+- Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org)
+-- Forum: Technical (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Member's Projects (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: the car virgin (/showthread.php?tid=8928)
Pages:
1
2
the car virgin - goodWIN - 06-23-2010
Finally I bought a car...and made it out alive and with a little extra cash to spare.
ANYWAY
I know close to nothing about cars and how to make them all saavy and such so I need some assistance in how to make my vehicle autocross and girl friendly. ...that is to say I am not about to put a freakin hawaiian lei on the mirror (cough-GOODSPEED-cough)!!
SPECS:
2003 Jetta GLI
VR6-speed
power windows/locks/etc.
sunroof
fm/am/cd player
new tires
miles (I can't afford any less) -109,000 :/
?
![[Image: IMG_4614.jpg]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt174/kimandtim/IMG_4614.jpg)
![[Image: IMG_4613.jpg]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt174/kimandtim/IMG_4613.jpg)
![[Image: IMG_4612.jpg]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt174/kimandtim/IMG_4612.jpg)
![[Image: IMG_4609.jpg]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt174/kimandtim/IMG_4609.jpg)
![[Image: IMG_4604.jpg]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt174/kimandtim/IMG_4604.jpg)
Re: the car virgin - SlimKlim - 06-23-2010
You go girl! VR6 huh? I guess that was a safe call, that way we can't boost the shit out of it and make it completely unreliable on you.
Re: the car virgin - Jake - 06-23-2010
Looks great! I wouldn't really be worried about the miles. The VR6 is harder to modify from a power standpoint (opposed to the 1.8 turbo) but if you want to make it "autocross friendly" and be faster at AX, all you need is seat time. Really... just drive it, drive it hard, and put some good miles on it for the rest of the summer.
Past that, you would be amazed what a good set of summer tires can do. The GLI had upgraded suspension from VW, so you got bigger front/rear swaybars and stiffer springs, plus a teeeeeeny bit of a drop (30mm). That's a good start, and you will be a faster driver as you get to know the car and play around some.
Looking forward to a ride in the fall! And yes, we WILL teach you how to wrench on it yourself. Congrats!!
Re: the car virgin - goodWIN - 06-23-2010
SlimKlim Wrote:You go girl! VR6 huh? I guess that was a safe call, that way we can't boost the shit out of it and make it completely unreliable on you.
Joseph. You will do no such thing. you meanie.
Re: the car virgin - goodWIN - 06-23-2010
Jake Wrote:Looks great! I wouldn't really be worried about the miles. The VR6 is harder to modify from a power standpoint (opposed to the 1.8 turbo) but if you want to make it "autocross friendly" and be faster at AX, all you need is seat time. Really... just drive it, drive it hard, and put some good miles on it for the rest of the summer.
Past that, you would be amazed what a good set of summer tires can do. The GLI had upgraded suspension from VW, so you got bigger front/rear swaybars and stiffer springs, plus a teeeeeeny bit of a drop (30mm). That's a good start, and you will be a faster driver as you get to know the car and play around some.
Looking forward to a ride in the fall! And yes, we WILL teach you how to wrench on it yourself. Congrats!!
I do plan on driving it a lot this summer. And I think it needs some new shocks...but I am taking it to a local German import specialist that we take my mom's Audi to and I think he will let me know what's up, or what needs fixing priorities, and after those (whatever that may be) I will fight with my bank account to do some upgrading.
TEACH ME TO WRENCH? oh man.... alright. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. show me the ropes. -I'm down.
And sidenote...I am slowly learning how to engine break/downshift...something I didn't really know how to do. And I didn't even touch the brakes coming off the interstate!! sweetness!
Re: the car virgin - SlimKlim - 06-23-2010
goodWIN Wrote:Jake Wrote:And sidenote...I am slowly learning how to engine break/downshift...something I didn't really know how to do. And I didn't even touch the brakes coming off the interstate!! sweetness!
Word. I like to see how long I can go without braking on my commute home. I made it through about 10 stoplights once last week, or about 15 minutes only downshifting to control speed.
Re: the car virgin - .RJ - 06-23-2010
congrats!
Re: the car virgin - CaptainHenreh - 06-23-2010
<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9224">viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9224</a><!-- l -->
:wink:
Re: the car virgin - Apoc - 06-23-2010
Nice. I always had a thing for that generation Jetta... and Passats for that matter.
VW is spreading like a fucking disease around here.
Re: the car virgin - Maengelito - 06-23-2010
congrats! yay new (to you) cars! There are lots of VW owners here that'll be able to help you troubleshoot the inevitable CELs :wink:
goodWIN Wrote:And sidenote...I am slowly learning how to engine break/downshift...something I didn't really know how to do. And I didn't even touch the brakes coming off the interstate!! sweetness!
brake pads are a lot easier to swap out than a clutch is.
Re: the car virgin - ViPER1313 - 06-23-2010
goodWIN Wrote:And sidenote...I am slowly learning how to engine break/downshift...something I didn't really know how to do. And I didn't even touch the brakes coming off the interstate!! sweetness!
Just don't use the clutch as a brake. Match the revs, then put it in a lower gear - don't slip the clutch. Otherwise, you will be learning how to wrench more quickly than you might have wanted to.
Good luck with the new car - I hope you like it and it treats you well. Like Jake said, there is no better mod for your car on track / autox than seat time. And always maintenance before mods, otherwise you will be walking a lot of places.
Re: the car virgin - DavidM - 06-23-2010
Maengelito Wrote:brake pads are a lot easier to swap out than a clutch is.
That was my thought...cheaper too
Re: the car virgin - ScottyB - 06-23-2010
real nice for the mileage! should just be breaking in at that point
if you ever want to do any suspension work on it, go with the Shine Racing Real Street suspension, don't turn it into a lowrider like many do.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.srsvw.com/">http://www.srsvw.com/</a><!-- m -->
that setup would make it a very fun autocrosser and a good college car.
Re: the car virgin - Mike - 06-24-2010
hells yeah! the vw love is strong these days. congrats!
Re: the car virgin - D_Eclipse9916 - 06-24-2010
If the shocks are blown dont let that mechanic swap em out. Means time for an upgrade. Something with a good ride but will give you a bit better autocross ability. Do some konis withi H+R OE Sports, is my typically suggestion if you want something nice and smooth.
Re: the car virgin - Dave - 06-24-2010
Congrats! Looks nice and clean.
All you need to be faster is the seat time; it truly is the best bang for your buck...
Re: the car virgin - Sijray21 - 06-24-2010
Mike Wrote:hells yeah! the vw love is strong these days. congrats!
+1
if you need any VAGCOM work done, let me know. i have the HEX-USB+CAN version.
Re: the car virgin - SlimKlim - 06-24-2010
Sijray21 Wrote:Mike Wrote:hells yeah! the vw love is strong these days. congrats!
+1
if you need any VAGCOM work done, let me know. i have the HEX-USB+CAN version.
Thats very forward of you.
Re: the car virgin - Jake - 06-24-2010
SlimKlim Wrote:Sijray21 Wrote:Mike Wrote:hells yeah! the vw love is strong these days. congrats!
+1
if you need any VAGCOM work done, let me know. i have the HEX-USB+CAN version.
Thats very forward of you.
I never offer that kind of work until the third date.
Re: the car virgin - SlimKlim - 06-24-2010
^Explains a lot.
;-)