My thoughts after 3 days with the GTI

[entice]

Yes, I agree, the burble wont exist to the same extent. but I'm really chasing the depth in the note/tone. Remus, from past experience do a fantastic job of that. (hrmm, wonder if Borla, and supersprint have a fitment for the Mk6)

[ricksterrr]

Is it like that both to the front and the rear of the plastic 'skirt', on both the driver and passenger side of the car?
If so, that is by design. It's a harder rougher finish to protect the car from stones and other things which would scratch regular paint in that area.

Yup that's exactly it. And yet another thing I've learnt about the car now. Thanks, Coreying!

[Corey_R]

I started to research exhaust systems, including TBE, CBE and just rear muffler options. I must say, one of the disappointing things from watching the footage of the APR exhaust is the noise. Granted, I am listening to it through a notebook, but still, it sounded quite raspy and not very burbly. It sounded as though it would give me and more importantly she who must be obeyed the 5h1ts if we were to take a 90 min drive to the peninsula. Now that my be fine if your in your early twenties and the subwoofer can drown it out as required, but in my mid thirties with a baby seat in teh back, it isnt acceptable for me anymore.

I wouldn't discount APR yet. It's very difficult to determine what an exhaust is going to sound like from a youtube recording or whatever. It's especially difficult to determine how it's going to sound from inside the car, as typically the microphones people have in their camera equipment favours certain frequencies over others.

From your description, I believe you and I have similar concerns about exhaust noise. I had the APR 3" Quad trip TBE on my MKV GTI and it was awesome. The sound it made both inside and outside the car was favourably commented on by friends and family, both young and old. It had raspiness on acceleration and burbling off throttle and on gearshifts etc. Although I must say it was louder inside the car than I would have realy liked.

However, the new RSC technology exhausts (Reflective Sound Cancelation tech which they worked with NASA to produce) are, from everyone I've talked to, absolutely awesome when it comes to the interior sound and lack of 'drone'.

So you should talk to your local APR distributor and see whether they have a GTI with one of the exhausts installed and go for a drive in that. No matter which exhaust you pick, I'd advise that this is the ONLY true way that you're going to really know what to expect

[entice]

I wouldn't discount APR yet. It's very difficult to determine what an exhaust is going to sound like from a youtube recording or whatever. It's especially difficult to determine how it's going to sound from inside the car, as typically the microphones people have in their camera equipment favours certain frequencies over others.

...
So you should talk to your local APR distributor and see whether they have a GTI with one of the exhausts installed and go for a drive in that. No matter which exhaust you pick, I'd advise that this is the ONLY true way that you're going to really know what to expect

Wise words indeed.
Difficulty is locating these things and testing them.
Beauty of a mainstrem brand like APR is resale through this forum when I'm done.

Any preferences on intakes???

[Corey_R]

Any preferences on intakes???

When I get my Golf R, as well as the APR Stage II ECU and at least the APR 3" downpipe (if not the full exhaust once I've had the opportunity to listen to it installed in someone's car), I'll also get the Carbonio Cold Air Intake at the same time. It seems like a pretty good system, it's a newly updated design using a traditional cylinder shaped filter rather than a panel filter, and it now doesn't seem too bad value for money (many guys here spend more on their Polo GTI intakes using OEM skoda parts and BMC panel filters).
It'll also just be convenient that it can all be acquired and installed by the same place

[logger]

Keep in mind that its not a "Service Mode" for the whole car. It just relates to the windscreen wipers. I use it to lift the wipers off the windscreen when washing the car.

With the Ignition on just tap the wiper wand down a notch and let go. The wipers will go vertical and allow you to then lift them up off the windscreen and they'll "lock" into place (like normal wipers do from the horizontal position).

Axis, Just in case someone is scratching their head at your instructions, wondering why the procedure does not work. I think you meant to say With the Ignition Off didn't you? If you were to do as you described, the wipers will wipe once and return straight home.

So within a short period of turning the CAR/IGN off, tap the wiper wand down a notch and let go. Wipers will go to service position. If the IGN has been off for a while you will need to turn IGN On momentarily then back Off again, other wise it will not work.

To stow the wipers again, IGN on and tap the wiper wand down again or just drive off and they will stow at ~ 15kph.

[Leagle]

Poor Subaru. So many previous WRX owners are defecting to VW....

Its quite funny, from what I understand, Subaru customers wanted a more "refined WRX", and Subaru seemed to respond by softening styling rather than softening interior plastics! Little wonder so many are now considering VWs.

I too went from a WRX to a VW (though as you can tell from signature, a larger VW!). I did consider the new Liberty GT, but could not get past the boxy styling and hard plastics.

My new CC experience is similar to many of the comments for the GTi, though (straight line) performance is even better and the car is even more refined. It really is a (very) different class of car to the Subaru.

However (giving Subaru where credit is due), I have to say the WRX was still a more exciting drive and I do miss the Boxer rumble somewhat (the CC is Prius like quiet unless you pin the throttle or put the dsg into sports mode, when it does emit a very nice V6 snarl).

The thing with the CC though (and I imagine this applies somewhat to the Gti as well) is you don't get the same rush/sensation of speed as with the WRX, so its actually not as exciting to speed in. That could be a good or bad thing depending on your mood...

[Corey_R]

The thing with the CC though (and I imagine this applies somewhat to the Gti as well) is you don't get the same rush/sensation of speed as with the WRX, so its actually not as exciting to speed in. That could be a good or bad thing depending on your mood...

Yeah - this is very true. In my MKV GTI, even with the Stage II upgrades, people would think that they're doing the speed limit of 70 near my house, yet would actually be doing 110-120. I'd have to very quickly point out that they should look at the speedo!

[JohnA]

Poor Subaru. So many previous WRX owners are defecting to VW....

.

Also doesn't help that the WRX has been hit hit the ugly stick.

I remember when i purchased the my03, i couldn't wait till the 06 to get the STI, then i saw the big nose.....
well that was the end of that....then the 09 and we got the ugly betty....time to look elswhere

[Sharkie]

Solution to the rush of speed problem is easy .... fit a Stg 3 APR kit .... drove the APR test mule GTI a week ago and it was crazy .... massive power and rush of speed at the hint of a bit of throttle ....