GTD rear bumper valance (diffuser)

[Sootchucker]

Ever since I got the GTD, I've been on the lookout for a new rear diffuser as I always thought VW should have done a GTD unique one (like they did with the GTI), rather than share the same part with the rest of the Golf range. One option was to replace the standard exhaust with the GTI style twin exit units with the GTI valance, but I wasn't sure over this as a) I didn't want the car to be a GTI wannabe, and b) the expense - aftermarket exhausts (from e.g. Miltek, Cobra etc.) along with the GTI valance are going to run at £600-900.

Anyway in my quest, I found this which would allow me to keep the standard exhaust. It's from Caractere, but not sure of price yet as they are pretty rare. Just wondering what the GTD brigade think of this - cool or to over the top (please ignore the rest of the bodykit) ?

[simonj67]

Looks like a complete replacement bumper? So could be expensive with part and painting.
Just fitted Rieger front splitter to mine and looking for something subtle for the rear, thinks that one is nice but as above costly.

[Sootchucker]

Nah, the UK distributer has confirmed it uses the standard bumper and is just the black lower valance / diffuser. Still expect it to be around the £250-£300 mark though.

[p3asa]

It certainly looks like a new bumper as the bottom part where the diffuser goes looks too angular. The original sweeps round. Plus the white that runs around the hexagonal inlay looks suspiciously like a new bumper or would this be white regardless of what colour your car is?

Is it not yourself that has red GTD badges front and back? Why? because you like them not because you are trying to be like a PP GTI. Same applies with the exhaust. If you really like the diffuser from that then go for it.

[Sootchucker]

Yes, mine has Red badges, but not to look like a GTI (as most of them around me have Chrome badges - not may PP types it would seem), but mainly because on a white car (especially on the tailgate), the chrome badges looked a little lost in the sea o white, so the highlighting just helps bring it out.

With regards the above bumper, like I say, the importer assured me it fit's the standard bumper with no modifications. He sent me the catalogue, and it has a line image of the diffuser (albeit the one with two exhaust cut outs - there are two options), as below

[simonjj]

I can see now from the line image and looking at the first picture that you posted the grey area below the number plate i thought was white paint with the new item underneath but it actually overlays on top of the original bumper, idea on price from supplier?

[kalimon]

It gets my vote.
I think it's a nice improvement

[Exonian]

That works for me.
It looks quite bulky and the photo(shop?) car comes with huge wheels and side skirts which balance this out.
You might need to run rear spacers to stop it looking a bit heavy, but I might be wrong. The difference between studio shots with clever lighting and a wet February day in the UK are significant!

Does it need painting or does it come in a satin finish?

In the pic in post 1 it looks shiny around the top edges but that's obviously to highlight the angles and design.

[kalimon]

Them wheels should be standard on the R.
That would stop all the Pret vs Cadiz arguments once and for all.

[dubber36]

I think it looks odd with the visible exhaust pipes. The honeycombed center section looks like it's pretending to be an oversized Lamborghini style exhaust, but still has the standard tailpipes next to it.