I’m not a VW owner yet, but I’ve been seriously eyeing older GTIs and Golf TDI models as a potential daily or project car. I’m coming from a background in turbo Miata work (currently building a 1.6L with Megasquirt), so I’m no stranger to wrenching and tuning.

What brings me here:

• Looking to learn about VW platforms, especially MK4–MK6

• Curious about the modding potential on 1.8T and TDI engines

• Open to building something fun, efficient, and maybe a little sleeper-ish

Would love to hear what models/years you guys recommend for reliability + performance. Also, any common issues I should look out for when shopping?

Glad to be here—appreciate the knowledge and community!