so did the Corrado become the classic it was predicted to be

[Portent 0]

I'm sure we all know the Top Gear video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU5DcZVaUWk

 

So did the Corrado become the classic some people thought it would be? I love these cars and seeing harryc's in a car park the other day it struck me how purposeful the car looks compared to modern cars. I've been looking for one this year and when I find the right one at the right time then I'll definitely own one. But having kept an eye on the market it seems the car goes through good patches and poor patches (I can only comment on the market this year).

 

My question...

 

Is the Corrado where you thought it would be? Compared to other cars of a similar era, is it as desirable as you thought it would be? e.g. take a look at the silly prices that E30 M3's are fetching (of course they are a far better car, but the prices are astronomical). Yet the Corrado doesn't yet seem to command the prices it probably should. It seems that the market is restricted to those that know what they are or have a particular reason for buying one.

[Purple Tom 0]

I'm not sure if they are..yet. I think they're very much a niche car, much coveted by true enthusiasts, but largely ignored or called a Scirocco by the more mainstream car fan.

 

I think the prices of E30 M3's are so high because they're pretty rare but also because of the success of the later M3's - a little like the proper Mk1 Escort. If the current M3 or Focus RS (for example) were a load of cr@p then would there be so much of a following of the earlier stuff I wonder...

 

The Corrado was short-lived and there has never been a successor, at least not by name. The closest successor really has been the TT but it bares no resemblance other than being made by the same parent company (and sharing wishbone bushes :lol:).

 

I'm rambling a bit now, but I think the answer is 'no, not yet'.

 

Tom

[Abdul 0]

I don't think so yet, by time they are i reckon there wont be many left at all and prices will sky rocket.

[dukest 0]

yes, not yet, and it is held back by being a VW i think - people dont give it credit for being a good car without even thinking like they do for a classic bmw. as abdul said there'll be very few left when their time comes and they'll be seen at shows and not on the road, a bit like karmann ghias.

[Portent 0]

But will prices rocket just due to lack of availability? With rarity comes other issues too... e.g. being able to source replacement parts. We're already seeing parts being obsoleted by VAG and in the next few years the supply of spares from the used market will be harder to find too.

[dukest 0]

But will prices rocket just due to lack of availability? With rarity comes other issues too... e.g. being able to source replacement parts. We're already seeing parts being obsoleted by VAG and in the next few years the supply of spares from the used market will be harder to find too.

yes, basically. but original rarity is the reason they have such a following already. classics have to be in good nick and fully functioning to make good money and it will have taken effort and expense to keep them that way in 10 years time. some will probably be back up in the 7/8/9k region at that time probably.

[nlau1 0]

I'm with Purple Tom, the lack of a successor until the current Rocco hasn't helped. The difference between the Corrado and the M3 is that the M3 has now become a living legend, through various incarnations and the E30 is seen as the original where the legend started etc.

 

Also, I don't think the new Rocco coming back has helped either, if they'd called it a Corrado and continued with the Corrado "brand" then maybe our Corrado's would have been more desirable.

 

I also don't believe it'll become that much of a classic, not to E30 M3 or even TT standards simply because it was so unpopular with the general public, I mean 90% of the people out there don't know what it is! Whereas a mk1 TT will always be recognisable and always be desirable because of the positive connotations.

[dukest 0]

yes, hence the ghia comparison, no average person knows what that is either.

[Portent 0]

I'm with Purple Tom, the lack of a successor until the current Rocco hasn't helped. The difference between the Corrado and the M3 is that the M3 has now become a living legend, through various incarnations and the E30 is seen as the original where the legend started etc.

 

Also, I don't think the new Rocco coming back has helped either, if they'd called it a Corrado and continued with the Corrado "brand" then maybe our Corrado's would have been more desirable.

 

I also don't believe it'll become that much of a classic, not to E30 M3 or even TT standards simply because it was so unpopular with the general public, I mean 90% of the people out there don't know what it is! Whereas a mk1 TT will always be recognisable and always be desirable because of the positive connotations.

 

Some interesting points there. Let's take a look at the original Beetle. Is that more desirable now that a modern Beetle is available? I'd argue the opposite is the case as it has devalued the brand somewhat.

 

I had a couple of mk1 TT's and I must admit I loved them. Really loved them. A lot :) I've even considered one now as a weekend car instead of a Corrado. You can get thm for not much more than a Corrado now. There's no doubt in my mind that it is a better car. And it will probably be a classic in the future. But I love the rarity of the Corrado and the whole 90's era memories that it brings back for me.

[Abdul 0]

yes, hence the ghia comparison, no average person knows what that is either.

 

Pretty much this.

[nlau1 0]

Some interesting points there. Let's take a look at the original Beetle. Is that more desirable now that a modern Beetle is available? I'd argue the opposite is the case as it has devalued the brand somewhat.

 

I had a couple of mk1 TT's and I must admit I loved them. Really loved them. A lot :) I've even considered one now as a weekend car instead of a Corrado. You can get thm for not much more than a Corrado now. There's no doubt in my mind that it is a better car. And it will probably be a classic in the future. But I love the rarity of the Corrado and the whole 90's era memories that it brings back for me.

