$4k to upgrade a gti

[AusScare]

Hey there,

Just wondering what can be done with $4k to upgrade a mk2 gti as a daily and weekend windy rds car. Basically I'm buying a '91 gti off a VW mechanic from the gold coast and have some car cash left over.

It's the one on the left here http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...uinn/2mk2s.jpg

The first thing I can think of is coilovers, so that's a must, just not sure what types, hottuning? Only $800...

Power wise is probably fine for now since I'm under the new P laws, so no fi or mods (tho this one does have extractors).

So for $4k what are people's suggestions?

I was thinking:

• New headunit for ipod
• Coilovers
• Rear sway bar
• Strut brace
• Bigger brakes

Current wheels are 17s, so I'll see how they look with the body lowered, but not a fan atm. And I won't be buying everything at once, it'll probly go in the order above and just because I have $4k to spend, doesn't mean suggesting $2k Brembo's if a $1k kit will be excellent as well. Exhaust upgrades worth it?

All suggestions are welcome! Please try and post the price and where to buy if mentioning specific items.

edit: 2/4/09
Performance mods:

• Exhaust
• 2L bottom end
• Cam
• ?

Handling mods:

• Coilovers
• Strut brace
• Brakes
• Rear sway
• ?

[Spyda]

Dumb question.

If i had 4k it still wouldnt be enough and ive already got wheels, exhaust, coilovers, sterio etc....

It depends what you want out of the car man. Coilovers would be in, bigger brakes would be out, stock is enough to handle the 80kw. Power wise, if its an RV then you will want alot more. If its a daily a decent sterio would be a go, depending on how much music you like. Rear sway bars are an expensive way to show people you can bash round abouts. The stock handling is very good, the coilovers should firm things up then it just comes down to how you drive.

I rekon:
Sterio (depends on what you want)
Coilovers ($800 hottuning - $2000 KW)
2L bottom end ($500 if you do it yourself)
Cam ($350)
Strut brace ($140 from Tim)
and then some dress up bits (ebay is your friend)

[AusScare]

Sorry about the dumb question, I'm just not sure what things cost in regards to upgrading a mk2.

Looks like I'll just get the coilovers and hu for starters.

I want the car for good handling, and getting around town. After a while I'll probably try a track day or two.

edit: I've been told rear sways are quite good for the price ($200?)

[Golf Loon]

aliasMk2 on here has an ABF 16v engine and loom that would plug straight into your car
And he is up near you.

That would fix the Aussie Mk2 slow

[Jarred]

Since you cant mod the engine really, I'd stick to making it go and stop well.

A widetrack using mk 3 gear in combo with a big break upgrade & disc rear end would be a top idea I reckon.

If you want handling, I'd recommend a cupkit over hottunings. Since you've got a bit of dosh, look at getting some weitec coilovers or koni, there's a few options out there [I don't know them all]

Wide track + big brakes + decent susp + swap bars = great handling from an already very good chassis.

Sounds system, meh. Hey a radio and two speakers would be good enough for me.

Keep a bit aside for repairs etc too

[AusScare]

A widetrack using mk 3 gear in combo with a big break upgrade & disc rear end would be a top idea I reckon.

Widetrack? I think it already has rear discs, but yea was thinking some nice big brakes up front.

If you want handling, I'd recommend a cupkit over hottunings. Since you've got a bit of dosh, look at getting some weitec coilovers or koni, there's a few options out there [I don't know them all]

Ok, I'll look them up.

Wide track + big brakes + decent susp + swap bars = great handling from an already very good chassis.

Does a widetrack involve cutting up the chassis? I probably don't want to go all hardcore just to get that little bit extra out.. My friend said rsb was good, and fsb doesn't improve it all that much?

Keep a bit aside for repairs etc too

Yea I'll leave a bit there all the time.

Where do I start for finding prices on suspension or brakes or sway bars and the like? Head down to supercheap or something? I read in another section someone saying they were upgrading their brakes, front drilled discs $130 and greenstuff pads $140 or so, is that the same sort of stuff I'd be after, is it all universal for brake rotors/pads? Is suspension universal as well, or does it have to say mk2 somewhere in the description..

[Jarred]

You'll have to get model specific parts, ie pads discs etc.

Golfloon would be able to give you more info on a widetrack conversion, but you don't need to cut up the chassis.

