I just got a 20th AE GTI a few months back, and I'm about ready to make it quicker. I'm kinda curious what I should do first, where should I get it, what should I pay, etc. Any help would be good. I just figured I'd rather put money into the nicer GTI than into the GST, which is getting old. Thanks in advance.
-Grant

This depends on what your plans for the future are.

Some good gains for the money include:
--Direct Port or Chip - $500 (Revo, APR, GIAC, Upsolute)
--Catback Exhaust - approx $600 (GHL, Miltek,Techtonics Tuning, Neuspeed, APR, etc)
--Turboback Exhaust - ~ 900 (same)
--K+N Filter

Other things to look at:
--Rear sway bar (28mm) (Neuspeed, Autotech) ~200 (This will really make your car handle well on curvy roads)

--Turbo Inlet Pipe ~200 (Samco, Neuspeed, etc) This will smooth out turbo response and hp curves


I'd recommend talking with a local shop and checking out some of the folowing sites:

tmtuning,com
rpiequiped.com
goapr.com
neuspeed.com
evoms.com
vwforum.com
vwvortex.com

Before you do all that... I would suggest a stronger, heavier clutch. Yea that's great that you are adding power, but if your clutch can't handle the new pressure and torque, then it is a waste. Plus you will wear it out soooo fast. Upgrade that first, then the power. Also think safety. If you are going to add a whole hell of alot, you will want stronger brakes too, to stop all that new speed and power. Good luck.

Your brakes should be fine for now as the 20th has 12" fronts and 10" rears which are upgraded brakes for a gti. Unless you are getting into turbo upgrades, you should be fine with these brakes.

If you aren't going to be putting too much power down, a VR6 clutch is a good OEM upgrade. Otherwise, look at stage 1 and 2 clutches from performance parts stores.

You won't really need a new clutch that soon if all you are adding is the above. However, a new clutch will hold power better and will be needed at some point in the future anyways.

Thanks a bunch for all the help, I looked around and I'm thinking that with the power gains from a chip, that will probably be the first thing I do. Two other things if anyone knows, what is the difficulty level on installation? I have a garage with plenty of tools to work with, but how difficult is it really? And what will this do to the whole warranty thing? Kill it completely, since this is messing with the ECU and things? or just parts of it? Thanks in advance for these answers.

First off. Sell the 20th Ani. car, it's heavy slow, and was just a marketing plow to get rid of the leftover Mk4's before the Mk5 comes out.

Exaust and air filter, wow! That'll add 10hp tops. Sorry.

You will only need a new clutch if you don't know how to drive and properly shift. The stock clutch on the Mk4 GTi's is good for about 300 hp

It depends on who you get the chip from. Some don't affect the warrenty some void it compleatly, the company producing the chip shoukd know.

Don't talk to peolple who try to sell you crap.
Talk to people who know what does what.