- This 1993 Volkswagen Corrado SLC has racked up only 47,000 miles over its 30 year life.
- When new, the flashy VW coupe produced 178 horsepower from the 2.8-liter close-angle VR6.
- The seller notes an abundance of pre-sale work has been done to the car, which is up for auction until Monday 6th March.
The Volkswagen Corrado SLC is a car that simply exudes character. The sharp angles and somewhat unconventional silhouette lend to its presence on the road. In Car and Driver’s 1993 road test, Frank Markus asked readers to “Think BMW hatchback. Think reliable Alfa GTV6. Don’t think buzzy overpriced VW with boost.”
Sure, it’s six years older than me, and by modern standards it’s not winning any stoplight drag races—we managed 60 mph in 6.4 seconds when the Corrado SLC was new. But viewing any 30-year-old car through that lens is a recipe for heartbreak. Get those rose colored glasses on and let the waves of nostalgia wash over you. The naturally aspirated 2.8-liter V-6 develops 178 horsepower at 5800 rpm, and it hums and pops as it urges you through backroad after backroad. The engine in this particular SLC is equipped with a Neuspeed P-Flo intake, and according to the seller, the oil was changed and the spark plugs and ignition wires were replaced in December 2022.
SLC stands for “Sports Luxury Coupe,” and comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a vehicle bearing such an important name. The automatic rear spoiler is activated when a speed threshold is crossed, see? Sporty. Remember automatic seat belts? The SLC has those. It is luxuriously finished. How many doors can you count? I see the correct amount for a coupe. Plus, with only 47,000 miles logged, this SLC is in great shape. The interior in particular has aged with a grace not always found on a car this old.
The five-spoke 15-inch Speedline wheels are mounted with new 205/50 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires. Like most 30-year-olds, the SLC has acquired some visual scars over its life. Evidence of paint work is visible on the passenger side panels, the sunroof does not work, and there is a crack in the left side fog light. Those blemishes help tell the story of a car that was first registered in Michigan and later spent time in Colorado, Arizona, Florida and California before being acquired by the Washington dealership.
We loved the Corrado so much in 1993 that we invited it along with four other hot coupes to a head-to-head comparison test. A high price and abrupt oversteer kept the SLC from winning outright, but the torquey VR6 engine and playful steering feel left a sense of appreciation towards Wolfsburg that had previously been lacking.
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his still unwavering addiction to Formula 1.
After a short stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in car writing to follow. Chasing his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin in search of stories in the automotive world before landing his dream job. Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
