Can someone please convince me to buy a MK4 GTI!

[Pullstarter]

Hey guys,
Looking like the VR6 has gone about as far as I'm willing to take it without spending huge $$$ so i'm looking at getting something newer with more potential.
At the risk of being fiercely berated :biggrin: I've been looking at B4 Liberties and 01-02 rexies. Now I know both of these have more power stock than a MK4 GTI so my question is, how much do I need to spend on a GTI to get it up to subie pace? I would much rather stay with a dub but funds are limited, otherwise I'd buy a MK5 GTI and be done with it but the bank account won't take it :(
So guys, whats needed to get a MK4 GTI up around the 0-100 in 6 seconds bracket?

Cheers
Simon

[Golf Houso]

Chip, intake and exhaust, Your looking at 6.7 - 6.4 depending on how well you can drive. Thats the one I've been in more than enough times...

They're a great buy, and are better than a MK3 in every way except sound and perhaps your personal preference, a proper upgrade in vehicle.

[Manaz]

If you go with a B4, you're going to have to deal with what gets called the "VOD" or Valley of Death", which is the dip in apparently torque as the engine switches to the second turbo and the first one slows down slightly before the second one is up to speed). The interior of B4s is also a bit "polarising" - people either love it or hate it. If you go auto, I've driven Subarus for quite some time now, and I'm not a fan of their auto gearboxes, I find them crude and poorly programmed.

WRX - why? They may be fast, but they're not a nice car - most have povo-pack interiors. It also doesn't help that they have built up quite a reputation as being driven by ****heads.

[Treza360]

The other thing which was a big selling point for me in terms of brand allegiance, is that the Japanese for the most part can't do sport luxury to save their lives.
If you get a GTI, spend a little bit on some mods to make it reasonably quick, you're then going to have a good looking quick hatch with a fantastic and relatively luxurious interior.
Remember you're not going to be hammering the car all the time (unless you're just buying a weekend car), so sitting in traffic driving to work and home etc, I know where I'd rather be. :)
Cheers,
Trent

[Pullstarter]

Thanks guys, yeah the B4 interior is pretty ugly LOL. Was probably leaning more toward a rex, they seem to be pretty good bang for your buck. I know a lot of "ulehs" drive them but mine would not have chrome ANYWHERE lol.

Think I will do some research on chipping etc and see what sorta gains you can expect there.

Thanks for your help guys :)

[DUB 20V]

Thanks guys, yeah the B4 interior is pretty ugly LOL. Was probably leaning more toward a rex, they seem to be pretty good bang for your buck. I know a lot of "ulehs" drive them but mine would not have chrome ANYWHERE lol.

Think I will do some research on chipping etc and see what sorta gains you can expect there.

Thanks for your help guys :)


imo if you use the same kind of modding as you would on a golf, and put it into a wrx it would be clean and nice with way more power than a mk4 unless you have a big wallet.:)

[Manaz]

The other thing which was a big selling point for me in terms of brand allegiance, is that the Japanese for the most part can't do sport luxury to save their lives.

This I disagree with.

Any of the recent GT (once they went to the 2.5L turbo) or 3.0R Liberties show that Japan can do a pretty good sports luxury car - the 5-speed auto, whilst not perfect, is better than the 4-speed in the older/cheaper ones, and the 6-speed manuals are nice.

The GT and 3.0R Spec-B are too harshly sprung for Australian roads, but that's the fault of ****house Australian roads - and the sportier VW cars suffer from it as well.

All that said, I could have bought a Liberty, but I bought my Bora V6 4Motion... :)

[No457 Snowy]

I would much rather stay with a dub but funds are limited

If that's really true then just get a MK4 GTI. For not a lot of cash on mods you can have a very comfortable and quick Euro hatch.

Why is it so important that it be quicker than a Rex? You already have a soft spot for Dubs because you know they are great cars, who cares if some immature dropkick claims bragging rights over you because his cop-attracting rice burner is 0.216 seconds quicker to 100?

Life's a bit more meaningful than that.

Snowy.

[DaveMack]

B4 is slooooooow compared to an APR Polo ... trust me on this. :biggrin: (Same engine as Mk4 GTI - chipped)

Dave

[Pullstarter]

If that's really true then just get a MK4 GTI. For not a lot of cash on mods you can have a very comfortable and quick Euro hatch.

Why is it so important that it be quicker than a Rex? You already have a soft spot for Dubs because you know they are great cars, who cares if some immature dropkick claims bragging rights over you because his cop-attracting rice burner is 0.216 seconds quicker to 100?

Life's a bit more meaningful than that.

Snowy.

