2.8 or 2.9

[KingOfPear 0]

Just after some general thoughts on the 2 engines, I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question but i thought i would tap you folks for an opinion anyway ....... assuming they had both been looked after in the same way (ie properly) with regular servicing etc etc etc - how do you think the life expectancy of the 2 engines compares? People on here regularly talk (joke?) about the 2.8 only just being run in at 100K but does the same apply to the 2.9? In your opinions when do you reckon an engine would start to become knackered / uneconomical to repair?

Thanks guys - will be interested to see what you think

Ed

[FishWick 21]

Well they both suffer the same wear on the chain tensioners but the 2.9 is not as strong as the 2.8.

On the Corrado forum we've currently got members with 56K and 76K 2.9 engines that are burning oil. Plugs 1 and 6 are oily, which is generally a sign of premature bore wear on those two cylinders, something the 2.9 is renowned for I'm told. No one knows why.

The general feeling from my experiences is that the Golf engine will go on forever if you do the chains at 100K and regularly service it, but the 2.9 engine is more or less dead at 100K, if not before. Of course there will be exceptions to the rule.

The Highline OBD2 2.8 engine almost matches the 2.9 anyway, so I personally wouldn't bother with a 2.9, if that's what you're considering?

Kev

[acf8181 0]

interesting stuff kev. one thing to correct you on tho...the theory of obd2's (or highlines) being more powerful is actually a myth, see the rolling road results on here.

[KingOfPear 0]

Thanks Kev - really just looking at which VR6 to spend my £5K on - Golf or Corrado? I have to confess to preferring the Corrado but most of the ones out there seem to be high mileage and I had an inkling the Corrado didnt wear the miles as well as the Golf. There is a 96 N Corrado on autotrader website with only 54K on it but then they do want £7k for it :?

[six appeal 53]

interesting stuff kev. one thing to correct you on tho...the theory of obd2's (or highlines) being more powerful is actually a myth' date=' see the rolling road results on here. [/quote']

You keep saying that mate, but every Rolling Road day I ever been to standard OBD2's always seem to come out 6-8 BHP more than standard OBD1's, have the figures and print outs to prove it. However once they have been modded (in any way, this usually evens out)

[binliner 0]

Yeah the results from our rr day dont prove a lot because there's so many variables... no 2 cars had the same mods or mileage so cant really be compared. I was told by Stealth and Amd that OBD2 is mapped differently to OBD1 and usually produces more power

[six appeal 53]

In fact just had another read of the charts and all the OBD2's are well up even the standard ones! Mine was putting out well over 185bhp as standard on an original clubVR6 day at TSR years ago, and ALL the OBD1's even the modded ones were well down on the OBD2's, so again I beg to differ.

This has happend everytime I go to the Rolling Road the OBD2's usually come out on top, modded or not. I'm not just trying to justify me having an OBD2, just merely fed up with people saying its a myth! At the end of the day I'm going with hard facts from my experiences with Rolling Road days and Races/Track/Strip trials, as you can write what you like on paper, but back to back Rolling Road figures should give the best indication.

[ingham 5]

well said binliner

[FishWick 21]

Thanks Kev - really just looking at which VR6 to spend my £5K on - Golf or Corrado? I have to confess to preferring the Corrado but most of the ones out there seem to be high mileage and I had an inkling the Corrado didnt wear the miles as well as the Golf. There is a 96 N Corrado on autotrader website with only 54K on it but then they do want £7k for it :?

Well owning a Corrado VR6 myself, I can see the reasons why it appeals to you. It's a lovely looking car, the 2.9 engine, despite what I've said previously, is a very strong performer when it's running well and healthy and you get amazing handling out-of-the-box. The motoring press regard the C VR6 as one of the finest handling FWD cars of all time, alongside the Honda Integra Type R. Only you can confirm that with a test drive but coming from a Golf background, the Corrado does have that extra little 'something'. It's a real driver's car.

I really like the Highlines, especially when dropped onto H&Rs and Konis. The MK3 feels much better put together than the Corrado, but that's partly due the Golf being made at Wolfsburg and the Corrado was put together by Karmann, so VW's quality control is clearly absent on some aspects of the Corrado.

If you want a more thorough "what to look out for" list, PM me. But if you choose a Golf, you won't be dissapointed. Just change the suspension as the Golf was severly under-damped and sprung to live up to it's marketed purpose of an executive hatch with BMW levels of refinement.