I'm pretty sure you just need the front subframe from a VR6 [or standard mk 3, Matt?], inc control arms and hubs I believe & the rear beam.

While you do the widetrack, if you get VR6 stuff, you may as well use the VR6 brakes [280 or 288 mm discs] at the same time for more stopping power.

AFAIK that's the cheapest/easiest way to get widetrack in a mk 2. You could use B3 passat stuff, but good luck finding a B3 passat!

Start looking online for swap bars & uprated bushes and stuff. There are plenty of people here who've posted info before about these kinda things, so have a search and you're bound to come up with something. Start looking at buying from euro parts importers rather than supercheap. I'm sure there are some blokes in QLD who can point you in the right direction locally, but GAP is also good [o.s. though]

HTH

[AusScare]

While you do the widetrack, if you get VR6 stuff, you may as well use the VR6 brakes [280 or 288 mm discs] at the same time for more stopping power.

I'd probably prefer to keep it to gti stuff, for now anyway, there's probably lots to do with the current major parts/sus/brakes etc.

I'll take a look at gap too, cheers.

[philthy]

Is this your first car mate? I reckon the stock motor will keep you entertained for a while . Definately a nice head unit, pair of speakers and a little sub and amp in the boot. Make sure you've got good tyres. What sort of exhaust does it have? Maybe a sport muffler for a bit of noise.

Stay away from a rear sway bar if you can help it. Most cars are set up from the factory to handle fairly neutrally, with maybe a bit of understeer. As stated earlier, a sway bar by itself is a sure fire way to slap roundabouts/ gutters in the wet (been there, done that).

Cheers,

-Phil

[AusScare]

Is this your first car mate? I reckon the stock motor will keep you entertained for a while

Yea that's what I was thinking, my friends all have 1.3/1.6/1.8l engines so this'll be fine for what I'm used to.

Definately a nice head unit, pair of speakers and a little sub and amp in the boot. Make sure you've got good tyres. What sort of exhaust does it have? Maybe a sport muffler for a bit of noise.

Yes hu probably one of Alpine's offerings as they look alright, and I don't want a big sub or anything, so I'll look into something small but quality. The owner currently only has speakers in the rear parcel shelf, and it's not the stock one, as he wanted to keep the factory look throughout the car, so I'll have to decide if that's good enough, otherwise I might have to get some speakers into the doors..

Not sure on exhaust, but it has dual tips and de-cat (extra power apparently, with minimal noise increase on the 8v), though he's reattaching that for the rwc.

Does anyone on here have a sport muffler on, or vids of some good ones?

Stay away from a rear sway bar if you can help it. Most cars are set up from the factory to handle fairly neutrally, with maybe a bit of understeer. As stated earlier, a sway bar by itself is a sure fire way to slap roundabouts/ gutters in the wet (been there, done that).

Fair point, I'll leave it for now.

Is a strut brace ok?

[Jarred]

For a muffler, jsut go to an exhaust shop and get a straight through muffler.

I had one on my mk 1, and it was great

[philthy]

Yer sorry, by sport I just meant louder/ smaller than stock - like Jarred said, an exhaust shop should do you one for about $100. It sounds like it might already have had some work done on the exhaust and you may not need it .

I can guarantee that a small 10in sub with a 150W rms or so amp will sound far better than any 6x9's in the shelf. Any of the half decent brands - pioneer/ clarion/ sony/ kenwood will go ok, but Alpine do make nice stuff. Also, don't try and make a sub box unless you know what you're doing.. the $40-$50 ones from the stereo shop work pretty well

[AusScare]

Straight through muffler ay, I'll check that out as well.

Any aussie sites with coilover pricing? I'll probably just end up getting hottuning anyway since they've been pretty popular/reliable on this forum so far.

coils $800 + ~$350 install (whatever jmac charges)
strut $135 + $20? post
Audio $300 - $800 self install

I'll also try and find some threads where people have put speakers in mk2 doors.

[philthy]

This one sounds alright. No idea what they've done to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsRh...eature=related

[Jarred]

This one sounds alright. No idea what they've done to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsRh...eature=related

that's pretty average imo.

My mk 1 sounded alot better than that. Heaps beefier & better tone.

That just sounded & looked like a cannon to me. op can do alot better than that