Make sure you really, really never intend to buy one. Plenty of forum members here that ending up spending $3000+ because they went IS20 -> IS38 -> Vortex
7
IS38 Upgrade Question
- Thread starter SaucyMuffin
- Start date
Diggs24
Autocross Champion
- Location
- de plains! de plains!
- Car(s)
- 2015 GTI
Why is it $2,200? It goes on sale for $1,500 fairly often.
Subliminal
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Vegas
- Car(s)
- Slow FWD VW Hatch
What about the JDEurosports IS38 Plus? Evidently you need to swap and calibrate the actuator, not sure how difficult that is. Or pay an extra $250 for it to be done for you
Acadia18
Autocross Champion
- Location
- The Greater Boston Metropolitan Area
- Car(s)
- 2019 Golf R
Don't forget another $500 for a custom tune.
Diggs24
Autocross Champion
- Location
- de plains! de plains!
- Car(s)
- 2015 GTI
Do they have an OTS IS38 tune? He was going to pay that regardless.
Don't forget if you go with a vortex even on 93 you might want to upgrade fueling 
it really is a bottomless pit.
I went with a shenuk is38+, I know people have had mixed thoughts about the company but the turbo has been rock solid for over a year on an aggressive 28psi tune. Seen too many threads where early is38s failed tuned or stock, and paying the same for one with upgraded bearings gives me peace of mind, it also flows slightly better up top. It also cost the same as a regular is38
But yea really ask yourself what your end game with the car is, I'm now debating if I want to go to a vortex the power bug is real.
it really is a bottomless pit.I went with a shenuk is38+, I know people have had mixed thoughts about the company but the turbo has been rock solid for over a year on an aggressive 28psi tune. Seen too many threads where early is38s failed tuned or stock, and paying the same for one with upgraded bearings gives me peace of mind, it also flows slightly better up top. It also cost the same as a regular is38
But yea really ask yourself what your end game with the car is, I'm now debating if I want to go to a vortex the power bug is real.
Acadia18
Autocross Champion
- Location
- The Greater Boston Metropolitan Area
- Car(s)
- 2019 Golf R
No. Info changes all the time, but last time I knew they had planned on bringing one out, but scrapped that plan.
Apr had one for a while for the GTI. They had a version for the stock downpipe and a stage 2 for an aftermarket downpipe. For whatever reason it’s not a thing anymore.
Clem604
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Vancouver BC, Canada
- Car(s)
- 2018 VW GTI
APR still has the downpipe version of their IS38 tunes available but the stock DP one is not, at least when I got my IS38 installed back in Feb.
Its strange that they don't offer their IS20 Stage 2 tunes anymore but you can still get their IS38 ones.
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jimlloyd40
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Phoenix
- Car(s)
- 2018 SE DSG
The EPA cracked down on them.
Yeah man that’s odd.
That much I’ve heard
CaptainRatty
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Car(s)
- MK7 GTI
It's in the works confirmed by Ed on the FB page.
MonkeyMD
Autocross Champion
I have the same turbo for about 20k miles. The last 6k on a flex fuel tune. I feel like I have more headroom for increasing boost, but rather keep it conservative
SaucyMuffin
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- Massachusetts North
Yeah, the Vortex with wastegate calibrated is $2,099, and like mentioned, now you want to upgrade fueling, etc. I'd like something to hold me over while in the next few years I finish new schooling and upgrade. The HPA seems like a good alternative that I can run for a while on 93 and get some tangible returns rather than pouring more and more money into the car. You guys have been more than helpful and the real world applications are what I appreciate.