It doesn’t please me to say that the MkV GTI never did it for me, though I know I’m not alone in this feeling thanks to styling that was simultaneously overly bold (the front end) and completely unimaginative (the rear). The MkVI has proven that the V was a sort of ugly-duckling phase, maturing into a handsome and sharp package. That said, the MkV is remarkable for its reintroduction of energetic fun to the GTI, and mechanically is not far behind the newest generation. This platform is ripe for modification and today we have an example on eBay that has some of the most popular mods you’ll see in your European Car or local Dubfest, including a VF Engineering/GIAC turbo kit and Stasis chassis upgrades. All of this with a Buy-it-Now of under $15k, and I’m thinking this is a lot of bang for your buck.
Work from VF Engineering outlined by the seller:
GIAC “RSS†GTI
2006 Volkswagen 2.0 TFSI Golf GTI 6-speed.
Engine and Transmission:
Stock engine and transmission. No internal modifications.
VF/GIAC RSS Turbo system
GIAC Flashloader for switchable ECU program modes for different fuel qualities
Garrett GT28RS Ball bearing turbo
High flow OEM replacement “rail†pump
High flow OEM replacement FSI fuel injectors
AWE full turbo-back exhaustChassis:
VF-Engineering 3-piece replacement engine mount set
STaSIS Engineering Touring SuspensionPerformance as measured (at the wheels) on a Dynojet 224XLC
Multiply figures by 1.15 to convert to flywheel values336 whp, 283 wtq on 100 octane at 17 psi “Race fuel mode†(Red on dyno plot)
300 whp, 281 wtq on 91 octane at 17 psi “Pump Gas mode†(Blue on dyno plot)
(torque limited for reliability of stock engine internals)
If anyone has some info on buying modified cars and would like to share in the comments, that would be great.
My personal take is that even with 75k miles on a tuned car, I think the new VW/Audi platforms are supposed to be pretty robust and getting 300 whp on pump gas for $15k is a recipe for fun. Complaints are few from this peanut gallery and center on the exterior; it might be my perfect MkV with a quieter take on the slick white/black exterior and a TDI Cup front bumper. Plaid interior and a good old-fashioned stick shift emphasize that this is a no-nonsense car, ready for some affordable back-roads fun (not counting tickets).
-NR
I think 75K and 300 plus HP are not a great mix. I certainly would not purchase that type of car without a specialist PPI. A bigger concern is that the paint does not match on the passengers side (if my eyes are not failing me) .