 

I think the Beetle was obviously always going to be a difficult car to recreate (although BMW managed with the Mini) because the Beetle "Brand" was built on one single incarnation of the car. The M3 "Brand" on the other hand has been built over 4 generations of very good cars which have been very popular.

 

The Corrado has neither. It doesn't really have a strong brand identity which is why I think it'll always be an enthusiasts classic rather than a mainstream iconic classic.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

For me personally and probably most other enthusiasts, I will always remember the Corrado as being the first proper driver's car VW made, as well as the fastest (in the case of the VR6) for a long time. I'd owned and driven numerous MK1s, MK2s and MK3s before owning a Corrado and the VR6 is in a different league for all round ability and appeal. It is also the best looking car they've made to date, imo.

 

Most of the public who remember it's launch, will just remember it as being an overpriced Golf in a pretty dress. To everyone else, it's just an obscure VW from the 90s with a gimmicky rear spoiler, and is of litte value or interest.

 

Imho, Corrados aren't about being sat on pedestals and admired for it's rarity and beauty, I don't really care about that, it ticks many boxes in the way it drives and that's why I still own it.

[8vMatt 1]

It really doesn't bother me that its not become this big classic that people have been hoping for. We enthusiasts know how good they are and everyone else is missing out. Do you really want the values to shoot up? Increased buying and running costs plus insurance goes up for a more valuable car.

 

I'm happy to stay under the radar and have most people baffled as to what I drive.

[vornwend 0]

It really doesn't bother me that its not become this big classic that people have been hoping for. We enthusiasts know how good they are and everyone else is missing out. Do you really want the values to shoot up? Increased buying and running costs plus insurance goes up for a more valuable car.

 

I'm happy to stay under the radar and have most people baffled as to what I drive.

Second that! The appeal for me is first and foremost how it drives, then the way it looks, the rarity and association with like minded enthusiasts and the sheer bloody mindedness of carrying on driving a car that the government (and truth be known VW?) would rather have off the road :)

[Jim 1]

From my point of view, I don't care whether it becomes a classic or not. It's held in pretty high regard, it's a rare sight on the roads, and it's a great drive.

 

As to whether it will or not. I think there's still too many around including plenty of old tired ones. I think as they gradually rot away or get broken for parts, the truely good examples (e.g. the ones owned by folks like Kip, Bill Aitken, Gareth, etc) will rocket in value.

[ozowen 2]

I was up in DG on Saturday and in a round about way discussed this. I think the niche is to small in that not many people know of it. Graham told me that on the offical Volkswagen website in the heritage section they do not mention the Corrado. Are they ashamed?

 

Also due to its price when new I presume that stopped the volume of cars being sold; especially when compared to the prices for the other coupes then Probe, Celica, Calibra. Like most people have said I don't care about the price, when I bought my original it cost me £7.5k with 90k on the clock and one owner. Considering it cost him £26k and was only 5 years old when I got it was a good thing. Now having spent thousands on it and an A4 folder full of receipts I reckon I'd only get tops 2k for it. I think having owned Golfs the Corrado was the natural progression as I got older.

[VR6 Lee 0]

Got my VR6 Storm insured on a classic car policy so does that not make it a classic :roll: :roll:

[jamiehamy 0]

It's the best kept secret out there.

 

Go and try find a car that does what the Corrado does for the same money - you can't. I've tried. Only thing that comes near is a Porsche 944 S2 ( which although fantastic all-rounder, has limitation for a daily driver).

 

I reckon the Corrado is the most practical and affordable classic out there. But as posted before, no-one will ever know about it. To be honest, I feel quite smug about it :)

[corozin 0]

I don't know if it's ever going to achieve full on classic status but I do know that every time I go to a Pistonheads meet my car gets lots of interest and attention. Considering the rarities and exotica which frequent those meets I take that as a huge compliment. The last PH meet I went to had 3x GT3s and 2x RUFs there, the one before that had 4 Gallardos in attendance, on both cases I had the only Corrado and got photo coverage too... who's got the rare car ? haha

 

Within the VW community I think there is still a healthy chunk of snobbery amongst a large section of the Golf community, which I think is at least in part is encouraged by some of the magazines. I don't care about that.

 

Personally I still love driving and owning the car (despite the endless bills it keeps landing me with), it's comfortable, rare, fast enough to still whupass most stuff you come across, plus I don't have to pay the monsterous levels of car tax imposed on anything remotely interesting post 2001.

 

Long live the Corrado

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Personally I still love driving and owning the car (despite the endless bills it keeps landing me with), it's comfortable, rare, fast enough to still whupass most stuff you come across, plus I don't have to pay the monsterous levels of car tax imposed on anything remotely interesting post 2001.

 

Long live the Corrado

 

Couldn't have put it better myself :salute:

[stretch. 0]

The only VW's I like are the Mk2 'roccos, the Rado, and a few mk2 golfs...

 

Hoping I can afford the next years insurance now!

 

Just a shame I bought the car as it was needing almost a whole restoration! It might only be a 16v, but it's quick enough for me. Fastest slow car ever made imo :wink: