VW Golf Tuning Guide And Best Modifications
The Volkswagen Golf has been one of the most successful cars from Volkswagen. The Golf is loved as a project car by many of our members and there is a large array of parts and tuning options for them. Lets get a quick overview of the many revisions over the years to this popular car. Then we shall look at the tuning options and best performance parts for your project and direct you to our detailed engine tuning guides. The original mk1 Golf was very responsive and still has a dedicated following today despite it's age. Then came the mk2 Golf which was where the tuning scene started taking off and now we see 1.8T mk2 engine conversions and also the VR6 going in as well as owners capture the original essence of a mk1 GTi. 3 Golfs were not fantastic cars, the GTi had lost it's magic so thankfully to address this there were plenty of aftermarket Golf tuning parts created allowing you to achieve the "GTi ideal" on your mk3 model.
The MK4 (mkIV) and mk5 (mkV) Golfs shows VW dedication to the platform and a lot of criticisms leveled at the previous models were addressed. The mk6 & mk7 Golfs are a major leap forward and VW have once again come up with a stunningly fun car to drive and modify. We now have many different revisions to the platform and the Golf remains a superb base for a tuning project thanks to all of the aftermarket tuning suppliers. The engines pull well and the small relatively light body make it a fun car to drive. VW have continued to improve on the winning formula over the years with some fantastic engine and chassis set ups. The early eighties 8 and 16 valve GTI engines were excellent and many remark that 8 valve engine actually improves with age. A fact the Dyno seems to bear out! We have plenty of members in our forum with Golf tuning projects underway from engine swaps to the VR6 to 8 and 16 valve head conversions. By the time the mk3 and mk4 were released there was something magical missing from the GTI.
The handling was no longer as sharp and responsive as the early models. It had become a run of the mill family car as VW looked to their profit margins rather than creating great cars. It was more of a lukewarm hatch than a hot hatch. This didn't stop many of our members from improving it though. With an anti roll bar, a set of adjustable coil overs and low profile tyres along with a few other suspension tweaks you get a mk III/IV Golf every bit as much fun as the original. Dropping in more powerful engines seemed the logical next step and we have seen successful conversions to the 1.8T and VR6 blocks. We have even heard of some Japanese engines being fitted with great success (much to the chagrin of Golf tuning enthusiasts). The first Golf modification to perform is generally to sort the suspension. Lowering the car 30-40 millimetres and fitting stiffer springs will sharpen up the ride and your driver enjoyment of the car. On the larger engines (1.8 and above) and those with turbos we recommend a full induction kit with a cold air feed.
For smaller engines and the Diesel variants we would recommend a panel air filter made from a high flow material such as cotton gauze. A fast road cam would raise the peak power band in most engines and after a remap on a turbo model is one of the best tuning options out there for you. Many of our members have got power figures in excess of 200bhp with a straightforward ECU remap with no detrimental effects. Other particularly notable engines in the golf range was the the V6 4motion and the V6 R32 which produced 204 and 240 BHP respectively. The later 2.0TFsi is a worthy successor to the 1.8T and has a wide range of options for it so we suggest you read our 2.0Tfsi tuning guide for more information on this. The Golf has a reputation for being a reliable car, and certainly holds its resale value well.
Check for a full service history when buying one though as the oil changes must be adhered to, especially on the turbo models. There are many reports of sludge problems in the 1.8 models if oil changes are not carried out or the wrong grade is used see our 1.8T article for a comprehensive guide to this engine. The TDI engines have improved considerably over the years, and the Golf TDI engines represent one of the best economy to power ratios for an engine in current production. Many consider the 1.9 TDi as the best diesel engine VW produced but the later 2.0TDi engines and modern fuel injection technology have raised the bar (sorry for that terrible pun!) and make superb projects to work on. With a remap, power can reach 220 BHP (depending on the base spec), and you can still expect 50 plus MPG. Throw in a turbo upgrade and you can reach power figures of around 300bhp but you'll find traction an issue at these levels. The mk5 Golf actually looks smaller than the previous model, but in actual fact has a slightly larger wheelbase.
