Are there any dealer-installed options you can get to help with the power?

 

AEM CAI
think thats it..

lots of aftermarket parts that give some power

 

screw the dealers, you can buy the parts for much cheaper and install them yourself.

 

w0rd!

 

depends on your definition of "help". The CAI might bring it up 2whp or so...not much help if you ask me. Even with a lot of modification and lots of money, you would be hard pressed to break 200hp.

 

don't need 200hp, 120 to the wheel would be enough.

 

To get that much you invest $3000 in a super charger.

You bought the wrong car!

 

No one will ever get 200hp in our cars, unless they throw a turbo in there. The Blitz supercharger doesn't even get it up that high, I heard it was somewhere around 150hp (less to the wheels). But I've got friends that say the CAI and an exhaust make it feel faster, and probably add around 5hp... not a huge difference, but enough to keep most people satisfied.

 

the K&N typhoon CAI adds 8.1 hp...

 

Few questions.

Is the TDR muffler avalible from the dealer a cat back system? How is the note and power? Any sound clips? Also, is this a good price (TT Cat-back for a Golf is $520 stainlesss).

Also, is the strut bar valued correctly at $225? Once again, for a Golf your looking at around $180. What about the lowering springs? Will these make the ride more bumpy?

 

I believe it's an axel back. I have it, but I never drove the car without it, so I couldn't tell you if it added any power, but I doubt it. The exhaust sounds very nice The strut bar is a PITA to install by yourself (so I hear), and I am not sure it does much in the way of handling. Like the exhaust, I never drove the car without it. The springs are very nice - they do make the ride stiffer (with the shocks) but it's not nearly as bad as the Teins in my Integra - still very comfortable. I believe lowering the xA is a necessity, as it looks too much like a minivan otherwise.

 

Does it sound like a bumble bee?

 

No. The sound is deeper than would be expected, and not raspy (or ricey) at all, IMO. It just sounds good.