Grey Corrado VR6 imported now in Fife

[jared_nomak 10]

Hi All,

I introduced myself as a newbie when I first purchased the car.

After years of waiting a Pearl Grey VR6 Corrado turned up in Jersey with the Head Gasket having just gone.

So I bought the car sight unseen other that photos and it was put on the Ferry to British Shores, from there straight onto stealth where it turned out the head gasket had actually went some time again.

So the bill I was expecting ended up being a lot more.

At Stealth the car is getting a full workover:

New Clutch

New Chains

New Cylinder Head

New Plugs

All bushes required replaced

A couple of sensors

New brakes all round.

Rebored now making it 2903cc

Block Painted.

All alloy Parts aqua blasted and coated.

 

I have also been stock piling parts.

New Grill

All new badges

Bonnet Foam

Private plate L2VSR

Cut down plates from Fourdot

New Number plate mount.

New Mirrors

New Battery

 

Will also be looking for all new rubbers and planning to have the car painted.

 

I also managed to source a set of cloth electric recaros and deciding if I should do a leather retrim of not.

[Keyo 47]

Sounds like a great plan for your rado , wow Fife is a far way to travel to get to Stealth racing, you probably saw my black magic Vr6 when you was there, Vince has had my car the last few weeks, complete new supension , bushes, mounts and exhaust system, Shrick refurbisment,subframes powder coated, sounds like your spending an absolute fortune on yours. Good luck with your project.

Edited April 4, 2019 by Keyo

[fendervg 32]

So jealous of you guys being able to go to a proper Corrado specialist like Stealth, even if you have a fair way to travel! There's nothing like that over here in Ireland.

[Keyo 47]

The best mechanic that could work on your car is yourself but the catch is you have to learn and have the facilities, know one will care for your car more then yourself, even garage owners that have a good reputation have to rely on their staff and things do go amiss.Many a time I have considered going down the lease option and dropping my classic car hobby as have had a couple of run ins with mechanics who have butchered my car and wrecked the whole whole ownership experience, even though I sourced a specilaist in that particular car. It can be extremly hard to communicate with some of them and I have even gone to the effort of writting clear instructions with photograps but they do not even bother reading them half the time, you just end up with a huge bill for diagnosing and changing out parts.

Edited April 4, 2019 by Keyo

[jared_nomak 10]

Sounds like a great plan for your rado , wow Fife is a far way to travel to get to Stealth racing, you probably saw my black magic Vr6 when you was there, Vince has had my car the last few weeks, complete new supension , bushes, mounts and exhaust system, Shrick refurbisment,subframes powder coated, sounds like your spending an absolute fortune on yours. Good luck with your project.

 

Hi not been to Stealth myself yet as was delivered by the company that picked it up. I would like to collect it myself and will give the engine a chance to run in.

My cars only done 79000 miles with lots of vw history. But the plan was this was to be a cheap toy, it certainly has not turned out that way would have been able to buy an RS4 by the time I’m finished with it. Tops it may get about £10k.

Will do the suspension and exhaust at some point too but like you want to do all arms and stuff at same time.

[Keyo 47]

After reading your to do list I would estimate with your purchase of car more like 15k-18k and above. Paint job and your recardo leather seats on there could be upto 4-5 k easily on its own if done to a high standard.

[jared_nomak 10]

After reading your to do list I would estimate with your purchase of car more like 15k-18k and above. Paint job and your recardo leather seats on there could be upto 4-5 k easily on its own if done to a high standard.

 

Yeh totally I reckon it will be up near that, but at a push the car will only be worth about 10k looking at what a couple of really good cars have sold for at classic car auctions.

[Keyo 47]

That is true but you have good mileage on the car and it is a hobby , also you would loose a couple of grand annualy easily on a modern car in depreciation and maintenance , therefore it's ok in my opinion if you enjoy and own the car for a few years.

Edited April 4, 2019 by Keyo

[jared_nomak 10]

That is true but you have good mileage on the car and it is a hobby , also you would loose a couple of grand annualy easily on a modern car in depreciation and maintenance , therefore it's ok in my opinion if you enjoy and own the car for a few years.

 

Yeh for sure my wife does not understand it but I have a number of cars (4) all of which are older (one 40 years old) and I would prefer them over so many new cars and as you say you buy something newer you just lose money on them. Only reason I don’t have more cars is probably down to space :D

 

I had been thinking of buying a Corrado Leather interior and only getting the recaros trimmed. But even leather interiors are £1000 now

[Keyo 47]

Yes the leathers go for a pretty penny !

 

Would you mind if I ask what other cars you have in your collection ?

 

Cheers.

[davebirl 0]

So jealous of you guys being able to go to a proper Corrado specialist like Stealth, even if you have a fair way to travel! There's nothing like that over here in Ireland.

 

you need my man Dermot in Parkes Garage Sligo. He looked after my 3 Corrados and many others for years.

[jared_nomak 10]

Yes the leathers go for a pretty penny !

 

Would you mind if I ask what other cars you have in your collection ?

 

Cheers.

 

I have a Lotus Esprit S1, This Corrado VR6, A 2005 Passat Estate as my daily I have owned since a year old and a Kit Car called a Deon Mirabeau (Only a handful ever made).

 

Albeit I’m toying with getting another car as my daily and also needing to replace my wives car too!

[Keyo 47]

Cool I would like to own a red/dark blue espirit S4 one day, I do have that feeling though they might double in price in the next 5 years or so as people realise thy are a bargain alternative to a air cooled 911. They have all ready gone up a good chunk all ready. Have you the tartan interior in your S1 , got to be one of the coolest interiors ever made.

