1996 Volkswagen Corrado VR6

With just two former keepers, our latest listing is an unusually well preserved Volkswagen Corrado VR6, y’know, the hyper-quick one that redefined what we could expect of our hot hatchbacks.

Finished in Satin Silver, the Corrado’s second owner bought it in 1997 and then hung onto it for the next 19 years, spending a fortune on keeping the maintenance up to date. We’ve listed the history later in the advert, but it’s fair to say you don’t spend this much on servicing a car unless it’s a good ‘un.

Our seller bought it in 2018 and being the fourth Corrado VR6 he’s owned, it’s probably fair to say his experience and knowledge helped him identify ‘N997 OCD’ as a good example of the breed.

Dry stored for the majority of his ownership, his good judgement has been validated as he says it’s not only the most reliable of the four he’s owned, it’s also never left him stranded despite venturing as far as the Lake District and Scotland from his home in London.

And therein lies the reason for sale; with London becoming increasingly anti-car, he finds he’s just not using it as much as he was and his seven years with his beloved Corrado have left him with too much affection and respect for it to leave it languishing in storage.

Finished in Satin Silver (paint code LB7Z), the bodywork is pretty good for its age with the usual VW quality control is evident by way of excellent panel gaps and still-good panel alignment. It sits foursquare too and still has what appears to be a factory stance.

The paintwork also has a good gleam to it but then it has been refreshed over the years with the front bumper assembly and nearside of the car being resprayed in 2020, and the nearside rear sill having been repaired a year earlier.

As for the wheels, all four of the 15-inch Speedline alloy wheels have light kerbing marks but by way of compensation they’re fitted with a matching set of good 205/50R15 Toyo Proxes TR1 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Both the tilt ‘n’ slide factory sunroof and the rear spoiler operate as they should, with the former also sealing tightly in its aperture.

Despite the ongoing maintenance it’s received there is some further work to do with rust breaking out on the offside front wing, sill, and wheelarch, the driver’s door, around the fuel flap and cap, the rear panel beneath the numberplate, and the rear screen.

The nearside of the rear bumper also has some heavy scuffs, the driver’s door and roof have some light scratches, and the sills are marked. The door mirror cappings also show signs of having been touched up, as do the front panel beneath the grille and the offside rear wheelarch.

Finally, there is some paint wear to the edge of the rear spoiler, the offside front foglamp is cracked, and the glass in the nearside door mirror is discoloured.

The ruched black leather interior has fared very well with the passage of almost three decades (who’s feeling old now then, eh?) and 120,000 miles leaving only modest cracking and creases to the front seats.

And those front seats are heated too, although we haven’t tested them. They’re manually adjustable too, which tells you where VW’s priorities were when it came to costing out the engineering it wanted.

The two individual rear seats are in an even better condition, and the door cards and rear side panels are also a) covered in hide, and b) in great condition.

A set of very nice Corrado-branded overmats protect good carpets underneath.

As for the rest, the instrumentation is beautifully clear, and the controls are a model of ergonomics. The steering wheel might not be the sportiest you’ve ever seen but it feels good in your hand and is in a fine condition.

A Sony headunit replaces the original, and the only toys are electric windows and mirrors – but then the Corrado’s quality was engineered in rather than bolted on, something that’s apparent even now because our chap reports that his assessment of the interior is “overall very tidy with a few age-related marks to the leather and plastics”; even the heater controls, a well-known weakness of the model, work.

The boot floor is good and solid too, and it contains a space-saver spare wheel. The parcel shelf is rigid, straight and free of extraneous holes, and the rubber straps are intact, something that’s almost never the case.

As for faults, the seller tells us that a bulb has gone on the heater illumination and the wipers only work on the fastest setting.

The headlining is “sagging slightly” too but fixing that could wait until motivation and money coincide.

The Corrado’s history file records its servicing regimen as follows:

• 04.04.1996 – pre-delivery inspection by Sidlow Garage
• 10.09.1997 and 13,748 miles – service by Sidlow Garage
• 31.03.1998 and 24,271 miles – service by Cloverleaf Cars
• 25.09.1998 and 34,487 miles – service by Timothy Green
• 09.04.1999 and 44,298 miles – service by Timothy Green
• 19.05.2000 and 46,120 miles – service by Timothy Green
• 02.08.2002 and 58,701 miles – service by Martins of Basingstoke
• 06.04.2004 and 67,837 miles – service by Martins of Basingstoke
• 03.11.2005 and 76,263 miles – service by Martins of Basingstoke
• 26.02.2007 and 81,139 miles – service by Martins of Basingstoke
• 22.07.2008 and 85,681 miles – service by Martins of Basingstoke
• 19.11.2009 and 91,115 miles – service by Gardiner & Co
• 30.03.2012 and 101,565 miles – service by Gardiner & Co
• 09.07.2018 and 113,599 miles – service by Fleet Agents Ltd
• 03.09.2020 and 117,821 miles – service by SE Autoworks including new HT leads and work to the braking system
• 04.11.2024 and 121,279 miles – service by Turner Automotive

It’s also had a recent ignition coil pack (October 2024 and £355) and a rear wheel speed sensor (October 2023 and £172).

The braking system was gone through in July 2023 at a cost of almost £1,000, the heater matrix was replaced in June 2022, the suspension received attention in August 2021, and the trailing arm bushes were changed in January 2021.

All this work, along with the most recent service, was carried out by Turner Automotive, the seller’s local independent VW and Audi specialist.

As you can see , it starts and idles well, revs nicely, and has a great exhaust note thanks to a non-standard exhaust that was fitted by Turner Automotive in July 2021.

It also “drives well” according to our assessor, although he did note that “the steering wheel is slightly off centred to the right and it tracks to the left.”

The engine’s bay cosmetic condition isn’t bad, with only the usual alloy tarnishing and a bit of road grime spoiling what could be a very nice underbonnet.

As for the underside, there is the usual old-car mix of underseal and light surface corrosion; room for improvement then, but probably no urgency.

Which is borne out by the Corrado’s MoT certificate, which is valid until October 2025.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the VW book pack and wallet, a wealth of old invoices, and the all-important stamped service history booklet.

With the last two owners having had it in their care for long periods, the Corrado has escaped the ravages of modification, leaving it in a pleasantly original condition.

Yes, it needs some tidying up, but that need is reflected in our estimate of between £8,000 and £12,000 – and to make a sweet deal even sweeter, the seller has enough faith in his car to offer it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.