetrain losses.
not getting very far here
dylan0451 said:
if my memory serves me, this one has been done before but i seem to have ended up staring at a fairly nice example of both, yet can't really decide between the both of them what i want.
the 328 seems a more obvious choice coming from a slightly focused mk1 mx5. i realise it'll feel heavier and less lightfooted than an mx5, but the 5's downfall eventuallly was/is it's lack of power and practicality which the 328 offers, plus staying 'right wheel drive' is a bonus after the 5 being my first.
was looking at something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1832970.htm
then a thread reminded me of how good the old corrado vr6 is. certainly a nice car to look at in my opinion, quite rare, esp. the storms and that engine note sounds fantastic on full bore. interior plastics are a bit low spec for a top of the range mid 90's coupe though, very mk2 golf in places - handbrake/gearshift surround etc. though the dash is atleast good, if the switchgear dated.
can't help but think, due to their rarity i'll be lucky to get one in a few years time that isn't pretty tired/high mileage
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2112936.htm
unbiased opinions?
328 is boring to look at, well, 10 a penny, wheras the corrado looks the part, fairly rare. of course, overwhelm the chassis and just push on into understeer. rather than being able to balance the car on the throttle, with ease, i'd imagine, the 328.
the corrado will be cheaper to fix though, with cheaper parts/tyre/servicing etc. but then, the bm's build quality really is that cut above, and the driving experience, is, i hear, very very good. but then, so is the corrado's, so say'th the motoring journalists. guess i'm just a little scared after my first rwd going back to a front driver is going to leave me a little dissapointed?
what about power, performance? (any standard dyno graphs knocking about?) both the same weight n/a 6 pots, corrado's traction disadvantage vs bm's drivetrain losses.
not getting very far here
Porsche 944 Turbo the 328 seems a more obvious choice coming from a slightly focused mk1 mx5. i realise it'll feel heavier and less lightfooted than an mx5, but the 5's downfall eventuallly was/is it's lack of power and practicality which the 328 offers, plus staying 'right wheel drive' is a bonus after the 5 being my first.
was looking at something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1832970.htm
then a thread reminded me of how good the old corrado vr6 is. certainly a nice car to look at in my opinion, quite rare, esp. the storms and that engine note sounds fantastic on full bore. interior plastics are a bit low spec for a top of the range mid 90's coupe though, very mk2 golf in places - handbrake/gearshift surround etc. though the dash is atleast good, if the switchgear dated.
can't help but think, due to their rarity i'll be lucky to get one in a few years time that isn't pretty tired/high mileage
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2112936.htm
unbiased opinions?
328 is boring to look at, well, 10 a penny, wheras the corrado looks the part, fairly rare. of course, overwhelm the chassis and just push on into understeer. rather than being able to balance the car on the throttle, with ease, i'd imagine, the 328.
the corrado will be cheaper to fix though, with cheaper parts/tyre/servicing etc. but then, the bm's build quality really is that cut above, and the driving experience, is, i hear, very very good. but then, so is the corrado's, so say'th the motoring journalists. guess i'm just a little scared after my first rwd going back to a front driver is going to leave me a little dissapointed?
what about power, performance? (any standard dyno graphs knocking about?) both the same weight n/a 6 pots, corrado's traction disadvantage vs bm's drivetrain losses.
not getting very far here
aka_kerrly said:
Just re read the OP, coming from a MX5 so likely to go for the BMW purely because PH say they are good and it's "Right wheel drive" as the OP puts it....
dave
i was just playing up to the all too well used statement! i admit i think of the 328 in a class above the corrado in the handling department due to weight distribution, driven end etc. the corrado just looks like a nicer machinedave
i'm just trying to weigh up ownership propositions. maybe i should go for a vr simply because they're all getting on, there were a lot less made, and it might be harder to find a nice vr6 in the future than bm.
like 300's suggestion of a 944 but from what others have said of a real characterless engine, and a bit, soulless (not saying the bm isn't, obviously) as well as, from what i read, troublesome and expensive mechanicals, kinda puts me off
dylan0451 said:
unbiased opinions?
328 is boring to look at, well, 10 a penny, wheras the corrado looks the part, fairly rare. of course, overwhelm the chassis and just push on into understeer. rather than being able to balance the car on the throttle, with ease, i'd imagine, the 328.
There is a very good Autocar test with the Corrado VR6 and the BMW 328... and Im pretty sure the Corrado took it apart.
The biggest thing the article mentioned was the sheer speed pace of the VR once its on a roll- its a very, very quick car with a wonderful long third gear that has embarrassed a lot of cars. I have had a VR6 for about six years now and judging how it keeps pace with modern 330's then I would say its a good bit faster than a period 328 (I am also sure its marginally faster than my Mk5 R32 anywhere between say 40 and 140 leptons).
I am suprised you say the Bimmer is the better handler as a 'fresh' Corrado also handles very well.
As you say- it also sounds fantastic- with the R32 having a lovely exhaust note but the VR sounding far nicer under WOT and on over-run
I'll post up the article if you can't find it- its worth a read :-)
The biggest thing the article mentioned was the sheer speed pace of the VR once its on a roll- its a very, very quick car with a wonderful long third gear that has embarrassed a lot of cars. I have had a VR6 for about six years now and judging how it keeps pace with modern 330's then I would say its a good bit faster than a period 328 (I am also sure its marginally faster than my Mk5 R32 anywhere between say 40 and 140 leptons).
I am suprised you say the Bimmer is the better handler as a 'fresh' Corrado also handles very well.
As you say- it also sounds fantastic- with the R32 having a lovely exhaust note but the VR sounding far nicer under WOT and on over-run
I'll post up the article if you can't find it- its worth a read :-)
duncansaunders said:
Smike said:
Ice White Socks said:
There is a very good Autocar test with the Corrado VR6 and the BMW 328... and Im pretty sure the Corrado took it apart.
328 or 325?Loved mine and should have kept it.
So probably 1215kg depending on spec etc sounds closest
duncansaunders said:
Smike said:
Ice White Socks said:
There is a very good Autocar test with the Corrado VR6 and the BMW 328... and Im pretty sure the Corrado took it apart.
328 or 325?Loved mine and should have kept it.
I would always have put a late E36 328i closer to an E46 330 in its capabilities than an earlier 325. Can't imagine the 328 being taken apart by the Corrado seeing as the 325 wasn't.
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