VW Corrado as a cheap classic car: spoiler alarm in the disco parking lot

2021-03-28T05:28:41.210Z

Little money, but still fancy a classic car? No problem - because there are bargain sledges. This time: The VW Corrado, beefy Volks-Porsche with a Gaga gimmick on the rear.

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Photo: Volkswagen

General information about the model:

At the end of the 1980s, dashing sports coupés came onto the market: the Manta was followed by the more modern Calibra at Opel, and Ford sent the sample into the race.

At Volkswagen, 1988 was actually time for the Scirocco III, but the Corrado came instead.

The 2 + 2-seater was a completely new car based on the Golf II. The Corrado’s new technologies were impressive, especially the rear spoiler, which extends itself at 120 km / h to improve aerodynamics.

Golf inside, sports car outside - VW celebrated success with the Scirocco with this concept from 1974.

An affordable speedster with large-scale technology for the people was well received.

The Corrado was supposed to replace the Scirocco II (from 1981), but because of its qualities it was then moved up a class and offered in parallel for the first few years.

The interior and space were larger, and there was also a generous amount of standard equipment at the time with ABS, power steering, heat-insulating glazing, fog lights and height-adjustable sports seats.

But the highlight was the new engine in the Corrado.

It was called the G60 and was the only machine available when it was launched.

The G stands for G-Lader, which compresses the air drawn in in the engine compartment - similar to a compressor.

The VW engineers had worked on the concept for a long time and also planted it in the Polo and Passat.

With the Corrado, thanks to the G-Lader, significantly more power could be tickled from 1.8 liters of displacement, for that time a solid 160 hp and a top speed of 225 km / h.

Unlike contemporary turbochargers, there is no delay in power delivery with the G60 when you hit the gas.

“He speaks immediately.

The car goes off like a rocket, ”enthuses Willi Böß from North Hesse, who has been driving a VW Corrado G60 since 1991 - in summer and winter.

For a Scirocco I, year-round operation usually meant the death sentence, because the Beau drawn by Giorgio Giugiaro rusted like the Golf 1 in fast motion.

Corrosion also remained a basic problem with the Scirocco II (1981).

On the other hand, rust-free examples of the Corrado can still be found today.

Apparently the sports coupe benefited from the significantly improved corrosion protection of the Golf II.

The Corrado was not cheap.

When Willi Boess ordered his G60 from the VW dealership in Schwalmstadt, the base price was 41,096 marks.

In addition, Boess ordered the special equipment "The exclusive Corrado" with Recaro sports seats in partial leather.

In summer, his »Corri« is also on BBS alloy wheels with 195 mm wide tires.

The Corrado basic engine - a two-liter naturally aspirated engine with 115 hp - was only given to VW in 1993.

Even with that, 200 km / h are possible.

The 16V with 136 hp, which was taken from the Golf 3 GTI, was part of the range earlier.

Neither of them can match the fascination of the G60.

This is only possible with the VR6, which the Wolfsburg-based company introduced in 1991 as the new top model.

The six-cylinder has an output of 190 hp - especially with an automatic transmission, it is the sovereign Gran Turismo.

1995 was the end of the Corrado, in eight years almost 98,000 copies are said to have been built.

It wasn't until 13 years later that VW remembered the sports coupé era and presented a modern successor.

It was now called Scirocco again.

Why that of all people?

Volkswagen's new sports car was developed under the name Hurrikan und Taifun.

But that sounded too much like destruction, so the decision was made for Corrado (from Spanish correr: to run).

A Volkswagen with an automatically retractable rear spoiler was a sensation 30 years ago, something even Porsche only offered later with the 911.

With the Corrado, however, you can also manually extend the wing to make your pants down: "For example in front of the ice cream parlor or in the parking lot in front of the disco," says lover Willi Böß and laughs.

Apropos Porsche: With his Corrado G60, he left behind astonished 911 drivers at the traffic light race, reports Böß, who is now approaching 80 years.

His Corrado matures with him, he has over 300,000 kilometers on the clock.

There was no trace of rust, nor were there any serious repairs apart from the usual wear and tear.

"In the meantime, I was interested in the Audi TT, but my mechanic always says: keep your Corrado!" Says Boess.

The simple Golf II technology is screwdriver-friendly, even the supposedly vulnerable G-Lader can be overhauled with repair kits.

The Coupé is even suitable for everyday use; the Böß family has already traveled with four adults plus a dachshund on longer trips.

The 1.8 liter approved seven liters in normal operation, you can also drive it under five liters, according to Böß.

But the Corrado is most fun as a sports car.

On country roads, the beefy, but not inelegantly designed coupé is great on the gas.

“There is no turbo lag with the G-Lader.

For me, this car is the real stunner, ”enthuses Willi Böß.

Only in corners you shouldn't overdo it, then the Wolfsburg play child understeers and wants to break out.

Boess knows that and then takes a tick from the accelerator to use the engine brake.

"Then the car drives again as if on rails."

Availability:

Dozens of »Corris« can be found in the used car portals.

The spectrum, however, ranges from the pampered first-hand pearl in its original state to the handicraft shop - many Corrado were victims of excessive tuning.

G60s are astonishingly common, and there is no need to switch to the two-liter vacuum cleaner.

VR6 can also be found.

The hardest part is to find a good, untampered model.

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Spare parts supply:

Volkswagen Classic Parts has now reintroduced parts into its range that were no longer available, sometimes at hefty prices.

Wear parts such as brakes, fuel pumps or heat exchangers are no problem.

Doors and other body components are also still available.

It becomes problematic when ornaments or certain interior parts have to be renewed.

Spare part prices (exemplary):

Set of front brakes (pads and discs): approx. 150 euros
Air conditioning compressor: from 370.00 euros
Fuel pump for 16V model: 195.00 euros
New fender: 494.00 euros

Weak points:

Despite good corrosion protection, rust can occur, for example on the tank filler neck, tailgate or windshield frame.

Broken door handles were a VW disease back then.

Workshops often remove the entire paneling for repairs.

You can bridge the defective contact with a three-pin plug.

An annoying issue with the Corrado is the sunroof, with Willi Boess' car, even the authorized VW workshop was unable to get the malfunctioning cables going.

The G-Lader has a bad reputation because many G60s were burned.

It is advisable to warm up gently, then the technology can last a long time.

If the VR6 rattles loudly, the guide of the timing chain tensioner is probably weakening.

Caution is advised with tuned, non-original cars.

Lower, wider, faster - many Corrado drivers followed this motto.

The lively sports coupé doesn't even need to be pimped like this.