USED BUYER'S GUIDE Volkswagen Corrado

FROM £5,000 Overshadowed by the Scirocco in the memories of car fans, VW's Golf-based Corrado coupé could be a smart buy while it's still under the radar

- By Richard Dredge

COUPES were big news in the seventies and eighties, but by the nineties the segment was shrinking fast, as car makers opted for hot hatches instead. Luckily for enthusiasts, Volkswagen did both, by selling the Golf GTi, the Scirocco and Corrado. The last two used the Golf's floorpan and mechanicals, so they cut a dash with most of the benefits of a family hatchback.

While the world remembers the Scirocco, it has largely forgotten the Corrado, which is rather unfair because it's a car with a broad range of talents, as you would expect of a Volkswagen.

HISTORY

THE Corrado made its debut in May 1989, with a 134bhp 1.8-litre 16-valve engine. Two years later the 160bhp Corrado G60 arrived, with a supercharged 1.8-litre eight-valve engine.

In March 1992 the 1.8-litre engine was replaced by a 136bhp 2.0-litre, with a catalytic converter and anti-lock brakes becoming standard. The front track was widened, along with the wheelarches, to accommodate improved Golf Mk3-derived suspension. In September 1992 the 190bhp Corrado VR6 replaced the G60, and this new engine brought an automatic gearbox option. Within a month there was a revised dash layout and new switchgear.

A new entry-level eight-valve Corrado 2.0 arrived in April 1994, with 115bhp and an auto gearbox option. Time was called in May 1995 when the run-out Corrado VR6 Storm went on sale, with heated front seats, 15-inch alloys, Sony CD player, leather trim and a choice of Mystic Blue or Classic Green paint. Just 505 were made.

WHICH SHOULD I BUY?

YOU need to buy the best car you can find; don't worry too much about the spec - they're all good, apart from the 115bhp 2.0-litre edition, which feels lacklustre to drive. It still handles well and is also the most affordable edition, so if you're on a budget but crave a Corrado, it could be the ideal route.