mk4 gti experts needed!

Hi everyone.

I'm in the market for an mk4 gti 1.8t. This will be my daily driver that will get autocrossed and see some track days a few times a year. I'm really looking for a 337/20th AE for the brakes and larger rubber but my current car is dying fast and they are hard to find.

Is the step-up from a base gti to a 337/20th a significant deal breaker (ie: am I going to regret buying a base for every day of my life)? If not, what is the best performing year/option combination mk4 to buy?

Thanks!

You could always buy the brakes off of a 337 and slap them on the GTi, then come to me for some software to flash on it

In reply to Rusty_Rabbit84:

I hear that, but are the master cylinders and the proportioning valve the same? And will the abs be compatible? I had a civic with an si brake swap and ever since then I never bothered with anything besides oem brake systems since they have the most r&d behind them. And the price difference between a base gti and a 337 is about $700. Not even counting the wheels and rubber I'm already in the hole. So it doesn't make much sense to me.

The only mods I want to do are: hawk pads, short shifter, gt28rs, flywheel, clutch, intercooler, and maybe (big maybe) lsd. So if/when that happens I will be talking to you about software.

I had a 2002 New Beetle Turbo S, I had a second set of wheels with Yokohama tires (AVS) . I did the standard Bilstein Struts/shocks and Nuespeed anti-swaybars.

Had I kept I would have deffinatly gone with a different intercooler (the on in mine was tiny) and then gotten the ECU flash.

Then I just drove it. It is fun, but heavy, you may have already knew that.

I have seen 337s but never drove any so I couldn't compare the two.

DuctTapeEngineer wrote: In reply to Rusty_Rabbit84: I hear that, but are the master cylinders and the proportioning valve the same? And will the abs be compatible? I had a civic with an si brake swap and ever since then I never bothered with anything besides oem brake systems since they have the most r&d behind them. And the price difference between a base gti and a 337 is about $700. Not even counting the wheels and rubber I'm already in the hole. So it doesn't make much sense to me. The only mods I want to do are: hawk pads, short shifter, gt28rs, flywheel, clutch, intercooler, and maybe (big maybe) lsd. So if/when that happens I will be talking to you about software.

Yes, everything is compatible. If its only $700 dollars between a GTi and 337, just go ahead and get the 337. If you are planning to run a GT28RS, you are talking about alot of money to sync that turbo up... Here is a list just to get it working correctly...

For 1.8T Transverse. Golf/Jetta

Required:

Garrett GT28RS with .86 A/R exhaust housing
High flow exhaust manifold or header for Garrett turbo
Turbo-back exhaust including downpipe of 2.5"-3.0" diameter
    High flow catalytic convertor or testpipe (cat-delete)
Front mounted intercooler with capacity for 350+bhp
MAF housing with 70mm ID (VR6/225TT)
430cc Genesis injectors at stock 3bar of fuel pressure
(380cc 225TT or equivalent injectors at 4bar of fuel pressure may be used)

Recommended:

Cold Air Intake (from MAF to front of car)
High performance divertor valve (recirculating, not dump to atmosphere)
High performance clutch capable of handling 350+lb-ft of torque

Have you driven one? I havent, but I know someone with a 20ae and he doesnt like it at all. Looks good, but poor hanlding and lots of issues with getting the check engine light to stay off, etc.

Travis_K wrote: Have you driven one? I havent, but I know someone with a 20ae and he doesnt like it at all. Looks good, but poor hanlding and lots of issues with getting the check engine light to stay off, etc.

that seems to be the running joke with Mk4s, that CELs are constantly on, "Driver found, need handling" types of jokes...

Rusty_Rabbit84 wrote: If you are planning to run a GT28RS, you are talking about alot of money to sync that turbo up... Here is a list just to get it working correctly...

I am aware of what I need and have done my research on that. ATP has a pretty straight forward kit plus I do have access to a shop and a buddy that is a far better welder than I am to iron out the tiny things. Thanks for the info, though. (http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=tp&Product_Code=ATP-VVW-201&Category_Code=VVWTK)

Travis_K wrote: Have you driven one? I havent, but I know someone with a 20ae and he doesnt like it at all. Looks good, but poor hanlding and lots of issues with getting the check engine light to stay off, etc.

I used to have an 02 mk4 gti about 2 years ago, I liked it (fixed the recurring 2nd o2 sensor cel), changed the timing belt and still liked it enough to keep it around. I wasn't crazy about how the car didn't transition as well as I would've liked it to, but I think that was just me getting used to a car without double wishbones at every corner. I have not driven a 337/20th AE yet so if anyone has, please chime in.

Thanks again