Worried all the good Corrados have gone after so long? Don't be…
By Matt Bird / Thursday, October 1, 2020
The VW Corrado is one of those cars where it can be easy to forget just how old it is. Unlike others we could mention from the same era, which dated really quickly or once looked way ahead of their time, the coupe's timeless design has kept it looking good for decades. In fact, some of the very earliest UK cars are on a G-plate, meaning there are Corrados out there in their fourth decade – incredible.
With production ceasing in 1995 (and VW not making a coupe again for another decade), there isn't a Corrado out there now that isn't at least 25 years old. As well as making us all feel ancient, that goes to show just how classy Herbert Schäfer's styling really was; you wouldn't call it contemporary nowadays, because coupes barely exist, yet its cohesiveness is easy to appreciate.
Searching for used Corrados in 2020 throws up a lot of cars comfortably beyond 100,000 miles – see this G60, and this VR6 as prime examples. It's predictable not just because of the VW's age, but also thanks to its reputation as a great driver's car – why wouldn't you use it as much as possible? Despite humble underpinnings, the Corrado consistently topped lists for the best front-wheel drive performance cars during the 1990s and 2000s. With cars now typically more aloof than ever, the Corrado's attributes – lovely steering, great balance despite a big engine up front, the lusty VR6 – might shine brighter than they ever have.
This particular one is a tightly packed six-pot, still the most desirable Corrado out there, and has covered 93,000 miles since 1995. The Blackberry paint is another popular choice for the VR6, and the car's mileage is said to be backed with an extensive history; "maintained regardless of cost" is the advert's line, and three owners across a quarter of a century is an encouraging sign. The interior looks to have stood up well to 25 years of use, too.
So what's it going to cost? Well, it's no secret that the Corrado has been appreciating over the past few years, thanks in part to people rediscovering what great era the nineties were for German manufacturers – think W124 Mercedes and 964 911s. So, whereas a presentable Corrado VR6 was Shed money in 2015 – and ended up on Wheeler Dealers, in fact – and prices were quoted as from £3,500 in our 2017 Hero story, those days seem a long time ago now. This one is for sale at £12,450, which is a lot more than most four-cylinder Corrados out there, but broadly comparable with the other VR6s on offer.
After its time in the doldrums, the Corrado is now firmly established as one of VW's all-time classics. It perhaps doesn't enjoy quite the same stellar reputation in the UK as various Golf GTIs do, though the car's standing is now surely set in stone as the concept of the conventional coupe gathers dust. There's unlikely to be any further appreciation financially given the sort of mileage most examples have accrued, but there should be years of Corrado enjoyment left yet.
SPECIFICATION | VW CORRADO VR6
Engine: 2,861cc, V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 190@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 181@4,200rpm
MPG: c. 25
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1995
Recorded mileage: 94,000
Price new: £19,895
Price now: £12,450
See the original advert here
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