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?

[cossiegaz82]

I'd definitely recommend a pedalbox too. If you have the original tyres still then I assume they are Pirellis. I had them and found them to be good, I kept them rotated so all 4 were replaced at 20k miles. They did get the traction control light on fairly easily especially in the wet and/or cold which has virtually been eliminated by the Michelin PS4S, a great tyre but I wouldn't suggest binning the Pirellis early. I have added an Audi short shift kit to mine, nothing particularly wrong with the standard setup but the Audi part tightens up the lever, makes it feel better, more mechanical and at around £45 with 20 minutes to fit was well worth it to me.

On the inside, an Audi 12v socket plug for under a fiver helps smarten things up, red leds in the footwells another cheap easy improvement, changing the oem left footrest for one with the same look as the pedals (from China but available on ebay sub £50) and an upgrade to the floormats to ones with a red border either oem or aftermarket looks good.

Hi mate, they're Dunlop Sport Maxx's on it at the mo. Is it Pirellis that are fitted as standard?

I'll probably leave the lever as is at the moment as it feels ok to me, always good to hear what mods other folk have done though! Might have a look at one of those footrest covers though!

Cheers mate!

[JB GTI]

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https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-RHD-VW-Golf-7-MK7-Seat-mk3-footrest-pedals-Car-pedal-Cover/32218031571.html

[cossiegaz82]

Nice one! Thanks mate

Looks a lot nicer than the standard one!

[gtiaps]

Hi Gaz and welcome you can't go wrong with the Gti a good all rounder iv had mine from new in 16 and 2yrs down the line I can't fault it.

As mentioned a dtuk pedal box the Ali express foot rest and replace the white footwell lights for red leds are great little mod starters I'm on 19" Santis and fitted spacers but decided not to lower it and the spacers give it a better stance imo but again welcome...

[maxie]

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when fitting the gti sill plates did you need to remove the door rubber first?

[Gnasher]

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).

[JB GTI]

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https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-RHD-VW-Golf-7-MK7-Seat-mk3-footrest-pedals-Car-pedal-Cover/32218031571.html

when fitting the gti sill plates did you need to remove the door rubber first?

No. All I did was have a couple of dry runs without removing the backing tape to work out how to hold them  and then a couple of bits of masking tape to make sure it was lined up straight and then went for it. 

[Jdm owner]

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.

[cossiegaz82]

Hi Gaz and welcome you can't go wrong with the Gti a good all rounder iv had mine from new in 16 and 2yrs down the line I can't fault it.

As mentioned a dtuk pedal box the Ali express foot rest and replace the white footwell lights for red leds are great little mod starters I'm on 19" Santis and fitted spacers but decided not to lower it and the spacers give it a better stance imo but again welcome...

Hi mate,

The Golf does seem a better all round car than my ST, just need to do a couple of little bits to it to make it my own 

Not going to go mad with it though as it's my daily, got my other car tucked away if I want to be silly!