A Wolf in Sheep's clothing?

[MS1COYS]

Hi Y'all 

I started a thread on the 'first time owners' forum, but thought I'd move across to the MKV specific forum, I was going to settle on the Dub projects thread, but as I have had very little to do with the physical labour involved in modifying my car, I decided not too.

So, I bought the car as a birthday present for myself in February. I had initially opted for a Type-R, but having a rather considerable, 6' 3", 280lbs frame, I found the bucket seats almost unbearable in the kidney and upper back area and decided against it and went instead in favour of the GTI.

I'm so glad I did though, as I now realise that stealthy, almost standard looks can be achieved in the GTI with relative ease, whereas the Type-R looks anything but stealthy, even as standard, it's more 'in your face, spaceship' than 'a wolf in a sheep's clothing'

I searched the country high and low for a standard GTI, with full a VW service history and also full anthracite leather interior, with a full winter pack. I found the GTI I was looking for in Camberley, Surrey. It had done 31k and was reasonably priced at £8,500.

I always had it in the back of my mind, that the only mod I would carry out was a remap and that would more be than enough. I never thought for one minute, I would get the bug quite as badly as I have done, anyway a few thousand pounds later and I'm still deliberating as to whether or not I need to book myself in at the 'Priory'!

Every single piece of work that I have had done, has been carried out by my good friends at Vallis Auto Centre, Frome, Somerset. These guys looked after my previous two cars, over the last three years, both of them, remapped, turbo-diesels. (Since my move to South Devon I now use Mark Burley from MB Motorsports. Genius and all round good guy. Was head engineer at Marcos and an engine development director for Cosworth. Now specialises in TVR'S and high performance tuning, as well as owning Quantum kit cars)

The only real provisos, I gave Malcolm, the owner, was that the car was to remain as cosmetically standard as possible and that I would prefer as many parts as possible, to be non-mainstream, so that the chances of bumping into other GTI enthusiasts, with the same parts as on my car, was to say the least, only, a very remote possibility..... other than that, he was able to have pretty much a full reign.

With over 40 years experience in the trade and over 20 years racing experience, on top of the fact that these guys are VAG freaks and themselves own only, VW's, Audi's and Seat's, I had no qualms about the after market service I was receiving. After all, Malcolm owns a 220bhp, MK2 GTI and also a 250bhp Cupra 'R' and his son, Gary, owns a 280bhp Cupra 'R', all completely race spec.






Attached is the full list of modifications completed thus far;

Evolution custom map
Longlife T-304 80mm stainless exhaust w/ sports cat
Raid HP T-304 stainless/silicon cold air induction system (Capable of 152ltrs p/second. OEM capable of only 112ltrs p/second)
Forge twin-intercooler
Forge diverter valve
EBC Front 312mm dimpled and grooved discs.
EBC Rear  285mm dimpled and grooved discs.
EBC Front/Rear 'yellowstuff' racing pads
Dot 5.1 Brake fluid
Poly-Pro Front and Rear
Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit
APR torque arm
ECS Dogbone Insert *
BSH PCV *
Goodridge stainless steel brake hoses
18" Monza alloys - Anthracite (refurbished)
Wolfsburg 'Golf Ball' Shifter *
Heko wind deflectors *
Black/Red front grille badge *
Black rear trunk badge *
Full colour coding (gun metal grey)
Full anthracite leather interior
Full winter pack

* - Modification added at later date.














I will continue to add some decent photos of the engine bay, interior etc and particularly the Longlife stainless exhaust system, when I have a minute to grab a camera and get it up on ramps.

I have yet to take the car to a rolling road, but my finest guesstimate would be somewhere in the region of 270bhp.

The car has the most incredible power delivery, with a non too raw linear surge all the way up to 43mph in 1st gear alone, accompany that with a solid 2nd gear capable of a smooth and yet relentless delivery of torque, all the way along to 70mph in roughly 6.1 seconds.

I've never done a timed run to 60mph, but I guess it would be somewhere between 5.2 and 5.4 seconds. However the most impressive part of the power delivery, is a booming 3rd gear, capable of propelling the car from as low down as 30mph, up to a mind boggling 90mph and that's generally the range in which I drive the car.

