pdan
Ready to race!
Hey guys so this is pretty much just a place for me to try and mostly keep track of what I've done with the GTI. Not really a build thread, more a semi-organized timeline.
Current setup:
Stratified 93 Tune
Unitronic Intake
R8 Coils
NGK Plugs
ECS Tuning 3 in catted downpipe
Neuspeed Catback
ECS Tuning Dogbone Mount
GFB DV+
OEM LED Dark Cherry Tails
Future Plans:
Suspension work (definitely coil overs, still have a lot of research yet to do on everything else
Southbend Stage II Daily Clutch
BBK
Intercooler
Probably lots of other stuff....
Traded in my old 09 Jetta TDI that I had throughout high school and the first few years of college during the buyback and got a sweet deal from the Dieselgate payouts, so I was able to finally start actually looking for a GTI. I originally really wanted a Golf R, I drooled over those for so long. Eventually due to finances and some pickiness on my end I was able to snag a CPO CW GTI with 32K miles.
It had pretty much everything I wanted: 2 door, 6 speed manual, (both absolute musts), HID's, with plaid interior.
Bought it in PA when I was working on Cape Cod so my parents were nice enough to drive to it up visit me.
Finally ended up back at school in Alabama and could start making it mine.
Started with some really minor stuff, lamin-x side markers, fog lights, and rear badge inlay.
Added a Unitronic intake that I got for a decent deal. I know performance wise intakes don't do much, but it was something to get my feet wet into working on the car and it sounded awesome to me.
Managed to get backed into when I was at the pool by a F-150 trailer hitch that was "self parking until it shot backwards" ......
I was pretty pissed, but eventually got over it and had the dealership in Montgomery fix it for me.
Decided it was time to hardwire my radar detector to clean up the interior a bit. I hate electrical stuff and have a hard time understanding it, but I managed not to electrocute myself or blow something in the car and eventually it worked. Highly recommend it, very satisfying and clean looking.
After lusting over LED tails I found them for a great deal used on here. By far my favorite exterior change, I think they look so damn good.
Changing the oil threw me for a bit of a loop the first time as I wasn't expecting to find the torx pattern or whatever that was, but managed to get it out and replaced it with a magnetic drain plug.
Decided to change up the front grille and plasti dip it white. I really like the all white look and really need to just sit down and sand and paint. While the plasti dip is good for a quick and temporary look I think it'll look much better painted.
I do feel bad driving the car as much as I do, I wish I didn't put so many miles on her so quickly. But after a few trips back and forth from Alabama to Pennsylvania and Florida the miles really start to rack up. Attempting to protect the front from the more major rock chips. It sorta worked, but was a huge pain to take off on the other end with all the residue.
Decided I wanted a little bit moar loud and found another good deal on the forums for a local Neuspeed catback. It sounded great, but as a young hooligan I still thought it could be louder....
Tried my best to wash and polish up the car and the exhaust. With a decent amount of elbow grease it ended up looking much better.
Road trip to Florida again, just happy to have something to park under rather then street parking.
Originally I did not want to tune because I knew I risked the CPO warranty, so I figured I would get most of the car set up in case I finally decided to bite the bullet. Ordered an ECS Tuning downpipe for a pretty good deal around Christmas and installed it in my grandfather's shop with his help. To this date the most frustrating thing I have done with the car. But so worth it, sounds so fantastically great to me.
Finally decided to screw it and get tuned. Originally was planning on going with APR since they are right down the road but after a lot of reading and thinking I decided to go with a Stratified tune with the Cobb Accessport. GTI is a whole different beast, it really is astounding. Went with 93 and 91 tunes in case I move somewhere where I can't find 93. It was relatively cheap peace of mind for me.
Was lucky enough to test drive an F-Type R while down in Florida again, and oh man does that thing go.
After finally getting the P0240 code I ordered a spacer which seemed to solve it until I went WOT a few times.
I had wanted to get the GTI tinted since I got it and I finally went and did it. I had 35% on my old Jetta and wanted something a little darker this time. I wanted 20%, and the closest thing they had was ceramic 15% so thats what I ended up getting. May have gone a little too dark. During the day its great, but at night just a little too dark from me and I'm always anxious about cops. But luckily I drive with the windows down anyway so not a huge deal.
Time to leave Alabama, after college and working for a year it was time to move onto a new job. I have a habit of packing everything that'll fit into the GTI and moving more than I would like.
Quick stay with my parents up in PA and was able to install a GFB DV+. Honestly didn't notice a huge difference but if it is able to hold more boost that thats fine by me.
Moved out to Missouri, places I never thought I would end up in. Not a lot of euro stuff out here, mostly big diesel trucks. Oh well, trying to make the best of it. Oh well, at least I’ve got a car port now ha.
Popped 2 codes and first real issues that the GTI has given me. Trying to do a little troubleshooting and hoping to solve them without spending $200 on O2 sensors, I had no idea they were that much money.
