Tuner Tuesday: 1992 Volkswagen Corrado SLC Turbo

Since new, the Volkswagen Corrado has been the object of desire of many a VW enthusiast – each with a long list of modifications that they’d perform. When the price began to drop on used examples, those dreams started turning to reality and a few years on, we now regularly see these modified Corrados pop up for sale. Some of them are really done well even if a bit over the top like the supercharged 1992 I wrote up last Spring; others are intriguing but probably would be more valuable if they had remained stock such as the 1992 I looked at last Fall. Nevertheless, in the world of tuned Volkswagens there don’t seem to be any more proud owners of these modified sport coupes and another tuned example – this time turbocharged – has popped up for sale:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Volkswagen Corrado SLC Turbo on eBay

Year: 1992
Model: Corrado SLC
Engine: 2.8 liter turbocharged narrow-angle VR6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 125,000 mi
Price: $10,500 Buy It Now

Almost a Classic. I’ve spent hundreds of hours and over $18K over the past 9 years refining this beast. *Serious buyers please.*
90% of the engine bay has been replaced with new or upgraded parts. Engine was rebuilt at 99K miles with heavy duty/performance parts (ARP, turbo spec’d parts) Only parts not touched were pistons and crankshaft. In 2012 I had the turbo/piping/custom mapping re-done professionally. This custom screams CUSTOM! Everywhere you look. Odometer now reads 125K miles.

All I ask is that whoever buys it, shows the same TLC I did and takes this car beyond the limits I did! By the way, I do have the Dyno sheet and at 13PSI, it pushed 357BHP at 6098 RPM. Listed below is the bulk of it mostly done in 2008 and some in 2011:

Borla 2.5″ Cat-back Exhaust
New Distributer, Starter, Ignition Coil, Water Pump
High Flow Catalytic Converter
5 pc. Polyurethane Motor Mounts
Head Stud Kit, ARP
Autotech 10lb Flywheel
Spec Clutch Kit, Stage II+ (395 ft/lbs)
Inconel Turbo Exhaust Manifold
Timing Chain Kit, Dual Chain rebuilt w/upgraded tensioners
Peloquin Planetary LSD
Piston Ring Set, 81mm (Honed out cylinders by hand)
Rod Bearing Set (OEM)
Rod Bolt Set, Complete (Performance)
Suspension Rebuild Kit w/ ZF Tie Rod (HD)
Koni Sport Coilovers, adjustable
Radiator (Performance Custom)
Slimline radiator fans
Custom Stealth Racing Mapping
Garrett GT35 Turbo w/3″ Piping (2012)
Tial Sport 38mm Waste Gate
SSQ Blow Off Valve
Profec B Spec II Boost Controller
DDI Gauges with steel rings/DDI Reverse Lighting Kit (Red)
Neuspeed Power Pulleys (set of 3)
Intercooler
Custom Piping re-done (2012)
Optima Battery Deep Cycle
Full Body Kit RS Style
Neuspeed Spark 8mm Plug Wires
NGK Cool Spark Plugs
Samco Complete Coolant Hoses
30 lb Fuel Injectors
Rear/Front Neuspeed anti-sway bars
Oil Pressure/Boost Gauges
O2 Wideband Sensor and AEM Gauge
Grounding Kit
8.6:1 Compression Head Spacer
258 deg Turbo Cams
Shortrunner Intake Manifold
Oil Cooler Kit
Custom Pioneer System Amplifiers and woofer boxes in fiberglass.
Fuel/Air Gauge/Boost Gauge/Oil Press
New HID Kit 6000K
New Windshield

Projects I never got around doing: Drilling hole for oil pressure sensor (gauge wiring already done), short shifter kit (bought/not installed), and finishing off my custom woofer boxes..let me know and I’ll send pics of that. Just needs to be painted and made shiny.

It’s pretty amazing that you’d take the time and money to install a turbocharger on a VR6 which is now producing more than double the power the car had originally, but there’s no oil pressure gauge hooked up. That’s the lack of attention to detail that really sets Volkswagen modifiers apart from the rest of the crowd. Joking aside, overall this car is pretty well presented. Black over tan isn’t my favorite color combination but it looks well kept; I think the original marker and running lights would look better though, personally, and I don’t think that the body kit improves the look. Outside of that, the list of modifications is pretty impressive and generally good items – but under the hood looks a bit of a mess. Perhaps it’s because of the multi-colored silicone hoses and it may function perfectly, but it just doesn’t look properly done to me. I respect that the seller likely has all of the money that they claim into the car, and 357 horsepower is quite impressive from a VR6 – but it doesn’t mean that I want it, and like many I find myself wishing that this was a completely stock example. Considering the mint condition, all original 37,000 mile Corrado we recently featured only fetched $9,500, I’d say the asking price on this example is pretty optimistic despite the seller’s substantial investment.

-Carter