Performance upgrades

[soulman_uk]

car: vw golf 1.6s 2001

Ok had my golf a little while, not too many grunbles had a few comon problems window regulators going, bootlight not working and oddly the cambelt tensioners needed doing at low mileage.

Ok all these posts about upgrades etc are like someone talking cling-on to me ... I'm not getting some of it.

So basically where do you start ? (not looking at cosmetic stuff yet, maybe later)

how tunable is this car. Its bog standard and the only thing special about it is me driving it 

be grateful if someone could break it down to me.  in simple terms

[GolfGL]

As i think most other people will agree money spent modding a 1.6 would pay the insurance and additional money for a 1.8 turbo with potential from 150bhp-400 maybe more if you dont mind a rebuild every week .
But if you still want to go for start with either a modded air box or induction kit, cat back exhaust and a remap if they make one. All of this will cost upwards of £600 and will simply remove the vw restrictions on your cars breathing and remap changes the fueling ratio etc parameters expect 0-20bhp if they do a remap. Then the only other stuff would be uprated suspension with either springs, springs and matched dampes or coilovers and some better brakes either fast road pads or pads and drilled/groved discs. This lot will cost anything from £150 for the minimum to £600 for coilovers and nice break setup. Not BHP improving modifications but say on a track would result in better times because of braking and cornering ability. hope it helps.

[soulman_uk]

I get what your saying about getting a 1.8t, just looking to do a few bits and bobs to keep me out of trouble 

ok so first step is an induction kit \ modded air box what exactly is that ?

then a new exhaust, brakes, suspension. then I guess its cosmetics.

I guess this isnt really the most tuneable car. 

I used to drive a pugeot 306 nice car, acceleration was a lot faster but it was a smaller car. Can I improve the acceleration on my golf?

[Ivor Mk4 Turbo]

I get what your saying about getting a 1.8t, just looking to do a few bits and bobs to keep me out of trouble

ok so first step is an induction kit \ modded air box what exactly is that ?

then a new exhaust, brakes, suspension. then I guess its cosmetics.

I guess this isnt really the most tuneable car.

I used to drive a pugeot 306 nice car, acceleration was a lot faster but it was a smaller car. Can I improve the acceleration on my golf?

Yeah, you might be able to squeeze another real 5 bhp out of it, but for your money, peeps are just trying to say that it's just not worth it. 

Just my 2p, but I think you're better off leaving the 1.6 standard, & start saving your pennies for your next car.

[GolfGL]

With the acceleration you cant make much of a difference mainly due to power to wieght ratio so unless you strip the car completely which isnt really practicall you cant. The air filter with an exhaust may give you a slight increase in responsivness. i started a topic on smoothing and air filter the other day, go to the link and it talks about the process.