Jeez snowy that's a bit harsh, can you please go and pick on the "Ive got a big turbo and a small knob" guy again please? :biggrin: We all love speed that's why we're on this forum. However, with limited funds we can't all afford a super quick Euro. Have you got a build up thread for your car? I saw it at the German Autofest in Canberra and it looks hot I must say.

Don't get me wrong I love dubs but I also love quick cars and somewhere in the equation there has to be a value for money component.

As for the meaning of life try to avoid using tinned salmon in your mousse :biggrin:

I guess the other thing I was thinking of was AWD vs FWD, then I started thinking Bora V6 4mo, but from what I read the tuning options and power gains aren't that plentiful. Hmm think I opened another can of worms there LOL.

Thanks for your opinions guys I really do appreciate them. I also wouldn't want to be dubless for the fact that I would miss this forum. Heaps of the guys on here have helped me no end with the VR and it would be good to stay in a dub for this reason alone.

[DubSteve]

Jeez snowy that's a bit harsh, can you please go and pick on the "Ive got a big turbo and a small knob" guy again please? :biggrin:

BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA Ahh ****ing gold right there!!!

Ps stick with the mk4 its a nice hatch , or do what I am going to do and that is what for the mk6 to come out then I'll be being one of those :D

[JVLR32]

Buy a R32......better power to play with!:driver:

[DUB 20V]

there is a r32 for sale for 27k on here atm :biggrin:

[Treza360]

Buy a R32......better power to play with!:driver:
Listen to the man. I hear he's got a pretty cheap one for sale as well. :biggrin:
Cheers,
Trent

[Pullstarter]

The budget won't stretch to 27k unfortunately :(

MK4 R32 was the original plan but the minister for finance say no :(

[JVLR32]

The budget won't stretch to 27k unfortunately :(

MK4 R32 was the original plan but the minister for finance say no :(:)for wat $$s to spend on a gti to have more hps you would spend way less on a R32!.....Just remember a couple years ago when Vw Aust. pulled there R32s of the track in Production Class!..subies etc wernt even close:driver:


Thanks Trent and Dub:)

[jayjay]

strech budget to 20? is that possible, because, if you had a little search, i reckon you could pick up an audi a4 quattro 1.8 20v turbo with 132kw for about that. ;)

i reckon that'd be one of the nicest dailys ever.. :o. especially in avant (wagon) form.

here we go. it's red i know..

http://www.drive.com.au/used-cars/AUDI/A4/Sydney/detail.aspx?id=9354184&lid=9354184&pg=1&pp=4&d=0&nv=1&SG=623257429&pt=1

[No457 Snowy]

Jeez snowy that's a bit harsh, can you please go and pick on the "Ive got a big turbo and a small knob" guy again please? :biggrin: We all love speed that's why we're on this forum. However, with limited funds we can't all afford a super quick Euro. Have you got a build up thread for your car? I saw it at the German Autofest in Canberra and it looks hot I must say.

Don't get me wrong I love dubs but I also love quick cars and somewhere in the equation there has to be a value for money component.

As for the meaning of life try to avoid using tinned salmon in your mousse :biggrin:

I guess the other thing I was thinking of was AWD vs FWD, then I started thinking Bora V6 4mo, but from what I read the tuning options and power gains aren't that plentiful. Hmm think I opened another can of worms there LOL.

Thanks for your opinions guys I really do appreciate them. I also wouldn't want to be dubless for the fact that I would miss this forum. Heaps of the guys on here have helped me no end with the VR and it would be good to stay in a dub for this reason alone.

Mate, sorry if my post came over harsh as that was not my intention at all. :biggrin: But it'd be sad to see a fellow Dubber sell up and in your words, end up "dubless" and be torn on the decision for the sake of a few 10ths of a second that can be bought for an extra $1500 and will never be measured or really mean anything to anyone. I guess it's just how I interpreted your decision criteria and I was probably wrong. :duh:

Besides, you did ask us to convince you. :)

Make the choice you need to make for your own satisfaction and sense of value for money, that's for sure, but don't get caught up with the issue of speed/power/money and splitting hairs as a basis for the decision, it just really isn't that important when you have a car you love for a whole list of reasons.

A slightly slower VW and doing an advanced driving course would give you more benefit, value, and around a track probably more speed anyway.

Snowy :)

[Pullstarter]

All true Snowy, what have you done to yours?

[No457 Snowy]

All true Snowy, what have you done to yours?

I never have done a build-up thread but performance wise it's been chipped, TB exhaust, Throttle Body Hose, TIP and EVOMS Intake with Stage II.

I don't know what power I'm getting other than it feels pretty toey (technical term) and much quicker than it was stock.