Sorry for the waffling, ooops!

K

[FishWick 21]

Vince told me all the OBD2 highline engines he's put on the rollers dish out 185bhp all day long. Don't they have the larger 2.9 manifold and 2.9 sized throttle body? Could be a reason why, aswell as better and faster management control from the OBD2 ECU.

[KingOfPear 0]

Kev - waffle away - it looked for a minute like this thread was going to get hijacked only joking guys!

I am a big golf fan and have been running a MKII GTi for almost 7 years but a big part of me fancies something a bit different. I did look at a 20v Turbo Fiat Coupe the other day but quickly got that one out of my system!! I really dont know what I will end up with but I am fairly certain it will have a VW badge and a VR6 lump - of some description!

Thanks will prob PM you when I am back in the country and can follow up some adverts.

Ed

[FishWick 21]

You will thank yourself for not getting the Fiat when you realise the engine has to come out to change the cambelt! They're not a bad car, a bit quirky, seriously quick (well, the 20V Turbo is) and handle well. But as with most Italian machinery, longevity and reliability are sadly lacking, ESPECIALLY with the electrics!

If you're a keen driver, you will prefer the Corrado initially but a Golf can be made to handle just aswell to be honest. It's just that the Corrado runs a lot of negative camber and has passive steer rear bushings. Makes a lot of difference.

If you want reliability with the potential to create a good all rounder, go with the Golf. The Corrado is a VERY high maintanence car I'm afraid, and the body panels are eye wateringly expensive. The interior plastics are diabolical and they squeak and rattle like a Ford escort. Sorry to have ruined your dream but you really must look at Corrados with the rose-tinted glasses off I'm afraid. If you get one, get the youngest one you can find with lots of history.

Providing Golf VR6s aren't 200+K milers, you'll be fine, take your pic, they're all good and solid.

K

[KingOfPear 0]

Kev - nice to hear an honest owner - I didnt realise that the Corrado was such an expensive choice! Such a shame!

The Fiat would have been fun for a while - certainly stood out in that 'nice' yellow colour but in the end it is the thought of Fiat electrics and 100,000 miles plus on that engine that meant my head HAD to rule my heart!

I guess it is looking like that is what really should happen with the Golf / Corrado decision but it is too early to commit i think!

Ed

[FishWick 21]

Don't get me wrong, I love my Corrado, even though it is crippling me financially, LOL!! Picture your highest maintanence girlfriend ever, and multiply that miserable feeling of empty wallets and hormonal behaviour by 10, and you get the picture!

Nah, seriously, they are good cars...... but unlike other VWs, they *do* require lots of TLC.

Personally I'd start off with a nice Highline, get a feel for what the VR6 is all about and then upgrade (or downgrade, LOL!) to a Corrado VR6 as and when you choose.

K

[KingOfPear 0]

Picture your highest maintanence girlfriend ever' date=' and multiply that miserable feeling of empty wallets and hormonal behaviour by 10, and you get the picture![/quote']

Ouch - Golf it is then! Seriously though my other half is cool but I have justified changing the MKII on the grounds that it is showing signs of age now and I should get something more refined (ie quieter on the motorway) and that didnt cost as much to keep going!! Dont think she would be too pleased if the wedding was postponed cos i was spending every spare penny keeping a Corrado on the road!

Ed

[six appeal 53]

Kev - waffle away - it looked for a minute like this thread was going to get hijacked only joking guys!

I am a big golf fan and have been running a MKII GTi for almost 7 years but a big part of me fancies something a bit different. I did look at a 20v Turbo Fiat Coupe the other day but quickly got that one out of my system!! I really dont know what I will end up with but I am fairly certain it will have a VW badge and a VR6 lump - of some description!

Thanks will prob PM you when I am back in the country and can follow up some adverts.

Ed

Sorry mate, just a bit fed up of all the OBD1/OBD2 debate.

Back to the topic, I really wanted a Corrado Storm, because of the 2.9, leather spec etc..... but then heard about the later Golfs having almost similar power without the associated Corrado expense, both initially to buy and to maintain, and so my head ruled my heart and I bought the Highline 5 years ago.

Since I've never looked back and owned/driven 100's of cars in the mean time(inc. 20v Fiat Turbo), but never been able to get rid of the VR. (M3 EVO Conv. had me in a dilemar for a little while, but felt a bit of a pratt with the hood downand so it only lasted a week or 2!)