Current setup:
Stratified 93 Tune
Unitronic Intake
R8 Coils
NGK Plugs
ECS Tuning 3 in catted downpipe
Neuspeed Catback
ECS Tuning Dogbone Mount
GFB DV+
OEM LED Dark Cherry Tails
Future Plans:
Suspension work (definitely coil overs, still have a lot of research yet to do on everything else
Southbend Stage II Daily Clutch
BBK
Intercooler
Probably lots of other stuff....
Traded in my old 09 Jetta TDI that I had throughout high school and the first few years of college during the buyback and got a sweet deal from the Dieselgate payouts, so I was able to finally start actually looking for a GTI. I originally really wanted a Golf R, I drooled over those for so long. Eventually due to finances and some pickiness on my end I was able to snag a CPO CW GTI with 32K miles.
It had pretty much everything I wanted: 2 door, 6 speed manual, (both absolute musts), HID's, with plaid interior.
Bought it in PA when I was working on Cape Cod so my parents were nice enough to drive to it up visit me.
Finally ended up back at school in Alabama and could start making it mine.
Started with some really minor stuff, lamin-x side markers, fog lights, and rear badge inlay.
Added a Unitronic intake that I got for a decent deal. I know performance wise intakes don't do much, but it was something to get my feet wet into working on the car and it sounded awesome to me.
Managed to get backed into when I was at the pool by a F-150 trailer hitch that was "self parking until it shot backwards" ......
I was pretty pissed, but eventually got over it and had the dealership in Montgomery fix it for me.
Decided it was time to hardwire my radar detector to clean up the interior a bit. I hate electrical stuff and have a hard time understanding it, but I managed not to electrocute myself or blow something in the car and eventually it worked. Highly recommend it, very satisfying and clean looking.
After lusting over LED tails I found them for a great deal used on here. By far my favorite exterior change, I think they look so damn good.
Changing the oil threw me for a bit of a loop the first time as I wasn't expecting to find the torx pattern or whatever that was, but managed to get it out and replaced it with a magnetic drain plug.
Decided to change up the front grille and plasti dip it white. I really like the all white look and really need to just sit down and sand and paint. While the plasti dip is good for a quick and temporary look I think it'll look much better painted.
I do feel bad driving the car as much as I do, I wish I didn't put so many miles on her so quickly. But after a few trips back and forth from Alabama to Pennsylvania and Florida the miles really start to rack up. Attempting to protect the front from the more major rock chips. It sorta worked, but was a huge pain to take off on the other end with all the residue.
Decided I wanted a little bit moar loud and found another good deal on the forums for a local Neuspeed catback. It sounded great, but as a young hooligan I still thought it could be louder....
Tried my best to wash and polish up the car and the exhaust. With a decent amount of elbow grease it ended up looking much better.
Road trip to Florida again, just happy to have something to park under rather then street parking.
Originally I did not want to tune because I knew I risked the CPO warranty, so I figured I would get most of the car set up in case I finally decided to bite the bullet. Ordered an ECS Tuning downpipe for a pretty good deal around Christmas and installed it in my grandfather's shop with his help. To this date the most frustrating thing I have done with the car. But so worth it, sounds so fantastically great to me.
Finally decided to screw it and get tuned. Originally was planning on going with APR since they are right down the road but after a lot of reading and thinking I decided to go with a Stratified tune with the Cobb Accessport. GTI is a whole different beast, it really is astounding. Went with 93 and 91 tunes in case I move somewhere where I can't find 93. It was relatively cheap peace of mind for me.
Was lucky enough to test drive an F-Type R while down in Florida again, and oh man does that thing go.
After finally getting the P0240 code I ordered a spacer which seemed to solve it until I went WOT a few times.
I had wanted to get the GTI tinted since I got it and I finally went and did it. I had 35% on my old Jetta and wanted something a little darker this time. I wanted 20%, and the closest thing they had was ceramic 15% so thats what I ended up getting. May have gone a little too dark. During the day its great, but at night just a little too dark from me and I'm always anxious about cops. But luckily I drive with the windows down anyway so not a huge deal.
Time to leave Alabama, after college and working for a year it was time to move onto a new job. I have a habit of packing everything that'll fit into the GTI and moving more than I would like.
Quick stay with my parents up in PA and was able to install a GFB DV+. Honestly didn't notice a huge difference but if it is able to hold more boost that thats fine by me.
Moved out to Missouri, places I never thought I would end up in. Not a lot of euro stuff out here, mostly big diesel trucks. Oh well, trying to make the best of it. Oh well, at least I’ve got a car port now ha.
Popped 2 codes and first real issues that the GTI has given me. Trying to do a little troubleshooting and hoping to solve them without spending $200 on O2 sensors, I had no idea they were that much money.
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