[jared_nomak 10]

Cool I would like to own a red/dark blue espirit S4 one day, I do have that feeling though they might double in price in the next 5 years or so as people realise thy are a bargain alternative to a air cooled 911. They have all ready gone up a good chunk all ready. Have you the tartan interior in your S1 , got to be one of the coolest interiors ever made.

 

It’s not tartan yet but will be soon :)

I have a guy on the lookout for a lotus Esprit S4S with the OZ wheels like you it’s a grey looking car but have also been toying with the idea of a TVR Cerbera or Tuscan. I was actually offered two s4 Esprit normally aspirated ones, one red one black for £11k toyed with the idea but been renovating a house too.

[Keyo 47]

Love them OZ wheels . Were the OZ wheels stock on the S model , what else came with the S model , also what is the most reliable model/engine block for the S4 ? TVR have gone up alot the last 2 years as well I have noticed . The none turbo S4 that puts puts 160 BHP? what is the 0 - 60 on that.

 

Cheers.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Keyo

[_Matt_ 32]

I probably saw a couple of your cars in the background on this Volkswizard video at stealth the other day then!

 

 

I'm saving for chains & head refurb at stealth but too many other bills in the way. Can you believe my family want a family holiday this year. How selfish.

[Keyo 47]

I probably saw a couple of your cars in the background on this Volkswizard video at stealth the other day then!

 

 

I'm saving for chains & head refurb at stealth but too many other bills in the way. Can you believe my family want a family holiday this year. How selfish.

 

Thanks for the link I'll have a butcher at that.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Keyo

[_Matt_ 32]

Definitely with you guys on the new vs old depreciation logic though. My wife and others don't get it when I spend a few thousand on the Corrado. I simply reply the Family car sitting on the drive has already lost £10k in depreciation and that's not that bad over 5 years on a nearly new car. Imagine what you'd be looking at if you'd blown £40k on a run-of-the mill hatch/estate after 5 years: probably £25k. Not forgetting the value of owning something different and the joy of restoring something too.

[Keyo 47]

Mine is the the one on the furthest ramp behind the first Rado when he pulls the car in , you can see the large aluminum aftermarker radiator the last owner fitted. Can't wait to get her back next week, Vince is going to keep it for a couple of days and drive her home as there has been loads of work done to her, also check what the new eibach and B4 Bilstein set up is like with all new,engine & shock mounts, f/r subframe bushes, track ends every bush in the car changed. Should drive like it left the factory but a little firmer. Will post some pics once complete. It's ashame he didn't spend some time showing the Corrados missed opputunity.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Keyo

[_Matt_ 32]

Yeah he had a Corrado years ago and there's a video in his history but not great quality.

 

I bet you cannot wait to get yours back. As mine is going to Vince for chains, head, clutch I was thinking about getting the bushes done at the same time. Certainly the rear beam for sure as he'll have the proper equipment. I can see that garage bill growing haha.

 

The ride on the eibach's should be pretty nice, I have eibach and billy B8 shocks so a similar setup. Initially I thought it was a bit harsh but did have my headlining out and the dampers have got more compliant with a few miles on them.

[_Matt_ 32]

I have a Lotus Esprit S1, This Corrado VR6, A 2005 Passat Estate as my daily I have owned since a year old and a Kit Car called a Deon Mirabeau (Only a handful ever made).

 

Albeit I’m toying with getting another car as my daily and also needing to replace my wives car too!

 

I'd love to see pictures of your cars and thoughts/progress, start a readers ride thread if you get the time or one with links to other forums if you've got them there :)

[Keyo 47]

When you do the rear beam the two bushes will make a huge difference , also need to source a few clips that attach the hand brake cables and brake cables.

 

Rear beam refurbishment.

This will save you some time.

Recommend getting the rear beam powder coated estimate £50 -£70.00

x2 1H0609734F handbrake cable clips last letter is updated from original part number get from VW £1.60

x2 191609639B handbrke clips £4 for the pair

x6 811611797 brake cable clips cheap

x2 191609657 spacers cheap

x2 Rear subframe bushes febi and bolts Febi Rear Axle Bush Prokit Repair Set Beam 1220

x2 holding bracket 1H0611715

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Febi-Rear-Axle-Bush-Prokit-Repair-Set-Beam-1220-GENUINE-5-YEAR-WARRANTY/173426827227?epid=1112937175&hash=item28610b5fdb:g:b7EAAOSw7U9bVhrW

 

My handbrake was not working that well as somone had used cable ties previously the cable was jamming so really do need to use these parts.

 

Should look something like this, there is a minus metal clip missing and the bushes.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96635[/ATTACH]

Edited April 6, 2019 by Keyo

[_Matt_ 32]

Cheers Keyo, did you source all the parts or does Vince do it? Or is it just either way?

[Keyo 47]

I sourced them mate they dont really have time to get them as a lot of them are obselete or need to do a bit of investigation work , that's why I reccomend on purchasing them before hand so you dont get any cable straps . All can be sourced from ebay apart from x2 1H0609734F which your local dealer will be a able to supply. I really recommend when working on any part of the car to go on to oempec and analise the diagram and conclude what parts are worth sourcing in that area , a mechanic has not the time to do that will just change out the faulty part and make do with snapped clips .

 

I supplied all my parts for Vince, he did'nt seem to mind.

Edited April 6, 2019 by Keyo

[_Matt_ 32]

Cheers Keyo, I've just sent him a message. It's already semi booked for the chains etc. but I've asked him to do a similar job to your car (and referenced your car) with bushes as well.

 

I like sourcing and research so a fun job for me and you've already done a lot of the hard work.. I've made a note of all of the part numbers you've given us over the threads :)

 

I have said he can advise on whether it needs a head refresh and if not I'll go for a stainless exhaust instead :D