2dr Mk7 GTI

[RawrImAMonster]

I finally found a replacement for my subaru after months of searching for a mk6 golf r then switching to looking for a mk7 gti once I drove one.  I was originally looking for a 2 door GTI SE with the performance pack, lighting pack, and only in carbon steel grey.  This proved to be difficult to find.  Performance pack was order only for 2015 and 2 doors was order only for 2016.  Eventually I did find a few exactly like what I was looking for, but the dealerships seemed to be asking way too much for them (think $22k-$24k).

So, onto the one I actually bought.  It's a 2015 GTI S with the performance package, DSG transmission, and 37k miles.  I got it in the 16k range which was at the bottom of end of private party value on KBB so I think I did fairly well.  Especially considering it has a few mods that I would have eventually wanted to do anyway.

As it sets now:

Remus catback exhaust w/ gloss black diffuser (~$1700)
Injen intake (~$250)
P3 multi-gauge, boost, afr, intake temp, 0-60 timer, etc ($390)
Tint all around (35% I think, we'll see if I get pulled over I guess)

So yeah, I've got few thousand worth of mods that I actually like thrown in for the already cheap price of the car.  The intake makes the turbo noises and CPV very noticeable and the exhaust is very mild cruising around town, but decently loud when you step down on the gas.  Surprisingly, it doesn't have a tune so I should still have a power train warranty until some time in 2020.

So far my plans for it are (in order of priority):

• Ed's replica headlights to replace my lame halogen lights.  These are surprisingly really nice and have a good projector set up so they won't blind everyone.  The LED pattern matches the golf R so you get two rows of LED lights per side instead of 1 like the lighting package GTI's.
  
• Some sort of tune, either a Cobb accessport from MAP (they include their better map for free) or a JB4 piggy back tune like I had on my 135i.
  
• VW drivers gear springs for a mild drop
  
• Some sort of wheels, the factory ones I have are pretty scuffed up from curb rash.  The previous owner apparently mentioned when  was trading it in that his girlfriend curbed it.
  
• Maybe a subwoofer to help the factory sound system.  It's otherwise pretty good even though it's the base model sound system.
  

So far I'm really happy with it.  It handles really well and is surprisingly quick for what it is.  The only thing I really wish I had from the SE package is the keyless start, but for the amount of money I saved getting this over a SE model I can live with having to actually use a key to start the car.

[Sijray21]

Looks really good. Nice find on the 2dr. I appreciate mine more now that vw stopped making them.

Regarding the Ed's replica lights I recommend getting the hid kit for the lights. I bought a set of Helix golf r replicas for my wife's GSW and the light output is abysmal... The halogen bulb isn't a proper fit for the projector housings even though the base of the bulb does fit. I ordered the deautokey hid kit and am planning on installing them when that comes in. If you do go this route deautokey is planning on selling the updated 5500K and 6500k kits soon, but they only have the 5000k and 6000k in Stock now.

[.RJ]

Using your key to start the car, what a peasant.

Looks great

[RawrImAMonster]

Oh yeah I'm definitely planning on getting the HID's kits that they sell as a package with the Ed's replica lights.

[davej]

I approve of this recent GTI infestation. Much better than the Prius Plague we had for a while.

Looks great and I can't wait to hear that exhaust. Have you already checked to see if there's a tune on it, seems like some decent money spent on upgrades to run a stock map. We can run some vcds logs to see if you want.

[RawrImAMonster]

It feels the same as the other two I drove so it's definitely not actively turned on right now if it does have some sort of tune. I looked around for a JB4 while I was at the dealership but didn't see anything. I'll do a little more digging before I buy a tune, but for now it seems like it's just on the stock tune.

[davej]

ah, gotcha. With your P3 you should be able to see easily enough if you're on the stock psi. I'll have to check that gauge out, I was looking hard at one for the audi also.

https://www.goapr.com/support/dpp_emcs_instructions.pdf
check your stalk for an apr tune. Fingers crossed they just put it back in the stock map before trading it in. (and didn't lock it out)
Any chance of getting the PO's information from the dealer, or having them pass yours on to them if privacy is a concern?

[.RJ]

Yeah you want the APR tune if you dont have it. Call APR with the VIN and see if its tuned, if not, get that done ASAP.

[rherold9]

Alright, is it officially time to rename the club to Madison GTISports?

[RawrImAMonster]

Yeah, I'm going to call and check with them on the VIN. It looks like there is a security code built in even if it is loaded on the car. I would probably have to get them to reset that.

[.RJ]

If thats the case they'll charge you $100 or something ridiculous to 'transfer' to your name.

[RawrImAMonster]

I also found the previous owners name/address and a picture of him from his wedding invite left in the glove compartment. Might see if I can find him on facebook and shoot him a message. Would that be creeping too much?

Edit: Definitely found him haha. First person that showed up on the search for his name. I messaged him, we'll see if he responds.

Edit2: Called APR, they've never tuned it at least.

[Senor_Taylor]

I need to hear this exhaust! I've been eyeing it for a while as it's the only exhaust that doesn't sound awful. Gives it a nice German tone.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[RawrImAMonster]

Heard back from the old owner. It used to have a unitronic stage 1+ tune, but he took that off when he sold the car. He still has the cable and as far as I know the tune is tied to the VIN and the cable so I might be able to buy it off of him fairly cheap.

[davej]

nice! yeah, if it's a paperweight for any other car, just tell him you'll pay shipping and buy him a 5 pack of beer.

[RawrImAMonster]

So my two choices are buy it from him cheap (if he will sell it) and use his login info to download the tune again

OR

I can just pay Unitronic $300 for a new cable + license transfer fee. That gets me both the Stage 1+ ECU tune and Stage 1 TCU tune that he had purchased.

[Sijray21]

So my two choices are buy it from him cheap (if he will sell it) and use his login info to download the tune again

OR

I can just pay Unitronic $300 for a new cable + license transfer fee. That gets me both the Stage 1+ ECU tune and Stage 1 TCU tune that he had purchased.

I'd go #2

[ViPER1313]

And this is why I clean the crap out of my cars before trading them into a dealership.

[RawrImAMonster]

Eh, I wouldn't leave my full address in there, but I don't mind previus owners contacting me. Some of the people that have bought my cars message me from time to time to keep me up to date on what they're doing to it.

For instance, I just heard from the guy that bought my e36 m3 a few years ago. He's getting ready to throw an AA supercharger kit on it.

[Sijray21]

I wouldn't mind newer owners contacting me, but I'd pick the previous car clean before selling. You never know who wants what with your information. I even used white out on copies for documents I gave to the next owners of my vehicles. It is kind of cool to see the progress of cars that you've sold.