VW Corrado VR6 Project/recomission
Discussion
Saved a sorry VR6 recently after it had been sat in a farmyard car port feeling sorry for itself.
It was grim dirty on collection day.
Firt job jet wash and get a new battery on it.
Then on the ramp where underneath is pretty solid with just surface rust so next week will clean off and then waxoyl the whole lot.
Then a full service, oil filter, oil, fuel filter, air filter, pollen filter, clutch slave cylinder, NGK Platinum plugs, redex, brake calipers, discs and pads..... Fixed the sunroof and mirrors and then gave it a damn good valet.
The BBS replica alloys are not my preference and neither is the ride height (it's lower than a Ferrari 458 and GTS) but it crertainly looks mean and "stanced" with the spacers etc.... I do like the look so will get some use out of the tyres and then put some original speedline alloys onto it in Spring and adjust the coilover to a decent ride height.
I'm pretty happy so far, it's a Coupe that really hasn't aged and I actually like it as much as the Maserati Coupe (3200,4200 etc) styling.
Another one saved from rotting away and the reaction it has received has been positive so far. Sounds good too thanks to Powerflow Cat back (decat pipe ready to be fitted).
It was grim dirty on collection day.
Firt job jet wash and get a new battery on it.
Then on the ramp where underneath is pretty solid with just surface rust so next week will clean off and then waxoyl the whole lot.
Then a full service, oil filter, oil, fuel filter, air filter, pollen filter, clutch slave cylinder, NGK Platinum plugs, redex, brake calipers, discs and pads..... Fixed the sunroof and mirrors and then gave it a damn good valet.
The BBS replica alloys are not my preference and neither is the ride height (it's lower than a Ferrari 458 and GTS) but it crertainly looks mean and "stanced" with the spacers etc.... I do like the look so will get some use out of the tyres and then put some original speedline alloys onto it in Spring and adjust the coilover to a decent ride height.
I'm pretty happy so far, it's a Coupe that really hasn't aged and I actually like it as much as the Maserati Coupe (3200,4200 etc) styling.
Another one saved from rotting away and the reaction it has received has been positive so far. Sounds good too thanks to Powerflow Cat back (decat pipe ready to be fitted).
aka_kerrly said:
Well done for saving a Corrado, it's looking much improved and fair play for getting the sunroof working, they can be a real pain. . Have you had a chance to drive it properly yet?
Racked up 300 miles in her and enjoyed every single one of them. I prefer driving her to some of my Maseratis and other exotics. Can't beat retro cars imo they just don't make them like they used to. The suspension needs some adjustment as any undulation at speed and the tyres hit the inside arches resulting in a zipping sound (like the woodwork lathe at secondary school when sanding!). The suspension floats so much so it's not so much hard but wallowy. On a flat road it rides really nice and corners with ease. I've never driven a FWD with as much grip in the wet thanks to the very linear way the V6 delivers it's torque to the front axle. It struggles to spin up second gear onwards when foot is down to the floor. If you turn in hard and lift off the throttle the rear will try to overtake the front end but no more so scarily than a 205 GTI. It will give you plenty of warning and feedback too. 9/10 for me and I'd urge everyone to try one at some point.
Went to the Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble meet last week on the first long run out and was a hoot. Snapped leaving the show.
darkyoung1000 said:
Lovely, glad to see another Corrado rescued and given some love.
That scrubs up really well, I can't believe how good the paintwork looks after correction!
I did love my VR6 (the noise especially).
If you need a spark plug removal tool, let me know, as I still have one in my toolbox!
Keep the updates coming!
That is a single pass! Nick at DMC is doing a full correction in the spring. It has two rust scabs on the rear boot so have sourced a used one and am having it resprayed. It will look mint once that done. That scrubs up really well, I can't believe how good the paintwork looks after correction!
I did love my VR6 (the noise especially).
If you need a spark plug removal tool, let me know, as I still have one in my toolbox!
Keep the updates coming!
This sounds great with the cat back on it, I have a decat pipe but think it will create too much of a drone on long runs. I love loud but for me it might be a step too far.
I just put NGK platinum in there so no worries mate thanks for the offer.
Welshbeef said:
Lovely car OP great work in taking one from sure scrap to a lovely example for many years to come.
What does the engine sound like? We’re these not known at the time for a lovely sounding power unit ?
Very nice sound. A puprposeful bark when you stab the throttle and an almost like VTEC surge towards the redline. It only revs over 6k rpm but feels more like 8k! What does the engine sound like? We’re these not known at the time for a lovely sounding power unit ?
I prefer it to my Maserati Granturismo GTS just sold.
aka_kerrly said:
Your memory maybe a little fuzzy, with a decat the noise definitely increases and becomes a deeper tone You can get the error mapped out to so you don't always have a eml on.
For pure vr6 noise a 6>2>1 manifold, decat, centre silencer removed straight to back box...... It is highly addictive, you can improve mpg to whilst sneaking around trying not to draw too much attention to yourself but give the throttle a tickle an ooooohh my it howls well over 100db.. I barely passed the static noise test at Castle Combe and no doubt was well over once beyond 4000rpm
I run a Milltec 2.5inch cat back with a silencer combined with a a standard manifold an cat on my other vr6 which is much tamer and makes most of its noise over 4500rpm so you can enjoy more of the induction noise.
