A different perspective on Corrado values

[Portent 0]

I've noticed something over the last few months and it's something I've been expecting to happen for a number of years. Genuine Golf mk1 GTI values seem to be starting to move. It's still fairly subtle but poor cars are staying low priced and a few gems seem to be selling for strong money. This in my mind is important because until they do, the other models simply can't follow. The original GTI icon will, in my mind, be at the forefront of peoples minds. But have I imagined it? What I'm watching for is something similar to BMW E30 M3's that rocketed in value over just a few short years. Could a mk1 or mk2 get anywhere close to that?

 

With decent mk1 GTI's rapidly disappearing I think their time may have come.

 

So right now where is money best placed if you're looking to buy? mk1 GTI, mk2 GTI/16v/G60/Ralleye, Scirocco mk1, Scirocco mk2 or Corrado?

 

Personally I still think it will be a long time before Corrados bounce. My view is that the smart money should get into one of the following: Golf mk1 GTI or mk2 Rallye. Ralleyes have been on the up for some time but how far will they go? But Corrado's could still turn out to be the joker in the pack and maybe right now is the time to find, and keep, the best one possible?

 

So... sell the Corrado and buy into a mk1 GTI while there's still time? Of hold on and take a punt?

 

 

P.S. I'm quite drunk so hopefully that all made sense?

Edited July 19, 2012 by Portent

[C5 OEM 0]

Every mk1 will need work underneath and arches ect.. old cars now and not many are done to high standard. Its difficult to find a good one unless you do it yourself. Best bet is buy a complete one and store it away collecting parts and then do it once properly. My mates sunk over 10k into his and another lad 20k into his so have deep pockets...

[davidwort 0]

The smart money won't go into cars :)

It does surprise me how well camper van prices hold up though, but then they've got some practical use too beyond the show&shine crowd.

You might keep your money if you buy one of the older and rarer watercooled VW's but expect to spend more per year on maintenance than it will appreciate if you actually use it on the road.

[bristolbaron 10]

It all depends what youre ultimatly aiming for. I wouldn't buy any with the sole intention of making profit.

I also don't see prices going through the roof. Low end e30 only ever dropped to 8-10k so were never cheap and were rare. More comparable to escort cossies which went to about the same.

 

A tidy mk1 or rallye isn't a bad idea, but prices are already too high to make a killing from. You then need to look for the next thing. There were too many mk2 siroccos around, I can't see them being megabucks ever.

 

A corrado isn't a bad shout, but there's already too many examples rotting away. Now might be the time to find a good one, but it's already gonna cost ya.

 

As I'm writing this I feel like an MP.. I'm talking lots without really saying anything? Hmm clever, or not.

[Jim Bowen 1]

YES!!!!

 

Sell the corrado get a old golf, sit it in your garage while you sit inside on the internet acting all smug about this old car you have doing nothing, and one day you could sell it to some bloke in girls jeans meaning you can retire off the back of keeping an old golf in the garage for a few years.

 

Sounds a brilliant plan.

 

or you could buy a much better looking corrado, thats faster, drives nicer, more modern and all for a coupe of grand, you could enjoy it, drive it everyday, abuse it, then take it to bits when your finished and sell the parts off, and probably end up getting your money back.

[EJ Taylor 22]

YES!!!!

 

Sell the corrado get a old golf, sit it in your garage while you sit inside on the internet acting all smug about this old car you have doing nothing, and one day you could sell it to some bloke in girls jeans meaning you can retire off the back of keeping an old golf in the garage for a few years.

 

Sounds a brilliant plan.

 

or you could buy a much better looking corrado, thats faster, drives nicer, more modern and all for a coupe of grand, you could enjoy it, drive it everyday, abuse it, then take it to bits when your finished and sell the parts off, and probably end up getting your money back.

 

im with this guy on this one!

[James. 9]

So... sell the Corrado and buy into a mk1 GTI while there's still time? Of hold on and take a punt?

 

 

Which one do you prefer to drive ? Which one gives you the most enjoyment ?

 

There seems to be more and more people (new and old) on here talking about values, (where's the bottom, where will they be in five years etc), which is always healthy to debate etc, but not addressing the real reason why enthusiasts buy into a certain model.

 

Personally I prefer the drive of a Corrado to a Golf (which I find like I'm sitting at a table). Others may prefer the kudos attached to a certain model/marque. Others may even prefer to make their cars into the automotive eqivalent of a Faberge egg. Some like all of the above.

 

If I was entering ownership again, I'd buy one that had had all the big jobs sorted and just needed a bit of personalisation. Because at the moment, even the very good cars aren't much more than the fair ones.

 

Andys Storm being a perfect example.

