Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Automatic G60: Preserved VW Corrado

The Volkswagen Corrado is an emerging classic, with very few left providing daily transportation and many of them modified to the point of being near death. The early supercharged models, known as the G60, were particularly prone to failure at the hands of abusive owners. Fortunately, this automatic-equipped example here on Cars For Sale has escaped such fates, but also suffers in the fun-to-drive department due to the slushbox.

The Corrado has under 90,000 original miles and the seller is asking $7,500. That’s a tall ask, even for one as nice as this, because the transmission is going to turn a lot of potential customers off. The slushboxes in VWs of this generation were not particularly stout, so to see it in a relatively high-strung sports coupe is not exactly comforting. However, if it was owned by a mature adult or retiree, there’s a good chance this Corrado was simply bought because it looked good.

We like seeing these equipped with the OEM BBS wheels, as they fill out the flared arches nicely. The interior looks decent, but the cover on the driver’s seat is worrisome. I dig the period car phone, which provides some further evidence that this was an executive’s car rather than a 20/30-something’s hot rod. The black-on-tan combination is far from the most popular choice, but beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to preserved Corrados.

The G60 utilizes a twin-scroll supercharger to produce around 160 b.h.p. It has a somewhat notorious reputation for being a violatole engine, prone to expensive rebuilds and needing copious amounts of cool air to run efficiently. Still, the car here is one you buy simply for cruising in and enjoying one of the best roadgoing examples left of a near-extinct sportscar from VW’s early 90s lineup.

Comments

  1. Steve65

    That interior shot shows why these cars are on my permanent “nope” list. I won’t drive a car with those stupid automatic belts. And while I like the cars, I don’t like them enough to go through the hassle of sourcing belts and interior trim for one from a sane jursdiction that allowed proper conventional belts to be fitted.

    Like 0
    • Mike

      That was one of the things I despised about my 92 VR6. I absolutely loved that car but those DAMN seat belts. I never got the chance but some people will swap them out for the European spec ones.

      Like 0
    • arizman2

      Was that belt setup a gov’t mandate or did VW come up with it by their lonesome?

      Like 0
      • Steve65

        Gorernment mandate for “passive” restrains (meaning they were in place without the operator having to take any direct action.) Automatic belts were allowed for a few transitional years before airbags became the sole acceptable method.

        Like 0
  2. fstedie

    The Euro spec belts were pretty easy to install and it make a huge difference. G60s were known to blow up, VR6 was the way to go. Even then, as the article mentions many were modified to “fix” what VW should have addressed like in my case, adding an oil cooler. The car, billed as “the poor man’s porsche” when it came out, was a great concept but cobbled together with a mix of VW and Audi parts of questionable quality. Too bad, because when it ran well, my VR6 was one of my favorite rides.

    Like 0
    • arizman2

      The VR6 is a great motor. I tossed a turbo on my ’04 Golf R32 back in ’06 and it dynod at 454 hp @ 15psi. No problems over the years.

      Like 0
  3. UK Paul

    Who fits an automatic gearbox to a car like that? Those seat belts are ridiculous too .. glad they were not fitted over here.
    Dash is different too ..
    G60 is a great engine. A good friend of mine fitted one in a mark 1 Golf GTI .. fantastic car.

    Like 0
  4. Pa Tina

    VW killed the Scirocco for this? Bah, Humbug!

    Like 0
  5. Kevin

    As a Scirocco owner, I thought this was not a good replacement. Never cared for the styling as it looked too stubby. The belts were horrible too. One test drive was all it took to take a pass. Recall they were a tad on the pricey side too.

    Like 0
    • Pa Tina

      Price was Crazy Eddie insane. I thought about upgrading from my Scirocco until I saw the $30K + sticker.

      Like 0
      • Steve65

        My understanding is that it was being developed as a third-gen Scirocco, and then when they realized they’d pushed it too far upmarket they came up with the new name.

        I was driving an A1 Scirocco S at the time, so I was interested in them. But there was never any possibility I’d be buying one (or any other car) new so it was just idle curiosity. And some seat time in my cousin’s 93 Passat GLX solidfied my refusal to ever own a car with that crappy pointlessly compromised belt setup.

        Like 0
  6. David Miraglia

    Always liked the Sirocco. Corrado maybe..

    Like 0
  7. T C

    There’s a guy who has 2 Corrados in South Miami right next to U of Miami campus sitting right out by Red Road. Keeps them covered ,Though outside. One is a driver for sure, the other I don’t see move. They look good.

    Like 0

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.