For daily duties it is a lovely blend of noises an I'd highly recommend Milltec for good fit/finish, nearly every other exhaust I've had on my corrados knock on the back axle or the mounts for the tailpipe make it hard to get the pipe aligned to the bumper.
No EML mate just an ABS one this morning which was when it hit a pothole. For pure vr6 noise a 6>2>1 manifold, decat, centre silencer removed straight to back box...... It is highly addictive, you can improve mpg to whilst sneaking around trying not to draw too much attention to yourself but give the throttle a tickle an ooooohh my it howls well over 100db.. I barely passed the static noise test at Castle Combe and no doubt was well over once beyond 4000rpm
I run a Milltec 2.5inch cat back with a silencer combined with a a standard manifold an cat on my other vr6 which is much tamer and makes most of its noise over 4500rpm so you can enjoy more of the induction noise.
For daily duties it is a lovely blend of noises an I'd highly recommend Milltec for good fit/finish, nearly every other exhaust I've had on my corrados knock on the back axle or the mounts for the tailpipe make it hard to get the pipe aligned to the bumper.
Deeper bassier sound now that the pipe is on and the Powerflow catback is as good as a Milltek for me. It sounds great and just keeps pulling to the redline.
I will be putting it up for sale in the spring I'd have thought.
Colossus said:
That is a lovely thing and brings back very fond memories of my '95 Aqua blue VR6, simply one of the best cars I have ever owned. I traded in my old Mk2 Golf GTi (now found and bought back and loving every minute of it!) to buy it. I remember the drive home when I picked it up, was tanking round the Wandsworth one way system and looked at the speedo, I was doing about 25mph more than I thought, I lifted and then felt the communication that it was close to swapping ends, so I can relate to your experiences so far.
To be fair I was going way faster than I really should have but it was so deceptive in comparison to the Golf. Once I had learned to read the signs it was one of the best handling and balanced cars I have owned. Not sure I would regard the sound as being better than my Maserati Granturismo S (I did see you had recently sold yours) but it is a wonderful sound nonetheless and has the speed to match.
I stupidly sold mine for an E36 M3 Evo 4 door, when my wife decreed we needed a sensible family 4 door car for the arrival of our first born, but regretted it almost instantly. Never did get on with the M3 which could never deliver the fun, balance or sound of the VR6. Enjoy yours, looks like you have done well there.
C
No don't misunderstand me nothing can beat the sound of a GTS (esp with Larini Sports cats and H pipe) but just the whole package, GTS is never a great handler and it heavy. The Corrado really puts down the power well and in the Wet it would destroy a GTS in the twisties for sure. As I get older I just love the older retro cars and the nostalgia and buzz you get back from these cars. I also love my MK1 GTI and MX5's in equal measure.To be fair I was going way faster than I really should have but it was so deceptive in comparison to the Golf. Once I had learned to read the signs it was one of the best handling and balanced cars I have owned. Not sure I would regard the sound as being better than my Maserati Granturismo S (I did see you had recently sold yours) but it is a wonderful sound nonetheless and has the speed to match.
I stupidly sold mine for an E36 M3 Evo 4 door, when my wife decreed we needed a sensible family 4 door car for the arrival of our first born, but regretted it almost instantly. Never did get on with the M3 which could never deliver the fun, balance or sound of the VR6. Enjoy yours, looks like you have done well there.
C
1974foggy said:
Great looking car, for what its worth I think the stance and wheels are spot on for the car - they look rather plain and tip toe-ish as standard.
You are right they look awkward on the standard speedlines, I prefer the Storm BBS Solitude 15's and this is where I would go if putting back to standard. 
Heaveho said:
Hmm, what a surprise. I loved mine for the handling, but it was, without doubt, the most unreliable car I've ever owned. Engine out twice in 9 months to sort out glazed bores. It had a litany of other issues including broken door handles, sunroof motor and mechanism, fuel pump relay, seized calipers, porous sump, cracked dashboard. German reliability at it's best. The Evo 8 I've owned for 16 years continues to put up with little attention for the winter period, followed by months of grief without complaint.
I loved my Corrado. If I could find a late model blackberry metallic with sensible miles and somewhere to park it, I'd have another one tomorrow.
Sounds like you were unlucky and got a poorly maintained car. To be fair most of the things you mention are now well documented and there are improved versions so most current runners will have had those issues fixed. I loved my Corrado. If I could find a late model blackberry metallic with sensible miles and somewhere to park it, I'd have another one tomorrow.
12TS said:
Similar experience here. Bought the car at 3 years old and had to get rid of 12 months later. I just couldn’t trust it. Relays, fuses, rads, head gasket.
Lovely car to drive, but not own.
Yep not at all surprised! Lovely car to drive, but not own.
A shame really and maybe why the cars are valued lower than say the equivalent model Golf's all about perceived issues especially from used car dealers....
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