 

In summary, I see my car as my hobby. And all hobbys cost money. Just depends if you have short arms and deep pockets or not.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

There seems to be more and more people (new and old) on here talking about values, (where's the bottom, where will they be in five years etc), which is always healthy to debate etc, but not addressing the real reason why enthusiasts buy into a certain model.

 

I've also noticed that. I think some Corrado owners are labouring under the misapprehension that the Corrado is some kind of gold mine waiting to be discovered. It ain't! All it is is a mass produced VW that's a bit different to their normal stock in terms of handling and looks. I think "future classic" comments bandied about by third parties are taken way too literally by some. It will never be a classic. The Corrado didn't spawn a whole new genre like the MK1 GTI did. It was / is just a good Coupe, end of.

 

One thing's for sure, Corrado values certainly aren't going to do anything spectacular during this recession. And again, I don't get the comparison with M3s. They are in a COMPLETELY different league to any VW!!

[EJ Taylor 22]

It will never be a classic.

 

i agree with all everyone is saying, accept this. Classic cars have always interested me more than anything, the thing is with a "classic" is it doesnt have to be anything special, it doesnt have to be a break through of engineering, neither does it need to be the revolution of a century, not even something that is rare, or even nice to look at at the end of the day all that makes a TRUE CLASSIC is its character, and thats it. the character of a car makes it, and thats what holds to peoples hearts and extends there love for the car for years to come, and i think the corrado has tones of character and thats what i think will keep it as an on going loved car, i mean look the a Morris Minor... that has nothing special about it AT ALL, yet holds in itself one of the largest individual model classic car ownership followings.

 

thats what i think anyway!

 

P.S NOT that im a fan of minors, Faking horrible piles of ****! HAHA

[daleyboy 0]

But its all subjective, until you get to a mk1 golf which was the first hot hatch but it didnt get that title until years later.

 

So maybe the most important question is how will Corrados be viewed in years to come ? The bigger cousin to the mk1 ?, bigger and better with just as much character.? Or just another VW that happened to be a coupe ?

 

To me i didn't buy my car for other people, it was a wholly personal decision on what i would consider a great car for £4k or at least the best car i could get for the money, then do up, maintain, modify a little bit to make it better, and keep for as long as i can, just a car that was good enough to cherish.

 

Whatever other people think of my car it doesn't change how i feel about it and to me is unimportant, but if you think your gonna see your money again ? you may see half of it, but what you will have is a car that will make you feel special, and that is deeply personal.

 

Its a hobby, a passion, and that is always personal.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Well said Mr Taylor! I agree with those sentiments. The Corrado just has a certain something. The kind of car you look back at several times after parking it up. But unfortunately these are subjective and emotional feelings that can't be quantified under the 'classic' label afaik. I'm fairly sure there are some set requirements / guidelines for a car to be granted 'classic' status? In a similar way to how houses and buildings get their 'listed' status. i.e. it's not just age related.

[Portent 0]

Sorry I started a debate :) I'm really not bothered by values (as I said before, I really don't think they will go up much if at all) and was simply drunk, bored and browsing mk1 GTI's for some reason. My first car was a mk1 1.3 Driver and it occurred to me I'd never actually owned a mk1 GTI.

 

But I bought the Corrado because I wanted a Corrado. It just happened to be an older car. And I simply love the damn thing :smug:

[Jim 2]

But I bought the Corrado because I wanted a Corrado. It just happened to be an older car. And I simply love the damn thing :smug:

 

Amen :)

[Tempest 0]

Get both a Rado and a Mk1 Rocco, both much better looking than the utilitarian Mk1 Golf (well, it was always sold as a practical family car, never as a sports coupe in the first place).

 

I love both for what they are, the Mk1 Rocco for its simplicity down-to-earth capability of getting a huge childish grin on my face each time I get into mine, the C for more relaxed cruising.

 

Neither will be "classic", although it is always dubious as how and by who a car is given the "classic" status, just like with listed buildings (anyone familiar with Coventry will know what I mean ;) ).

 

The 928 is another matter, that is a classic/cult car, it was voted car of the year in 1978, was almost too advanced for its time (in many ways, both visible and in terms of its under the skin technology), iconic. What helps is either brand (Porsche, other big sports car names) or just simply sheer numbers of people having owned one (that's what made cars like CV2, Beetle, Mini etc. the cult cars that they are today).

 

Neither the Rocco nor the Rado fit either of those criteria.

 

Anyway, it's all about personal taste, and I love my Rado and my Rocco :)

 

Tempest

[daleyboy 0]

Sorry I started a debate :)

 

Whats wrong with a debate ? A good reason to air your views, and listen to other opinions.

[EJ Taylor 22]

Whats wrong with a debate ? A good reason to air your views, and listen to other opinions.

