E36 vs Corrado

So the idea behind having a fire sale of all my vehicles is to streamline a bit. I am going back to school this fall and want three vehicles: a motorcycle, my euro 528i (which is getting resto-modded as a weekend/HPDE car), and a sporty daily driver, admittedly with some creature comforts. I have been DDing old school Subaru wagons for as long as I can remember; while I love them, they're exceedingly utilitarian and I just want something...nicer. 4WD is nice but real snow tires will get anything around pretty well.

I want something MY 1995 or older, in my county '96 and up gets smogged (and I'd rather not have to deal with that). I have had good experience with BMW, and E30 prices are skyrocketing, so an E36 is a logical choice. The unloved Corrados are drop-dead GORGEOUS, and how bad can they really be? I've danced the VAG dance before, with two 5-cylinder Audis and two A1 cars. It can't be worse than those. I hope.

Considerations are that the BMW will cost me $84/mo to insure, while the Corrado will set me back (strangely) less than my current Subaru, at $50. Gas mileage and comfort are key factors as well. Target price is $3k though I would spend more for the right car.

I am open to other options as well, but I have always wanted either a nice E36 or Corrado.

E36s are great buys. If you can find a 328is, that'd be the best

I don't know too much about the Corrados, but I know the are FWD only, which really hurts their sporting potential

Theres just nothing better than a 3-series for a very balanced and sport daily driver...(not bias here haha)

What are you selling and how much??

I always loved the looks of the corrado.. but I keep hearing of electrical nightmares

VR6 Corrado or G60? Id be a little worried about the supercharger on a G60, since they do fail and are really expensive even used.

while the VR6 is the better engine. Isn;t the g60 lump lighter?

mtn wrote: What are you selling and how much??

'77 X1/9 and '86 Brat...$2011 for GRMers. See the $2011 classifieds.

Travis_K wrote: VR6 Corrado or G60? Id be a little worried about the supercharger on a G60, since they do fail and are really expensive even used.

Lookin at a G60. I've looked at the rebuild procedure for the G60, and it is not nearly as hard as people say it is, provided it isn't allowed to fail completely. Also, I'd MUCH rather work on an S/C 4-cylinder than that damn VR6!

I have an e36 (and 4 other bmws) and I've had VAGs - 5 cyl audi and 95 gti. Neither are maintenance free and may be fairly comparable on costs. I'd rather drive the BMWs though.

I've had both. Stay away from the Corrado unless you like constantly working on the car, paying extremely high parts prices and running down goofy electrical faults.

At this age, most corrados are complete POS's unless they've been well maintained by someone with $$$. Those are still selling for good money, like $7k or more.

Watch out for broken sunroofs, rear wings that don't work, broken motorized seat belts, broken door handles ($120 each!), broken window regulators, etc.

On the G60, that's a motor notoriously finicky to tune properly. Make sure there are no boost leaks, rebuild the supercharger and replace the little timing belt inside the supercharger. Do not run more than 15-16psi of boost.

On the VR6 watch out for timing chain guides and head gasket issues. Look for a coil pack car, the dizzy cars are hard to find ECU's and dizzy parts for.

The G60 motor makes the same power as a VR6 with bolt ons. Despite the increased cost of VR6 parts, I'd look for a '93+ VR6 car.

A stock G60 isn't that exciting to drive. 150hp doesn't drag that heavy chassis around all that well. The VR6 is another story. Very nice handling cars that just grip and pull out of corners. Excellent seating position too.

To me the lower hood on the G60 cars looks better than the more bullnosed look of the VR6 cars.

Corrados were the first of the complicated VWs. With things like "body modules" and air powered locks and spoilers there is a lot to go wrong with one. Don't buy a crappy one. Get the nicest you can find.

Well, I think you'll find a consensus that the Corrado will be less of a "drivers car" with more potential maintenance issues. However, if cold logic always prevailed we might not have this board. Besides, they're gorgeous and somebody's got to take care of them.

Funny, I just saw my first Corrado in a long time yesterday. I was with dad, we saw it and the conversation went something like this (keep in mind we are always looking for a car):

Dad: Corrado would be cool
Me: Don't see too much of them around
D: There is a reason for that
M: Coraddo would be cool

I stop and drool everytime i see a Corrado in the wild. One of the best looking cars ever made, in my opinion.

I had a Corrado SLC. I remember it fondly. I also remember that it put a hurting on my wallet. Don't forget the goofy autobelts, unless it is 93+. Parts costs are silly...or at least they were 10 years ago.

Neat cars, but I'd hate to depend on one as a daily.

All US Corrados got the auto belts. Only the canadian corrados got the normal 3 point belts and those are very, very hard to find in junkyards.

I remember the drivers window on my '93 Corrado would roll itself up and down all on it's own.

I liked the car, but it killed me on repairs and parts costs. I had to sell it before it bankrupted me.

corrado was the one car VW should have made RWD

docwyte wrote: I've had both. Stay away from the Corrado unless you like constantly working on the car, paying extremely high parts prices and running down goofy electrical faults. At this age, most corrados are complete POS's unless they've been well maintained by someone with $$$. Those are still selling for good money, like $7k or more. Watch out for broken sunroofs, rear wings that don't work, broken motorized seat belts, broken door handles ($120 each!), broken window regulators, etc. On the G60, that's a motor notoriously finicky to tune properly. Make sure there are no boost leaks, rebuild the supercharger and replace the little timing belt inside the supercharger. Do not run more than 15-16psi of boost. On the VR6 watch out for timing chain guides and head gasket issues. Look for a coil pack car, the dizzy cars are hard to find ECU's and dizzy parts. The G60 motor makes the same power as a VR6 with bolt ons. Despite the increased cost of VR6 parts, I'd look for a '93+ VR6 car.

QFT. I love the Rado and was considering one before I bought the Stingray--no really! I worked at the dealership and at independents that saw these cars. BUY THE BEST ONE YOU CAN AFFORD with excellent documentation. These cars share a bit with both the Mk3s and the Passats. But they do have chassis specific stuff that can be expensive. Still, one of the best FWD cars ever.

I'd love to take a Corrado and put a Honda K20/24 in it. It will simultaneously make it more reliable, faster, and piss off all the VW fanbois.

I miss my G60, if it woulda been a 5 speed, I'd still have it!!!

mad_machine wrote: corrado was the one car VW should have made RWD

This.

Uh, Scirrocco?