Best bang for your buck mods

[Club Racer]

The best mod for your car is learn how to drive it. When you can track it around your favourite circuit with the foot flat down for at least 75%, then you can add more power. Before then, you are not trying or not good enough. Practice more.

Semi slicks / R-spec tyres are great but factory track rod ends, ARBs are not ready for then, so becomes a very expensive exercise.

If looks are your thing, put a sticker in the rear window. Its what the cool kids seem to think is a good look...

I am sure to annoy a lot of the populous of this site with the above comments but tuition from an instructor on how to get the most out of what is already is a very good car is worth more than any stage 1/2/3 mod. And cheaper.

[Sardaukar]

The best mod for your car is learn how to drive it. When you can track it around your favourite circuit with the foot flat down for at least 75%, then you can add more power. Before then, you are not trying or not good enough. Practice more.

Semi slicks / R-spec tyres are great but factory track rod ends, ARBs are not ready for then, so becomes a very expensive exercise.

If looks are your thing, put a sticker in the rear window. Its what the cool kids seem to think is a good look...

I am sure to annoy a lot of the populous of this site with the above comments but tuition from an instructor on how to get the most out of what is already is a very good car is worth more than any stage 1/2/3 mod. And cheaper.

Thank you for your feedback Club Racer, I understand that one needs to drive the car to get the best out of the car, however that isn't the question. The reason I was asking for peoples advice is that there are lot of threads on this forum that don't really explain what are the best performance mods out there.


What I want is to feel the boost come on when I am hitting that particular rev range. I want to be put on the back of my seat when I give it a little.

Some people will say well you bought the wrong car. No, I believe the GTI is quite the awesome car. What I was after was a German built car (Because all I have owned are JDM) with some luxury in the mix and also it had to be a turbo engine in the right budget.
I have come from a WRX and I have always just put a little in the engine of the cars that I owned.

Looks are not my thing, I have always been cautious on my modifications to ensure that I don't attract attention.
I' am not into your cannons, I' am not into massive FMIC.

All I want is a little more ooomph.

This is why I post in the ECU\tuning performance section of the forum.

[walbjj]

i can answer this as ive been there. i went from a stock gti mk6 straight to stg 2 apr. downpipe, carbonio intake and the tune.
i managed to source the hardware from the for sale section at disconted prices and also bought the apr tune while it was on sale. all this came to under $3k easily.
i believe the stg2 tune (from any of the tuners) will give u the power u want. in fact, i think its too much power for the chassis, as any time u plant ur foot then the traction light comes on and wheelspin is a problem. wet weather is even more pronounced.
i have since taken off my hardware and gone back to stg 1, this is plenty enough for me, its not as powerful, thats for sure, but its definitely more kick in the pants than the stock tune, which imo is pretty lame.
if budget is ur main concern, then there are plenty of tuners out there that can get u into a downpipe, intake and tune for about $2k, and if u r patient, then u can scour the for sale sections and pick up hardware on the cheap.
i think viezu r doing a hardware package now as well.

if all u want is ooomph, then stg 1 is nice, stg2 is better, but for me, it was being wasted as i spend most of my time in traffic anyway

[Sardaukar]

i can answer this as ive been there. i went from a stock gti mk6 straight to stg 2 apr. downpipe, carbonio intake and the tune.
i managed to source the hardware from the for sale section at disconted prices and also bought the apr tune while it was on sale. all this came to under $3k easily.
i believe the stg2 tune (from any of the tuners) will give u the power u want. in fact, i think its too much power for the chassis, as any time u plant ur foot then the traction light comes on and wheelspin is a problem. wet weather is even more pronounced.
i have since taken off my hardware and gone back to stg 1, this is plenty enough for me, its not as powerful, thats for sure, but its definitely more kick in the pants than the stock tune, which imo is pretty lame.
if budget is ur main concern, then there are plenty of tuners out there that can get u into a downpipe, intake and tune for about $2k, and if u r patient, then u can scour the for sale sections and pick up hardware on the cheap.
i think viezu r doing a hardware package now as well.

if all u want is ooomph, then stg 1 is nice, stg2 is better, but for me, it was being wasted as i spend most of my time in traffic anyway

Thanks walbjj.. What I was wondering if the Carbonio intake is really worth it? I have always known that aftermarket intakes actually make your car worse than the stock intake?

If that is the case with Stage 2 then I won't be interested.
Is it when you where just taking off at 2k rpm?

My GTI is a manual as well.

[walbjj]

Thanks walbjj.. What I was wondering if the Carbonio intake is really worth it? I have always known that aftermarket intakes actually make your car worse than the stock intake?

If that is the case with Stage 2 then I won't be interested.
Is it when you where just taking off at 2k rpm?

My GTI is a manual as well.

tbh, the intake probably makes more noise than adds power, but the dyno does show some gains wehn coupled with the dp and tune. however much it might be. as i said, u can pick them up cheap now, $200-300 for a used carbonio, or any other brand.
and the noise is fun.
i went with a dp only as i no longer can stand catback drone or raspiness. plus catbacks make little to no power gains as compared to dp and tune, and as per ur thread, best bang for buck, so a catback isnt where its at

[Sardaukar]

tbh, the intake probably makes more noise than adds power, but the dyno does show some gains wehn coupled with the dp and tune. however much it might be. as i said, u can pick them up cheap now, $200-300 for a used carbonio, or any other brand.
and the noise is fun.
i went with a dp only as i no longer can stand catback drone or raspiness. plus catbacks make little to no power gains as compared to dp and tune, and as per ur thread, best bang for buck, so a catback isnt where its at

Thank you Walbjj - I will look into it.
Definitely will look at a used Carbonio.

Best bang for buck mods... My own opinion

- sway bars
- good performance tyres
- advanced driving course and regular track sessions

That's most of your budget already

Intercooler, intake piping and tune down the line. Maybe turbo back exhaust if you're feeling excited.


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Hi martinijosh,

I was looking at swaybars but I will be putting any suspension mods on hold for the moment.
I was tempted at getting some coilovers from another forum member but decided against it for now.

Once I track the car I will be looking at changing them over - street use - use stock suspension - track use - use coilovers.