$2500 budget need advice

[Ital]

My IS38 makes 18 ft lbs more torque than my IS20 did. 408 vs 390 and at only 700 RPM higher.

not sure about now but is20 used to be higher than is38, i know stage 2 used to hit 400lbs of torque

here are some old numbers for stage 1:
316 HP & 381 FT-LBS of torque +87 HP @ 4,050 RPM / +114 FT-LBS of Torque @ 3,800 RPM - 93 AKI / 98 RON
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?7007282-APR-Presents-the-MK7-GTI-ECU-Upgrade!

 

[jimlloyd40]

not sure about now but is20 used to be higher than is38, i know stage 2 used to hit 400lbs of torque

here are some old numbers for stage 1:
316 HP & 381 FT-LBS of torque +87 HP @ 4,050 RPM / +114 FT-LBS of Torque @ 3,800 RPM - 93 AKI / 98 RON
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?7007282-APR-Presents-the-MK7-GTI-ECU-Upgrade!

Different companies tunes vary. And different dynos vary.The result I posted was stage 2 parts and dyno tuned by the same company.

 

[imthanick_a]

There is literally no reason to add more power unless you are upgrading your tires as well. Tires should be the first thing you buy.

 

[Desslok]

There is literally no reason to add more power unless you are upgrading your tires as well. Tires should be the first thing you buy.

After doing the opposite, I'm inclined to agree. The stock Potenzas are inadequate at best.

 

[imthanick_a]

After doing the opposite, I'm inclined to agree. The stock Potenzas are inadequate at best.

I cheaped out on my tire upgrade and wen with Sumi HTR Z III's. They were good for JB1 power but with a real tune they are no longer gripping. Also due to how fast they wear. They were good tries for a while though

 

[Desslok]

I bought a set of HTRZIIs for my WRX back in '04 and wasn't too thrilled with them. For a summer tire, they rode harshly and were loud.

 

[mk7_bk]

I bought a set of HTRZIIs for my WRX back in '04 and wasn't too thrilled with them. For a summer tire, they rode harshly and were loud.

ah, from AWD to FWD, glad to see you made the right choice lol. I mean it doesn't snow anymore ... global warming so ya

 

[Desslok]

Went to RWD after that for a while before buying the GTI last year. And it is crazy warm this winter. It sure was good timing on my part to buy that set of Blizzaks back in November.

 

[Rocketdog]

I will be listing these in near future

JB4 w/BT
HR rear sway bar with Moog links
Neuspeed DP (no CELs in the 3 months it was on my car; bought new)
Corsa Catback Exhaust (this + Neuspeed is all 3 inch diameter) - probably too heavy to ship

Setup was wonderful on my 2017 Sport

--RD

 

[uberdot]

I will be listing these in near future

JB4 w/BT
HR rear sway bar with Moog links
Neuspeed DP (no CELs in the 3 months it was on my car; bought new)
Corsa Catback Exhaust (this + Neuspeed is all 3 inch diameter) - probably too heavy to ship

Setup was wonderful on my 2017 Sport

--RD

what diameter sway bar is that?

 

[swcrow]

There is literally no reason to add more power unless you are upgrading your tires as well. Tires should be the first thing you buy.

After doing the opposite, I'm inclined to agree. The stock Potenzas are inadequate at best.

Concur wholeheartedly. After not being able to get up my driveway after buying my car with the smallest bit of snow, I dumped them and picked up AS3+ and never had another problem

 

[imthanick_a]

I bought a set of HTRZIIs for my WRX back in '04 and wasn't too thrilled with them. For a summer tire, they rode harshly and were loud.

I liked them for a while, the road noise didnt get too bad til about 25k miles on them. They were a good choice at the time and I don't regret buying them but this time I am going to buy something better

 

[XM_Rocks]

Always wider and stickier tires, lighter and wider wheels and mounts before power.

The amount of people that give a car a tune or piggyback while on stock mounts and All-Season crappy OEM 225/40-18 tires, only to swear off the GTI and spend $20k to upgrade to an R is maddening.

 

[jits]

Why so many recommendations for coilovers? Total overkill for a street car. You either wind up spending a lot more than necessary, or cheap out and get crappy coilovers for the same cost that could have bought some nice Bilstein B8's and H&R springs, or similar. Only dick-swingers put them on street cars, so that they can tell people "I got coils, man". Half of that money will do the job, and with quality parts - leaving the other half for other stuff, like the cost of better tires.

I understand this and agree 100%. I think my experience with coilovers was that it made my GTI so compliant on the road and I never had that same balance of performance and comfort with springs. That said, on my R I 'm riding Eibach springs and I'm really pleased with how they fare on the street.

As for cost and performance, I would lean towards springs over coils. Save that money for other quality parts.

 

[Luchos]

Invest the $2500 in the stock market while it's down RN and double your money when it rebounds. Then you'll have a $5000 budget.