 

AGREED! love these kinda debates, have friends that argue over what football teams are better, and why. so why not do the same with cars? thats why the forums are here. so a mixture of people with a mixture of ideas and opinions can all talk in one place with different opinions but the same interests!

[James. 9]

Portent. Feel free to post the next time you've had a skinfull.

[KIPVW 0]

And for what it's worth I'm personally not expecting to see a future return on my Corrado costings but I truly love doing stuff to it and enjoy what I'm currently doing despite the hideous costs I've incurred but if I do get a decent return years down the line I'll happily take it and feel chuffed I spent the time & money looking after it/them lol

[ChrisL 18]

Classic or not, I love the looks of the Corrado both standard and lightly modified and after showing mine at local classic car nights recently, I'm amazed at the attention it gets.

 

They also get loads of attention at petrol station forecourts, I definately think they will become more sort after in a few years time.

[bristolbaron 10]

Portent. Feel free to post the next time you've had a skinfull.

 

I feel I am in a qualified position to respond again under the above guidelines!

 

There are certain cars of the same age that are much better respected for what they are/were. 205 gti, Renault 5, 16v mk2 gti's would all be where the money are in years to come as they were known cars back then. The Corrado was/is a very niche car and in terms of 'classics' always will be. There will be a market for them indefinitely, but pull out a rado 16v in the future and people won't really know/appreciate/understand what you have, in exactly the same way as a g40 would be treated.

 

I was speaking to an auto electrician today about wiring for my car and he had no idea what a corrado was. The new scirocco may hold some hope for the older models, but we're out on a limb.

 

Anyway, I love corrados and i love sleep. tonight sleep will win. goodnight x

[frankjetta 0]

Most people you talk to don't even know what a corrado is or can barely remember them. Me, God did I want one when I was 20. Now I have one which doesn't work.Should I spend £1500 on the engine to get it back on the road or just buy another one for the same price.2.0 16v's are disappearing fast so I'd rather keep it on the road. Passion not profit, that's what it's all about.

[Pete 0]

Interesting topic this. I can see both sides but as mentioned I think it depends on what you want to use the car for etc.

 

I use my car every day so I need something that's a bit more modern, usable and I don't want to have to treat it with kid gloves, which is why I've never had an Integrale!

 

The golf mk1 and some mk2 like the rallye have a wider appeal and are probably destined for longer term greatness, the fit is iconic like the E type or series 1 Elise. The corrado is a better car in my view, but suffers from a lack of visibility, like a BMW 3.0 Csl or vx220 or something and that suits me fine.

 

Horses for courses but personally I'm glad I have the corrado. It didn't cost me an inflated "classic" price, it's not very expensive to run, it can do motorway or town journeys with ease and it feels both retro and modern. Plus the vr makes the best noise you can buy for the money :)

[Portent 0]

Get both a Rado and a Mk1 Rocco

 

Back in the 80's/90's my brother had a mk1 Storm and mk2 Storm which is why I ended up buying a mk2 GTX. I quite fancy a mk1 Rocco too at some point.

 

The 928 is another matter, that is a classic/cult car, it was voted car of the year in 1978, was almost too advanced for its time (in many ways, both visible and in terms of its under the skin technology), iconic. What helps is either brand (Porsche, other big sports car names) or just simply sheer numbers of people having owned one (that's what made cars like CV2, Beetle, Mini etc. the cult cars that they are today).Tempest

 

That was the point I was trying to, drunkenly, get at. The Corrado simply doesn't have the traction in terms of numbers and therefore in peoples memories to achieve the same cult status. It will become a classic one day simply because it will be old. But not a cult car in the same way that E30 M3's are, or various Porsches... or mk1 GTI's.

 

When I was looking for a Corrado I also considered a 944 as I'm sure that has a better chance of true classic status one day.

 

Most people you talk to don't even know what a corrado is or can barely remember them. Me, God did I want one when I was 20. Now I have one which doesn't work.

 

Sorry, I know it shouldn't. But that made me laugh and just about sums up Corrado ownership. All love of the heart and little head thinking :)

[daleyboy 0]

I like the fact they are rare and no-one knows what it is, the cars you mention are a bit flash and also instantly recognisable, i wonder how many people like those cars because of what other people think about them (like my Sergio Tacchini tracksuit top from 1985)

There are so many reasons people buy the cars they do, it often says a lot about them, its also interesting to hear what we think about our cars and how the opinions differ.

[fendervg 32]

All I know is that I paid around 5K for mine with 36,000 miles on it 3 years ago, and wouldn't have a hope of ever getting that back. But I don't want it, I bought the car to drive and it's a daily - I don't see it goping anywhere in a hurry, unless the worst were to happen.