stage 2 worth it?

[kryten2001]

I would also add that a stage 1 is enough unless your goal is to go mental. It's a great balance and you still have an oem feeling.

In my opinion if you start spending on a s2, you may as well spend that money on building your base for a s3.

Again it's all my opinion.. If I stopped at a tune I would have saved a bloody fortune and could still drive my car in the city without getting too much attention. S1 is a great compromise for Cost vs performance vs destroying oem...

And most certainly do not progress past s1 until you have your brakes, suspension, wheels and tyres totally and comprehensively sorted.

[walbjj]

The cost jump from stage 2 to 3 is a lot more than stage 1 to 2. This also stops a lot of people making that jump.
For me. Going to stage 2 didn't need any changes to brakes and my springs are only for lowering purposes.

[kryten2001]

Going to stage 2 didn't need any changes to brakes and my springs are only for lowering purposes.

The best advice I can give you is to ignore this stage 1-2-3 rubbish and focus on what you're trying to achieve, and what components will give you the best value for what you're seeking in conjunction with your longer term goals.

Do you want more engine power, better cornering, better braking - or all of the above? A Stage 3 will only give you power but ignores all the other arguably more important things.

In truth there are an infinite potential number of stages and not one of them is the only path (Theres a reason many people can't even agree what the stages are). You can't simply use an engine tuners marketing brief as what should be considered your upgrade path. Stages are for video gamers, not car builders.

But yeah back to your original question, I can only answer it from my own perspective. If you already have a tune on your GTI (k03) and are looking for the next phase, what you call a "Stage 2" is not worth it in my view - unless you are going to progress to a "stage 3". Your very next upgrade should be coilovers, brakes, wheels and tyres.

I never did end up finding out what constitutes a Stage 3 on a GTI anyway. Tell me fellas, is it a K04, or a GT2871 or a GT3071, or any big turbo other than the K03? If so, then is a Golf R or a Scirocco considered a detuned, restricted Stage 3?..... If it is, my Pirelli was stage 3 when it was built... It would be about a stage 5 by now..... It makes no sense.

[Guy_H]

Stage 6 is where its at in 2012

[kryten2001]

You know I'm down for it...... All the cool kids are doing it.

[bwen]

I never did end up finding out what constitutes a Stage 3 on a GTI anyway. Tell me fellas, is it a K04, or a GT2871 or a GT3071, or any big turbo other than the K03? If so, then is a Golf R or a Scirocco considered a detuned, restricted Stage 3?..... If it is, my Pirelli was stage 3 when it was built... It would be about a stage 5 by now..... It makes no sense.

From what I gathered on other forums is that:

Stage 1: reflash alone
Stage 2: upgraded hardware (stock turbo) + above
Stage 3: upgraded turbo (from what you currently have) + above
Stage 4: head work done + above

So I don't think a Golf R, Scirocco, Pirelli, ED35 would be a 'detuned stage 3' as it came from factory like that

[kryten2001]

From what I gathered on other forums is that:

Stage 1: reflash alone
Stage 2: upgraded hardware (stock turbo) + above
Stage 3: upgraded turbo (from what you currently have) + above
Stage 4: head work done + above

So I don't think a Golf R, Scirocco, Pirelli, ED35 would be a 'detuned stage 3' as it came from factory like that

Oh, but a Golf Edn30/Pirelli is exactly what you quote as being a stage 3 (as compared to a GTI!)... GTI with a larger turbo and some bolt ons and a tune! Following that logic, a stage 0 Pirelli is actually a stage 3 GTI.. What does that make a tuned Pirelli, given we use the same Stage 3 turbo kit a GTI uses?

It's so inconsistent as to be pointless as a baseline for comparison. Even APR themselves call both their K04 as well as their GT2871R a Stage 3 (which I guess it is for a GTI, but it's not for a Pirelli). What does that make a bog stock Pirelli, a stage 3 GTI?

My Pirelli has the GT2871R, what does that make it? (as it started out with a K04?).. A stage 3 Pirelli?.

Stage 3 Pirelli > Stage 3 GTI?.. Depends if it has a stage 3 K04 or a stage 3 GT2871.... What about people running GT3071's who don't have headwork done..

Stupid I says!.. Throw away this staging system. You got what you got... Simple as that.

[Lucas_R]

^
A stock Pirelli would be similar to a "stage 1" GTI i would think.

A "stage 1" tuned Pirelli would be similar to a "stage 2" GTI in my opinion. Although the Pirelli has the slightly larger turbo, both cars would be putting out similar power at this level.

A "stage 2" tuned Pirelli would be equivalent to a "stage 3" GTI. Both would have the K04 turbo, dump pipe and intake.

[bwen]

You got what you got... Simple as that.

Agreed

[kryten2001]

^

A "stage 2" tuned Pirelli would be equivalent to a "stage 3" GTI. Both would have the K04 turbo, dump pipe and intake.

Yet a Stage 3 kit for a GTI can include a GT2871R OR a K04....

Like I said it makes no sense whatsoever. The idea of saying a car is Stage 1, 2 or 3 is crazy as these 'stages' are inconsistent and also only focus on the engine.

An untuned Pirelli with a huge brake kit, coilovers and race rubber is what - a stage 1 GTI? Even though it has a K04, a tune and worked engine internals? (That's what the K03 boys would consider a stage 3!)

Anyway, I'm labouring the point somewhat, I know. It's just a personal pet peeve.