The Salford Van Hire Golf
Not long ago I did my first track day at Rockingham in my MkV 2.0 TDI. Was a great day and the car was fantastic. Especially as I use the car everyday and managed to drive 150 miles to the track, do just under 100 miles on the track, and then drive back on one tank.
But whilst there I was inspired by the uk-mkivs track project: https://uk-mkivs.net/...s/t/330392.aspx
So after not so much thought and an evaluation of my small amount of funds I thought I'd take a leap and buy a project car myself. My MkV has just under 200bhp and 350ft/lbs of torque which is the most I wanted to go up to on front wheels and every driver in order to keep it controlable and reliable. This lead me to think 4 wheel drive.
Looked at a few options, starting with a Mitsubishi GTO; 3.0 V6 twin turbo, 4 wheel steer and fast. But extremely expensive to run, and if anything goes wrong I'd be screwed. This then lead me to think about an Impreza or Evo, but what I was looking at didn't really do anything for me. The MkIV R32 obviously popped into my head, but there was no chance I could afford one. So i thought of the next step down, the 2.8 v6 4motion. Bit of research was done and I realised I could pick one up for around £3000, which was the top end of what I wanted to pay. Carried on having a look around and found a year 2000 MkIV Golf v6 4motion on autotrader. Had a fair bit of exterior damage but low mileage. Drove the 4 hours down to Chelmsford yesterday and came back up in a red 4motion with 76000 on the clock, having parted with £2000.
I then thought about funding for the next stages of going all out on the car, already knowing it's going to cost a little bit I thought of how to ease the cost, and I managed to get where I work onboard. The car will be used as an advertisement for the company in return for using certain contacts and getting certain parts through them.
First impressions are definitely good. Rides very well, not too harsh but definitely not too soft and wobbly. The steering feels a bit light when turning gently but does seem to weight up under harsher movement and there is less body roll than I was expecting. Going from a diesel to a V6 petrol is amazing to hear. How I missed the petrol soundtrack. At low revs there is a nice deep exhaust note as the car purrs away. Then from mid to high range the engine has a great growl that you could listen to all day. The car is quick and smooth, however I would not say there is a great leap in speed between my MkV and the 4motion, there is a gap, a good gap, but not a leap. However, the 4motion shifts instantly from putting the foot down which is fantastic. And again, the sound it makes!!!
Just the modifying to start at now when funds allow. I will be weighing the car and getting it on a Rolling Road before doing anything to give an interesting comparison of before and after.
Any comments/criticisms welcome.

The SVH MkIV TFSI 4Motion...Track Time - Prep
Started by
a89
, Mar 24 2010 05:31 PM
1056 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 24 March 2010 - 05:31 PM
#2
Posted 24 March 2010 - 05:44 PM
Will definately be watching this, got myself a mk4 4mo in december and starting to think of things to do, Only things I've had done so far is tints and lowered,
#3
Posted 24 March 2010 - 05:46 PM
Finally figured out how to get pics up so hopefully you'll enjoy.
#5
Posted 24 March 2010 - 05:53 PM
would love a v6 but douldnt afford one as a daily...
seems a nice little project keep us updated mate
#6
Posted 24 March 2010 - 06:00 PM
watching
#7
Posted 24 March 2010 - 06:05 PM
would love a v6 but douldnt afford one as a daily...
Oh I know, the difference in fuel is immense! Motorway journeys in my mk5 I usually get about 50-55mpg at motorway speeds, if i'm more economical i've seen over 60mpg. In this I got just under 31!!! []
#8
Posted 26 March 2010 - 04:36 AM
Another stripped out 4motion project in Manchester, good man. Did you see my black 3 door 4Mo at the Rockingham track day, Kirkey seats etc? Be good to compare notes at some point as the guys meet up from time to time to chat about these things.
#9
Posted 26 March 2010 - 05:10 AM
Another stripped out 4motion project in Manchester, good man. Did you see my black 3 door 4Mo at the Rockingham track day, Kirkey seats etc? Be good to compare notes at some point as the guys meet up from time to time to chat about these things.
No I don't think I did mate. To be honest was to busy getting over excited with it being my 1st track day. [:DD] Definately wouldn't mind havin a nosy at it. I'm planning on taking it to a weigh bridge on Saturday then start tearing things out next week.
Where about's are you based?
#10
Posted 26 March 2010 - 12:53 PM
One of the first things that will be done to the exterior is the wheels. I'm looking into some BBS CHs at the moment. Probably going to look for the black ones or get them painted black with the silver lip. Don't know what tyres yet. I have Goodyear Eagle F1s on my Mk5 which are great but will probably look into a more track orientated tyre.
The wheels on the picture are now up for sale in the classifieds if any1s interested.
#11
Posted 26 March 2010 - 01:54 PM
If your gonna be tracking it regularly, I would go for OZ superturismos or a similar wheel. MUCH lighter than most. Also, 17" wheels will be lighter still, and probably offer better handling for the track. If your gonna do it, then do it right, not for looks, so much as functionality [B]
#12
Posted 26 March 2010 - 02:39 PM
If your gonna be tracking it regularly, I would go for OZ superturismos or a similar wheel. MUCH lighter than most. Also, 17" wheels will be lighter still, and probably offer better handling for the track. If your gonna do it, then do it right, not for looks, so much as functionality
Wasn't sure on which size to go with. Was thinking of 17" for lightness but I thought 18" would have been better for the lower profile tyre? Still learning, slowly! Definately look into the OZ light range though. I don't really know what other light wheels there are.
And saw that you were running ko3's, was that on your 4motion?
