5 years in my VW Golf Sportwagen....report

[TiGeo]

Thanks for sharing, wagons are underrated here in North America.

I'm surprised to see the tensioner issue, didn't hear a lot of timing chain related issues with the gen 3.

What's your suspension setup?

Chassis/suspension
H&R Sport springs (spring rubbers in fronts)
Bilstein B8 dampers
Golf R rear jounce bumpers
Euro Sport Street Camber Kit (-0.8 deg camber)
H&R front (27mm)/rear (25mm) sway bars
Tyrolsport front subframe deadset kit
034 rear subframe inserts
034 Dynamic+ front/rear adj sway bar end links
Superpro aluminum lower control arms (+1 deg caster/-0.5 deg camber)
034 Density Line engine/transmission mounts
034 Street Density dog bone pucks, upper/lower dog bone inserts, and billet dogbone mount
Superpro rear trailing arm bushings
Alignment specs: [front -2.0 camber/7.9 caster/0 toe] [rear -1.7 camber/0.08 toe]

 

[dgunay]

Chassis/suspension
H&R Sport springs (spring rubbers in fronts)
Bilstein B8 dampers
Golf R rear jounce bumpers
Euro Sport Street Camber Kit (-0.8 deg camber)
H&R front (27mm)/rear (25mm) sway bars
Tyrolsport front subframe deadset kit
034 rear subframe inserts
034 Dynamic+ front/rear adj sway bar end links
Superpro aluminum lower control arms (+1 deg caster/-0.5 deg camber)
034 Density Line engine/transmission mounts
034 Street Density dog bone pucks, upper/lower dog bone inserts, and billet dogbone mount
Superpro rear trailing arm bushings
Alignment specs: [front -2.0 camber/7.9 caster/0 toe] [rear -1.7 camber/0.08 toe]

Great list, must be fun on twisties/track!

I'm running on 034 camber ball joints that gave me -2.5 in the front, in case if you need more camber in the front this would be a cost efficent choice. Been running like this for the last 6000 miles no excessive wear on tires, mainly because 0 toe all around.

 

[TiGeo]

Great list, must be fun on twisties/track!

I'm running on 034 camber ball joints that gave me -2.5 in the front, in case if you need more camber in the front this would be a cost efficent choice. Been running like this for the last 6000 miles no excessive wear on tires, mainly because 0 toe all around.

Issue with those ball joints is clearance with BBK. Apparently Whiteline version won't have issues....considering it.

 

[dgunay]

Issue with those ball joints is clearance with BBK. Apparently Whiteline version won't have issues....considering it.

That's correct aftermarket BBK is a hit or miss. I'm planning to upgrade to base Macan 4-piston calipers and 2-piece rotors but it'd still be stock 340mm to avoid clearance issues.

 

[TiGeo]

That's correct aftermarket BBK is a hit or miss. I'm planning to upgrade to base Macan 4-piston calipers and 2-piece rotors but it'd still be stock 340mm to avoid clearance issues.

I rubbed a bit with OE ball joints...

It's the thickness. My rotors are 350x34mm. The Macan should be fine...30mm I believe.

 

[dgunay]

Also, have you ever considered getting GTI or aftermarket seats for track?

I'm also thinking of upgrading GLI seats mainly for track days, but there is no OEM+ alternative other than the Golf R seats (because it has memory + ventilated seats), which is very rare to find one. I don't want to lose features so my hands are tied.

Can't imagine driving with a regular Golf seats on track, must be hard to keep yourself on it. I guess yours is manual seats so should be relatively easier to swap.

 

[TiGeo]

Also, have you ever considered getting GTI or aftermarket seats for track?

I'm also thinking of upgrading GLI seats mainly for track days, but there is no OEM+ alternative other than the Golf R seats (because it has memory + ventilated seats), which is very rare to find one. I don't want to lose features so my hands are tied.

Can't imagine driving with a regular Golf seats on track, must be hard to keep yourself on it. I guess yours is manual seats so should be relatively easier to swap.

Sure...always looking for the cloth GTI seats. TBH...this works great. I don't really move at all...

Aftermarket reclining seats like the Corbeaus you lose side air bags.

 

[benjy]

i like hatches + wagons + yours is great!! that model was not available in 2001 when i bought my new 2001 wolfsburg 1.8T jetta before i new what i could get for it! not near as fast as yours but fun + reliable with port injection to 200 thou when i traded for my 2001 TT 225 roadster i still enjoy with a few bolt ons + a tune!!

 

[TiGeo]

i like hatches + wagons + yours is great!! that model was not available in 2001 when i bought my new 2001 wolfsburg 1.8T jetta before i new what i could get for it! not near as fast as yours but fun + reliable with port injection to 200 thou when i traded for my 2001 TT 225 roadster i still enjoy with a few bolt ons + a tune!!

GLX MK4 Jetta wagon 5 spd w/VR6 was availble in 01 I believe....

 

[wpod]

She looks nice the you set it up.