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Project
GTI Mk5 Photo Gallery - Part 2
Discussion
Forum for Project GTI Mk5
Taking
a look at the new GTI and the first
problem you notice is the fact this
thing looks like a 4x4. I've seen some
trucks ride lower than this!! In addition
to that is the small wheels, granted
back in the day 17's were considered
a BIG rim.. these days cars just seem
to swallow wheels and the mk5 GTI is
no exception, the 17's look more like
16's! So the first order of business
was wheels and suspension and the SFL
GTG was just 1 week away..
Not
wasting any time I checked all the websites
to see what was available.. and it wasn't
much. I really wanted something deep
dish if possible, but with the new bolt
pattern (5x112) and the high wheel offset
(50mm) the wheel selection was slim.
SO I went with something I could get
quick and looked good. My choice was
some 19" OZ Super Turismo's wrapped
in BF G-Force 235/35's. Did a few photoshops
and figured they would look pretty sweet.
Ordered them in before I actually took
delivery of the car and they came in
the following Wednesday. Without any
suspension the car now appeared to sit
even higher... but don't worry I had
some H&R springs on their way too!
The next day we knocked out the spring
install at FixxTuning. It wasn't too
bad as its very similar to the
mk4 suspension. With the exception that
the driver side axle MUST be removed
in order to swap anything out. I decided
to wait on shocks since I really wanted
it to be lowered by the SFL GTG and
plus I wanted to see how well the stock
GTI shocks would hold up (so far so
good). The H&R springs lowered the
car about 1.5" in the front and
1.4" in the rear. I wish I would
have measured the stock ride so I could
measure myself and find out the actual
drop (maybe someone else could do this
with their mk5 GTI with 17's, email
me the numbers if you do!). If definitely
seems like more than 1.5".
In
addition to the ride height one thing
that was buggin' me was the amber sidemarkers.
Since nobody really has anything out
yet I just decided to take some gloss
black spray paint to them and remove
the bulbs inside. It really came out
pretty good and looks much better than
the nasty amber glaring at you! Once
some good sidemarkers come out I will
replace these.
SO,
all was looking good for the SFL GTG
and heres a little timeline picture
I did:
Within
a few days I had already reached a much
better look IMO for the GTI. It still
retains a very stock feel and look.
I've had SO many people ask me about
the tires cuz they thought they were
stock wheels from VW. I like it for
now but I can already see something
different in the future once more wheels
become available. I will also be looking
to upgrade the shocks as the tires are
rubbing a bit if I take some HARD corners
and hit BIG bumps. This may also be
due to the slightly wider size that
the BF G-Force tires have, so I will
likely go with something else next time
and maybe even run a 225/35.
How
is the ride now?? Well to be honest
I barely even noticed any difference
in stiffness and it seems to handle
about the same as it did stock. BUT
it is lower and it more pleasing to
the eye for sure. The tires are a little
noisy and that's something I have heard
from various people with these tires.
Overall I am very happy with the new
suspension and wheels.
And
I almost forgot! I swapped out the antenna
for a stubby one. I don't have satellite
radio so I had a huge mast on the roof.
Next
up will be getting chipped!! I'm also
going to get a baseline dyno and then
dyno after each following mod. After
the chip it will be intake and then
exhaust. Stay tuned for all the details
and keep posted in the Project GTI Mk5
forum for the latest additions to the
Project!
Project
GTI Mk5 Photo Gallery - Part 2
Discussion
Forum for Project GTI Mk5
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