Performance Car magazine buying guide

[danprosser 0]

Hi all,

 

I'm writing a buying guide for Performance Car magazine on the Corrado VR6.

 

I had my first drive in one this week, and I loved it!

 

I'm stumbled upon the buying guide elsewhere on this forum, and just wondered if anybody had any tips, hints or advice on what potential buyers should look for. Many cars have one big weak spot that every buyer absolutely must check - is that true of the Corrado?

 

I'l drop a mention for the forum into the guide, as a thank you for any help I might get.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Dan

[Sonicriot13 0]

So this is just on the VR6? You didn't want to drive the best one then? :wink:

[KipVR 1]

You mean find the strong point !!

[Neil VR6 0]

Some Corrado things which come to mind...

 

Rear axle bushes

 

Starting issues (relays, temp sender, ig switches etc)

 

Bore wear on cylinders 1 and 6 usually on high milers. Bottom ends typically strong but top end often need a refresh around 100K. Head gasket failure is common and chains need doing when they get noisy

 

Heater matrix

 

Poor headlights and wipers (look for examples with relayed headlights and ‘Lupo’ or ‘Aero’ wipers)

 

Gearbox wear – weak syncro, high mile boxes don’t like to be hurried

 

Spoilers sometimes don’t work

 

Saggy bolsters on driver’s seat

 

ABS systems are very prone to going wrong and wheel sensors, pumps and valve units are often all equally to blame.

 

Run VAG COM and see what comes up 8)

 

That's what springs to mind at the moment

[Kevin Bacon 5]

ABS systems are very prone to going wrong and wheel sensors, pumps and valve units are often all equally to blame.

 

I've had one ABS fault in 6 years of ownership, and that was a worn pedal position sensor :D Seems pretty reliable to me!

[Neil VR6 0]

Pah! There's always one.

[Sonicriot13 0]

Some Corrado things which come to mind...

 

Rear axle bushes

 

Starting issues (relays, temp sender, ig switches etc)

 

Bore wear on cylinders 1 and 6 usually on high milers. Bottom ends typically strong but top end often need a refresh around 100K. Head gasket failure is common and chains need doing when they get noisy

 

Heater matrix

 

Poor headlights and wipers (look for examples with relayed headlights and ‘Lupo’ or ‘Aero’ wipers)

 

Gearbox wear – weak syncro, high mile boxes don’t like to be hurried

 

Spoilers sometimes don’t work

 

Saggy bolsters on driver’s seat

 

ABS systems are very prone to going wrong and wheel sensors, pumps and valve units are often all equally to blame.

 

Run VAG COM and see what comes up 8)

 

That's what springs to mind at the moment

 

All that stuff and you've forgotten to mention the sunroof not sliding! :lol:

[Neil VR6 0]

Oh God, how could I forget! I blame Friday afternoon :grin:

 

My car's even had a complete new mech and switch unit!!!!

[Sonicriot13 0]

Oh God, how could I forget! I blame Friday afternoon :grin:

 

My car's even had a complete new mech and switch unit!!!!

 

I think I'm just gonna have to get used to not having a sunroof at all. Mine's just there for decorative purposes! :lol:

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Let's not overwhelm the guy, LOL! It's easy to fill an A4 page with faults on any car, but they have limited space. Most of which is needed to inform and impress the the readers, not depress them.

 

IMO, the only stuff worth mentioning is:-

 

Engine - Upper chain timing pad wears out between 80 - 100K, visual inspection is the ONLY way to be sure. Gearbox off job, do clutch at the same time, £600.

 

Bodywork - Sunroof can stop sliding due to snapped cable guide, VW do a rebuild kit for £40. Spoiler sometimes sticks. Strip it down and regrease it. Easy.

 

Chassis - Corroded brake lines and worn rear axle bushes. Easy to replace.

 

Interior - Heater Matrix - replace if no evidence of one in the history. Windscreen vent control often jams.

 

Everything else is just age related wear and tear, common to all cars.

[VR6 0]

I'd tend to agree with Kev's point of view - you really should cover the major things that would put you off buying the car altogether. I know for sure I wouldn't like to tackle a sunroof and it would be enough to make me walk away - potentially also knowing that you had to spend the best part of a grand on chains, tensioners and clutch etc etc.

 

A broken door handle is neither here nor there .... and pretty damn easy to spot as well! Yes, headlights are crap as are the wipers but that's just something else you either live with or mod etc etc.

 

I put the Buyer's Guide together probably around 4 or 5 years ago now so it could probably do with a review - I'm sure it mentions replacing parts etc and some of those will undoubtedly cost more now or perhaps be obsolete altogether.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Major structural rust is the only thing that stops be buying a car.

