corrado wannabe

I am in the same position as kdub, I flirt between a new car and the Corrado. It just feels a bit more of an event driving the C, if anything it shows that we can live without the add ons that a modern car carries. That said, I dont know if I would out of choice bin a new car for the Corrado. I know it would be more than capable of carrying out the duties, but the comfort levels and general build quality, just make it feel better put together and safer than the C. (I have a young daughter as well, so it does become a consideration) I guess it would depend upon what your general driving needs are (long journeys etc) Dougie

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Corrado-VR6-Auto-/141478846455?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20f0cbdff7 Absolutely no association with this car, other than I bumped into the old guy (not literaly) at a local motor factors where I work. Seemed like an honest guy and car. Interestingly he had it in the garage for them to look at the sunroof and it turned out to be the motor, so I gave him a spare I had! Seems like it is still not been fitted! If any of you buy it, drop by Stirling and I will make you a cup of tea and cake, but give me my sunroof motor back please!! LOL Dougie

Now you will need to get your lipstick and mirror out instead! Dougie

No rust and a set of wipers that work. Oh and design for the heater controls that is fit for purpose! HTH

Jim, Its very hard to give advice on a forum, not knowing financial situation, reasons required for a different vehicle (reliability aside) milages travelled etc. I would say that reliabilty is a bit pot luck as well. For the last ten years or so, I have been driving reasonably new Audi's all had low miles, varying between petrol and diesel, all apart from the current car (2012) have had issues. The diesel has been the most frightening in terms of reliability and the costs would have been ridiculous had the car not been covered under Audi warranty. I can see the benefit of the lease system, and apart from the well documented handing it back potential problems, it is a fixed fee per month, no hassle option. Depending on how much you have for a second hand car being bought outright, you could be buying another expensive set of grief. I can sympathise with you, the C is an old car now, it does require a lot of fettling to keep on the road, and although I have the other car I do like to use the C at least twice a week. I do always have that niggling feeling that it might not get me to where I want to go, but I really wouldnt want that as my only mode of transport. Dont be shy with dealers, they are salesmen, they need to sell cars, you need to drive it before you can make your mind up about a purchase. Just tell them straight, your thinking about one, but you've never driven one and at the end just say you didnt like it and walk away. You are right to put aside any badge snobbery, I think by the sounds of it, its going to be all about reliability. Hope it works out anyway, Dougie

Must resist the temptation to bite....Must resist the temptation to bite... Welcome along Katy and all the best with the new purchase, if you have the funds then go for the respray, I would keep it original as unless it is a proper engine bay, door shuts and inside of boot, I always think a colour change is a bit ropey. That said, you might need the initial funds to get the car properly sorted as with a Corrado if there isnt something wrong with it, wait a couple of weeks and there will be! But enjoy the car, they are great fun, even in 16V form

Oooh nice, We looked at the 4 series as we were chopping in the A5 coupe and my A4 Avant to go down to one car, then the little monster arrived and we needed 5 doors not 2! So a Sportback A5 it was for us! Lovely looking machine though, hope you enjoy it. Im sure you will find out if its the ultimate driving machine in the winter soon enough! Dougie

Jim, Another thought, as the car has been in your family, do you know if the injector and wiring harness recall has been carried out on the car? It should be carried out F.O.C at your local Audi dealer Dougie

Jim, my last car was a 170Tdi A4 Avant BRD engine. I will try and dig out a thread I had going over on Audi Sport, it is grim reading Im afraid. I was lucky as it was an Audi used approved so it was all covered under warranty. However they must have thrown about 4k at it. Apart from a myriad of other things that went wrong with it, they did have to change the inlet manifold. Apparently there is a small plastic diaphragm in it, however it requires the entire assembly to be replaced, think it was about 500 pounds from memory. I have to say Jim, it is the car that has put me off ever buying a diesel engine again. Hope you get it sorted, Dougie

Thanks for the advice Jim, unfortunately you were 24 hours too late! My wifes (ahem) supplies of fig hand cream have taken a bit of a beating this last day or so! Just to cover up the smell of course! So, good point, wear some rubber gloves when removing and handling them to wash the parts, then you wont smell like I do! Dougie

Just to round this off, managed to get the parts out of the solution after my mishap with my neck and these are the results: [ATTACH=CONFIG]79886[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79887[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79888[/ATTACH] Might look into home plating of parts, seems a bit of a minefield but I think it would look a lot more OEM than painting them. Anyone tried it or got any pointers as to whether it is worth trying or not?

