Front bumpers are cake to remove in most cars. About 10-15 bolts.
I know I saw some postings on a3 forums about people going with the s3 coolers.
Yes. It bolts directly to the turbo and then to the mid pipe, which connects to the catback system.
Upgraded intercooler costs anywhere between $250 and $900 depending on brand name and design. The most efficient for the money are in the $400-600 range new or less used.
Easy to swap in? Eh, if you think taking off the front bumper is easy. Most people who do it themselves claim 3-4 hours for completion.
Just picked up a gently used downpipe. The biggest stock part holding back performance is the downpipe for my car. New high flow pipe with 200cell cat ready to go on! Once I do that I'll be flashing to Stage 2 software.
Can't wait!
Next up is an intercooler. I'm already heat soaking at my current power levels and its not even into the hottest part of summer.
The stock IC is not enough for Florida heat and humidity. I have not personally done the tests and logs to prove it but there are plenty of people around the MK6 forums who have.How do you know you are heat-soaking?
Do you think you're heat-soaking when the car is moving?
Not really. It is 3 bolts off the bottom of the car and 1 from the top.Sound like intercooler is the way to go. Down pipe is going to require a lot more work getting the exhaust out.
How do you know you are heat-soaking?
Do you think you're heat-soaking when the car is moving?
From the logging I've seen at Mk6 from people in the same area of the country and climate from me, they are seeing a 10 degree drop from idle air temps vs what they got on stock. They also experience no lag, surging, delay, etc.Good questions to ask, if you are not measuring the temperature of both the intake pre and post IC it's going to be hard to determine. Not sure of VWs but on my cars I can use my Scangauge to pickup the post IC temperatures, so I can make a judgement call based on ambient to determine if I am heatsoaking. The only time I ever see an issue is when I am stuck on the freeway in traffic.
Ventus V12 Evos are pretty good, not horribly expensive, and have a decent warranty. I like them on my MR2, and a lot of MS3 guys like them as well.
I've got 225/45-18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050As on my MS3, but only because I got a set used for $200, I did not (and would not) pay $220/each that they are new. Though they do grip amazingly well their tread life is very short.
Given your high mileage requirement (apparently, can you put a number on it?) I would suggest not going below a UTQG treadware of 200, and maybe not even less than 300.
I have v12 Evos on the 911, decent for spirited driving, though a bit greasy at the limit. Much quieter than the Star Specs I had on the M3... compromise I guess.
I've had S.Drives before and loved them but was on a lower powered vehicle. I know JLee's a big fan of the Star Specs and the ZII's are the new improved version of them.
My commute is just over 50 miles a day round trip so my miles add up quickly, which is depressing but whatever.
I've heard good things about the V12s before but are they really loud? I've driven cars with loud tyres before (mainly trucks and jeeps) and could never own a set like that for myself. I have no idea what "loud" would be for a car.
I'm also not concerned about track performance. I'm one good craigslist deal away from a Miata and a flyin miata shopping spree, so I have no interest in tracking my GTI. Too many upgrades needed to make it truly worth it.
My commute is just over 50 miles a day round trip so my miles add up quickly, which is depressing but whatever.
I've heard good things about the V12s before but are they really loud? I've driven cars with loud tyres before (mainly trucks and jeeps) and could never own a set like that for myself. I have no idea what "loud" would be for a car.
I'm also not concerned about track performance. I'm one good craigslist deal away from a Miata and a flyin miata shopping spree, so I have no interest in tracking my GTI. Too many upgrades needed to make it truly worth it.