#13
Posted 26 March 2010 - 02:58 PM
Nah, that was on my GTI. It had the AGU engine so upgraded the turbo. The 4mo was relatively standard, engine wise. Just took a deposit on it last night though, so thats another mk4 down, lol.
#14
Posted 26 March 2010 - 03:03 PM
Didn't think it would have been the 4mo but just asking. I'm lookin into charging it at some point. Probably going to go with turbo over super but not sure yet.
U goin to be gettin another mk4 by any chance?lol
#15
Posted 26 March 2010 - 03:17 PM
sounds tasty, have you thought about taking the v6 out to save wait and putting something more tuneable and lighter, aka 1.8T
#16
Posted 26 March 2010 - 03:29 PM
looks like a good project, i'll be interested to see what you do to get more power. i've had my Bora 4motion for just under two months and the mods i've done have made a MASSIVE difference. so far i've fitted H&R spacers, H&R arb's, audi S3 17's and a set of JOM coilovers from the current group buy..... the car handles really well now but i'm also thinking about getting some strut braces for the front upper/lower and one for the rear.
#17
Posted 26 March 2010 - 06:46 PM
nice buy [Y]
my v6 is going on a diet soon.. rear seats removed, carpets/sound deadening gone, replaced with carbon/aluminium front seats harness. lightened motosport wheels, yet to be decided, bigger brakes.. the rest is almost done, arbs, springs dampers/milltek.
turbo conversion in the summer [Y] a ko3s on a v6 would be funny...i could blow more air than on of them..lol [;)] have a look at the garret gt 35/40/45 if you are serious, i prefer the turbo feel to a supercharger though..[Y]
wheels you want the smallest that will fit over your brakes? what brake setup you thinking?
#18
Posted 26 March 2010 - 07:14 PM
Maybe we should have a Manchester 4Mo dieters meeting, lol
#19
Posted 26 March 2010 - 07:20 PM
lol yours is nice and extream, those seats looked sooo comfy when i saw the car..lol
#20
Posted 26 March 2010 - 07:23 PM
This should be an interesting thraed..
#21
Posted 26 March 2010 - 08:30 PM
Matt, well in terms of my track stuff I run 17s and R888s, am running OE brakes with way better pads and quality fluid but 330mm 4 pots would do rather nicely.
#22
Posted 29 March 2010 - 10:07 AM
sounds tasty, have you thought about taking the v6 out to save wait and putting something more tuneable and lighter, aka 1.8T
I thought about the 1.8T and going with a front diff but you still have all the power going to the steering wheels and the diff still doesn't get rid of all problems. And the sound of the v6 is awsome. Hopefully will be able to get more power yet keep a bit more reliability with the v6 also.
#23
Posted 29 March 2010 - 10:14 AM
Cant beat the sound of the 6 pot [Y]
#24
Posted 29 March 2010 - 10:19 AM
nice buy
my v6 is going on a diet soon.. rear seats removed, carpets/sound deadening gone, replaced with carbon/aluminium front seats harness. lightened motosport wheels, yet to be decided, bigger brakes.. the rest is almost done, arbs, springs dampers/milltek.
turbo conversion in the summer
a ko3s on a v6 would be funny...i could blow more air than on of them..lol
have a look at the garret gt 35/40/45 if you are serious, i prefer the turbo feel to a supercharger though..
wheels you want the smallest that will fit over your brakes? what brake setup you thinking?
Cheers. You wouldn't let me have yours so I thought I better look for another one! [B]
I thought of one of those eletric super chargers to blow as much air as the ko3s into the v6! [:DD] I have been looking into garrets, and the STS rear mounted kit that Balance sell. I like to be a bit different.
With the brakes I'm going to stick with the 312mm for now with performance disks and pads. If the funds appear I may go with something like the Leon Cupra R brembos but not sure yet. Will speak to DaveB when it comes to it and see what he has.
#25
Posted 29 March 2010 - 10:25 AM
Took the car to a weigh bridge on saturday to see what a huge task I've set myself to make it a lightweight 4motion.
It came in like a right fatty at 1520kg. I know it's down to the 4wheel drive and a heavy engine but I dont think the full leather interior with heated front seats helped. Probably going to start tearing out the interior tomorrow I hope.
The bits will be going up for sale in the classifieds when done for those interested.
Oh, and put on a cheap "carbon" induction kit I had lying around on yesterday. All I can say is "My oh my, that v6 sounds great."
#26
Posted 30 March 2010 - 12:14 PM
Been out this afternoon for a little bit before the good old weather decided to throw it down.
Started in the boot which now has no carpet, the boot door is now stripped and the panels that would come off without a torx screw driver (thingy-m-jig). The motor from the windscreen wiper will be coming out when I find something to block the hole left by the wiper blade (any suggestions?).
Before(ish):
After:
Grab handles were removed which were easy as they used a normal phillips screw drive (why can't they use just one type of screw?)
And took the surrounds from the centre console out, the cupholder along with the ashtray cover before removing the the footrest in the drivers footwell.
#27
Posted 30 March 2010 - 12:46 PM
[snack]
#28
Posted 30 March 2010 - 04:16 PM
By the way, again anything that has been taken out is up for grabs. Will be putting in classifieds when I have pics.
#29
Posted 30 March 2010 - 04:23 PM
you can buy bungs for the hole in the rear windwo when you remove the wiper and motor mate.
Also, get a set of torx drivers from halfords, not alot of money, if your stripping a golfs interior you NEED them lol.
#30
Posted 30 March 2010 - 04:48 PM
what you doing with the heated leather? him me with a price if its going [Y] know someone who maybe interested