However, the other day on the Autobahn  , I was bumbling along in 6th at 80mph and I suddenly found myself in a potentially, straight line sprint with what seemed to be, a modded Astra VXR (I saw a sneaky front mounted intercooler), who was pretty much cemented to my rear bumper at this point. With one final look in my rear view mirror, I noticed the VXR was just about to 'drop a cog' and 'undertake' me, so I dropped 2 cogs and floored it...... the next time I looked down at the counter, I was nudging 140mph and had just passed the 6,000rpm mark. Another glance in the rear view mirror and the VXR was a mere spec in the mirror, straight away I made a point by slowing right down to 60mph and pulling into the inside lane, about 3 or 4 hours later, he passed me in the middle lane and without braking stride, or even glancing in my direction, he duly flipped the 'wayne kerr' sign at me......I guess he wished he bought a GTI, who knows?!?!

Anyway thank you for the taking the time to read my post. I would be grateful for any tips, hints, help, advice etc, that anyone is willing to throw in my direction.

Also I am looking for a second hand Carbonio end filter, to fit onto my induction system. If anyone has one going cheap, I will happily buy at the right place.

Regards

 

Ps. My average fuel economy on the motorway, is 31-33mpg and round town is probably 23-25mpg (max)
 and when I floor it constantly it is about 18mpg.

Are these pretty normal figures in any of your's experiences?

Here's some more photos....

[Mark Hateley FF]

I like 5 door Golf and your alloys. Looks sweet 

[MS1COYS]

Thanks Mark 

[bacillus]

I would edit your speed figures as it may land you in trouble with the law as you are publically admitting to a motoring offence.

[Mr Savage]

I would edit your speed figures as it may land you in trouble with the law as you are publically admitting to a motoring offence.

Look's stunning mate. The GTI is a lot more subtle than it's rivals but I think it's the little details that make it still look fantastic. Those monza's for example, great job on the refurbish, who did them? I'm guessing they got sprayed in the process?

The Golf has a  lot of power and an excellent way of delivering it. 71 MPH in second gear? Don't go blow up your engine! 

[MS1COYS]

Cheers for the head up Bacillus, much appreciated. 

[MS1COYS]

"Look's stunning mate. The GTI is a lot more subtle than it's rivals but I think it's the little details that make it still look fantastic. Those monza's for example, great job on the refurbish, who did them? I'm guessing they got sprayed in the process?"

Mr. Savage. I completely agree, the GTI is a lot more subtle than it's rivals, no garish spoilers, side skirts etc. The wheels were refurbished by a guy called Adam, from Alloy Wheel Specialists in Cheddar, Somerset. He travelled all the way to Frome, about a 60 mile round trip all told and did the job for £240, he even left me with a repair kit, consisting of, anthracite paint and clear lacquer. He's top lad and I'd recommend him to anyone.  I don't know the exact process he went through, but the whole wheels are completely smooth and defect free throughout, so I can only presume they were sprayed? It took him 8 hours in total to complete the job.

"The Golf has a lot of power and an excellent way of delivering it. 71 MPH in second gear? Don't go blow up your engine!" 

I'm pretty tame with her most of the time mate, she's my only car after all, so I can't go blowing the buggery out of her, every time I step in it. She does have incredible power delivery though and not the slightest bit of wheel spin in the dry through 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear, however the same cannot be said for wet conditions, a closely controlled throttle is required at all times, to avoid loosing all traction and bringing your time on this earth to an abrupt end 

A close friend of mine has a standard, 05' Bmw M3 and both cars are almost identically matched between 20mph and 90mph in 2nd and 3rd gear, having said that, he is a bit of a plumb when it comes to driving, so I dare say he loses a few tenths in gear changes 

[AndyG]

Your car does sound and look in good nick but forgive me but the front looks a different shade to the rear. It may just be the angle that the picture was taken I can't decide.

[MS1COYS]

@Andy.

I see what you mean, trust me, it's just the shadow of the house, as the sun sets behind it. It does look a few shades darker though, I'll give you that! I even had to go and check, to make sure. 

[AndyG]

Fair comment,the car rally does look mint.