My Black GTI on the slippery slope...

[Pablos007]

Well it's the end of month 2 of owning the GTI and I'm now officially sliding down the slippery slope into modifying oblivion!!!  

Here's the story so far....

The day I picked it up, the snow was so bad a 20 mile journey took over 2 hours and the M62 was more like a rally stage than a motorway.  It is a 2006 model with 44k on the clock with pretty much standard spec, I think the only option is the leather.  This is it just after I got home:







I promised myself I would drive it standard for a few weeks so I could evaluate how each modification improved it, but I booked it into Awesome for an oil change 3 days later and one of these just happened to get fitted at the same time.  It made the gearshift so much nicer as it feels more solid and I much prefer the shorter throw.



More to come...

[Pablos007]

The first day without snow and a quick wash.  All very standard looking and in need of some tlc.



The wash was quickly followed by a new black VW roundel and I also removed the GTI badge.  Will Dremmel out the extra bits of plastic at some point, probably when weather is a bit warmer so my fingers don't turn blue.



Then the antenna dilemma..

Standard length (don't like plus it was damaged) / Sharan (didn't sit right) / Shorty (OK for now)

[Pablos007]

Now the fun begins!!

I headed over to Awesome again for some new toys.  (pics are a bit crappy off my iPhone)

KW V1 coilover kit & GEO:





WALK and dogbone mount:



8x19's on Dunlop Sportmax 225/35ZR19 rubber:





Wow!!  The handling of my GTI is totally transformed, it's flat into the bends and so much more controllable, plus the lift and dive under acceleration and braking feels almost non-existent.  My first 'test drive' was a blast up into the Yorkshire Dales and I was really impressed at how the chassis coped with the twisty undulating roads.  There are a couple of points on the inner arch where it catches the plastic but these are only when it is compressed under load.  Once these are sorted and it has fully settled , it's going to get dropped a touch more at the front 

Here's how it looks today (apologies for general unwashed state of it...)

[MR02LOW]

looks great mate 

[TurboTrev]

Coming along very nicely.   What ET are the wheels?

[rdfcpete]

Very smart looking 

Really like the black front badge on black GTI's.
Are they an RS4 design of some kind Pablo?

[gazbutS3]

lookin good pal

is it mapped yet?

my pal has an APR stg1 mapped GTI and it goes really well, really brings a smile to my face, I quite fancy another

[Pablos007]

Will check the ET when it gets light, didn't notice when they were going on.

I was after RS4 reps, but saw these and thought they looked a bit different - somewhere between an RS4 and a Speedline wheel.

[Pablos007]

Hi Gaz,

Not mapped yet but will be soon, and as you know I've driven a lot of APR stg1 cars so know they go well.  Though I can't imagine why you'd swap your S3 for a GTI again!!  Is 4wd too safe for you? 

[gazbutS3]

Hi Gaz,

Not mapped yet but will be soon, and as you know I've driven a lot of APR stg1 cars so know they go well.  Though I can't imagine why you'd swap your S3 for a GTI again!!  Is 4wd too safe for you? 

who said anything about swapping, trying to convince the misses she needs a mk5 GTI in her life

[Greeners]

  Looks sooooo much better lowered! 

[gobbleplease]

Just wondering did you have an M3 before the golf your name looks like one i remember from M3 cutters 

[Msportman]

Just wondering did you have an M3 before the golf your name looks like one i remember from M3 cutters 

He did!

Well done Pabs. My lovely Edition 30 has gone and I like you are sampling BMW ownership.

Will soon be back in a Golf I suspect.....dithering whether to buy the old 225 S3 map/play with it or like you get a standard MK5 and do a couple of bits. Never had the 225 S3/TT but having had APR Stage 3 on the MKIV anything around 200bhp seems a bit sluggish especially after my Edition 30.

Wonder if anyone on here has been down the road of 1.8 S3 to MK5 can give some input. I assume a mapped S3 would be close to a mapped MK5?? Wondering what feels best behind the wheel with the weight of Haldex?

[Garth]

Wonder if anyone on here has been down the road of 1.8 S3 to MK5 can give some input. I assume a mapped S3 would be close to a mapped MK5?? Wondering what feels best behind the wheel with the weight of Haldex?

I used to own a mapped 225 S3 (Revo, then AMD remaps, about 260bhp).
The Golf engine certainly feels more lively, but overall I think I still prefer the drive in the old S3. I'm thinking of giving my GTI to my fiance and getting myself another S3 (or maybe even a TT) to play with.

[Msportman]

Wonder if anyone on here has been down the road of 1.8 S3 to MK5 can give some input. I assume a mapped S3 would be close to a mapped MK5?? Wondering what feels best behind the wheel with the weight of Haldex?

I used to own a mapped 225 S3 (Revo, then AMD remaps, about 260bhp).
The Golf engine certainly feels more lively, but overall I think I still prefer the drive in the old S3. I'm thinking of giving my GTI to my fiance and getting myself another S3 (or maybe even a TT) to play with.

Does the haldex drain much power or is it the extra weight bogging it down? Wonder what they all weigh in at ie MK5 v S3 v TT?

I think the 1.8 Cupra R sounds interesting with 260+ and FWD as an option. The 2 litre FSI seems more torquey low down with the extra displacement.