VW-TX
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- San Antonio, TX
My review of the Forge Twintake for 2.0t TSI engine. If this is in the wrong forum, please move to proper forum mods. Thank you.
Let me start off with a disclaimer. I am by no means a professional reviewer, or have any professional experience in these type of reviews. So please take my opinion as that and not as fact.
I originally had an APR Carbonio Stage 1 Intake on my 2011 GTI. I liked the intake, but wanted something that had a less of a hollow can sound to it. I was hoping also this intake would provide me with possibly more power than my APR. So my decision came down to either ordering the stage 2 kit for my APR, or replacing it all with the Forge unit that comes with the Stage 2.
Ordering the Forge Twintake system:
1 star for long way out of possible 5
I ordered my intake system from Redline Motorworks on October 3, 2011. Andrew was great in assisting me with my order. As part of the order, I also received a BSH Torque mount as a freebie. At the time of my order, Andrew did not inform me of any delays. I believe it was the next day Andrew contacted me to let me know the Intake system was on backorder. He told me it would be 3 weeks from 10/4/2011. I checked in again with him on 10/14/2011 and I didn’t hear back from him. So I contacted him again on 10/18/2011 and he said it was still on backorder. Waiting on a massive shipment to be sent overseas. He said another 3-4 weeks from that time. I checked in with him again on 11/2/2011 again didn’t respond. I emailed him again on 11/9/2011 nothing. 11/10/2011 I again emailed him, and he finally responded that day. He said now mid-December before they expect them. At that time I was considering just cancelling it. I decided to stick it out. On 12/7/2011 I checked in with him and he said any day. Finally on 12/21/2011 my intake system shipped.
As you can see I went through a lot of waiting, a lot of emails, from ordering an intake system. I also contacted Mike at Forge to get status updates which helped me. Before it was shipped, I found out from Mike that Andrew at Redline ordered a Mk5 kit and not a Mk6 kit (even though I told him 2011 GTI Mk6). Mike adjusted the kit to make it work, and shipped it.
Arrival of Intake and Installation:
3 stars out of 5
I got the box 3 days from the date it was shipped. At the time I didn’t have my car to install it as it was at the dealer. But I went through the box and reviewed the items as seen in the picture below:
I went over the instructions and reviewed to make sure I had all the items. I did. So I was good to go. Later that week, I got my car and went to install it. The instructions were very good for the most part. I removed my stock intake system (I had the APR but sold it, so was running the factory box). Removing the stock stage 2 pipe coupler on the turbo was hard to access so it made things a bit difficult. But once I got it all off, we were mostly home free!
When I started to install the Forge system, I came across a heat shield that wouldn’t work on my car. The heat shield install was also not in the instructions at all they gave me. So this wasn’t good. I posted on the forums here and contacted Forge in hopes of some help. Forge called me back after about an hour, but before they called me, a fellow VW owner on golfmk6.com offered his help and I gave him a call. The shield he wasn’t sure of as he didn’t remember having one, but he helped me with the alignment of the filters (the direction they go). Thank you! Forge called, and Mike told me that shield bolts in the back, and I mentioned it doesn’t line up properly. I sent him some pictures and was waiting for him to call back. He didn’t and emailed me later which I didn’t get it till after I put the intake all the way in the car since I couldn’t wait anymore. Found out the shield doesn’t work on my Mk6 due to some production changes. The tab on mine isn’t there for it to mount too vs some other TSI engines. They said they will look into making a fix for it, but at this time they do not have anything. They also could not give me a deadline when they may have a fix. So the shield stays off the car. It seems other MK6 owners did not install theirs either so this issue has been around for a while.
The rest of the install went very smoothly. The system had different size clamps (70mm, 90mm, 120mm). I started with the stage 2 pipe, and left everything loose. Once I installed it all, I started to tighten it all down. At first after I secured it, I found it hitting my brake fluid cap, and the filter hitting my hood liner. It took me a few attempts to get it correct, but once it was installed correctly it has been fine.
Due to the missing heat shield in the instructions and not able to install it because of production differences between TSI engines I will only give this part a 3 star.
Driving Impressions and Sound
4 stars for driving impressions and 3 stars for sound
I have been driving the car now for 3 weeks since my install. The car took a few days to adjust, but once it did, the power difference between stock, and the APR intake is very noticeable. The car doesn’t seem to lose its breath anymore in the upper RPMS like it did with the stock intake. It also has massive grunt in the mid-range. Even the low range has some, but I feel it lost a little down low as it’s easier to modulate the gas pedal than it was before. My car will now lose traction easily 1st-2nd gears, with my new DW tires. Stock with APR only did that in 1st with the stock tires but not with the DW’s.