Thanks for the replies guys. I had looked at a few other ways, molasses, vinegar etc. it was twelve quid for a kilo tub, so not too extortionate. But once I have used it all up I will give the citric you recommended Jim. Fla, apart from it being non abrasive compared to a wire wheel etc, it really is a case of mix it up and stick the parts in a bucket. Coullstar, yes deox gel is next for the fuel filler neck and some rust scabs on the rear arches. I have pulled a muscle in my neck, so not been able to get back out to see how the parts are looking now, hopefully like brand new! Dougie

Just thought I would share my experience with Bilt Hambers' Deox C rust remover. I gave the parts seen in the first pictures a rough going over with a wire brush, I also took the dremmel to the areas on the caliper carrier that were painted yellow, as this would affect the way the solution would work. Other than that it was simply make up the solution and immerse. Bilt hamber recommend a 1 to 4 up to 1 to 19 ratio of Deox C to tap water. Being from North of the Border, and the first time I had used it I went for the weaker end and made up a 1 to 17 solution. Before: [ATTACH=CONFIG]79859[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79860[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79861[/ATTACH] After 24 hours and a couple of times removing the flaky stuff with a screwdriver here is what it looks like now; [ATTACH=CONFIG]79862[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79863[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]79864[/ATTACH] I have currently got them back in a 1 to 10 solution, although if I am being honest it should really have gone in on a 1 to 6 solution as the corrosion was pretty bad. I will leave them for 24 hours again and post up pictures of the results. Reaction is much quicker when the water is kept at around 70 degrees, I however only used cold tap water, hence the time for these results. DeoxC is non toxic, you can put your bare hands in the solution, and can be put down the drain with no need for specialist disposal. Hope this is of use to anyone who may be thinking of going down this route. I have no association with this company, just a personal review of my experience. Dougie:cheers:

No problem Rob, Glad you got it fixed in the end. Dougie

Congratulations Rob, however....... I have just spent the last couple of hours taking pictures, uploading them to photobucket and was about to post them on here for you, only to find you have gone and fixed it! LOL I checked earlier this afternoon to see you had not replied before I went and scraped my phone and knuckles trying to get you a decent picture!!! Glad to see you got it sorted, but just for my sanity heres one of the pictures: [ATTACH=CONFIG]79842[/ATTACH]

Great info as always, thanks guys. I really need to get my members gallery thread updated as I have been doing lots of work on the car for a while now, but with a two year old daughter running about not getting much time to take pictures and do write ups! Dougie

Thanks Dox, Good point about the stub axle, so am I looking for the same level of play on both planes?

I think your right, just looking ahead, the advisories are now on the Mot document itself, and I guess when they retest and see that there is still play they might be inclined to think I have done nothing about it. By the way, I also remember you from the Mk1 Golf forum, I technically still own a 1980 Gti, log book and vin plate and interior only now though! Welcome to the Corrado forum, hope your enjoying the car, despite your wee hiccup with it. Dougie

Good news is the wee beastie passed again this year but had some advisories. Just wondering how you all have appraoched the subject of the rear wheel bearing play with your local garage. It came up as an advisory yet both rear wheel bearings are brand new and have literally covered a thousand miles or so. As I understand it, this appears to be an issue a few folks have experienced and was just wondering how you went aout explaining to the garage that there is meant to be play in them. Dont think it would come across well, a non mechanic telling a mechanic how to do his job. Thoughts? Dougie

Was getting a bit worried when I started to read this Jim, as I have just put a new set of B4 dampers on mine. However I have standard springs wheels and tyres so I am hoping they will continue to feel as good as they have so far. Dougie

Hi Bill, Thanks for your replies and the pics. Just for clarity (In my Duncan Ballantyne voice) "Im out" I will just get the spare wings I have repainted. Many thanks though Dougie

Sorry to be a pain Bill, but I guess what I am asking is, do they flap about if the mounting points along the edge of the wheel arch is no longer there? Dougie

Bill, What is the script with fitting the arch liners when a wing has been rolled? Dougie

Fairly enjoyed it, there seems to be a good few car programmes coming onto mainstream TV these days. I think TV execs are cottoning onto the fact that we all might have outgrown top gear a little bit. I know the yanks created "Christine" as the car from hell, but did anyone else think that black Beetle was particularly sinister? The fact of who owned it, that it was an original prototype built by Dr Porsche and that old Adolf himself might have seen/been in it, made it extremely creepy. The little 500 looked a lot of fun too Dougie

That's the one. As you can see from my sig, I am a wee bit partial to a grey car too so 100% behind your taste! Dougie