Blair

What's the engine in that? 1.8T? Not keen on the look of them to be honest, although I've heard that they're the best sporting car to have come out of the Mk4 floorpan...(some statement given the rating the Cupra R gets...) Maybe I should drive one before making up my mind...!

My Corrado never really seems to get much attention to be honest. But then it is still on the tiddly 15" factory BBS which look like castors... I got more looks in my old Mk1 GTI. Lightly modded - dropped 35mm, 15" TSW Blades (it was a long time ago when they came out - mind you, they didn't age nearly as quick as Venoms...), bee-sting aerial, custom single-headlamp grille with grille spoiler and Mk2 lower front spoiler. That got LOADS of attention.

It might have something to do with the redline being a tad higher, and the need to use it more often because of the lower power-to-weight ratio :) The size of the lump doesn't have a direct correlation to fuel economy - back in my Mk1 GTI days my mate got 30mpg out of his 1.6 and I got 37mpg out of my 1.8 (both average figures, we both tracked our fuel & mileage). The main difference, aside from a slight difference in gearing, was the higher torque of the 1.8 and the way it was spread across the rev range - it meant the car didn't need as much throttle. Hence, better economy.

I see I wasn't the only one whose eye was immediately drawn to the 246 Dino :) The most beautiful car ever made, IMHO. Sadly the closest I will ever get might be a kit version, but I have an aversion to replica kits so it'll probably never happen! :)

I get around 30mpg out of my G60 on average. Push hard and it'll drop under 25, drive gently and you'll see high 30s. On a long motorway journey I'll see 30-32 normally.

Well, I originally fancied a GolfIV V6 4Motion - but having spoken to a guy who owned one, I'm not so sure now. Lovely car, love the interior, love the V6, love the AWD, love the fact it's a good motorway cruiser (it's got to be my company car as well - I took the "cash" option rather than paying through the nose in tax to drive an Astra 1.4....!). However, he said it understeered quite badly and was never really any fun to drive. Hmmmm. Could be tough going from a Corrado to that then...and also quite thirsty by all accounts (if it can manage about the same as the G60 - 30mpg - I'd be happy). The other car tempting me is the Leon Cupra R - for obvious reasons :) Not keen on the interior though, and not entirely convinced it would make a great motorway cruiser. Anyone got any inspirational ideas? Budget is 13K-16K (tops). Obviously a 4 grand loan would get me a new Golf GTI, but I'm trying not to succumb to that one! The BMW 330d has been suggested several times, but I'm not sure I could live with the image...!

Standard Corrado seats are the most comfortable I've ever spent a long time in. Apart from my old Mk1s, the ex-missus' Mk1 and Mk2 GTIs, I've had countless hire cars in this country and abroad and nothing was close to the Corrado. 3 hours in the Mk1 was hard work, 3 hours in the Corrado is nothing :) Might be height-related though, as has been mentioned, I'm 6'3" so that might mean the lumbar support just happens to be in the right place!

That's what you get for running 3-spokes.

Depends when I sell really - having problems getting work to stump up for a car / car allowance, so until that's sorted I'll need to keep it :) It's gone 45,000 miles since the last 'charger rebuild as well, so I might just need to spend the 500 quid on getting that done. With a charger rebuild I'd be looking at around 3250, without getting it done around 2750 I suppose. But it all depends on work! I've already stuck 2000 miles on it with work this year and I can't bear to run it into the ground, would rather get something newer and let this go to a good home :)

Jeez....not just impressed at the work that's gone in so far, but at the committment to tackle something like this! Brownie points all round - as an ex-regular of the VW show scene up to 5 years ago, I might have to start attending again to see some of these creations in the metal :)

That reminds me...a mate today told me "that R32, it's got the BMW M3 engine in it, hasn't it" :)

Planning on breathing on the 24V before it pops in there...? :)

I guess you found some of the few Republican voters in NY state... ;)

