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Once upon a time, Volkswagens were, as the name suggests, in German, 'people's cars' - sensible and solid transport. Even in the mid-Eighties, despite the success of the Golf GTi, people still thought of Volkswagens as dependable rather than desirable.
All that changed in 1989 when the company unveiled the Corrado. It was undoubtedly the most elegant Volkswagen to date and would go on to be the company's fastest ever car. It died at the hands of Volkswagen's cost-cutting accountants, after an all-too-brief six years in production. It seems there's no longer any room for low-profit image leaders...
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What you get
Equipment levels are high, though later cars were better specified, which adds both desirability and resale value.
Whatever you spend, you'll be buying a great-looking sports car that can seat four adults - something lacking in many other coupes.
The other advantage to Corrado ownership is the Volkswagen dealer network. Parts are plentiful, though not always cheap. In VR6 guise, this is a 150mph car, though not a temperamental one. Look after it, and it should return the favour.
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What to look for
The danger with buying any used performance car is in how well it's been looked after. You really do need to check the service history, especially with the G60 and VR6s, and look closely for signs of suspension, tyre, clutch and gearbox damage.
Four-cylinder cars need their cam-belt changed at around 70,000 miles - the VR6's camshafts are driven by more durable chains and sprockets. Additionally, a belt drives the G60's supercharger. This should be checked for wear (as should the supercharger itself as repairs are pricey).
Being Volkswagens, the cars are built very solidly, though some early cars suffered a little from patchy interior trim quality. Most problems should have been remedied by now but check that everything fits without squeaks and rattles.
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Replacement parts
(Approx) For a new clutch, expect to pay around £70. A set of front brake pads will set you back £30 to £35 and a headlight lens should be about £20.
Some parts prices will scare you, though. Try £790 for a full exhaust system - the catalytic converter alone is over £425.
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On the road
The Corrado was always an outstanding handler. Indeed, early 1.8-litre cars were criticised only for being underpowered; such was the excellence of the basic chassis.
Show any Corrado a winding road and it can't fail to impress. The ride can be a little on the firm side, but this is a sports car, after all, and precise handling is what Volkswagen intended it have.
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Overall
This coupe is sadly missed by car enthusiasts everywhere. With Volkswagen still not showing any signs of developing a successor, this car has classic written all over it.
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