Audi S2 or Corrado VR6?
Discussion
Im looking into buying either a vr6 or an s2, budget around £5-6k but simply cannot decide which i would prefer 
Each have their pros and cons (obviously depending on what you want) but since i dont know anyone thats owned either and i havent driven either myself, i thought id put it to you guys to educate me.
My heart says VR6, but my head says S2
Each have their pros and cons (obviously depending on what you want) but since i dont know anyone thats owned either and i havent driven either myself, i thought id put it to you guys to educate me.
My heart says VR6, but my head says S2
I considered the S2 when I bought my Corrado VR6 8 years ago.
Back then an almost-new Corrado VR6 was ~£20K and the oldest S2 I could find was ~£30k so it wasn't a very difficult decision to make.
I seem to remember the VR6 and S2 were fairly similar on paper. The S2 is faster to 60, but the VR6 has a better 30-70 and their power-to-weight ratios are virtually identical.
I have a comparison table I drew up at the time. I'll see if I can find it and host it up for you.
Back then an almost-new Corrado VR6 was ~£20K and the oldest S2 I could find was ~£30k so it wasn't a very difficult decision to make.
I seem to remember the VR6 and S2 were fairly similar on paper. The S2 is faster to 60, but the VR6 has a better 30-70 and their power-to-weight ratios are virtually identical.
I have a comparison table I drew up at the time. I'll see if I can find it and host it up for you.
As someone who owns both a VR6 and an S2 (although an Avant) I would say it depends on what you want. The S2 is faster in a straight line, the acceleration is excellent aided by the four wheel drive traction, and it makes a good noise. The drive is much less involving than on the Corrado though, the steering feels vague and you get much less feedback and the handling is certainly better. The Corrado also makes a glorious noise, especially with an induction kit, and in my opinion is by far the prettier of the two cars. The Brakes on the Corrado are good, the S2s are barely adequate. I get a pain in my leg when I drive the S2 as the steering wheel is not adjustable and the Avant seats are the wrong shape for me, the corrado has a better driving position.
For the money you want to spend, you will get a top notch VR6 and have some change for spares, I am not sure if you will get a good ABY for that money. Reliability is good on both cars, but when things go wrong both cars can be expensive to fix, although as both cars have many common parts with other models some things are quite cheap. The S2 is more easily and cheaply tuneable.
Of the two, the Corrado is by far my favourite, but you really need to drive both. Have a look at www.s2forum.com/ for S2 info and advice, for Corrado info join the yahoo egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Corrado-UK/ or have a look at the Corrado forum http://the-corrado.net/forum/portal.php
Steve
For the money you want to spend, you will get a top notch VR6 and have some change for spares, I am not sure if you will get a good ABY for that money. Reliability is good on both cars, but when things go wrong both cars can be expensive to fix, although as both cars have many common parts with other models some things are quite cheap. The S2 is more easily and cheaply tuneable.
Of the two, the Corrado is by far my favourite, but you really need to drive both. Have a look at www.s2forum.com/ for S2 info and advice, for Corrado info join the yahoo egroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Corrado-UK/ or have a look at the Corrado forum http://the-corrado.net/forum/portal.php
Steve
Good food for thought thanks guys, its really tough as i would hate to miss out on owning either car!
My budget really is at the limit of what i can afford, so the suggestion that id get a better VR6 and some change than if i got a '93 onwards s2 is quite a big factor.
Its easy to just look at the performance figures and say "the s2 is quicker and has 4WD" but then its really more about the driving experience and the feeling you get from owning such a beast.
I have more concerns over the S2 than i do over the VR6, namely whether i can find a decent example with not too many miles on it (i know they are good for 150k plus). Also, Audis have a bit of a rep for being uninvolving (steering feedback, brakes etc), from some of the vids ive seen S2's look a bit unspectacular, though they obviously sound amazing and are v quick in the literal sense...
Feel free to correct me if im talking utter crap
My budget really is at the limit of what i can afford, so the suggestion that id get a better VR6 and some change than if i got a '93 onwards s2 is quite a big factor.
Its easy to just look at the performance figures and say "the s2 is quicker and has 4WD" but then its really more about the driving experience and the feeling you get from owning such a beast.
I have more concerns over the S2 than i do over the VR6, namely whether i can find a decent example with not too many miles on it (i know they are good for 150k plus). Also, Audis have a bit of a rep for being uninvolving (steering feedback, brakes etc), from some of the vids ive seen S2's look a bit unspectacular, though they obviously sound amazing and are v quick in the literal sense...
Feel free to correct me if im talking utter crap
My advice would be to test drive both on some good driving roads with plenty of twists and turns. I set my heart on a VR6 from the outset, looking very briefly at the S2. I preferred the looks of the VR6 to the S2 I must admit. The owner of the garage that I have used for years told me that I really should test drive a VR6 before committing to purchasing one. So I did. It was love at first drive. Absolutely amazing car. Great handling and performance. Sounds great too with an air induction kit added I haven't driven an S2, so I cannot make a comparitive judgement.
I haven't driven an S2, so I cannot make a comparitive judgement.I may be selling my 105k-mile Corrado VR6 which I have owned since October 1996 (when it was a 1-owner six month-old car with 7.5k miles on the clock).
I just need to fix a minor non-starting issue and a failed ABS sensor before putting it through its MOT, give it a little spruce up for the inevitable dents, dings & scratches commensurate with a vehicle of its age, and then it will be into the PistonHeads classifieds.
I've set aside a month for the above, mainly because my mechanic can't do it any sooner.
I just need to fix a minor non-starting issue and a failed ABS sensor before putting it through its MOT, give it a little spruce up for the inevitable dents, dings & scratches commensurate with a vehicle of its age, and then it will be into the PistonHeads classifieds.
I've set aside a month for the above, mainly because my mechanic can't do it any sooner.
Agent 006 and I are both fans of the 100S4/S6, which has the same (actually better engineered) engine installation as the S2.
Can be bought for much less than the S2, is slower by a fraction of a second (faster if chipped), has much better brakes. Looks better too (IMO - sleek rather than stubby), and the avant has a rear anti-roll bar for four-wheel-drive power-on tail-out action.
Can be bought for much less than the S2, is slower by a fraction of a second (faster if chipped), has much better brakes. Looks better too (IMO - sleek rather than stubby), and the avant has a rear anti-roll bar for four-wheel-drive power-on tail-out action.
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