hi all,

im new to the forum, just found it a couple of days ago and have been looking around. the question(s) i have for you guys are i need some ideas on what i should do to my 04' GTI 1.8T. the extior is black and same with the interior. 5-speed.
im kind of new to cars and did not have my own car until a couple months ago. i was thinking about messing around with the suspension. someone told me you lose your warranty, but i wasnt sure. i also wanted to upgrade the body of the car a bit. spoilers and such. i wanted a new exhaust and muffler. and i also wanted to get some different rims.
keep in mind i do NOT have tons of money to spend. like i said im not to savvy with all this stuff yet, so any help would be greatly sppreciated. thanks. if any, i would like some visuals too and websites aswell.

What's your budget/price cap?

well i probably couldn't be able to afford all the things i wish to do, all at once. but i can put out about 2000 right now.

Upgrades
1) Exhaust
2) Intake
3) Injectors
4) ECU
5) Strut tower
6) Get some nice wheels and sticky rubber

I'll think of more later.

Ditto what Attaus said, make sure though, to fit the wheels and tires prior to any bodykit you may/ may not put on...Saw a fool today on the highway with too big tires and too little clearance. :roll:

Anyways, I'd just get a coil-over kit from something like Neuspeed or another reputable company. Try www.tirerack.com they've got some stuff you can either buy or link to sites that have supplies.
But I'd keep in mind the Porsche motto, "The chassis and suspension must always be faster than the engine." 8)

dont ruin such a nice car with a body kit. and its a hatchback, why do you need a spoiler? anyways go with everything attaus said and if you can get the turbo upgrade from 180 hp to 225+ hp. heres the link http://hopupracing.com/nek041hi22tu1.html it says 75 hp boost. thats pretty good and it will get that car to fly.

so, you think i should ditch the body kit? i wanted little more of a sport suspension. do i lose my warranty with the dealership? How much will it cost from a good company for all Attaus recommended?

about $1000 for all that Attaus segested and i dont think the sport suspention will voil the warrenty but youd have to ask the vw dealership to make sure.

The expensive items on my list are the exhaust and wheels. A GReddy exhaust will run you $600 bucks for the G2 model, which I might recommend, and wheels can run you atleast $1,000. With the right price managment, you will be a couple bucks short of the ceiling. A bodykit is a waste of money. Do you get any excitement out of a body kit? No. The stock car already looks good. Example (with aftermarket wheels, which I suggest) :

http://www.mgm-motorsport.de/Radumbauten/Golf_4_silber_gross.jpg

I would go wheels first wheels do alot for looks and perform better, then I would work on suspension, then power

for wheels i'd suggest 17inch mille miglia F20's they are 20 spoke 'diamond black' wheels, with some BFG G-Force rubber, that'll run you around $1550
here's a pic http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/millemiglia/swap/mm_f20_ci3_l.jpg

but the wheels would just be your personal taste, i think these look great on the gti, but it's really up to you

if you have nice roads there go for 18inch the car is big and i think 17 inch will seem small....

if you have nice roads there go for 18inch the car is big and i think 17 inch will seem small....

17" is more then enough on a Golf.

If your budget is low, a nice replica from an Audi rim looks great(thinking about RS or S replica) and they aren't that expensive.

what about the optional 17-inchers on the gti. those look really good on it.

go for the mille's :wink:

CK, those wheels are waay too expensive. His budget is $2,000. That leaves him with $450 bucks for the exhaust, injectors, intake, ECU, and struts. Too much money. :(

awww :cry: :cry: :cry:

the 17in. rims are only like $250 a piece though, and thats not bad...its the tires, i think i priced it w/ $200 tires

okay. im only 17 and my parents are a little sketched out about letting me lower my car. they're all worried about the warranty being terminated because of the things i want to do to my car. i called the finance guy at the dealership today but he hasn't responded yet. so i think ill go with what Attaus recommended. i also think i want to get the upgrade in the hp that Maserati Man suggested, but the price is out of the limits for right now. i also want to get a simple body kit(skirts, bumper,front), nothing too tacky. also, where do i go for the things i wish to get done? i have looked in the phonebook but haven't really found anywhere, which is wierd being Orange County and all. the picture Attaus posted look pretty nice. i want to keep it simple, like that one. it just seems like the lowering of the car is a necesity for it to look real sharp. thanks for you input, guys. hope to hear more.

GReddy G2 Exhaust - $350
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33630&it em=7929365156&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Secret Weapon Intake - $100.80
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38634&it em=7929583503&rd=1

Injector Nozzles - $80
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33554&it em=7927533162&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

GIAC performance e.c.u. - ~$152.50
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33597&it em=7928373435&rd=1

Strut Tower Bar - $8.50
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33591&it em=7929234504&rd=1

Wheel Options - Varies
$174.50 Wheels and Tires (Not Buy it Now)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66484&it em=7929046278&rd=1

$589.00 Wheels (Buy it Now)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43958&it em=7928897376&rd=1

$650.00 Wheels (Buy it Now)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43958&it em=7928011448&rd=1

Drumroll.. OZ SuperTurismos wheels $999 (Buy it Now)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43957&it em=7929616651&rd=1

Depending on which wheels you choose, and tires, you should be under budget.. :)

ok thanks Attaus for the list. i dont know if i would buy something that expensive off ebay, especially when those guys' feedbacks are pretty low. i got ahold of the dealership today and they told me lowering my car does not voil the warranty. unless i have to come back and get something fix. only if they "diagnosis" it that it has something to do with the upgrades. so what do you guys honestly recommened i do? more exterior stuff or more engine and exhaust related things? when people get body kits like skirts bumper and front do they do it themselves or have someone do it for them? when i do get the exhaust done what do you think looks better two single tailpipes or just 2double?

if you up grade your turbo you diffently need a blow off value. get the same brand b.o.v. as your turbo. all good turbo companies make blow off values.

About the exhaust is this is wat I would choose
http://www.proven-products.co.uk/images/golf44.JPG

It's an inline 4

...which means that one of the two exhausts is fake (for those who don't understand).

...which means that one of the two exhausts is fake (for those who don't understand).
S2000

It's for aesthetic purposes.

in S2000 they both work.....

Maybe they split up after the engine. The engine only has one exhaust.

exactly.... they can do that in Golf too....

Well, all that I'm trying to say is that it's pointless, unless you want to show off!!

hi guys,

i got my exhaust done yesterday. its magnaflow. single twin tip. i like it, it sounds pretty nice and not loud at all. i only have about $700 saved up now and the next thing i want to do is probably suspension. what is the best for the money? do i need coilovers or just springs? what brand would you guys reccomend?

well...i dont know too much about suspension, but i have heard nothing but great things about eibach

I dunno if you can get much for $700 but, if you want to upgrade suspension, go for coilovers. Eibach and Bilstein make the best ones.

http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoModel=GTI+1.8T&autoYear=2003&autoModClar= u can chek ur alloys on the thing at this site

heres a site with suspention for a GTI
http://hopupracing.com/suspension57.html