I feel though there is some turbulence in the system because of the hesitation feelings I am getting with the system vs my APR I had before. The car has a tendency to have a hiccup here and there when getting on it. Also if I hold the RPMS at a steady speed and around 3-4k, it feels like the car accels, decels on its own very lightly, it’s a weird feeling. But will continue testing it out for now to see if it improves.
Sound impressions are very interesting indeed. The first time I got on it, I was like holy macro. This thing is loud. You hear the sucking noise pretty loud, then the turbo kicks in, and then you here this high pitch squeal/whine from it. Now I want to say other users with other intakes also have this squeal when the stage 2 intake systems on other brands not just this one. I was not expecting this system to be this loud. And truthfully after 3 weeks of owning it, it is starting to bother me a bit. Driving the car lightly I can hear the sucking noise. I mean barely any gas you hear it and people have said it sounds like my car has a leak. LOL. But when you get on it, it sounds pretty damn good, only at that point.
Customer Service:
One star
This is one area I don’t really want to comment in much, but I feel a need to mention it. Forge and their Sales person Mike aren’t exactly the most customer service friendly. When posting of my delay on the forums, instead of helping the customer out at first, he decided he wanted to attack me or anyone who made negative comments on their products. For one, the product should have been in stock (or they should have a system to keep them in stock better) so people don’t have to wait almost 3 months. The wait is terrible, and him attacking his customers for any little thing made a bad taste in my mouth and almost made me cancel my order. At this point, would I order from them again? Unsure, all depends how they get their customer service in shape before I do. There are many other manufactures out there that can provide products so there really isn’t a need to go to them. Sadly due to this, I am only giving this a one star.
Final Impressions:
Due to having it for only a few weeks, I am unsure if I am going to keep this intake or not. I wasn’t expecting it to make all these weird noises and be loud even on daily driving (easy driving). This intake looks nice once installed, but tell you what, unless you are young, I don’t think this intake will be the best choice for us older folks that want something quieter. The power gains are there, and well worth the cost though. So I am trying to decide if this will outweigh my decision. I may consider a ModShack Intake because supposedly you get the same power from it, but not the noise. Now it doesn’t have a Stage 2 pipe however and maybe the reason it isn’t near as loud. I also do believe this Forge intake causes MAF meter readings to be off due to the drivability concerns I saw.
If I had to do it over, I would probably go back to a APR or Mod Shack intake. Keep an eye out as I might sell this one eventually.
Overall, great system for power, loud, some install issues, and poor customer service. You decide.
Let me start off with a disclaimer. I am by no means a professional reviewer, or have any professional experience in these type of reviews. So please take my opinion as that and not as fact.
I originally had an APR Carbonio Stage 1 Intake on my 2011 GTI. I liked the intake, but wanted something that had a less of a hollow can sound to it. I was hoping also this intake would provide me with possibly more power than my APR. So my decision came down to either ordering the stage 2 kit for my APR, or replacing it all with the Forge unit that comes with the Stage 2.
Ordering the Forge Twintake system:
1 star for long way out of possible 5
I ordered my intake system from Redline Motorworks on October 3, 2011. Andrew was great in assisting me with my order. As part of the order, I also received a BSH Torque mount as a freebie. At the time of my order, Andrew did not inform me of any delays. I believe it was the next day Andrew contacted me to let me know the Intake system was on backorder. He told me it would be 3 weeks from 10/4/2011. I checked in again with him on 10/14/2011 and I didn’t hear back from him. So I contacted him again on 10/18/2011 and he said it was still on backorder. Waiting on a massive shipment to be sent overseas. He said another 3-4 weeks from that time. I checked in with him again on 11/2/2011 again didn’t respond. I emailed him again on 11/9/2011 nothing. 11/10/2011 I again emailed him, and he finally responded that day. He said now mid-December before they expect them. At that time I was considering just cancelling it. I decided to stick it out. On 12/7/2011 I checked in with him and he said any day. Finally on 12/21/2011 my intake system shipped.
As you can see I went through a lot of waiting, a lot of emails, from ordering an intake system. I also contacted Mike at Forge to get status updates which helped me. Before it was shipped, I found out from Mike that Andrew at Redline ordered a Mk5 kit and not a Mk6 kit (even though I told him 2011 GTI Mk6). Mike adjusted the kit to make it work, and shipped it.
Arrival of Intake and Installation:
3 stars out of 5
I got the box 3 days from the date it was shipped. At the time I didn’t have my car to install it as it was at the dealer. But I went through the box and reviewed the items as seen in the picture below:
I went over the instructions and reviewed to make sure I had all the items. I did. So I was good to go. Later that week, I got my car and went to install it. The instructions were very good for the most part. I removed my stock intake system (I had the APR but sold it, so was running the factory box). Removing the stock stage 2 pipe coupler on the turbo was hard to access so it made things a bit difficult. But once I got it all off, we were mostly home free!
