- This 1993 Volkswagen Corrado SLC has amassed only 47,000 miles over its 30-year life.
- When it was new, the spunky VW coupe produced 178 horsepower from the 2.8-liter narrow-angle VR6.
- The seller notes a plethora of presale work done to the car, which is up for auction until Monday, March 6.
The Volkswagen Corrado SLC is a car that simply exudes character. The sharp angles and somewhat unconventional sillhouette 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 lag.”
Sure, it’s six years older than I am, and compared to modern standards it’s not winning any stoplight drag races—we managed 60 mph in 6.4 seconds back when the Corrado SLC was new. But viewing any 30-year-old car through that lens is a recipe for sadness. Get those rose-tinted 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 spurs you through back road after back road. 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 would expect from a vehicle carrying such an important name. The automatic rear spoiler activates when crossing a speed threshold, see? Sporty. Remember automatic seat belts? The SLC has those. That’s luxury settled. 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 garnered a few visual blemishes over its life. Evidence of paintwork is visible on the passenger-side panels, the sunroof doesn’t work, and there is a crack in the left-side fog light. Those blemishes help to tell the story of a car that was first registered in Michigan and later spent time in Colorado, Arizona, Florida, and California before it was acquired by the selling dealer in Washington.
We loved the Corrado so much in 1993 that we invited it, along with four other hot coupes, on 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 feeling of appreciation towards Wolfsburg that had been missing previously.
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Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief 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 auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