[FishWick 21]

Yeah in hindsight I'd have gone Highline too, but the Corrado was my hero car ever since I had my first MK1 Golf in 1995. Obviously I could never afford one of the 250 Aqua blue Storms with Black leather at £23K odd, so when they became affordable, I jumped at the chance! But as they say, teenage fantasies are often shattered when you finally get the real thing......

When Corrado VR6s were new, the sleek lines, stunning sculpted interiors, muscular bonnet and 2.9 engine ooozed sex appeal..... the dirty pot noodle of cars, LOL!

But now, mint ones still draw heads but the total cost of ownership makes them out of reach for some people, group 18 insurance for starters and 18-20mpg when hammering it.

They must have been amazing when new, but 10 years take their toll and the Corrado is not ageing well, mechanically speaking.

[patrick green 0]

lol Kev that made me laugh coz I was thinking of my teenage fantasy car - a 2.8 Ford Capri! Same thing - sleek lines, long bonnet, big lump (the car, the car!) Shame after I'd scrimped & saved for one I found out what a piece of shite they were! Live & learn! 8o)

[dubloke 4]

have to agree with six appeal on the obd2 debate, in general they do come out with more power thanks to the refined management system of the later cars, not just highlines, which is why i, amongst others, was quite surprised at our rr day at stealth when my obd1 with just zorst and filter produced the highest reading of the na cars! obviously there is the exception to the rule! i always felt the old 2.8 i took out was strong, wish i'd spent my money on a charger now instead of a 3.1 rebuild!

[apd 0]

Corrado vr6 tickled my fancy to start with,190bhp and crisp handling-alledgedley!knew panels were expensive and inferior build.'run-in' golf vr6 had better reputation although basic handling.OBD2 golf seem to show good rr figures with 100k.wouldn't swap my golf for owt,well maybe a R32!

[dubloke 4]

love the look of the r32, no doubt its the all round package that would provide a solid groung for serious fettling. having raced one in my vr however, and he was defo giving it some(4 wheel slides into roundabout is not shy) i'm not sure i would spend my hard earned on one! i would be upset to say the least if a ten year old vr could keep up with my 24k supagolf!

[vr6storm 0]

Obviously I could never afford one of the 250 Aqua blue Storms with Black leather at £23K odd' date=' so when they became affordable, I jumped at the chance!

[/quote']

tsk tsk mr haywire ~ .................aqua blue storms!!!.....really......have u not been listening at the back?........now class its mystic blue storms

anyway as for the Golf V Corrado debate.........speaking as a Corrado owner.....you get far better VFM with the Mk3 although in the C's favour is its relative rarity which i kinda like but having said that since actually being driven about in a mates very tidy N-plate Golf VR recently with quite a few luxuries(tho no leather) i must say i've found the 2.8 feels a bit more smoother and refined than the 2.9 tho this might be down to my mate's VR having had GTi-engineering headwork.....but its still a very nice motor and something i ruled out buying without investigating further...........tho at the end of the day i'm more than happy with my Corrado its just i was kinda blinkered into thinking the Corrado was/would be far superior.....this is not the case tho......the Corrado might just have the edge std versus std but when you start to modify both i reckon the golf makes up the ground on the Corrado so that its all down to personal preferance and of course there's no getting away from the fact due to the smaller production run the Corrado will be the dearer to run/repair etc

[eViL 0]

I'm an OBD1 owner.

Fact is OBD2 management handles the air coming through the intake better than the OBD1, thus providing more efficient fuelling.

Making it slightly better in performance.

[FishWick 21]

lol Kev that made me laugh coz I was thinking of my teenage fantasy car - a 2.8 Ford Capri! Same thing - sleek lines' date=' long bonnet, big lump (the car, the car!) Shame after I'd scrimped & saved for one I found out what a piece of shite they were! Live & learn! 8o) [/quote']

Ah the Capri.... I always fancied the Tickford 280 in that lovely bottle green, but like you say, they're pap! The Capri is the only car I know that can lose the rear end on shell grip roads - in the dry! LOL!

As for the OBD debate, it doesn't automatically assume extra performance, it's just a finer metered system and offers more comprehensive error reporting than OBD1. The reason the Highline engine is more powerful is because of the 2.9 manifold and throttle body 8o)