There's much quicker cars than mine out there with different chips or whatever, but I like my car for a lot of reasons and splitting hairs on which brand of chip upgrade gives more power, and who had a boost leak on dyno day, etc. doesn't make it onto my radar of things to worry about.

Snowy :)

[Golf Loon]

strech budget to 20? is that possible, because, if you had a little search, i reckon you could pick up an audi a4 quattro 1.8 20v turbo with 132kw for about that. ;)

i reckon that'd be one of the nicest dailys ever.. :o. especially in avant (wagon) form.

here we go. it's red i know..

http://www.drive.com.au/used-cars/AUDI/A4/Sydney/detail.aspx?id=9354184&lid=9354184&pg=1&pp=4&d=0&nv=1&SG=623257429&pt=1

There are lots of cheap 1.8T sedans around at the moment. Like 8K!!!
Check ebay.

Mk4 GTI would be fun, but I`d get the polo, chip that and upset any subaru driver :)

[JVLR32]

Becoming a interesting little topic:driver:

[Jarred]

There are a few more options sub 20K., Hell even sub 15k you have a few options between some with 1.8T audis and mk 4's. Just have to look out for a good un. alot of have full factory service history, cause their owners could afford it and are as stock as they came! - prefect base imo.

If you get a mk 4, you will NEED to get it chipped. but that's relatively inexpensive. There heaps of upgrades and plenty of experience on VWW tooo about modding a 1.8T.

So, summing up. DOOOOO EEEEEEET!



Donno about polo GTI's though. are they under 15K already?

[gtimk5]

Subies are pretty thirsty things as well!! Finding an unmalested one might be hard too?
Get the Mk4 but rather than worrying so much about the 0-100 times, do the suspension first!!!!
Cheers, and dont leave us here, stick with a VW,
Andrew

[brad]

B4s are possibly the worst Subaru ever to grace our shores. Badly tuned ex-factory, they ping & detonate on 98ron. Crap synchronization between the 2 turbos. Big flat spot just where you expect the engine to be coming on song.

WRX? Cop magnet & every wannabee on the road wants to race you. Just ask burgs (new to this forum) - he's just gone from a pignose WRX to a MkV GTI (and had a 3.0RB Legacy before that).

If you want to stay under the radar then a Golf, Bora, A3 or A4 is the way to go.

[JVLR32]

ok boys!:) i pulled out a 300hp subie out of my Vw sportsedan after i bought a 04 R32.....even my racecar weighs in at 650kg(tubechassis).Wat iam saying i found that the R32 Vr6 more responsive! The subie motor was quick and had some big mods:driver:...

[Pullstarter]

All good info guys, keep it coming!

I have seen a few Polos around the 20k mark, I think they maybe a bit small for my generous proportions however :biggrin:

According to some specs I've been looking at the MK4 GTI is only about 60kg heavier than the polo so shouldn't be too much of a performance difference I imagine? The APR chip also seems to give very usable low down torque. Yes I'm warming to the idea :driver: Especially for this sort of $$$

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?Cr=2&State=All%20States&R=6296103&state_id=0&__Ns=pCar_StatusSort_Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|0&__N=4294962746%200%204294962677%204294930266%20%20 1216%20834%20285%20258%20287&distance=25&RegionID=&trecs=5&__Nne=20&seot=0&silo=1000&__sid=1172D2DD2860&Model=GOLF&__Qpb=true&Region=All%20Regions&Make=VOLKSWAGEN

BARGAIN!!

[Jarred]

see. sold.

not sure about the red though,

does it make it go faster??

[Pullstarter]

The red cuts at least 0.2 of the 0-100 heh Snowy? :biggrin:

In all seriousness I wouldn't buy a red car, not really a fan but that's just my taste. Pretty good example of what you can get for your $$ though.

[No457 Snowy]

The red cuts at least 0.2 of the 0-100 heh Snowy?

Especially if you keep it nicely waxed. :biggrin:

That one is a very nice example though, sunroof, climatronic, and the interior is in good nick.

Snowy :)

[kaneda]

I bought my other half a Mk4 gti just recently and so far we are both happy with it....... Nice to drive ,lots of extras (like leather recaros) and the car already came with a list of mods so it handles well goes well and stops great.
Im very impressed with the list of parts that are avalible for it (genuine and non gen) and even tho my other half is happy with the performance i have managed to already buy a bunch of bits for it :driver:
Oh and the amount of info that there is on the web about doing anything to these cars is awsome because some one some ware has done it and can tell you how to :biggrin:
My 2cents

[Manaz]

Subies are pretty thirsty things as well!!

Not so in my experience (7+ years of driving them). Any car can be thirsty, and will be if you thrash it.

[Mr Messy]

All good info guys, keep it coming!