 

Everything else, especially the engine, is easier and much cheaper to put right.

 

Not to mention the Corrado's well balanced handling makes it ripe for receiving a more up to date R32, 1.8T or 2.0TFSI engine :D

[Jim Bowen 1]

Let's not overwhelm the guy, LOL! It's easy to fill an A4 page with faults on any car, but they have limited space. Most of which is needed to inform and impress the the readers, not depress them.

 

IMO, the only stuff worth mentioning is:-

 

Engine - Upper chain timing pad wears out between 80 - 100K, visual inspection is the ONLY way to be sure. Gearbox off job, do clutch at the same time, £600.

 

Bodywork - Sunroof can stop sliding due to snapped cable guide, VW do a rebuild kit for £40. Spoiler sometimes sticks. Strip it down and regrease it. Easy.

 

Chassis - Corroded brake lines and worn rear axle bushes. Easy to replace.

 

Interior - Heater Matrix - replace if no evidence of one in the history. Windscreen vent control often jams.

 

Everything else is just age related wear and tear, common to all cars.

 

 

8)

 

good summing up there.

[MattWilde 10]

The main prob with the VR6 is easy to spot.......................it's not a G60 :wink: :ignore:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll get my coat....

[The_Dude 0]

Let's not overwhelm the guy, LOL! It's easy to fill an A4 page with faults on any car, but they have limited space. Most of which is needed to inform and impress the the readers, not depress them.

 

IMO, the only stuff worth mentioning is:-

 

Engine - Upper chain timing pad wears out between 80 - 100K, visual inspection is the ONLY way to be sure. Gearbox off job, do clutch at the same time, £600.

 

Bodywork - Sunroof can stop sliding due to snapped cable guide, VW do a rebuild kit for £40. Spoiler sometimes sticks. Strip it down and regrease it. Easy.

 

Chassis - Corroded brake lines and worn rear axle bushes. Easy to replace.

 

Interior - Heater Matrix - replace if no evidence of one in the history. Windscreen vent control often jams.

 

Everything else is just age related wear and tear, common to all cars.

 

 

8)

 

good summing up there.

 

+1 :salute:

[Adz The Rat 0]

Look forward to reading this.

If you want to borrow any cars for pictures Im sure there are plenty on here that would volunteer

[C488ADO 0]

G60's are for the people who always envy the VR6 but never really get one.... :shock: :ignore:

did i just say that out loud??

 

hehe only messin guys..... :salute:

 

doesnt really matter what to look for as is the same pretty much on any car ,but there is a good advantage of knowing this forum exists as everything well nearly everything is available in one way or another through someone on here , so any potential corrado owner could be told they were in good hands here...........wheather it be help advice or even lending a hand, im new to this forum and it seems like a very respectable place

[Adz The Rat 0]

Off topic but I bought Performance Car last nite and I love the M Power feature!!!!!

That red E39 M5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I cant wait to own one

[danprosser 0]

Thanks for your help guys.

 

We've shot the guide already, so we're not looking for a car to photograph but I appreciate your offers!

 

Can anybody recommend a specialist who might be inetersted in a free plug?

 

Cheers.

[Walesy 0]

Gotta be Stealth in the midlands mate, they're known for being the best in the country for VR6's

[Neil VR6 0]

John Mitchell is also very worthy of a mention - he's been working on dubs for years and a number of forum members use him. Andy665's lovely nugget G60 was exclusively worked on by John.

[Jon_vr6 1]

PSI Tuning in Stoke, Andy knows Dubs inside out and has looked after my VR6 from day 1! Got loads of respect for the bloke.

[davidwort 0]

.. Many cars have one big weak spot that every buyer absolutely must check - is that true of the Corrado?

 

yep, some of the owners, there's some really neglected ones about, do a background check on the owners :lol:

but seriously, if the seller has a box full of receipts, a record of servicing and is knowledgeable about the car and it's history that will help you a lot.

[Phil K 0]

The Phirm in Farnham Surrey are well worth a mention too! They also write the Q and A for Performance VW...

[swfblade 0]

G60's are for the people who always envy the VR6 but never really get one.... :shock: :ignore:

did i just say that out loud??

 

hehe only messin guys..... :salute:

I know your only joking, but having now owned both, I realise it's a personal thing. I don't want another VR6, can't wait to get another G60. The G was waaaaay more fun to drive than the VR and DID handle better. (Plus my VR was so good that if I got another, I know I'd be dissapointed!)

 

Anyway, I digress. Look forward to reading this and deffo agree that the buying guide on here should be updated.