hey folks, so, i'm just about done with the tc. thinking i'm want to give VW a try. I'd like awd, and originally wanted a MK4 R32 w/ the VR6 and 6 speed....but thats a bit out of my price range.

so i'm leaning towards a MK4 GTI 1.8T, hopefully 25th anniversary or 337 edition.

anyone have any experience with these cars? i know that guys who have em, love em....and theres a ton of aftermarket support out there, everything from turbo upgrades, to chips, FMICs, etc.... its not too hard to make 250-300whp out of those little buggers. I could serioulsy kick some honda ___ with a little gti hatch making 250+whp. and it would be mad fun.

plus, theres two of the top vw/audi tuning shops right near me, EIP and AWE (and even another one i'm forgetting).


the 1.8t is a legendary motor, that seems to be very reliable and well loved by its owners. even stock, its more powerful than the tc motor, and a smaller lighter car too.

any input would be just fine.

thanks.

 

wow, 7 views and not only reply? that deserves a bump.

come on guys, is it really that hard to type your .02 once you've already opened a thread???? :D

 

so, i take it either no one on here knows anything about any cars other than scions....or everyone on here is a bunch of apathetic (look it up) D-bags.

Thanks for the input.

 

I highly doubt that insulting people for not replying is a reasonable or logical method of getting replies....but I bit anyway. Thanks for the bait.

There have been numerous VW threads started on here about many different models. Just because you didn't get an answer from the first 7 people to look at your thread doesn't mean everyone is useless and an apathetic dbag. If you used the search button before posting maybe you would've gotten the answer. Maybe you wouldn't have. I don't know because I don't care. I just think the insult was uncalled for.

Personally, I have heard from many people that there are the usual problems with VW's, mainly electrical issues. Whether the aforementioned care has those same issues I don't know, but I know it is a common issue among other models.

Sorry I couldn't be as helpful as you wanted.

 

well, it worked, didn't it?! i asked nicely for input, and got nothing but views.... i antagonize a bit, and i get a reply right away.... u do the math.

people on this site (for the most part) only want to argue, flame, disagree, etc.. very rarely will anyone offer just their plain, unbiased input when someone asks for it.

for someone who doesn't care, you certainly wrote a lot of words about it....

dude, my 7 year old knows VW's are "known for electrical problems". Unless you have a specific example or experience to back that up, and aren't just regurgitating what you've heard from other people "in the know".

 

No experience on VW outside of the original bug, you are on a Scion forum afterall. I would suggest checking a VW forum, not sure what ones are out there though. Also, depending on your mod list and budget, that 10k difference between the R32 and GTI will close up "REAL" quick. if you can spare it, I'd save for the R32. With the GTI already turbo'd, I'd image the HP/$ ratio to be quite a bit more to squeeze out an extra 50-100 HP compared with going from N/A to F/I as the Scions do. I picked up 36 HP for about 2k on the xB.

Good luck but don't expect a real strong response here, hope you find a nice and knowledgable vw site that can help.

 

i own a mk5 gti and love it! i think you are making a good choice! and if you get it chipped i recommend apr...

 

i don't think i'll get an MK5, though i do think they are pretty cool.

MK4 GTi is more in my spending range. obviously, i'd LOVE to have a 3.2L VR6 powered R32 w/ haldex AWD.... but those cars don't depreciate at all!!! i can't find one for under 25K!!!

while awd would be great for me in the winter, i can get by without it. and the r32 on makes about 70 more hp than the 1.8t gti. and its easier to squeeze more power out of the already boosted gti than it is to add power to the VR6.

there are two of the top VW tuners within reasonable distance of me, AWE Tuning and EIP tuning.... so either one of those places would be getting my business for chipping, boost controller, tuning, turbo-back exhaust, and the other typical 1.8T goodies (K04 turbo upgrade). aiming for about 250whp when all is said and done.

 

I've been recently wishing I bought a GTI before I got my tC (before I got it, not instead of getting it). I actually hated the MkV when they came out, compared to the MkIV, but the V has grown on me now. It's a great car and is very capable of high numbers. Plus almost any exhaust setup results in a great sound, no rasp at all out of the 1.8's.

 

yeah i really wish i got a mkV gti instead of my tc... great cars they are

however the 1.8t is also a great engine in the mkIV just make sure you change your oil all the time so not to have oil sludge build up its kinda the only bad thing about the 1.8t

its easy too to make decent power with them heck a chip alone adds quite a bit of hp and is only like 500 bucks. on 93 oct they say it gets you 215hp/247lb-ft... not bad at all if ya ask me

deff check out apr

 

ya i wish i had gotten an mkv instead of the tC, factory boosted is the way to go...

 

+1. bpu/bolt ons give much better gains. a simple intake/exhaust/mbc/chip-tune can net 50-100whp . it seems that most factory boosted cars are tuned very conservatively from the factory, leaving much more headroom for tuning gains.

think i'll give german engineering a shot.

 

yeah most stock boosted cars are very conservative with there tune .. heck even the tC's s/c tune is very conservative.. you see s/c tc owners that actually get a tune threw e-manage with running with everything else stock and there pulling 220+whp thats over 30+whp over stock...its just how it is

we just dont have a proper ecu like the GTI's so it makes after market tuning almost impossible thats why tc owners have to get a custom tune

 

hey man! come to the dark side! frankly i would pony up the cash and get the new mk5 gti. the 2.0T is words better then the 1.8T not to mention the chassis and suspension is WAY WAY WAY better. Reliability is also improved dramatically as they are built in Wolfsburg now not Mexico (no more windows falling down in the doors or crappy coil-packs). for $500 you can get an ECU reflash and be up to 230 to the wheels!

deff fun cars. the scene is HUGE (prob 2nd to honda) and there are lots and lots of parts. check out www.vwvortex.com HUGE owners website

check out youtube. there are a few videos of stage 2 chip GTIs out running 350Z.

ps- EIP is a sleazy company that you do NOT want to deal with.

 

my bro has an 04 silverstone gti 1.8t

mods list-
APR 93 octane reflash
ABD RACING CAI
N75 J-valve
Forge Diverter Valve
Techtonics Tuning Turbo back exhaust
APR Turbo inlet pipe
samco boost hoses
Eibach pro kit springs

just with those little bolt on he runs high 13's