Is a 88 Jetta worth modifying?

[jettaboy1884]

Ok, I drive an 88 Jetta Gl with the 1.8 8 valve engine. It has the single outlet manifold and downpipe, and it is pretty slow. I recently acquired a dual outlet manifold, and downpipe with bigger cat converter. I am really wondering if I should go through the trouble of pulling the old setup out and going for the 5 horsepower, or if this car is not really going to be worth putting all the time into... I really want a Rabbit, or even a A2 Golf, just because they are so much lighter than my Jetta. But on the other hand the car is in great shape, has 114 thousand miles, and will be cheap insurance. This internal conflict of Modify vs. not modify is really killin me... I am just looking for some advice. I am also wondering If I should just keep the dual outlet setup on the side, and drive the Jetta with the single setup and Hope that I will find a nice Golf or Rabbit and use the dual outlet setup on that... Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Mike.

[boschmann]

If that's the only modification I doubt you will be able to tell the difference. What about the rest of the system, it will still have the small resonator, muffler & pipes. It might flow better at the manifold, but the rest of the system will still be factory restrictive.

[jettaboy1884]

Originally Posted by boschmann

If that's the only modification I doubt you will be able to tell the difference. What about the rest of the system, it will still have the small resonator, muffler & pipes. It might flow better at the manifold, but the rest of the system will still be factory restrictive.

Sorry, I didn't mention that I have the Techtonics Tuning cat back exhaust. It is aluminized with the Dynomax muffler. I felt a little difference when I first put it on, but I am hoping that with the dual outlet setup and bigger cat, It will make the most of the cat back that I allready installed.

So far my only mods have been the cat back exhaust, and a K&N air filter, inside a gutted airbox... What I am bothered about is the fact that this is an older car, and its also a 4 door... I am wondering if putting on the dual setup, is going to be worth the time considering that the car is slow anyways, and I am trying to hold out for a 2 door Vw...

[Evolver]

I really dont know jettaboy1884, I have a Jetta 4 door 86 and recently made a hole body paint job with Glasurit paint, and now it really looks cool, Its still stock but I am just like you, wondering if I really want to put some money there, let me tell you what would I like to do to my ride:

Right now, just mantain the car like it until I have the money to:

Buy a VR6 engine, from an A3 and put it in, all the exterior considering letting it stock since where I live you cant have something good because of theft. Maybe some SuperSprint Exaust system. That would do a major for it, and if you think the car is ugly think again, Ill be posting here a quick picture of it so you can see. Also try searching in google for pictures of Jetta A2 or MK2.

Ive seen you are interested in a Rabbit or golf, I read in someplace that the Jetta A2 has better aerodinamics that the Rabbit and Golf A2.

Maybe that helps.

Evolver