97' Auto VR6

[Hoop]

Hey guys.. i signed up to the forum but never posted really, so i thought i may as well start!

I've had my car for nearly 2 years now. its an Automatic 1997 Emerald Green Vr6.

I guess i can start this thread to update and get feedback on everything I plan to do/have done on the car.

So far (its not much at all) I have -

Gutted the airbox
Suitcase delete

The other day I actually recorded a 0-100 run, and i came in at about 6.9-7 secs.. which surprised me because in the book it says 8.5 for a stock auto.

Now that i am getting more money and have some free time i want to start doing more to it..

Now my initial question is: How much can the Auto Tranny handle?

At the moment the tranny is really good, has no problem shifting, no slipping at all and goes into all the gears pretty much instantly.

I was thinking of just keeping it til the tranny fails then converting it to manual.. though id rather keep it auto firstly because i dont know how to drive it and i'd have to go get my manual Probationary license and secondly, my girlfriend drives it too and she hates manual lol.

At the moment I am looking at getting a proper intake, maybe a Neuspeed P-Flo, or a BMC CDA(though its a little pricey). Also looking at the Schimmel 263 Cams and a GIAC to go with it.

Also, need to get it lowered as the monster truck stance is getting old for me now lol. any recommendations on suspension?

At the moment my budget is around $2000. though i am willing to spend up to around $8k-10k eventually.

Pic of car:


Cheers guys!

[Hoop]

And said video of 0-100

[Mk3 AAA]

Cool dood, looks good. Remember you have to allow about 10% speedo calibration though, but meh... still a giggle.

Manual conversion would probably be the best value in performance, if you can get your hands on a box for ok money. I have a fear of ageing auto gearboxes.

There is a nutty auto VR getting around, 'Stephy' maybe? or someone with a white one anyway (the lads on here will know her/him anyway).

Can't wait to see what you do with it.

2 g could get a nice suspension set up, or a general mega tidy up... mounts bushes rubber etc make her mint, or a schrick intake manifold, or some nice wheels, or a leather retrim.......

[Hoop]

yeah ive been looking into the schrick intake manifold too. i wont how much i could get one for

the 2k at the moment is for the fun stuff, i'm gonna be doing a mega tidy up very soon but thats a different budget!

[Mk3 AAA]

yeah ive been looking into the schrick intake manifold too. i wont how much i could get one for

the 2k at the moment is for the fun stuff, i'm gonna be doing a mega tidy up very soon but thats a different budget!

They're pretty rare, one just sold on UK ebay for 590 pounds....so can't imagine how much more one here would be, but there's a few around. There must be an alternative to them by now with all the aftermarket brands out there.

[KKK VR6]

yeah ive been looking into the schrick intake manifold too. i wont how much i could get one for

the 2k at the moment is for the fun stuff, i'm gonna be doing a mega tidy up very soon but thats a different budget!

when you say fun stuff what exactly do you mean? cams, schrick, giac or coilovers, wheels ??
With 2k you can get a pretty good looking stance (coilovers + wheels).
Oh an GO DA GREEN !!!
put some better pic up too

[Hoop]

Yeah basically the stuff you mentioned. What should I spend my first 2k on?

[Golf-Sam]

slam her and feel the amazing handling !

[Jarred]

I wouldn't bother trying to make an auto faster. Especially given that most VR engine work isn't particularily cheap.

I'd stick with wheels and coilovers for now. Then later on down the track, swap to manual and increase the HP when you wanna have more fun!

[Hoop]

What suspension should I go with? And where can I go get this said suspension done?

Also wouldn't I be able to get the cam and chip and when the tranny dies go manual? Or does something happen to the engine or something

[dark]

I'd focus on suspension and wheels first, I can tell you first hand that coils make a huge difference to the handling. Your car looks pretty clean so just doing suspension and wheels will make it look amazing. You can change out the suspension yourself or get someone to do it for you. You could spend the whole 2k on coils if you wanted!! They range from about 400 up!
Maybe drive it for awhile and then move on to engine upgrades - I guarantee a bunch of expensive stuff will break on her in the near future. It's the mk3 way. Ask lots of questions - everyone on here has been in your shoes and will have lots of suggestions.
Also - I think Seb (bugracer) on here built up a vr6 Auto for a girl in Sydney and got pretty solid performance out of it, although there was a fair bit of debate as to whether it was worth it with an auto! But the customer wanted it as a daily I think.

[Hoop]

I've been looking at the Autotech Clubsport Stage 2 Suspension Kit.. would this be a decent kit? Also, what wheels can i get? as in, what will fit?

link to suspension kit: Autotech Clubsport Stage 2 Suspension Kit, Suspension Kits, Suspension, Autotech Products & Other Performance Aftermarket Auto Parts - North American Motorsports

[Jarred]

it's probably not a bad product, however it's for a 2.0L and it's only 1.75" drop, which realistically, isn't much at all.

Keep doing research, I reckon there are better products out there for similar money.

[Ben J]

do coilovers RACELAND LOWERING SUSPENSION KIT VW GOLF MK3 VR6 / GTI | eBay

or you could pay the guys on here 800 for the same thing in australia which is nice for piece of mind/convienient should something be wrong.

[Bug_racer]

Why is it someone comes on here and posts about wanting to get more power and it turns into another lowering thread ?

For $2k you can do cams . chip and cat back exhaust
For about $3500 you could have a stage 1 turbo kit . Id say this would be about the limit for a stock auto , you will probably need to run an oil cooler as well to be safe .

Suspension isnt the be all and end all . Courtneys VR6 runs stock suspension and it seems fine , lowering with incorrect springs / shock or cheap coilovers just ruins the ride and stresses the chassis on the car .