Just bought a '97 mk3 2.0 GTi 16v...

[Roachford]

And already I want more... don't we all though :-)  Am pleased to be able to join the GTi club and will be especially pleased with any help you guys and gals will be able to offer with my first question about my new motor.

I have a budget of about ?1500 and am considering upgrading shocks/springs, brakes, and SPEED! Shocks/springs/brakes seem affordable, but are turbo kits available for the '97 2.0GTi 16v? If so, are they likely to eat all my ?1500 budget? My web searches so far for turbo/turbo kits/turbocharger don't seem to mention this model and age of Golf specifically so I'm a bit confused. I guess I need to take the beast to a friendly tuning shop and have a chat, but the advice of a bunch of mk3 owners can't be beaten!

Thanks again, Roach.

[Roachford]

Thanks VR6 - yep I think you're dead right. Have a budget within normal realms so a turbo definitely sounds not worth it. Will sacrifice some creature comforts for a while to do brakes & hoses, shocks & springs, cams and chip - have K&N filter & cat-backwards twin pipes on already. I take it a full exhaust with no cat makes it dodgy? Lovin it, lovin it, lovin it, though.  It was worth the cash just for the flippin noise. When the performance tops up, especially below 4k revs, I'll be grinning even wider.  

[Roachford]

Ta for that. Will leave the cat in situ, I need to keep this road legal and am not even likely to be doing track days.

[modulater]

You can remove the cat and fit a through pipe but will need to fit the cat back on the car for the MOT, also if your stopped for a roadside emissions check you'll probably be in the sh!t. Best bet is leave it in place.

I would get the car chipped as this works wonders on the MK3 16V, you can get in the region of 170bhp and the response of the engine will be so much better. Also K&N filter is compulsory I would say on the 16V as is a sports exhaust.

Look on the forums for bits and maybe try the autojumbles at shows and you could get hold of some bargains.

[Judderi]

I have the same motor and am seriously thinking of chipping it but dont know exactly which route to take. can you get ready made chips or are you best getting a programable one and a session on a rolling road with a professional?