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF/details.aspx?Cr=2&State=All%20States&R=6296103&state_id=0&__Ns=pCar_StatusSort_Int32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|0&__N=4294962746%200%204294962677%204294930266%20%20 1216%20834%20285%20258%20287&distance=25&RegionID=&trecs=5&__Nne=20&seot=0&silo=1000&__sid=1172D2DD2860&Model=GOLF&__Qpb=true&Region=All%20Regions&Make=VOLKSWAGEN

BARGAIN!!

I drove that one at Alto Ford when shopping for mine and didn't like it.
The wood on the door pulls was cracked/splintered and there were some ugly wheel bearing/brake noises coming out of the thing as well.
On the plus side the salesman there had a very tidy blue MK4 GTI.
It looked hot, but he was a bit offended then the missus told him it was a girl's car.

I'd hate to see what she says about the Polo!

Anyway I too was looking at Subes before buying a mk4 last week.
Basically it didn't come down to speed, but refinement etc. I know the WRX is quicker in stock form but it doesn't bother me because of the Kia-spec interior/cop factor/doof doof crowd/every-prat-in-a-Civic-wants-to-drag dramas.

0-100 times are a crock anyway. When have you ever whipped out a stopwatch while driving? Also I've seen from the passenger seat what motoring journos do to a WRX to get 0-100 times from an AWD car and trust me, dialling up a few grand on the tach before side-stepping the clutch is something you're not going to do to your baby. Ever.
Real world WRX 0-100 is high sixes or mid to low sevens - a chipped MK4 is more than equal.

The WRX is a performance car, but IMO it's a compromised all-rounder spoiled by thieves, kids, and tossers. Frankly I don't want to be associated with that crowd.
You guys on the other hand seem to be enthusiasts unimpressed by the methods 12 year olds use to measure a car (0-100, subwoofaaah, wings, twennies etc)

The GTI is a remarkably refined car that thats feel brand new if you get the right one, and its obvious the engine can be tuned to >150kw without fuss.

Consider insurance if you need a final factor to get you over the line. Companies were quoting me threefold premiums for WRX over Golf. I might be young but the difference was quite literally thousands - enough for a chip and new rims EVERY YEAR.

Good hunting 8)

[Pullstarter]

I did consider a blown Bora 4mo but balked at the price and engineering certification etc. I've been through the engineering route with my old pommie fords (turbo'd escorts etc) and really want to stick to a car that was turbo from the factory.

Thanks all for your opinions you've provided me with much food for thought :)

[bahjah]

Have a look at this one, Pullstarter:

http://www.manheimfowles.com.au/find_buy/power_search/?unit_key=87462_AU502510385-87462;detail_tab=vinfo;fulltext=vw;include_salvage =;salvage_only=;state_all=1;model_all=1;rm=view_de tail

Seems like a very good example!! They tend to go for a very reasonable price through auction as well.

[JVLR32]

I drove that one at Alto Ford when shopping for mine and didn't like it.
The wood on the door pulls was cracked/splintered and there were some ugly wheel bearing/brake noises coming out of the thing as well.
On the plus side the salesman there had a very tidy blue MK4 GTI.
It looked hot, but he was a bit offended then the missus told him it was a girl's car.

I'd hate to see what she says about the Polo!

Anyway I too was looking at Subes before buying a mk4 last week.
Basically it didn't come down to speed, but refinement etc. I know the WRX is quicker in stock form but it doesn't bother me because of the Kia-spec interior/cop factor/doof doof crowd/every-prat-in-a-Civic-wants-to-drag dramas.

0-100 times are a crock anyway. When have you ever whipped out a stopwatch while driving? Also I've seen from the passenger seat what motoring journos do to a WRX to get 0-100 times from an AWD car and trust me, dialling up a few grand on the tach before side-stepping the clutch is something you're not going to do to your baby. Ever.
Real world WRX 0-100 is high sixes or mid to low sevens - a chipped MK4 is more than equal.

The WRX is a performance car, but IMO it's a compromised all-rounder spoiled by thieves, kids, and tossers. Frankly I don't want to be associated with that crowd.
You guys on the other hand seem to be enthusiasts unimpressed by the methods 12 year olds use to measure a car (0-100, subwoofaaah, wings, twennies etc)

The GTI is a remarkably refined car that thats feel brand new if you get the right one, and its obvious the engine can be tuned to >150kw without fuss.

Consider insurance if you need a final factor to get you over the line. Companies were quoting me threefold premiums for WRX over Golf. I might be young but the difference was quite literally thousands - enough for a chip and new rims EVERY YEAR.

Good hunting 8)Iam clapping my hands:bowdown::)

[Mr Messy]

So Simon, still looking for a car?
will you be joining uss in the MK4 lounge?
:driver: