VR6 Handling

[jimborx-7 0]

Hi all,

 

I'm wondering about swapping my RX-7 for a Corrado VR6. Can anyone tell me if the VR6 handles well, or is it nose heavy? Is there anyone with some motorsport experience who can comment? I'd probably get an LSD fitted.

 

THanks

James

[dr_mat 0]

I'll swap your RX7 for my Corrado VR6...

 

Give us more info about the RX7 first tho! :)

[MoonlightVR 0]

Hi all,

 

I'm wondering about swapping my RX-7 for a Corrado VR6. Can anyone tell me if the VR6 handles well, or is it nose heavy? Is there anyone with some motorsport experience who can comment? I'd probably get an LSD fitted.

 

THanks

James

 

The VR6 handles superbly. It's always been considered one of the finest handling front wheel drive cars. If you go from say a 330 BMW to a Corrado VR6 you will certainly sense the fact that there is a big old lump over the front end, but the car is so well set up that it doesn't adversely affect handling.

 

If you can get behind the wheel of a well set up VR6 you'll see for yourself. I say well set up as many VR6s have covered high miles, and if the suspension is original it will disappoint you! Try and find a low mileage car, or one that has had new suspension components fitted.

 

A chap called Ken Lark races the Corrado VR6 and has been hugely successful with it.

 

Fitting a LSD will definitely improve matters. Are you intending to track the car?

[jimborx-7 0]

I have a love hate relationship with the RX-7. It's outrageously fast and iIt's one of the best handling cars I've ever driven, but I hate the 15mpg (single figures on a track), I have to garage it to keep insurance costs down which is a real pain juggling cars on the drive. I also hate turbos! It's also extremely complex under the bonnet which normally means fixing it myself is a headache.

 

Trying to decide which of the following to get:

 

Corrado VR6 + LSD

Clio Williams 1

Porsche 944 S2

Maybe Toyota Corolla GT (AE86)

[samm_cvr6 0]

I have dabbled with turbos but in the end it has to be N/A all the way for me. I have a stock Corrado VR6, having covered a fair few miles and being rebuilt the engine is stronger than ever but I wouldn't say the handling is amazing due to this.(getting up rated tyres, coilovers and brakes next year, probably with poly bushes!) but the car is very steady and offers very good feel of how hard you can push it(no suprises unlike some cars!) I would have to s ay the integra type R is the best front wheel driven car I have tried but this is outweighed by the way the VR6 delivers it's power(more useable) I'm sure the performance isn't quite in the RX7 league but I don't think you will be disappointed as the car has a really nice feel to it, a drivers car It's reliable, well built, will hold it's value very well, can get 30+mpg sometimes on a run. I bought the car over a late spec Nissan 200 touring and fiat coupe 20v turbo! :wink:

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Fit the following to a VR and you can really throw it about like a rental Ford Focus:-

 

FK Konigsport coilovers or better or H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables

Neuspeed 25 rear ARB

Chassis bush and top mount refresh - OE or Powerflex

Powerflex Cross member bushes

Powerflex Steering rack bush

Vibratechnics front and rear engine mounts + solid rubber gearbox mount

Seam welded subframe

 

And then a Quaiffe would finish it all off nicely.

[andy 0]

What make gearbox mount are you referring to? O.E ?

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Yep, a MK2 turbo diesel gearbox mount. GSF sell them.

[MoonlightVR 0]

Trying to decide which of the following to get:

 

Corrado VR6 + LSD

Clio Williams 1

Porsche 944 S2

Maybe Toyota Corolla GT (AE86)

 

At the end of the day only you know what specific requirements you have for your car.

 

Personnally if I was after a car to do track days in regularly I'd go for the Porsche 944, or 968. I think it's a better track car than the Corrado. As Kev says above with a few choice mods you'll get the Corrado to perform well on the track, but the 944 ultimately will be better suited in both unmodified and modified states.

 

If gonna use your car for occasional track days, but will mainly use it on the road, go for the Corrado. It's alot more interesting and charismatic as a road car than the 944. 2.9 VR6 v 2.5/3.0 4 pot - no contest :D

 

Just my 2p worth mind :wink:

[Storm 0]

FK Konigsport coilovers or better or H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables

Are you sure? The koenigsports have the Koni adjustable dampers, surely they are as good?

[MoonlightVR 0]

FK Konigsport coilovers or better or H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables

Are you sure? The koenigsports have the Koni adjustable dampers, surely they are as good?

 

Storm, read it as FK Konigsport coilovers or an even better set up, or H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables

[jimborx-7 0]

I notice Kevwheywire suggests the uprated anti roll bar - is that on the back only? I seem to remember when I was road rallying a few years back people use to run 2 standard anti roll bars on the back of there Golfs to destabilise the back and get lots of useful lift -off oversteer.

 

I've had quite a few Golfs / Jettas and sciroccos over the years and there is something about the way they handle that gives me a lot of confidence to play with them on the road, especially in the wet. Sliding the RX-7 in the dry is a lot of fun, but it's down right dangerous in the wet.

 

Is the Corrado reasonably easy to work on? That's part of the reason for choosing it. I've good knowledge of the older mk1 golf era stuff.

[Jim 2]

I'm not very hands on but as I understand it the Corrado combines similar tech & working practice to Golfs, etc of the same era.. but at the same time manages to be bloody frustrating thanks to things like a VERY cramped engine bay (especially on VR and G60) and annoying design 'perks' :)

[Kevin Bacon 5]

MoonlightVR, thanks....that's what I meant :D . But yes the Konigsports have Koni dampers and are a good setup. Just depends if you want to tweak the ride height to suit different wheels etc with coillies, or are happy with a fixed ride height. For track use coilovers would be better as you can corner weight the car.

 

Jimborx-7, yes just a rear anti-roll bar. The standard front bar is good enough on the VR6. Somewhat confused by your "two standard ARBs at the back on Golfs" comment though. MK2s and Corrados only have one and it's welded into the torsion beam. Only the MK1 GTi had a proper anti-roll bar.

The Neuspeed rear bar is in addition to the standard one, if that's what you meant?

 

If you want more lift off oversteer, take the front Anti roll bar off!

[h100vw 0]

Trying to decide which of the following to get:

 

Corrado VR6 + LSD

Clio Williams 1

Porsche 944 S2

Maybe Toyota Corolla GT (AE86)

 

I'd have another Twinny any day. Only downside is finding one that doesn't look like it spent 10years under the North Sea.

 

Bulletproof, if not exceptionally powerful engine. 8000 rev limit.

Comes as standard with an LSD fitted. Proper 14inch wheels on the later facelifted ones instead of the comedy 13s of the early type.

 

The biggest bomus has to be that Janspeed do a 4-1 and an exhaust that makes it sound like a MK2 Escort! :mrgreen:

 

The only complaint that I had with mine was it's massive appetite for rear discs!

 

I swapped it for my first mk1 a W reg small light model, which had spent 11 years under the North Sea. That's another story though.............

 

Gavin

[Jim 2]

Ooooh!! The Toyota Corolla GT AE86 - aka Trueno? One of my all time coolest looking cars.. watching some guy thump a well sorted one of those round a Japanese hill descent thing against a Nissan Skyline R34 (and beating it) was inspiring stuff - they are so cool and so retro!

[jimborx-7 0]

I don't know how they ran 2 ARBs, but they did - maybe one was welded to the other?

 

Does anyone know exactly how much heavier the front of the VR6 is compared to say a 16V? I'm just wondering if it can be largely offset with a fibreglass bonnet, and a few light weight components like battery, starter, etc

 

THe Corolla would definetely be the most fun, but it would not be a sensible choice! And yes, they are all totally rotten. I could import one from Japan though, there's still a fair few good ones kicking about over there I think

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Urrgh.... is this seriously what you're talking about with this AE86 thing???

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Ignore the VR6 front end weight myth....cause it's exaclty that.

 

You're not even aware of the engine weight with the afore mentioned components fitted. The Corrado VR6 shares the same 65/35 weight bias with the Honda Integra Type R and they've both been heralded as very fine FWD handlers....

[jimborx-7 0]

The hatchback version looks a little more interesting, but either way, it's probably not a car you'd choose for its looks! I think there's also some jap spec versions with pop-up headlights. They have a very low top gear which probably crosses it off my list.

 

I already have a car for playing with on a track (205 Gti) - I'm looking for an exciting daily driver with at least some practicality that I can also use on a track occasionally. Any other ideas to add to my list? I don't want anything with peaky power delivery.

[Jim 2]

This is more the kind of thing I had in mind Kev. Its a classic!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Ah, that one....LOL... yeah that's better :wink:

[GIXXERUK 0]

H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables , i've got this set up and it handles like a go cart :D its a little harsh going slow on some crappy roads but you cant have both and even with the oem set up it was known to be a little harsh when going slow

[dinkus 10]

H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables , i've got this set up and it handles like a go cart :D its a little harsh going slow on some crappy roads but you cant have both and even with the oem set up it was known to be a little harsh when going slow

 

Well you know what the solution to that is... :lol:

[GIXXERUK 0]

H&R springs/Koni Top adjustables , i've got this set up and it handles like a go cart :D its a little harsh going slow on some crappy roads but you cant have both and even with the oem set up it was known to be a little harsh when going slow

 

Well you know what the solution to that is... :lol:

 

tarmac the roads myself :cry: