How would you summarise the main ownership/driving differences between a GTi and an ED30 GTi?
I'm very tempted to swap my GTi for an ED30. Guess you'd feel that bit more special every time you take it out.
I had a standard GTI stage 1 for 4 years, just upgraded to a ED30 that was standard when I got it.
The standard ED30 felt just as quick as standard GTI on stage 1. You can defo feel that the K04 turbo is bigger and working longer into the revs and more effortlessly than the K03.
But...
Then I got the ED30 Stage 1 mapped to 310bhp and its insanely fast and much much much much faster. I was planning to go to 2+ but I'm spending the money on brakes and running gear instead.
In short I wish I had got the ED30 4 years ago. Amazing machine. On the outside it looks similar to standard GTI but the engine is very different and much better IMO.
Get an unmodified ED30 and stage 1 it and you'll have the most amazing car. Even if you don't Stage 1 it is still a much better engine that standard