How much have you spent on your GTI and purchase do you regret the most?

[Desslok]

Yeah the Rabbi was a special edition. The regular GTI 's brakes are smaller than the R.

Special edition Rabbi?

 

[jimlloyd40]

Special edition Rabbi?

Damn you caught that before I edited it.

 

[Dog Dad Wagon]

So adding lots of horsepower first is considered the correct way? Overpowering the stock brakes? I'll do brakes first anytime even for a primarily street driven car. Car has good power for street or spirited backroads, but I can't say the same for the brakes. So, calipers, rotors and pads first. I actually did an RSB first then the brakes.

Well if you’re not tracking, then you’re not “overpowering” the stock brakes. The stock brakes, even on the non-PP GTI, are strong enough to lock up the tires in emergency braking. In other words, the tires are the limiting factor in terms of individual, heavy braking stops. If you’re doing it over and over again then yeah you need better brakes to dissipate the heat.

I’ve been tuned on both my previous, non-PP GTI (280/290WHP, 320ish torque), and current Alltrack (211/255 HP/TQ, same brakes as Non-PP GTI). Never felt my brakes were insufficient for my driving habits as a 100% daily driver/weekend adventure car.

 

[jimlloyd40]

Well if you’re not tracking, then you’re not “overpowering” the stock brakes. The stock brakes, even on the non-PP GTI, are strong enough to lock up the tires in emergency braking. In other words, the tires are the limiting factor in terms of individual, heavy braking stops. If you’re doing it over and over again then yeah you need better brakes to dissipate the heat.

I’ve been tuned on both my previous, non-PP GTI (280/290WHP, 320ish torque), and current Alltrack (211/255 HP/TQ, same brakes as Non-PP GTI). Never felt my brakes were insufficient for my driving habits as a 100% daily driver/weekend adventure car.

If brakes are locking up the tires then there's something wrong with the antilock braking system.

 

[Acadia18]

Well if you’re not tracking, then you’re not “overpowering” the stock brakes. The stock brakes, even on the non-PP GTI, are strong enough to lock up the tires in emergency braking. In other words, the tires are the limiting factor in terms of individual, heavy braking stops. If you’re doing it over and over again then yeah you need better brakes to dissipate the heat.

I’ve been tuned on both my previous, non-PP GTI (280/290WHP, 320ish torque), and current Alltrack (211/255 HP/TQ, same brakes as Non-PP GTI). Never felt my brakes were insufficient for my driving habits as a 100% daily driver/weekend adventure car.

Your brakes shouldn't be locking up, that's the whole point of ABS.

 

[GTIfan99]

I'm only about 3000 into mods, including the current 2 sets of wheels, when you subtract the stock parts I sold.

I've modded enough cars to know I didn't want to overdo this car. Kind of an OEM plus kind of thing, if that makes sense

 

[HawkeAssault]

I've spent more than I wish I had but I'm still putting money into it.

MK7.5 Replica Headlights	$500
MK7.5 Replica Tail-Lights	$550
MIB2 and 8" Glass Screen from Eurozone Tuning (Regret, as it was too pricey and no SAT Radio/Traffic)	$2000
Active Info Display (Probably my favorite mod)	$1100 Total ($900 for the dash with taxes, $250 or so for the dealer to code)
Power Folding Mirrors	$350 ($300?)
Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink and Compass	$250
Dynamic Mirror Blinkers with white scanning light ( Easily the cheapest and one of the coolest mods)	$50
Clubsport S Muffler ( Easily miles better than the stock muffler, DSG farts are great and overall exhaust isn't loud)	$350(?)
LED Licence plate lights ( Bright as fuck, every one can read my plate miles away )	$30
Maxton Designs Side Skirts ( Not a fan of, liked them at first, but with out a front spliter to go with it falls flat )	$100 (Used)
Vinyl Stripes	$175
---------------- MODS NOT YET ON THE CAR -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oettinger Spolier ( Still needs to be painted )	$400 (?, it was on sale on VW Website)
Oettinger Side Skirts ( Also need painting )	$400 (? also on sale)
18" Silver Pretorias	$900-$1000(?)
MIB2.5 with 9.2"	$1400
TPMS Sensors	$150
-------------- Totals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------- Mods on the car -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	$5,425
COMPLETE TOTAL	$8,755

Alright, that fuckin hurt to add up. Hopefully I can sell the MIB2 with the 8" Screen and recoupe some of my loss.
But for the most part I don't regret anything aside from the MIB2 and Maxton side skirts.

