Sandman GTI MK7 PP DCC Lighting Pkg - The Journey begins!

[Sandman GTI]

Sometimes I feel my car is testing me.
Seeing if I can figure it out.
I started back again reading the manual
to pick up anything I have missed.

 

[Brinkmen]

How do you like the WeatherTech mats and how much did they set you back?

 

[Sandman GTI]

How do you like the WeatherTech mats and how much did they set you back?

Love the WeatherTech mats!
I have the whole set so it cost somewhere around $350 if I remember right.
That includes the front seats - 2 rear seats - 2 and hatch mat.
I might be off on price but if you go to WeatherTech site you can pull up for GTI MK7 and price each to get a total.
They cover everything.
When cleaning, I lift out the fronts and scrub down. Then vacumn some around edge on carpet. They are well made and do not move once in place. Fronts lock in place at OE locations.

 

[Brinkmen]

Love the WeatherTech mats!
I have the whole set so it cost somewhere around $350 if I remember right.
That includes the front seats - 2 rear seats - 2 and hatch mat.
I might be off on price but if you go to WeatherTech site you can pull up for GTI MK7 and price each to get a total.
They cover everything.
When cleaning, I lift out the fronts and scrub down. Then vacumn some around edge on carpet. They are well made and do not move once in place. Fronts lock in place at OE locations.

Thanks for the feedback. I may consider a set of those or at least the fronts when winter rolls around. They don't have VW monster mats with R logo on them for the Mk7 R yet.

 

[Sandman GTI]

Thanks for the feedback. I may consider a set of those or at least the fronts when winter rolls around. They don't have VW monster mats with R logo on them for the Mk7 R yet.

From my time living in Wisconsin the WeatherTech mats up front would be great for winter. They are supper high all he way around and the GTI, R footwell sits down lower so there is no issue getting in and out
You can buy fronts seperate from rear seats and buy the hatch area later if you like.
Most people will say, "Nice GTI".
Then look inside and say, "Nice WeatherTech".
They are very well know for just being floor mats.
I just need to find GTI logo sticker to cover the WeatherTech plate if I can.
looks ok but GTI would be nice or for you the R logo.

 

[Sandman GTI]

Another Piece of the Puzzle!

As our Forum Friends from across the pond remind us about our inferior Mexico built cars, I find myself adding parts to my car that feel like a missing puzzle piece.
I added the front engine cover, a missing piece.
I replaced the non LED lights in glove box, license plate and rear hatch with LED lights.
Some people have replaced non LED tail lights with Euro LED lights.

So now I have added a piece to fill the empty hole in the rear hatch.
Ordered from ECS Tuning the Emergency Triangle Reflector. About $30 total.
The new piece is made in Germany and I will say one thing for VW, they do not build things cheaply. The reflector comes in a solid red container and both the reflector and container are very well built. The part slides right in place in the hatch and locks in place.
So if I or anyone around me ever needs an Emergency Reflector I am prepared.

 

[15tsisleeper]

As our Forum Friends from across the pond remind us about our inferior Mexico built cars, I find myself adding parts to my car that feel like a missing puzzle piece.
I added the front engine cover, a missing piece.
I replaced the non LED lights in glove box, license plate and rear hatch with LED lights.
Some people have replaced non LED tail lights with Euro LED lights.

So now I have added a piece to fill the empty hole in the rear hatch.
Ordered from ECS Tuning the Emergency Triangle Reflector. About $30 total.
The new piece is made in Germany and I will say one thing for VW, they do not build things cheaply. The reflector comes in a solid red container and both the reflector and container are very well built. The part slides right in place in the hatch and locks in place.
So if I or anyone around me ever needs an Emergency Reflector I am prepared.

I wondering last night why the engine was missing that front piece. It looks so strange and there's two screw holes that look like there is supposed to be an attachment. I was going to buy it off of ECS last night but $100 for a piece of plastic that should have already been there seems kind of steep..

 

[Sandman GTI]

I wondering last night why the engine was missing that front piece. It looks so strange and there's two screw holes that look like there is supposed to be an attachment. I was going to buy it off of ECS last night but $100 for a piece of plastic that should have already been there seems kind of steep..

Agreed, and it likely adds nothing to the engines performance.
Just a cosmetic thing I had to have.
It does fit right in place like it was ment to be there.

 

[15tsisleeper]

Agreed, and it likely adds nothing to the engines performance.
Just a cosmetic thing I had to have.
It does fit right in place like it was ment to be there.