When I started to install the Forge system, I came across a heat shield that wouldn’t work on my car. The heat shield install was also not in the instructions at all they gave me. So this wasn’t good. I posted on the forums here and contacted Forge in hopes of some help. Forge called me back after about an hour, but before they called me, a fellow VW owner on golfmk6.com offered his help and I gave him a call. The shield he wasn’t sure of as he didn’t remember having one, but he helped me with the alignment of the filters (the direction they go). Thank you! Forge called, and Mike told me that shield bolts in the back, and I mentioned it doesn’t line up properly. I sent him some pictures and was waiting for him to call back. He didn’t and emailed me later which I didn’t get it till after I put the intake all the way in the car since I couldn’t wait anymore. Found out the shield doesn’t work on my Mk6 due to some production changes. The tab on mine isn’t there for it to mount too vs some other TSI engines. They said they will look into making a fix for it, but at this time they do not have anything. They also could not give me a deadline when they may have a fix. So the shield stays off the car. It seems other MK6 owners did not install theirs either so this issue has been around for a while.
The rest of the install went very smoothly. The system had different size clamps (70mm, 90mm, 120mm). I started with the stage 2 pipe, and left everything loose. Once I installed it all, I started to tighten it all down. At first after I secured it, I found it hitting my brake fluid cap, and the filter hitting my hood liner. It took me a few attempts to get it correct, but once it was installed correctly it has been fine.
Due to the missing heat shield in the instructions and not able to install it because of production differences between TSI engines I will only give this part a 3 star.
Driving Impressions and Sound
4 stars for driving impressions and 3 stars for sound
I have been driving the car now for 3 weeks since my install. The car took a few days to adjust, but once it did, the power difference between stock, and the APR intake is very noticeable. The car doesn’t seem to lose its breath anymore in the upper RPMS like it did with the stock intake. It also has massive grunt in the mid-range. Even the low range has some, but I feel it lost a little down low as it’s easier to modulate the gas pedal than it was before. My car will now lose traction easily 1st-2nd gears, with my new DW tires. Stock with APR only did that in 1st with the stock tires but not with the DW’s.
I feel though there is some turbulence in the system because of the hesitation feelings I am getting with the system vs my APR I had before. The car has a tendency to have a hiccup here and there when getting on it. Also if I hold the RPMS at a steady speed and around 3-4k, it feels like the car accels, decels on its own very lightly, it’s a weird feeling. But will continue testing it out for now to see if it improves.
Sound impressions are very interesting indeed. The first time I got on it, I was like holy macro. This thing is loud. You hear the sucking noise pretty loud, then the turbo kicks in, and then you here this high pitch squeal/whine from it. Now I want to say other users with other intakes also have this squeal when the stage 2 intake systems on other brands not just this one. I was not expecting this system to be this loud. And truthfully after 3 weeks of owning it, it is starting to bother me a bit. Driving the car lightly I can hear the sucking noise. I mean barely any gas you hear it and people have said it sounds like my car has a leak. LOL. But when you get on it, it sounds pretty damn good, only at that point.
Customer Service:
One star
This is one area I don’t really want to comment in much, but I feel a need to mention it. Forge and their Sales person Mike aren’t exactly the most customer service friendly. When posting of my delay on the forums, instead of helping the customer out at first, he decided he wanted to attack me or anyone who made negative comments on their products. For one, the product should have been in stock (or they should have a system to keep them in stock better) so people don’t have to wait almost 3 months. The wait is terrible, and him attacking his customers for any little thing made a bad taste in my mouth and almost made me cancel my order. At this point, would I order from them again? Unsure, all depends how they get their customer service in shape before I do. There are many other manufactures out there that can provide products so there really isn’t a need to go to them. Sadly due to this, I am only giving this a one star.
Final Impressions:
Due to having it for only a few weeks, I am unsure if I am going to keep this intake or not. I wasn’t expecting it to make all these weird noises and be loud even on daily driving (easy driving). This intake looks nice once installed, but tell you what, unless you are young, I don’t think this intake will be the best choice for us older folks that want something quieter. The power gains are there, and well worth the cost though. So I am trying to decide if this will outweigh my decision. I may consider a ModShack Intake because supposedly you get the same power from it, but not the noise. Now it doesn’t have a Stage 2 pipe however and maybe the reason it isn’t near as loud. I also do believe this Forge intake causes MAF meter readings to be off due to the drivability concerns I saw.
If I had to do it over, I would probably go back to a APR or Mod Shack intake. Keep an eye out as I might sell this one eventually.
Overall, great system for power, loud, some install issues, and poor customer service. You decide.
![PRND[S]](/forums/data/avatars/m/31/31297.jpg?1573418613){kind=avatar}
