RE: Jetta GLX Exhaust: Which one to get?

["Marc Brown" <Mad_One@msn.com>]

I do agree, the car won't be dramatically faster unless you go with the 3.1 
litre kit, the turbo, or the supercharger.  But, none the less, the car will 
be faster.  The satisfaction that you get from engine mods is that you do have 
a quicker car than stock.  It feels good to know that your heavier GLX can 
walk away from a stock GTI (with just the driver) from the light while you 
have the air conditioner running, a passenger in the car, and a full tank of 
gas.  It also feels good to know that you have more passing power than that 
GTI at high speeds.  Another good feeling comes when you outrun somebody in a 
Mustang GT and they pull you over to ask you what the heck is that thing, or 
your able to keep pace with a Supra Turbo and seeing the stunned driver's face 
before he downshifts and starts pulling away.  As long as you mix and match 
the parts correctly, you can have a car that is better than stock, but don't 
expect anything dramatic.  True the stock VR6 is a good engine, but there is 
always room to improve.  The money spent can only be justified by the person 
doing the mods.  The suspension on the other hand is a necessity.

Marc     

- -----Original Message-----
From:	owner-jettaglx@igtc.com  On Behalf Of 
ANDREW_ATWELL@HP-PaloAlto-om20.om.hp.com
Sent:	Friday, June 06, 1997 5:34 PM
To:	jettaglx@igtc.com
Subject:	Re: Jetta GLX Exhaust:  Which one to get?

     I concer.
     andy


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Jetta GLX Exhaust:  Which one to get?
Author:  Non-HP-owner-jettaglx (owner-jettaglx@igtc.com) at 
HP-PaloAlto,mimegw6
Date:    6/6/97 1:22 PM


A few words about exhaust and other engine related mods...
     
I think everyone on this list that has done engine mods, plus those that 
have been on the GTI list for a while will concur: it is very difficult to 
wring much performance out of the VR6 motor. ESPECIALLY on a cost to 
benefit ratio.
     
With the exception of a chip modification and a K&N filter, there is little 
you can do to improve the performance of your VR6 motor inexpensively. Even 
mods like exhaust, schrick VSR intake, headers, cams, etc. don't give BIG 
improvements to go along with their BIG price tags. I think VW really did 
what they could to wring the performance out of this mill. Sure, you can add 
a few things to make it SOUND cooler, and it may subjectively "feel" 
quicker, but chances are that you won't see big HP and/or Torque 
improvements.
     
Suspensions mods are another thing completely. You will notice immediate 
improvements in ride, handling, looks, etc. This is where your hard earned 
money will see more return on your investment.
     
The best thing you can do is try and drive someones car that has the mods 
you are thinking of doing and judge for yourself. When Chris Collier 
stopped here in Chicago to visit we were all racing around in our cars and 
out of the six of us in various GLX's and GTI's (some heavily modded, some 
stock), NO one car was dramatically faster than the others. Some handled 
substantially better than others, but on a straight line, none were 
tremendously quicker.
     
I just wanted to pass this experience along if anyone is considering mods.
     
     
Cheers!
     
- -jamie
     
____________________________________________________________________ 
jamie vondruska                              http://www.vwvortex.com 
jamie@obs.net                                    Oak Brook, Illinois
     
'95 Red Jetta GLX                          "Go big or stay home"  :)