I've made a terrible mistake...

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
11/17/2014 at 15:35 • Filed to: Power Corrupts, GTI, APR

...I went to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! because I was "just curious" how much power a Stage 1 tune would give my MK7 GTI (that I don't even have yet). HOLY CRAP...for a mere $700, I can have 316 hp and 381 ft/lbs on 93 gas. I told myself I would leave this car stock; this is very tempting.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The good news is, if I eventually get the tune and write about it I believe that qualifies as a tax deduction.

DISCUSSION (29)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 15:40

now, now... Don't wrap yourself around a pole..

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 15:41

However, any resulting repairs from the VW dealer or independent mechanic wouldn't count as tax deductions.

And you could have a crossover piece with Steve Lehto on the ironclad VWoA warranty on modifications :)

Fortunately, my VW product is a 14 year old Audi S4, so there isn't much to worry about with the damn warranty.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 15:46

I remember doing the "just curious" browsing when I first purchased my WRX. Three weeks later and I had a TurboXS turboback stealthback exhaust along with a professional tune...my car was 80hp stronger and my bank account was $1000 lighter.

 V8 Rustler > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 15:52

Holy torque steer batman.

SlickMcRick > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2014 at 16:01

$12 per HP isn't a bad trade off in the least bit. And on top of that your car sounds cooler. Win all the way around.

Jayhawk Jake > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 16:04

That's pretty much how I was sold on the Sonic. I saw that I could get 25 hp and 50 lb ft of torque for $200

John Kimble > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 16:08

As the owner of a 200hp MK5 daily, I really question why you would want 316 through the front wheels... the slightest hint of damp and I can light up the front tyres through a corner with the mildest extension of my right foot. Fun as hell, but is it really what you want to deal with day in day out? Maybe you're going for the performance pack with the diff?

nermal > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 16:09

I know the claims for chipping a car are quite impressive, but never got around to doing my MK6. The reason why is that I never really felt that it needed it. As long as you're in the right gear, there is plenty of power available for straight-line acceleration.

Stomp the gas mid-corner when near the limit and the front will push and set off the traction control, even under the stock tune. Adding the extra power would just compound the issue.

You're better off spending the $700 on a good set of tires, especially if your's has the standard all-seasons.

/buzzkill

jpunk > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 16:11

Damn that's some impressive power from a simple tune. If you get an APR exhaust, which you should because damn does it ever sound fantastic, after tuning your ECU they'll give you a complimentary software update to take better advantage of the pipes too.

E92M3 > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 16:34

The GTI would be a riot with that kind of power. 210hp is ok , but not what I would call quick.

Tom McParland > nermal
11/17/2014 at 16:39

Yeah my first investment would be a set of winter wheels/tires.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 20:15

welcome to my world. I've had my GLI 3 months now, and it's still stock. I'm half way through my pre-arranged waiting period until I can tune it....

Tom McParland > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
11/17/2014 at 20:24

I keep telling myself that a) The stock power is plenty b) I'll probably lose my licence with that much power from the tune b) and c) I need to buy a winter wheel/tire set first.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Tom McParland
11/17/2014 at 20:26

a) Plenty isn't enough. b) You probably will, so will I, but hey, fun while it lasted, right? c) already have the All-season tires, no need!

Brumos59-2 > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 16:20

We chipped our MkVI GTI about 2 months after purchasing it. Everything we crossed shopped had quite a bit more power but we liked the GTI best. $600 later it had power on par with it's competition and once winter was over it had the summer rubber to handle that power.

n54 & s38 > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 16:35

When did y0u buy a Mk 7 GTI? And how did I not hear about it when I read this site every day? That IS a crazy amount of power for cheap, although if it's a brand new car, I'd be worried about warranty/reliability issues. Also, 316 HP through the front wheels sounds like a recipe for torque steer...

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 17:23

I had an APR stage 1 tune on my MKV GTI. I loved it. Noticeable power bump with maintained driveability. Gas mileage did take a hit though (might have been my fault). Plus the best part: you can switch back and forth between tunes anywhere.... Saves your ass if you can't find 93 octane on a road trip. Ask me how I know.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 17:24

Putting Blizzaks on my MKV was a revelation here in MN.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > n54 & s38
11/18/2014 at 17:26

Surprisingly, it doesn't. My MKV GTI had a little less power with the same(ish) tune and was totally fine.

burner'down > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 18:05

If the sweet baby in the photo was yours, you a) wouldn't need winter wheels, and b) would have much more user-friendly driving laws to work with. You would also c) live in a country that didn't have paved roads before 1973, but that's a different story.

El-Verde > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
11/18/2014 at 18:22

Only things to worry about with everything else ;) I'm not familiar with S4s of that vintage, actually, but I think it's hilarious to have to remove the front clip to do anything on the later ones.

Is maintenance reasonable?

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > El-Verde
11/18/2014 at 18:31

If by reasonable you mean this in the Service Procedure:

Step 1) Remove the modular front end.

Then yes.

Otherwise, no. Also, turbo replacements require the engine to be removed from the car. No, I'm not making that up.

El-Verde > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
11/18/2014 at 18:44

Haha, so that hasn't changed over the years. Love it.

Labors of love are the best cars.

TwentyonePSI > V8 Rustler
11/18/2014 at 20:18

Nope. Apparently you've never driven a GTI.

 V8 Rustler > TwentyonePSI
11/18/2014 at 21:18

What? 300 hp going to the front wheels and you say that there would be no torque steer? Ford couldn't even achieve that with their trick suspension on the Focus RS. The current Golf GTI doesn't even have a mechanical LSD.

Kinja'd!!!

killerhurtalot3 > Tom McParland
11/18/2014 at 21:34

316 HP on a FWD car? Welcome to torque steering central I guess...

Well, I guess you can do the front wheel burnouts lol.

Chasaboo > Tom McParland
11/19/2014 at 04:46

I had a Volvo C30 and got the Polestar chip done. 2 speeding tickets later I sold the car and moved on to an econobox. I was winning every race on the road. Well at least the ones where I wasn't getting caught for speeding.

Christopheroni > Tom McParland
11/19/2014 at 08:53

Get ready for a new clutch within 10 miles of upgrading the ECU.

Tom McParland > Christopheroni
11/19/2014 at 09:12

That is a concern as well...and another good reason to leave it alone