Mods to the Mk6 GTI

[Nath]

Also posted on golfmk6.com

So some of you may have seen this in the greater scheme of things, but just wanted to bring up some of the mods that have been done to the Mk6 GTI since production started.

I'd never heard of it but there's some great articles on the VW Tunining Mag. For example the one on the mods undertaken by Wimmer RS taking the 211hp GTI and increasing its output to 386hp with 455Nm of torque to boot, that'll keep you busy in a FWD car

Amazingly from what I've read that takes it well beyond the 'R' to be realease in Aus later this year which will reportably have around 267hp and weigh around 200kgs more. Granted this is a full mod up to what i guess is termed Stg 3, but holy crap people....

Even the piece about bluefin is great seeing power increases of around 30(ish)hp and 50lb.ft in torque all for around £435.00, less than $1K, and then APR is looking at slightly better performance increases for around $2K and similar results from ABT with the ABT Power pack increasing bhp to 260bhp (191kw) or the Power S up to a whopping 300bhp (221kw).

Lots of interesting things going on overseas with mods to the car, shame we only get 1/100th of those types of options here in Aus. Even simple styling like that by ABT, APR or Caractere would add some spice to the local scene, and yes the APR and ABT may be available in Aus but I cant see I've seen or even heard of it being done.

Anyway, has anyone else seen, in the flesh or anywhere else, some mods of noticable mention?

[elisiX]

All you have to do is look at how far modding came with the MKV - it's bound to happen with the MKVI also I imagine.

We're certainly going to see some interesting things over the next 12 months.

[Corey_R]

For example the one on the mods undertaken by Wimmer RS taking the 211hp GTI and increasing its output to 386hp with 455Nm of torque to boot, that'll keep you busy in a FWD car

The APR Stage 3 kit does very similar gains. As for keeping you busy - I think you'd be surprised about that, because unlike many FWD cars, the Golf does not suffer from torque steer no matter how much power you put into it. So as long as you respect the throttle in the corners, the car is just as easy to drive as stock from what I've read. With the XDL, it's probably even easier than with the MKV.
I had 205KW and 430NM via a stage 2 upgrade in my MKV GTI, and it was so easy to drive your grandmother would be fine in it

Basically any non-engine upgrade that was available for the MKV will be already applicable to the MK6. ECU upgrades are already out, and engine upgrades are starting to trickle out.

As others have stated elsewhere, the car to get is still the Golf R. There is only a 125KG weight penalty this time for the Golf R over the GTI (as compared to the 200KG in the R32 vs MKV GTI) and the Golf R has the S3's engine. It can be pushed ever further for less $ and that AWD will simply destroy the GTI in acceleration.

I don't have exact acceleration figures (maybe Guy H can help), but a Golf GTI with Stage 3 upgrade cost around $14875 plus installation (Stage III w/ intercooler, fuel pump, air intake and full exhaust). This will give you 285KW and 450NM and allow you to do 0 to 100 in around 5.6 seconds.
It is also recommended that you upgrade the suspension and brakes, which can add another $4k to $9k depending on what you use.

So for the price as a Stage 3 GTI (without the brake/suspension upgrades) you could get a Golf R. It only has 200KW/350NM but because of the AWD it will do 0 to 100 in 5.5 seconds. It also already has better suspension and brakes. With a <$2k ECU update it will have 240KW/435NM and do 0 to 100 in close to 5 seconds, maybe even under!

So if that type of high performance is what you're seeking, unlike the R32 vs the MKV GTI, the Golf R is better value than the MK6 GTI.

[elisiX]

Great explanation Corey.

I think that is why I would not bother going any further than a Stage II upgrade to the GTI for fear of sinking way too many $$ into it when the R would have been a smarter/better base to begin with. However a Stage II tune, exhaust and intake should still bring some nice gains without absolutely blowing the bank. In many ways I wish I could have been patient enough to wait for the R or an S3 (which was what I intended on buying for months), but for me it was more than that. While I could afford the those more expensive options, I just didn't want to maintain payments on another 70k+ vehicle at this stage. There was a reason I sold my TT and moved to a Mazda 3 after all... lol.

[Corey_R]

Yeah...
The stage II GTI is awesome, as long as you're happy with the volume change from the exhaust (although you can just get the downpipe rather than the full exhaust). There isn't toooooo much power to be gained from going stage I to II, but at least on the MKV GTI it was much smoother throughout the entire power band whilst at the same time always seeming more 'ready' and immediate.
Having said that, Stage II is a significant cost over the Stage I, so I think either way people would be happy

[elisiX]

Yup well as I said in the other suspension modding thread, I would initially go with the Stage I and slowly move to the Stage II if I wanted to mix things up further.

Again, it'd be a case of riding with a few other members in their car's at GTG to do a little seat of the pants dyno testing.