Bah - it's times like this that make me think "sod getting the 'sensible' Golf 4Motion" and re-consider buying a low mileage VR6 instead....only problem would be the heartbreak of piling on work-related miles...:( When I first got mine (6 years ago!) one of the neighbours came out to talk to me when I was washing it to tell me he was wondering who'd bought a Corrado, and that he loved them and thought it was the best-looking car that had ever been made! Those 'in the know' always express interest in it as well when I tell them what I've got. I mean, when people ask me, I just tell them I drive a 13 year-old Volkswagen Corrado - a fair few people ignore the age when they hear "Corrado" though, it's a good way of sorting the wheat from the chaff...;) Still, I wish they still made them. I just need a much newer, much lower mileage car (and I can't afford to run 2!) :(

Still good for a laugh though, isn't it? :) Wonder if he'll 'fess up and tell us whose theory was closest ;)

I saw a Mk1 Golf GTI sporting a "Volkswank" badge a few years back :)

Doesn't sound like a 16V motor though, does it? I know the torque peak moves down the range on the 1.8 (and this is the 2.0 apparently) if you use exhaust cams on the inlets (or is it the other way round?) but I don't believe for a second it's going to move it THAT much. Indeed; if the video is indeed genuine (although I have my reservations due to the acceleration being linear even through gearchanges) the thought had crossed my mind that the shift points are very much in line with a G60... Either that, or it IS a tuned 2.0 16V, but in a Mk1 ;)

I tested both back-to-back, different driving experiences, the 4Motion had a distinctly more "sporty" feel - including the lovely noise :) The PD150 was bloody quick, but I don't like the way they flatten off so quickly - I'm used to cars gathering pace as the revs rise, not lose it. But then again, as you say, 52mpg isn't to be sniffed at ;) To be honest, there wasn't much to choose between the two in terms of performance - they both delivered heaps, just at different points. The 4Motion was the more "sexy" drive though, and the interior is better trimmed - BMW-quality stuff.

Indeed. Even though you can hear the engine note drop the speedo acceleration doesn't even dip - it's constant. Even allowing for some "lag" in the response of the speedo, you would expect that "dip" to occur after each gearchange. And those gearchanges are quick, but not quick enough not to cause any dip in acceleration (unless he's got a DSG gearbox in there). Secondly, as has been pointed out, he's already reading over 10mph at 0 seconds. Thirdly, he's short-shifting; according to the speedo reading, and going by the sound, he's changing out of second and into third at 50. You'll never get the best out of a 16V short-shifting it like that when everything is at the top end. Personally? I think it's a video edit. Piece of cake with even basic stuff like Pinnacle Studio. I think the audio's there, but the video has been edited with the speedo acceleration dips flattened out, possibly with the video sped up a bit. The only way to be sure would be to see a video with both speedo and tacho running in synch :) If I had the inclination I could show you my G60's speedo hitting 60 in 2 seconds, but I really can't be arsed ;) Still, it's a laugh :)

Looks like I'll be doing some heavy miles in my new job, so at some point the G60 is going to have to go - at 107K miles I haven't the heart to drive it into the ground! Top of the list in my price range at the moment is the Golf V6 4Motion. Not the most agile of cars, but to be honest, I don't really "chuck" cars around like I used to - priorities have now shifted to something that's a decent drive on motorways & A-roads, has aircon/climate control, but still quick enough to be fun :) Anyone on here have/had one? Would be interested. Also does anyone have any performance test results for them? Any common problems? The other alternative is a TDI PD150 (shifts, and does 52mpg)...

Yes Jim it was me :) And it's precisely the reason I'm here. I suspected it was probably you who left it there ;) How do you like the build-up of dirt that obscured the new paint job? That's nearly 6 weeks worth of sitting in the street doing while I was in the US...!!

Mim Alpines are a great retro wheel... pic thumbnailed-vr6storm Not a great picture, but they're a classic retro wheel. Need 16" on a Corrado though i reckon...not sure they were ever made that big (they're not in production any more). There are always the ATS cups as well, they're pretty cool...

Well, a happier ending than we might have feared :) Congrats! (and I thought you were going to South Africa...?)

Check your documentation. If you declared the points and they're on the schedule/policy (I don't know where they'd be as I've been lucky enough so far not to have any - although I may have not noticed one of the many speed cameras on Scottish roads last week...:( )

If you could get 16" Solitudes it would look sweet. Bigger but still subtle enough to look standard - and the general concensus seems to be that 16" wheels offer the best compromise of ride/handling/grip.