Looking at GTI's

Hi i was involved in a car accident and now i am looking for a replacement vehicle. the GTI has always been a favorite of mine but until now i have not had a chance to own one. I like the 95-98 version and i am also interested in the VR6 (sorry i dont really know much about the model types yet. im not sure if the GTI is VR6 or if VR6 is an option)

anyway, is this a good car for some mild mods such as I/H/E and some aftermarket wheels, tires, suspension, etc.? Also if anyone could tell me which specific models are better or just give me a basic list of the types of the GTI from 95-98. ive got about $3-5,000 to spend but i also have access to private auctions where I almost bought a 98 VR6 Jetta loaded super clean for $4,000, so if i can find a nice GTI i can get it for much cheaper then classifieds, etc. thanks alot.

Hi i was involved in a car accident and now i am looking for a replacement vehicle. the GTI has always been a favorite of mine but until now i have not had a chance to own one. I like the 95-98 version and i am also interested in the VR6 (sorry i dont really know much about the model types yet. im not sure if the GTI is VR6 or if VR6 is an option)

anyway, is this a good car for some mild mods such as I/H/E and some aftermarket wheels, tires, suspension, etc.? Also if anyone could tell me which specific models are better or just give me a basic list of the types of the GTI from 95-98. ive got about $3-5,000 to spend but i also have access to private auctions where I almost bought a 98 VR6 Jetta loaded super clean for $4,000, so if i can find a nice GTI i can get it for much cheaper then classifieds, etc. thanks alot.
GTIs are great cars. VR6 is the 6 cylinder model, the years you're looking at, the four cylinder is a 2.0 liter. The VR6 is quicker, and usually comes with a sport suspension, but I, and I feel most VR6 GTI owners will tell you it could use an aftermarket suspension (i've got tokico shocks/struts and intrax springs, like the springs, but the tokico I'm not pleased with, blown one and in the past blew one less than a year old on an acura integra. Eibach has great springs as do Neuspeed. If you really like to drive, get the VR6, and $4000 for a Driver Edition (leather and the works) or regular VR6 for a 98 is a great price, almost too good. So have your mechanic check it to make sure it hasn't been wrecked. If you're just looking for flash and economy, go with the regular 4 cylinder. The VR6 for those years will cost more for insurance (a little), but the new ones are actually cheaper than the 1.8 Turbo, as the Turbo automatically classifies it as a sports car (I found this out when a friend with a newer Jetta 1.8T showed me his insurance bill and got a good laugh). But the choice is yours, can't go wrong either way, they are tempermental cars, so fix anything small or a bomb will explode later. Have fun car shopping.

The VR6 is a great beast to mod however dyno's have proven headers are almost worthless except in weight reduction.

1.Exhuast(Borla, Magnaflo, Techtonics, Neuspeed, GHL) pretty much will do the samething and give same results however I've heard good things about the GHL. 2-5hp gain but nice sound.

2. Intake I suggest a Cold Air Intake from Turn2.
The problem with open air intakes is that the engine bay of the VR6 GTI and Jetta are small and heat really builds up in them. The Cold Air Intake keeps everything nice a cool plus gives a nice increase of power from 2800rpms-4500rpms. Autotech and Eursport also make CAI's for the VR6.
7-12 hp gain

3. 2.9 Throttle body from a Euro spec VR6. It will give nice throttle response and if you have other mods like a bigger Intake manifold, cams, or both then you will feel a difference up top. Not easy to find but worth it. 5hp gain

4th. Chip your VR6 with a GIAC, Autotech, Techtonics, AMS Q chip, or a Neuspeed chip. The neuspeed chip is the lowest hp chip but it's also the cheapest too. Chips will yield anywhere from 5-12 hp also helps take off the rev limiter.

5th. Cams depending on the duration will help lower mid to mid and upper range of the power band for the VR6.
Schrick makes the most well known cams.
They make 264/260(low to mid), 268(mid to high end no low end power loss though) and 276's which actually has been shown to give same hp as the 268's but narrow the power band. some will argue of course on that) 264/260 10-12 hp gain
268 15-18hp gain. 272's around the same as 268's.

CAT cams makes 268 duration but not as much lift as the Schricks. also 272's but again they make power in upper end of the band. Also much cheaper than Schricks by about $400.00 or so. CAT 268's 12-15, 272's not too sure.

DSR(dyno Spot or Sport Racing) inexpensive cams with good hp results. For the VR6 they make
256 cams great low to mid range horse power.
266 grinds give decent mid to upperend.
256's have shown around 10-12hp with great low end tq gain. Price around $400.00 with core charges.

Eurospec makes cams the only one I really know about are the 268's they are said to have higher duration than Schrick cams so theoretically you'd think they'd have more hp but this is still up in the air since I haven't seen any dyno's yet.
$400-$500 in price range.

Techtonics makes 264/260 cams. I have these. Nice mid to upper mid range power wish I would have spent a little more and bought the Schrick 268's but still they give a nice boost in hp and tq.
$400-500. Can order directly from techtonics if you want.

Last but not least Kent Cams I don't know much about them.
264 durations are the only one's I've heard of but they say they will grind any duration you want.

6th. You have the option of getting a Schrick Variable Geometry Intake manifold. 10hp/20-30tq
$1300.00 some say it's not worth it I have one and like it a lot I didn't expect turbo/SC results from it but it gives great low to mid range tq. If you are lucky you can get a VGI used on a Vortex classified page or Ebay. 500-800 price range.

Or 2.9L intake manifold which doesn't really give low end power(doesn't take away either)but gives a decent bump up top. 6-12 hp. Price I don't know but I am thinking around $300-500 dollars.

EIP also sells a high flow intake mani. It's a smoother power band and give 10hp and 10tq. around $500.

7th. Cylinder heads. EIP,Turn2, Matrix, and GSB(not too sure anymore) all make big valve cylinder heads. This give hp in the mid to upper range depending on how big you get your intake and exhaust valves. Expect 16-25hp depending on mods you have. You can also have a local machine shop do the samething and you can order the intake and exhaust valves from EIP,Matrix, or Schrick. expect to pay $1200-2200. good for N/A and F/I power.

Other things for the VR6 that are nice. UR pullies are great for 1st and 2nd gear especially combined with an autotech 10lb. flywheel. If getting the fly wheel you might want to get a new performance clutch.
Suspension is a good thing.
neuspeed sells springs and bilstein shocks.
Eibach also sells good things too.
Weitech sells coilovers not too sure now who else sells coilovers but I am sure there are more out there.
Hope this has been helpful.
The VR6 is a beast tempermental but it can take one hell of a beating.

wow...

such long posts

I'll keep it simple

if you want bang for bucks, go with a 1.8T instead of a VR6

(GTIs are divided into 1.8L turbocharged inline-4 and V6 VRacing 6-cylinders)

while the VR6 sounds nice and has more power off stock compared to a 1.8T, the 1.8T can get you going fast with minor mods

whereas you'll need some more dough to get the VR6 really going

for the same amount of money (not like 10k$, like 2k$ or something), you can get your 1.8T running with some higher level roadsters while the VR6 is left in the dust with the same amount spent on it

I own a 1.8T 2003 AWP model, and I have only spent like 1500$ on it, now I have beat my friend's 2002 Mercedes SLK 320 sport roadster by more than a car
and also hung with a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP SuperCharged Sedan that's boosting 260hp and a whoopin' 280tq
beating out any BMW 3 series (except the M3 of course) is also no problem

with the same amount of money spent on a VR6, I'd probably still be playing with the civics

get it?

so if you are into minor mods and want power, go with a 1.8T