Cosmetically it looks so nice especially with the R600 intake. I may have to buy it lol.

 

[Sandman GTI]

Weekend Trip - Chattanooga, TN

Today is our 25th Anniversary so this past weekend we went on a short trip to Chattanooga, TN. My wife does not get to shop much living in our small town, so we went to the big city. Below are some pictures. It was nice to have the GTI for the trip. The cannons are located at Point Park which is up on Lookout Mountain. (Lookout Point) During the Civil War the South defended the area here keeping the North from using the river below. In the end the North cut off the supply lines.
The Fort looking entrance is a newer edition and not from Civil war period.

If you are ever in Chattanooga and have a couple free hours then take a drive from Chattanooga using Hwy 127 to the town of Signal Mountain, TN. This is a very twisty road that is one of the steeper climbs I have been on. The road must have been based on a donkey trail. Some turns are so sharp and steep I had to go into 1st gear (DSG) to pull the incline and turn. The drive on 127 then heads onto Dunlap, TN, This section of the road is faster and has a long down hill stretch with several tight turns. From Dunlap, you can head back on 4 lane 111 back toward Chattanooga. Was a perfect day and nice weekend.

 

[Phil1]

Nice trip ! Thanks for sharing this with us

 

[Nyanga]

Sandman,

Thanks. Very interesting.

 

[petroglyphix]

LP - everyone should get this. The lighting is great, looks very good. Better than most other new cars. On high beam they light both sides of the interstate and you can see forever. It is fun to see the lights swing around when making turns. Start up is impressive as the lights go thru an alignement test before settling into position.

DCC - first and foremost the R and GTI are performance based cars. They have a performance suspension. Even in comfort mode it does not make the car a cruising Cadillac. However, it might not be a Cadillac but I think it is better. My GTI is solid and smooth at 80mph. DCC allows you to feel more or less of the road surface. In sport the ride is still good but you feel more of the texture of the road. Not so much noise but more vibration. In comfort you are still well in touch with the road, just not having to deal with the road vibration. If you are under 25 then you might get by without DCC. Over 25 years old I started to hate driving on interstates with expansion joints in my Honda CRX. This is my reason for getting DCC. I am now 50 and do not want to hear my wife complain about why the ride of my new car is so bad. In Comfort mode my wife felt the ride was very good on the interstate.

PP - most cars I have owned always felt weak on brakes. The brakes on my PP GTI feel like the strongest part of my car. The brakes feel like they can easily pull the car down from any speed and hardly break a sweat. For this alone I would get PP. LSD - I wanted this for safety reasons. I likely do not drive fast enough to make the most of this but in rain, snow and bad roads I know the LSD will be there to help me. I do not know about base GTI but my PP GTI has no torque steer. The 10hp with PP package? More is always better. With brakes and LSD It is good to have more horse power.

What (R or GTI) is best to buy depends on you. What have you driven the past? Is 4 wheel drive a must? For me the GTI fills all my needs. If you can afford, get all the items mentioned, you will like them. If money a factor then I would get in following order.
LP
DCC
PP

If young and ride quality not important then swap DCC and PP.
With either car you will enjoy them. Solid and safe at any speed.

Sandman, my GTI with these three features will be here in a few short weeks. Reading this has reaffirmed my decisions made months ago. I hope you're enjoying the ride as much as I will be.

 

[Sandman GTI]

There goes my mod budget for quarter!

My last dog died over a year ago at age of 17.
So this weekend my wife and I headed off in the GTI to look for "A" puppy.
We ended up coming home with two!

We picked up two Female Border Collies this weekend about two hours north from my location. They are 12 weeks old. One is black and white (smaller) but can climb the 6ft pen and get out. Have to correct that today. The other is red and white (fearless). Has taken on 3 dogs that came into our yard this weekend. Stands 10ft from them and barks until they leave.

They did well on the 2 hours drive home. Put the seats down and set the box in the rear.

So much for any mods this quarter.
I did get 32mpg USA on two lane roads. Good I thought.

 

[antimatt]

PUPPIES!!!!

I'm driving from Portland up to the almost non-town of Seabrook, WA this weekend to spend time with family. Will have to take our big chocolate lab with me since my other half is flying somewhere else.
Gotta say though- I really like how much room there is with the back seats down! Now I just have to figure out how to keep the dog out of the front, and paws off the front armrest.