Hi all, new Golf GTI owner :)

[cossiegaz82]

Hi Gaz,

Welcome to the GTI fold - I'm running a 2014 GTI PP Manual and have lowered mine on Eibach Sportlines which give a reasonable drop and keep a reasonable amount of the comfort (even on the 19" wheels I'm on now). I've had mine on for around 2 years now on Standard shocks with no issues.

As for a remap, whatever you go for, make sure it's a "low torque" map. The clutch on the manuals is very marginal and there have been quite a few reported cases of it slipping at stage 1. Mine did when I fitted a tuning box (that said, I'd still recommend the tuning box - DTUK). I'd say to get the feeling of speed go for the pedal box as advised above. Alternatively factor in for a replacement uprated clutch at around £600 plus fitting as a GTI PP at stage one is a very rapid, enjoyable and easy drive.

Hi mate,

How much do the Sportlines lower the car by? I don't want to go too low as there are some fairly nasty speed bumps near where my daughter lives so I don't want to end removing my bumper every time I go over them! 

Same goes for the ride quality too, I don't want to make it too harsh a ride as my daughter is in the car quite often (she's only 2) and she's happier in the Golf than the Focus so far so don't want to make it worse.

Someone did say to me that the clutches are a bit poo and that I should have gone the DSG route but I test drive a DSG GTI and didn't really like it compared to a manual one plus I really hate the fart noises they make! I've seen the uprated clutches so if I go for a remap, I'll put a clutch in before the remap, won't take long to do  I'd rather do the clutch as I know I'll regret not going for the proper remap! Lol!

Are there any particular remaps/tuners to go for/to or avoid in people's experience?

They quote 30mm front and 20mm rear.

I've not caught mine on any speed bumps at all in the 2 years I've had them on. I've got those annoying square speed bumps as well as full width ones too.

I find comforts okay too, although I now go slower over some stuff than before. If comfort is more important, there's always the Eibach pro kit which lowers the front slightly less and keeps pretty much all the standard comfort (so I've been told, not used them myself).

As for remaps, I've never mapped mine, just fitted a tuning box, but I'm well happy with it (apart from the crap standard clutch).

I think I'm going to go for the Pro kit I think, I've seen a few pics of GTI's with those fitted and that's about right for me!

I'll just stick an uprated clutch in it when the time comes for looking at maps, it'll only wind me up if I map
it then it slips its nuts off under boost! For the sake of a couple of hours work, I'd rather just get it out of the way!

[cossiegaz82]

Hi, Gaz

I'm rolling on a PP manual with the following upgrades.
Racing line springs.
Apr mapped high output.
Sachs uprated clutch
Racing line R600 intake
Racing line intake
Racing line Elbow
Racing line turbo muffler delete

Wheels 3sdm 0.09 18's 8.5j custom colour.
Interior P3gauge with track spec.
Exterior Maxton front splitter
Rear valance gloss black.

Hello mate,

How does the uprated clutch feel? I'm assuming it's just a normal friction plate with a heavy duty pressure plate? Is the pedal a lot harder than standard?

[Jdm owner]

Clutch feels a lot better, however pedal is still only realy notice on stop start traffic.
Clutch is a must on manual if mapped.
Was advised whilst getting the APR tune clutch will need updating.
I choose Sachs, however some peeps are running TTrs version.

[Burger81]

My mods that I’d recommend to you:

Revo remap stage 1 - my clutch is fine so far. Will be next thing to do. A few people have said the clutches are a known weak point, my local vw specialist said they’ve seen some go at 4000 miles and some last like normal so they seem very hit and miss.
Turbo technics hose
Revo Lower torque mount
VW racing springs - drops height 20-30mm and I find the ride still really good and I haven’t had any problems with speed bumps. I live on an almost finished new development and the bumps here are huge and I’ve had no catching at all.

I’ve also moved to 19 inch Revo RV019 wheels which are lighter and wider and they fill the arches better than the standard 18s.
As you’ve already got 19s I’d definitely think about spacers as someone else said. They’d look good if lowered too.

Let us know what you go for.

[cossiegaz82]

Clutch feels a lot better, however pedal is still only realy notice on stop start traffic.
Clutch is a must on manual if mapped.
Was advised whilst getting the APR tune clutch will need updating.
I choose Sachs, however some peeps are running TTrs version.

Thanks mate, I think I will stick a clutch in it as I can't be arsed dealing with a slipping clutch! If something isn't 100% as it should be, it does my nut in! Lol!

Be a while before I remap it though due to still being in warranty.

I'm only worried about the heavy clutch pedal as I smashed my left knee to bits in motorbike accident when I was 22 so it doesn't deal with a heavy pedal too well! Everyone says I should have gone DSG but I much prefer a manual!

[cossiegaz82]

My mods that I’d recommend to you:

Revo remap stage 1 - my clutch is fine so far. Will be next thing to do. A few people have said the clutches are a known weak point, my local vw specialist said they’ve seen some go at 4000 miles and some last like normal so they seem very hit and miss.
Turbo technics hose
Revo Lower torque mount
VW racing springs - drops height 20-30mm and I find the ride still really good and I haven’t had any problems with speed bumps. I live on an almost finished new development and the bumps here are huge and I’ve had no catching at all.

I’ve also moved to 19 inch Revo RV019 wheels which are lighter and wider and they fill the arches better than the standard 18s.
As you’ve already got 19s I’d definitely think about spacers as someone else said. They’d look good if lowered too.

Let us know what you go for.

Hi mate ,

Yeah it was the Revo stage 1 I was considering but I will wait until the warranty is up before I do it. I may do a couple of bolt on bits but nowt major as it's easily removed! Lol!

I've got 19" Santiago wheels on mine so I'll stick with those. I'll be ordering the Eibach Pro Kit springs and 15mm rear/12mm front spacers for it in the next week or so. Should sit much nicer then! The way it sits is about the only thing that's bugged me about the car really. That and the fact I can't turn the ESC completely off!

I don't mind doing the suspension while it's still under warranty as there isn't really that much to go wrong with it plus if something does go wrong, I can fix it myself. Engine and box is a bit different though, they're a bit dearer to fix if it all goes Pete Tong! Lol!

[hog_hedge]

I have the pro kit on 19's and you will be very impressed. I love it.

[cossiegaz82]

I have the pro kit on 19's and you will be very impressed. I love it.

Good stuff! 👍🏻

Do you have any pics of how it sits please mate?