hey just startin to look for my first car. absolutely goin vw. in love with the r32 but at 16 i dont really have the funds. im def. looking into post 02' vr6's for the added hp. also looking into 1.8t's because i hear they're easy to get power out of. is this true? which one is faster stock.price ranges? how much will it cost to be in the 210-230 hp range from stock?

 

ok well lets start with the VR6

the pre 2002.5 vr6 (12V) will have 178 BHP, the later 2002s will be the 24v with the 208 BHP engine. give it an intake an exhaust and a $500 chip for the ECU and your looking at 240 BHP or so. but then if you ever go forced injection (Turbo OR SC) well, you're lookin at ALOT MORE

the earlier model 1.8t (2000-2002) will have 150 BHP and with the same mods as listed above, you could be rockin near 190 BHP or so. but then go later 2002 (2002.5) with the awp engine code i think it is, well you have 180 BHP stock and with the same Mods listed about will be rockin near 210 or 220 BHP depending on whether or not you do turbo back exhaust or just the cat back. the 1.8t is more easilly tunable and bolt on products like the ones listed above give alot more power on those engines than the VR6, BUT once the VR is Turbo charged or super charged, well, you get the point. its fast. BUT tuning the VR is much more expensive. but hell, the vr6 sounds so much better than the 1.8t with a classy exhaust on it, its almost worth having to spend more! haha. theres the basics i do believe. good luck and keep it VEEDUB!

 

thanks for the info. much appreciated. but i still need pricing.

 

oh well lucky for you ive been helping my buddy look for the exact cars you just mentioned. haha
2002.5 up for the VR6 11,500-14,00
2002.5 up for the 1.8t same.
below that depends on milage more, but sometimes as low as 9,000 to 12,000

 

ya im seeing prices like that on ebay. one mre thing. my friend has a mazdaspeed protoge. its turboed. hes now looking into freebreathing cars because he couldnt stand the turbo lag. he was big into vdubs for a while and when asked, suggested the vr6 to get more "responsive" power. i have driven his car and the lag is really noticeable. is this so on the 1.8t? would a nice aftermarket sidemount clear this up?

 

to answer your question, the stock 1.8t does quite the turbo lag. the stock sidemount is prolly best for the turbo right off and an aftermarket one wont do much. but heres the good part. a decent chip in your ECU (like giac or apr) will almost completely rid you of all turbo lag issues. and the both of those chips can be reflashed with the more upgrades you do. but the VR does have instant power more or less and a chipped one of those is fantastic because of the drive by wire system. and if you chipped the vr with the giac chip and then reflashed it with new cams, your started to look at some power as well, but your wallet will be sore.

 

sounds good. but how much would a giac chip cost. is installation easy or am i payin for that too? also how much more power will a turbo-back exhaust give up as opposed to just the cat-back. whats the price difference? you said earlier the vr6 sounds a lot better thant the 1.8?

 

oh yea, a nice cat back on the vr6 will always sound sexier than the 1.8t, always. (good meaning a custom job OR but a miltek or magnaflow cat back) umm, the giac chip costs between 350-500, and you have to remove your ecu and send it to them. you're lookin at a 3 day turnaround maybe 4 days, so you wont be able to drive for four days. they put a schip in your ECU and when you buy it you get a computer thingy to stick in you cars port, so you can select the programs you want running or not running. and on a 1.8t, the difference in a cat abc and turbo back with big ole downpipes can be like 10-15hp basicaly.

 

great news! going tomorrow to look at a jazz blue 20TH AE GTI! number 1936 of 4000! cant even wait. beyond excited!
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good luck man, that would be quite the catch! nice color too...