CorradoWannabe 1 Posted December 11, 2011 I'll apologise now for the length of this post - it is a bit of a long story! In 2005 I found a VW Corrado Storm on ebay with 225k miles on the clock! I sent the seller a message saying if he had any issues with the sale to let me know. Well, turns out the winning bidder did in fact pull out - and the seller went on holiday immediately afterwards. A couple weeks later he got in touch and said the car was available. I went to see it and immediately loved it. So much car for just £2,500. It had the leather interior, had A/C - a fully working sunroof and a gorgeous sounding VR6 engine with a full miltek SS exhaust system. The seller and I chatted about if it had 125k on the clock it would have fetched about 5k (this was in 2005 - pre-credit crunch!) and I did feel I got a very good deal. Looking at the history one of the previous owners had worked at VW and was doing 40k miles a year - but also servicing it every 10k - with free labour (judging from receipts). The car - overall - had been very well looked after. I just remembered it was also on 17" allows at the time! I was happy! After 2 years of very happy ownership I decided it was time to move on. It was not easy to modify the car for more power and I wanted to move on. I had been in Corrado ownership since 2004 - it was time for a change. I went for a Fiat Coupe 20VT. A very decent car - the one I bought had just 50k on the clock too. Eventually I sold the storm - and it was bought by biggerben from the forum. He told me there were plans to use it as a shell for a project. I didnt hear much about this - then one day, after about 2 years, I logged on to the forum and saw Ben had posted pics of the R32 conversion of my old car. It was a bit surreal seeing it all. It looked a very thorough job - the body work was fixed all over. I saw a video of them mapping the car around then too, that was also surreal! That was 2009. By 2009 I was driving a 5 door golf and had a wife and a baby. In August this year we had another baby - Corrado ownership could not have felt further away... I still had a soft spot for them.. but didnt think I'd own another one - not for another 10 year or so at least. Then - this week, while waiting for my daughter to finally fall asleep I was killing time on my phone and searched for 'Corrado' on ebay - something I tend to do every few months or so - just out of curiosity. Up popped a Corrado R32 Storm - I had a look at the pics - and it was INDEED my old car! I jumped up and went and told my wife and her mum (who was staying over at the time). I was in no position to buy the car really - I now have 2 kids - Leyla is just over 2 and Elisha is 4 months old - really I should be looking at estates or mini-mpvs! Seeing my old car though brought back memories - and the idea of owning it again - this time as an R32 was just too much for me to resist! I tried hard - I eventually sent the seller a message just to say "good luck" and that I wish I could have bought it - but not in a position to. Well, I spoke to a few people about it - and they were very positive - even my wife told me to go for it - and that I'd end up buying one at some point, so may as well get my old one. Today I went to pick up the car. We had issues with the alarm - with the immobiliser and then with the battery itself - but by 3pm this evening I was home with the Corrado R32 having driven it home about 90 odd miles. The verdict so far is.. wow! Sure, the car could do with some cosmetic tidying up - a wash and clean with a hoover - also in 1st and 2nd gear at low revs it behaves a bit strangely - but when you put your foot down in that thing it is an experience! The torque levels are crazy - the noise from the car - is something else. All this in my old car that I had owned and loved, yet sold 4 years ago. It was seriously emotional!!! The first few bursts of 20mph - 60mph in 2nd gear were something I'll never forget. I went from laughing to myself almost hysterically to almost crying! Later on in the day I did a quick 40-80mph test - well the car sailed on to hit 100mph in 3rd gear and felt like it was just accelerating faster - no idea what the top speed this thing is capable of. There's some things I need to sort out - like getting a CAT1 alarm fitted and washing it and cleaning it up - after which it should be even better. There were some lighter hearted moments too like: 1. Doing a 3-point turn and thinking 'I forgot how bad the visibility out the back is in these!' 2. Finding one of my CDs in the CD changer - from 4 years ago! 3. Knowing more about how to get the car started when the alarm fob is not working than the current owner due to previous experience :) (just involved plugging the alarm fob in to a port near the glove box) 4. Seeing that the box the service history is kept in was an old box I had used for years - with my writing still all over it 5. My youngest brother's reaction when I told him the car was running at an estimated 280bhp Well, life seems back to normal again this evening, I'm in doors with a kid on each knee being dribbled on as I type this - but for a few hours today I was in another self-indulgent world - and I hope I can slip in to that world every now and again when I get time to myself to enjoy the R32 Corrado :) I will get some proper pics soon - but here are one or two from today - featuring my 60+ dad dressed like a teenager! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted December 11, 2011 Looking good fella hope it brings you many miles of trouble free motoring Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abdul 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Respect!! Great story, I'm glad you've got it back mate. Its hard balancing family life and corrados isn't it lol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emu 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Nice write up. Was looking on this car myself but I think you deserve it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon green 5 Posted December 11, 2011 Really pleased for you, One question, what was the cd ? lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krishen 2 Posted December 11, 2011 Well done. Saw this Car advertised earlier this year but price was about £8.5k. Glad it's gone to its previous owner. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BILLCOR 1 Posted December 11, 2011 Nice story mate, hope it all goes well :thumbleft: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8vMatt 1 Posted December 11, 2011 Very nice outcome there mate. I was toying with the idea of going for this car on ebay. I couldn't as my available money won't clear until thursday. Its lucky you did find it on ebay as its been advertised on there for what seems like months. Its slowly been dropping in price on there until it got to this point where a fair bit of interest surrounded it. I am glad its gone back home as thats a good story. Look forward to hearing about how you get on with this car. Best of luck with it mate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaunVR6 0 Posted December 11, 2011 What a great story mate glad its back with its ritefull owner some things are meant to be ....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
24V Renshaw 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Lovely story. Glad someone else is as crazy as me, I have a nearly 2 year old and another due in 3 weeks and I have just got the Corrado on the road as the daily. The missus will have the family car (BMW X5), leaving me to have the fun every day :) There is something which means our wifes let us get them time and again, if it was anything else they would say no, but somehow we get away with it when its a Corrado. Jay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KADVR6 0 Posted December 11, 2011 glad its ended up with you and not got broke up, and such a nice story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quicky1980 0 Posted December 11, 2011 lovely story, so happy you've managed to gt it back and for it to be an r32 must be brilliant for you! Keep us posted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolbaron 11 Posted December 11, 2011 brilliant! really pleased you got it back. was such a shame to see it go so low in price, but worth it for a previous owner to be able to get hold of it! what was the CD?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Portent 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Great story. If it's the car I'm thinking of then I used to lust after it on this video when I was looking for a car myself: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OllieVR6 0 Posted December 12, 2011 Great story. If it's the car I'm thinking of then I used to lust after it on this video when I was looking for a car myself: I have watched that video many many times! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Portent 0 Posted December 12, 2011 Just seen the OP is around the corner from me too (SW20 - I live just inside the M25 at KT10). Something I've noticed is that the type of Corrado owner is starting to change from people looking for a fast cheap car to those looking to recapture their youth and memories and owning as a second car (it's the reason I bought one). That's a real sign to me that the car is becoming a true classic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CorradoWannabe 1 Posted December 12, 2011 Thanks everyone for all the comments - really nice to be amongst a group of people who appreciate the car - I've had a fair bit of stick over the purchase from people like family - and no one really 'getting' why I just had to buy the car. ollievr6 - that video is indeed the same car - I used to watch that video too with a mixture of awe & jealouosy! Portent - the car is right now on the drive at my parents place - which is even closer to you - it is KT3. The CD in the car? To do it full justice I'll take a photo and post up here... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James. 9 Posted December 12, 2011 Lovely story. If it was anything else they would say no, but somehow we get away with it when its a Corrado. Nail, Head. I've got away with it twice now (scratches head in disbelief). I know you should always buy a car with your head and not your heart, but it's hard not to when: A, it's your old car. And :B, It's got a dirty great R32 engine strapped under the bonnet. I am jealous. All the best, James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KipVR 1 Posted December 14, 2011 Great story! My wife has a soft spot for my Corrado even if it stands me in for a fair amount of money and hours spent. I wonder how many R32 Storms therer are now, there's at least one blue and one green for sure! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dalhalvaig 0 Posted December 14, 2011 Seems Dads getting Corrados and mums getting SUV/MPVs is the trend. Got my C when my wife's '97 Saab 900 failed the MOT and she took the Touran off me. Happy days. Run it now as a daily for 11 months. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rustynuts 0 Posted December 15, 2011 Great story this and I too am allowed to indulge with the toys. Says something when our sensible car is an Alfa lol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CorradoWannabe 1 Posted December 17, 2011 Quick update - 1 week in. Wifey keeps making little digging comments about the car! "You can take it to the mechanic near my mum's - he'll tell you that it is a silly car!" "I thought you were joking about going to your parents place??" (When I wanted to go there to see the car - as I'd not seen / driven it for a few days after buying it) "Yes, I did tell you to buy it - but I didnt think you actually would!" (Oopsie) "How was she? Your 2nd wife..." (After I got back from a drive!) She'll get used to it I think! Some updates on the car itself. I've only driven it about 3 times since buying it - balancing work and family during the week is tough - and finding time for the toy is not easy! Today the main item on to the Corrado todo list was filling it up with petrol - sounds easy but had its challenges - which are related to some issues i'm having with the car. I'll list out the issues here 1. Alarm - the remote has stopped working. There is a port within the car that you can push the fob in to that turns the immobiliser and alarm off - however it sometimes work, sometimes doesn't, often takes a bit of fiddling! This means anytime I want to use the car initially there will be a few minutes of me fidling around - the alarm going off - before it finally fires up... which takes me to the next issue... 2. Cold Idle - when the car is cold (it has been very cold this week right?) the idle is too low and car keeps stalling. Looking at the Emerald ECU manual it looks like the idle RPM can be changed for a range of coolant temperatures - so as an initial guess I think that needs tweaking. When first starting the car - then - I need some high-revs and need to wait a few minutes before letting it idle. There's still a chance of it stalling though. I've twice driven to the end of the road and it has cut out - which means power steering drops out too! Firing it back up again works fine though - but stressful driving a car that may stall at any moment! (i'm sure we've all been there!) 3. Behaviour at Low Revs - when just starting to rev the car between 1k and 2k the car behaves strangely - the revs sometimes dip a bit before racing up. It feels like the car did many years ago when I had issues with the MAF (a wire had disconnected) - so either MAF again, or fuel delivery, or maybe a mapping / set up issue. The above 3 are the main items. I am getting a CAT1 alarm fitted on Tuesday - so that should sort out the first item. Both #2 and #3 I think can be fixed by taking the car to a garage - what I'd like to do is take it to a garage with a rolling road and have a proper tuning session with a print out of the power afterwards. Minor Items: 1. Interior lights don't come on - none of the interior lights work! Probably fuses 2. Sunroof does not tilt or slide - I'm guessing that is a fuse too 3. Clicking/ Buzzing noise from around back left passenger seat - I think we've concluded this is a central locking motor causing this - may get the opinion of the alarm fitting guy 4. Cleaning - the car has been sat almost untouched for months and months - it would benefit from a proper clean inside and out. The cream leathers are not looking their best. I really need to focus on moving home over the next few weeks now though - the car must take a back seat - I've spent the day sorting out some storage and taking boxes to and fro (not in the Corrado of course - but in the 'family' car - mk4 Golf GTi) although I did get to drive the R32 Corrado a bit after getting petrol. The above sounds a but negative! Let me say once the car has been started up - and it has warmed up - and the revs are past that sticky patch from 1k - 2k the car is an absolute monster!! 20mph - 60mph in 2nd gear is just stunning - and the sound is something very special. I remember the VR6 before - the lazy power of it - the great noise from the car. This R32 beast just sounds angry when you accelerate - that is the best way to describe it. Next Tuesday - new alarm being fitted - looking forward to that - it should make things a lot easier, and annoy the neighbours a lot less :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted December 18, 2011 Clicking behind passenger rear quarter could be the relay for heated seat switch. turn both the heated seats off and see if it still happens Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
24V Renshaw 0 Posted December 18, 2011 Is the window control module not in the rear 1/4? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StueyB 0 Posted December 18, 2011 Is indeed, and a quite likely candidate for the clicking noises as the alarm is no doubt wired into the windows/sunroof for full closure. Central locking motor being back right behind driver. Love the surrounding story of this and best of luck for the future with it. Keep us posted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