I still plan on going EQT stage one, and getting a Clubsport Front Bumper

 

[Escape Hatch]

I'll play along.

Power

aFe Intake: $300
CTS 3.5“ Catted DP: $400
CTS hot /cold piping: $250
Vortex XL: $1900
UM TIP: $150
UM Turbo Muffler Delete: $50
IE Intercooler: $700
Autotech HPFP: $200
Cobb AP: $600
EQT Custom Tune by Ed: $500
Plugs: $160
REV9 CBE: $200

Supporting

iAbed RMS: $150
Fluidampr: $350
DKM MS Clutch: $1600
034 Upper: $35
034 Lower: $25
BFI S1 Transmission Mount: $300
BFI S1 Motor Mount: $200
Subframe Deadset Front: $150
Subframe Deadset Rear: $100
Neuspeed 25mm RSB: $200
Moog Endlinks: $50
ECS boost tap: $50
New South 30psi Boost Gauge: $125
Boost Gauge Pod Dash: $40
Sportshifter Weighted Nob: $165
034 Strut Mounts Front: $60
034 Strut Mounts Rear: $50
034 Camber Plates (-2.15*): $300
Koni Yellow Adjustable struts: $550
VWR Springs: $300
Stoptech Slotted Rotors F/R: $500
Stoptech Stainless Lines F/R: $125
Red Suff Front Pads: $100
Stoptecg Sport Rear Pads: $45
RBF 600 Brake Fluid: $45
Clubsport S False floor: $600
Eurosport Rear Brace: $125
Neuspeed Rse 10 Gunmetal: $1200
Euro GTI rear LED Tails: $250

Oil changes every 5000 miles LiquiMolly 5w40. Two transmission fluid changes, two brake fluid flushes and two differential flushes all within first 60k miles. All parts installed by a shop so that cost is in there as well.

Paid off car and clean title in hand with 57,500 miles, estimate value KBB : $15, 200. 2016 GTI 2 door S with Performance Pack and Lighting Package.

Total spent for mid to upper 400 Whp parts alone: $13,000.

Willing to sell the car as it sits including most OE parts: $15,998.

 

[NoGodGetOverIt]

My weak-sauce "mod" list:

• Tint - $280
• JB1 - $300
• aFe Power S Drop-In Filter - $50
• DSG Paddle Extensions - $75
• OBDeleven - $100
• deAutoLED Tail, Brake, and Reverse bulbs - $40
• Motegi MR 140s w/absolutely dreadful Achilles 2233s - $1000
• WeatherTech mats fore and aft/Trunk liner - $275
• Hardwired Escort 360c w/M1 Dashcam - $700

 

[jimlloyd40]

I've spent more than I wish I had but I'm still putting money into it.

MK7.5 Replica Headlights	$500
MK7.5 Replica Tail-Lights	$550
MIB2 and 8" Glass Screen from Eurozone Tuning (Regret, as it was too pricey and no SAT Radio/Traffic)	$2000
Active Info Display (Probably my favorite mod)	$1100 Total ($900 for the dash with taxes, $250 or so for the dealer to code)
Power Folding Mirrors	$350 ($300?)
Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink and Compass	$250
Dynamic Mirror Blinkers with white scanning light ( Easily the cheapest and one of the coolest mods)	$50
Clubsport S Muffler ( Easily miles better than the stock muffler, DSG farts are great and overall exhaust isn't loud)	$350(?)
LED Licence plate lights ( Bright as fuck, every one can read my plate miles away )	$30
Maxton Designs Side Skirts ( Not a fan of, liked them at first, but with out a front spliter to go with it falls flat )	$100 (Used)
Vinyl Stripes	$175
---------------- MODS NOT YET ON THE CAR -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oettinger Spolier ( Still needs to be painted )	$400 (?, it was on sale on VW Website)
Oettinger Side Skirts ( Also need painting )	$400 (? also on sale)
18" Silver Pretorias	$900-$1000(?)
MIB2.5 with 9.2"	$1400
TPMS Sensors	$150
-------------- Totals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------- Mods on the car -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------	$5,425
COMPLETE TOTAL	$8,755

Alright, that fuckin hurt to add up. Hopefully I can sell the MIB2 with the 8" Screen and recoupe some of my loss.
But for the most part I don't regret anything aside from the MIB2 and Maxton side skirts.

I still plan on going EQT stage one, and getting a Clubsport Front Bumper

What brand is the TPMS?

 

[JC_451]

If brakes are locking up the tires then there's something wrong with the antilock braking system.

He didn't mean literally lock the tires, jeez.

 

[HawkeAssault]

What brand is the TPMS?

I actually haven't purchased it yet, but it's the Ali-express kit. I was going to get the orange electric one, but I can't find them for sale any more.

 

[jimlloyd40]

I actually haven't purchased it yet, but it's the Ali-express kit. I was going to get the orange electric one, but I can't find them for sale any more.

Did you contact Orange Electronics directly?

 

[MSH]

I neglected to add $ #'s to my post a few pages back but at this point I could have picked up a brand new '19 DSG Golf R.
Instead I have a '16 DSG that I picked up in April '19 with a tad less than 30k miles for $28K. Purchased from 60 yr old long time VW enthusiast that took impeccable care of the car. Only mod he added was a Unibrace XBQ. Pretty much no regrets on that front (i.e. new vs used but substantially modded).
Maybe the only regret when I look at the #'s is that I'm quickly approaching what I could pick up a low mileage M2 Comp for which I would defintiely rather be in than the R. Current plan (which seems to change daily lol, but pretty much revolves around different BMW scenarios..M2 Comp vs OG M2 with some additional mods to better handle track work vs E9x M3 with Supercharger) is to stick with the R for another year or two and then move to the M2 Comp once pricing comes down a touch more.

 

[gixxerfool]

Ps: I know pretty much everyone thinks I'm an idiot for feeling this way, but that's just how it is.

Not at all. I am in a similar frame of mind. I can't find a good reason to tune the car no matter how hard I try.

I find this thread very interesting... and funny. I feel like "been there, done that".

I've been modding cars for the past 20 years, lots of money spent on mods, some good decisions, some bad ones. I started JDM, then Domestic, and now Euro. I spent about $6K on my last car. While it was fun to have a project and to be able to work on it, it became an issue in the end because once you start upgrading or changing something, it pretty much always brings you to something else to change. It constantly creates needs, and down the rabbit hole you go. Don't get me wrong, I was happy and proud of what I was able to achieve, but in the end it's a lot of money going up in smoke, especially when the time comes to sell the car.

So for this car I decided to stick to the "essential". I've had it for almost 2 years now, and it's pretty much still stock. I got a BMS Pedal Tuner, OBDeleven, and paddles. Total of $450 CAD.

This summer I plan on replacing the crappy stock all-season tires with UHP tires so I can fully enjoy the nature of the bunny. I'm also looking into adding sound to the car. Changing the exhaust, and maybe adding a CAI. That will be it. Once the warranty is up I will be tempted to get a ECU/TCR tune, even though I know very well I don't need one. The car is not a rocket, but it's still fast, it's zippy, and lots of fun to drive as it is. I debated between the GTI and the R when I was car shopping, I got the GTI because I told myself I didn't need the R. I have to try remembering that when the urge to mod wakes me up in the middle of the night...

Agreed with this. I have thrown bad money after worse in car after car never to recoup my money. When I bought my second bike in 2005, I was very mindful of the money I put into mods so I didn't repeat my mistakes. In the first few years I had all of my mods done and just rode the snot out of it until I turned it back to stock and sold it. I am currently getting some money back by selling off the aftermarket parts and by time I'm done, I would have basically rode the bike for about $6,000 over the course of 15 years or about $400/year. I don't apply gear or maintenance since that is required no matter what you ride.

On topic, I haven't been calculating what I have spent so far. I knew there were going to be mods, but I needed to research what they were going to be.

Right now, I have stock springs to get the lowering springs out of it, but I am undecided for RSB choice and want to do it all at once. I fixed the broken air box. When I bought the car it already had the AeroFabb wing on it and was tinted. I bought a set of rashed Austins for winter tires (great investment this year) and may get some proper summer tires for the Cadizs, I haven't decided on this yet. I grabbed a good deal on paddles and have curved mirror glass waiting for me.

I have Euro lights on the way, they are literally on a slow boat from China. Who knew there was a Los Angeles in the Philippines?

Folding mirrors with dynamic turn signals are on the list, just trying to find the right deal.

I am considering the digital dash retrofit, but thats a costly upgrade.

I love the way the car drives as it is. I have thought about a stage 1 but I have not come to a conclusion. I am currently thinking when and if the car gets boring, then I will maybe pull the trigger. An intercooler may be another mod, but really I love the car the as-is powertrain wise.

I don't count maintenance since it is pretty much required no matter what. I like to do mine at an earlier frequency than VW recommends, because that is just me. The mods will be slow going since I need to start replacing some of tools for work this year and that is going to be spendy.