GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: Phill on 19 August 2008, 22:40
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I have been thinking about possible upgrades for my MK5 GTI 200bhp 6spd manual car.. At the moment the most important thing to me is the front brakes as I think the standard ones are well, terrible!! I cant do anything with the car for another 11 months due to my full VW Warrenty the car has, but if I could, rather than going for all out and out power, I'm looking for some subtle, but good differences that would be well worth the cash to do.
As I've already mentioned brakes (I could upgrade the rears as well I suppose) what else would any of you do?
I've no considerations for amount of power or torque, as I said, I dont want something majorly stupid because I want to be able to sell it on and enjoy it day to day and especially if I'm driving it for a constant 3 hours up a motorway, I need it to be comfortable... Maybe something to give it a little bit more bark or noise whilst accelerating??
So far my thoughts are kinda with:
Brakes - AP's only, wouldnt trust anything else - fronts for sure, would rears matter?? MUST fit 17" wheels...
Possibly a front mount - Not sure what this might do to the performance?? Made the Scoob a lot different....
Air intake - induction kit or a simple uprated filter perhaps?
Dump valve maybe - maybe a blow off valve rather than a re-curc valve...
Any suggestions or thoughts about what I've mentioned so far?
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o would really avoid the blow off dump valve :sick:
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Well it was just a thought at this moment... The HKS one I had on the Scoob when I first had it got taken off and changed for a standard re-circ one (god I'll get that spelling right if it kills me!! :laugh:) Also helped too with performance which was a good thing, although I couldnt understand why or how! :laugh:
What to do, what to do....
Anyone know of a good tuning place to talk too and to possibly get it rolling roaded at?? I would go down to Plymouth where I had my Scoob tested, but I was wondering if there might be something else where?? I'm in North Devon which is as per normal, miles from anything!! :laugh:
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S3 intercooler looks like the best option
DV - Forge
Brakes - Cant go wrong with AP
Intake - at least change the filter, quite a few induction style kits coming on the market now.
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....Phill, regarding brakes : -
You don't need to change the rear stock brakes on the Mk5 GTI - Most braking is done on the front and the AP 4-pots will stop your car very effectively from any speed (subject to tyres and road surface). Their 6-pots are overkill unless you do loads of track days and even then the 4-pots are plenty adequate. Pedal response on the AP's is far better than stock.
The AP Racing Big Brake Kit CP5200-1056 definitely fit both Monza 17 and 18's : -
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/RedRobin_05/AP_Brake_17s_1.jpg)
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as per the other thread , I reckon an LSD may be an effective £/potential improvement mod.
so
LSD
AP up front
and maybe some susp changes+ARB's
air filters/exhaust etc are all lovely (and I want them too lol) but if you find ESP intrusive then maybe this should be your first mod?
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as per the other thread , I reckon an LSD may be an effective £/potential improvement mod.
so
LSD
AP up front
and maybe some susp changes+ARB's
air filters/exhaust etc are all lovely (and I want them too lol) but if you find ESP intrusive then maybe this should be your first mod?
....Nearly everyone I've spoken to who has experience of a LSD, and especially the Quaife ATB version, says that it's a mod which is easily overlooked or it's dismissed as expensive. It obviously comes into play more when driving enthusiastically or on poorer/greasy road surfaces. It greatly helps FWD cars and especially those with bigger bhp.
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I reallt dont think the standard brakes are bad. I done various track days on the standard ones without any issues. Its only when I got serious I wanted the upgrade.
Of course the downside with the Uprated brakes its the expensive replacement parts like pads and discs.
Have you though about upgrading to the R32/Cupra/S3 345mm setup? Or even just changing the pads/fluid on the standard setup.
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I really dont think the standard brakes are bad.
....They're very good, but the AP's are simply much better and with better pedal response - As you already know. Good point about the expense of replacement parts though. Not so bad on the 4-pot pads.
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After having a few different brake setups on my Scoob, I've decided that decent brakes are just far more important than more power or any big exhausts...
I went from standard Scoob 4 pots to Brembo setup front and rear to the AP's and I can tell you now that I'd pay out that £3500 again for the security and power those brakes gave :)
Using the standard Golf ones you can feel they have a decent bite at first but after a second or two longer the brakes just feel like wood and dont feel like they are doing the car justice for the brakes. For a GTI being a decent hatchback, they should have at least sorted the front brakes out!! :lol:
As a rough guide for me, what sort of prices am I looking at for the upgrades parts (fitted that is, not just the parts lol) would cost?? I might be able to save some cash up over the course of the year whilst the warrenty is running out :lol:
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I've decided that decent brakes are just far more important than more power or any big exhausts...
I went from standard Scoob 4 pots to Brembo setup front and rear to the AP's and I can tell you now that I'd pay out that £3500 again for the security and power those brakes gave :)
Using the standard Golf ones you can feel they have a decent bite at first but after a second or two longer the brakes just feel like wood and dont feel like they are doing the car justice for the brakes. For a GTI being a decent hatchback, they should have at least sorted the front brakes out!! :lol:
....Since having my AP's I've always thought this but not had the courage to say so here! Cost for AP 4-pot fronts is about £1,700 for the Mk5 GTI.
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Having actually had the AP's you can feel the difference instantly and they are just so positive... :) £200 cheaper than the Scoob fitted but still worth while for damn sure :)
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....A friend who has a remapped Ferrari 360 (? it looks exactly like a 430) and tracks it, is so impressed that he wants some AP's!!
Getting more back to your original post, an air intake doesn't deliver much unless you also fit a Turbo-back exhaust plus remap. If you want to keep the stock engine cover box then an ITG Pro is probably the best panel filter.
What do you mean by a "front mount" - A front strut? - The Mk5 GTI chassis is considered especially good and unless you do some serious track work with roll cage mods etc, I'm not sure it's worth it.
Are you thinking of doing quite a few mods and would you be going as far as things like a LSD diff, engine mounts, professionally sorted suspension?
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On the topic of air intakes, Neuspeed do an intake for the GTI. They also do a replacement carbon fibre engine cover that fits the kit. You can get it at AwesomeGTI, you can see it here under the Carbino intake:
http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/vw%20golfmk5/engine.html
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....There are quite a few aftermarket intakes available for the 2.0T FSI, and always quite a bit of debate about how effective they are or aren't. If I've learnt anything it's that the filter is a very important component.
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There's always been talk about whether or not something is as effective as another, its just the way it'll always be!
Sounds like brakes and air filter and possibly cat back exhaust... :) I aint gonna be all to bothered about a re-map but if it helps out with the power and torque figures, then it might be worth while :)
Oh and when I say a front mount, I mean a front mount intercooler or FMIC for short :) I saw a few on those Jap modded GTI's and well what more do I need to say?? :)
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Wish I had some spare cash for upgrades :huh:
Just finished uni and work part time at the moment. Car eats away at my monthly pay, but its well worth it :grin:
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Wish I had some spare cash for upgrades
....The Ed30 as standard is an excellent and well powered car - Enjoy! :smiley:
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Using the standard Golf ones you can feel they have a decent bite at first but after a second or two longer the brakes just feel like wood and dont feel like they are doing the car justice for the brakes. For a GTI being a decent hatchback, they should have at least sorted the front brakes out!! :lol:
Its something i have never understood that the GTi & Ed30 models both had the same brake set up @ 320mm(same as mk4 golf) but its stablemate Cupra had the 345mm set up at the very least the ed30 should have had them too.Its something i have opted for and purchased the R32 set up.