Cost of handling?

[moby]

Hi all! I'm the proud new owner of a 3 dr mk4 20vt, I been well informed and went ahead with the buy after mates have been constantly droning it into me 

I'm looking to spend a bit on it, just wanted to make clear that I aint too bothered with ride quality just want good handling and more power later on. Just wanted some ideas as to what sort of setup peeps have on here and the cost of these goodies! jap stuff tends to be cheaper so I'm told you can guess what I came from lol

[shaft69]

Transform handling by fitting rear arb. But even better fit some decent suspension like koni st-r kit I have it  on mine very good.

[rockmonkey69]

Hi and welcome! The mk4 isn't renowned for handling but pretty much anything can be made to handle well with the right modifications and money as you rightly mentioned. Like yourself I set out to improve the handling of my car as I do the occasional track day it is of great importance to me. Below is some of my modification off the top of my head, probably left some out but you get the idea:

I use bilstein b16 pss9 coilovers - £~1400
Compbrake solid top mount bearings - £~200
NEX 4 pot large piston brakes on 330mm two piece floating rotors $~1800
Audi s3 lower front strut brace
Upper frot strut brace
Upper rear strut brace
Neuspeed 25mm front antiroll bar - £~180
Neuspeed 25mm rear antiroll bar - £~180
Powerflex rear dog bone bush
Super pro dog bone bush
Super pro steering rack bush
Super pro castor front wishbone rear bush
Super pro front wishbone front bush
Powerflex rear trailer arm bush
Solid subframe bush
Rota grids wrapped all wrapped in advan ad08 - £~1300
Baffled sump

After this I stripped the car down to further improve handling, it is now down to 1100kg +/- 20kg (mine is a 5 door though) the mk4 is a heavy old girl and while stripping the car might not be appropriate for everyone it was something I could live with everyday, what it really needs from here is a good LSD.

If your only looking to use the mk4 for fast road driving then you would probably be better off leaving the interior alone.

[DunnDeal12]

the mk4 chassis is rubbish for handling anyway even if you do all of the above but the 1.8t engine is immense for tuning.

[cullygti]

the mk4 chassis is rubbish for handling anyway even if you do all of the above but the 1.8t engine is immense for tuning.

completely agree with that

[DunnDeal12]

the only engine i no of that is completely versatile. ko3-ko3s-ko3 hybrid-ko4-ko4 hybrid virtually plug and play.

[rockmonkey69]

the mk4 chassis is rubbish for handling anyway even if you do all of the above but the 1.8t engine is immense for tuning.

completely agree with that

I have to disagree, I have done all of the above - The above list is in actual fact my suspension setup, I don't know what suspension modifications you have to be fit to say so definitively the handling on my mk4 is "rubbish" however having owned an ep3 I am able to make a good comparison with what many consider to be a good benchmark. So while it isn't the greatest handling fwd or particularly good value to modify the mk4 chassis, I will say that it has got potential.

I just think handling and braking is more important, I am aware a large majority are more inclined to slam and make their golf 'scene' and 'sick' over handling, which I find not least ironic that they should see themself fit to give advise on handling.

I would also throw this out there for people to consider:
2jz stock engine capable of 600bhp
K20 (type r engine) stock engine capable of 500bhp
Sr20 (Nissan primera gt) stock engine capable of over 400bhp
1.8t stock capable of 300bhp/ft-lb immense? 

I like VAG but I would not say that the: "1.8t is immense for tuning" in fear that I would come across as naive, there are a number of engines that are truly deserving of being called immense. If I'm honest, the 1.8t engine is no more immense for tuning that it's chassis.

[JimBR]

JOM coilovers and ebay bushes are your best bet imo

[cullygti]

i was on about the handling tbf the mk4 is sh!t at handling no matter how many words you throw at it unless you spend an immense amount of money which most ppl wont its sh!t no other words just sh!t 

[moby]

the mk4 chassis is rubbish for handling anyway even if you do all of the above but the 1.8t engine is immense for tuning.

completely agree with that

I have to disagree, I have done all of the above - The above list is in actual fact my suspension setup, I don't know what suspension modifications you have to be fit to say so definitively the handling on my mk4 is "rubbish" however having owned an ep3 I am able to make a good comparison with what many consider to be a good benchmark. So while it isn't the greatest handling fwd or particularly good value to modify the mk4 chassis, I will say that it has got potential.

I just think handling and braking is more important, I am aware a large majority are more inclined to slam and make their golf 'scene' and 'sick' over handling, which I find not least ironic that they should see themself fit to give advise on handling.

I would also throw this out there for people to consider:
2jz stock engine capable of 600bhp
K20 (type r engine) stock engine capable of 500bhp
Sr20 (Nissan primera gt) stock engine capable of over 400bhp
1.8t stock capable of 300bhp/ft-lb immense? 

I like VAG but I would not say that the: "1.8t is immense for tuning" in fear that I would come across as naive, there are a number of engines that are truly deserving of being called immense. If I'm honest, the 1.8t engine is no more immense for tuning that it's chassis.

LOL its true! I got a m8 who says you aint dubbin unless your rubbin and those type r are pretty rapid! he had a go at a type r before in his mapped 1.8t and couldnt overtake it. nyway thats a mahoosive suspension spec you got dere. I aint looking for somethin as extreme as yours but i aint goin for JOM either. Think Im less like the typical lot dat just slams their golfs for the scene look so im probly goin for kw variant 1 or hicon gt also how you find your golf compare to the type r in handling rockmonkey?