Recommended upgrades for a stock MK1 to make it an enjoyable daily

[joshcrd]

Plenty of info on here but nothing definitive (although thats expected being a forum)

This seems to be what I've gathered

1) suspension - (coilovers handle better but a little stiffer, spring/shock combo are not height adjustable but will provide a smoother ride) for me im going for comfort, but still want it to corner well. Just enough for my passengers to get out of the car without any damaged vertebrae from hitting a pot hole

2) brakes - stock ones are horrible and a lot of people do some sort of brake upgrade, although seemingly most are from different cars and require some custom cutting/welding to fit to the mk1, are there any bolt on options

3) engine - im getting my carby rebuilt and tuned by an expert so this should make it run a lot smoother and more fuel efficient, what other under the bonnet mods can be done to make it a bit more enjoyable to drive

any other ideas, being a daily a big thing for me is reliability, I hava a 2012 118tsi that the mrs drives this is just to get to and from work and then one day have some fun and put a 1.8t or some other mods
but for the time being im going for ride comfort and reliability

[mikinoz]

I can only advise on what I have done in the past so here goes;

- Weitec GT coilovers ride nicely and are not too expensive without being rubbish
- Look for a GTI front brake upgrade (larger discs and callipers) and possibly a larger rear drum arrangement (i might have some of these somewhere actually)
- Look at getting a Weber for a bit more poke. If a 1.8t is your thing, then make sure you do your homework.

Keep reading whatever you can about MK1 - that is the only way to learn!

[joshcrd]

thanks mik your info is really helpful

[joshcrd]

I can only advise on what I have done in the past so here goes;

- Weitec GT coilovers ride nicely and are not too expensive without being rubbish
- Look for a GTI front brake upgrade (larger discs and callipers) and possibly a larger rear drum arrangement (i might have some of these somewhere actually)
- Look at getting a Weber for a bit more poke. If a 1.8t is your thing, then make sure you do your homework.

Keep reading whatever you can about MK1 - that is the only way to learn!

also let me know if you wanna sell the brakes

[GeorgeMK1]

Id actually recommend getting some HID's. Ive got some and they light the road up amazingly. Theres all types of colours if you want to be different, or if you want standard headlight colours, ask for 4.3K HID's. They are the standard ones

[Jarred]

Upgraded brakes are by far the most important I think.

GTI discs and calipers and a mk 3/seat booster master cylinder upgrade will make it feel and stop like a much newer car.

If you just want to improve comfort, I wouldn't bother with coilovers, I'd just look at refreshing the standard stuff. Alot of cup kits will have much firmer springs, so make sure you look around before you buy.

Just remember it's a 30 year old car. so most things are 30 years old.
As for reliability I think replacing/rebuilding/upgrading the fuelling and ignition systems on the car are a good start.

[abreut]

If you want the car to feel more stable and enjoyable to drive I reckon the biggest bang for buck is a set of 2nd-hand gti sway bars, and make up a brace to join the 2 front A-arm bolts. Obviously brakes and at least new shocks are important too, but the sway bars and brace will transform the feel of the car straight away.

[Lima]

A healthy can of reliability is all you need.