ScarletMk7Gti
New member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Car(s)
- Mk7.5 Gti
Hey everyone, this is my first time posting after years of lurking on both this and the mk5 forums. My first car was a mk5, and since then I’ve been very much a fan of the Gti, which is why I bought a new one in 2019. After thinking through fantasy build after fantasy build, the time has finally come when I can bring it to life. I am hoping the seasoned golf vets on this forum can help me make sure I have checked all the boxes, and have made the right choices on suspension components. To prefice the component list, I will briefly outline my goals with the car.
Inspired by the recent Porsche gt and rs offerings in the new gt3 and gt4rs, I have decided that what I want out of my car is the utmost in feel and dynamic capability, while still remaining driveable on the street. I am - and will continue to be - using this car as a daily driver commuting on the smoothest tarmac only New Jersey’s 287 can offer. However, I really do want to start tracking the car extensively in the near to mid term future. I am, as will become clear from the components I will be listing, more than willing to trade in comfort for feel. One last thing to note is that I know this car is not the perfect base for such a build on paper, but I love this car so this is a more emotionally driven journey than one with any real objective goal. Now onto the parts.
1) Verkline MQB fwd bundle.
It is a set of tubular subframes and control arms with monoballs pressed in. I have already purchased this kit and am awaiting delivery. I want to base the rest of this build on the Verkline bundle.
2) Ohlins R&T coilovers
I am leaning strongly towards this set mostly for the dfv design which is very appealing from an engineering perspective. However, I am interested in hearing different opinions on what people might consider a better option for this build.
3) H&R sway bars front and rear
I like these because they are solid and seem to be really strong and well built. I do worry about them being too stiff, however, given that I will also be running coilovers. Also I am really unsure which front endlinks to go for. The Verkline kit comes with rear end links but not fronts. I would appreciate any suggestions there.
4) BFI stage 1 engine and trans mount kit paired with APR pendulum mount
As far as I know, these are widely considered to be the best brands for the respective mounts. I am most likely going to buy these, but, like with everything else, I would appreciate some input incase something better exists
5) Unibrace UBQ and XBQ as well as the Eurocode front strut bar
I really want the car to feel solid like a bank vault (someone on the forum made that analogy and I really like the sound of it). Is there anything else short of a roll cage that I can do to appreciably add to the chassis stiffness? Keeping in mind that the tubular subframes should do a lot to stiffen the chassis just by themselves.
So that completes the list of components that I have specced for this build. As mentioned above, I have already purchased the Verkline bundle and am looking for advice on which components would go best with it. From what I can tell, this build is going to be a bit on the unique side as far as the chassis and suspension mods are concerned, which is why I am asking for your help. Are there any parts of the car I’ve left out? Any better quality parts that I could pick instead of the ones listed above? Any tips on aligment specs, monoball maintenance, etc.?
Thanks to everyone who responds to this long and sorta esoteric post. Apologies for the novel.
Inspired by the recent Porsche gt and rs offerings in the new gt3 and gt4rs, I have decided that what I want out of my car is the utmost in feel and dynamic capability, while still remaining driveable on the street. I am - and will continue to be - using this car as a daily driver commuting on the smoothest tarmac only New Jersey’s 287 can offer. However, I really do want to start tracking the car extensively in the near to mid term future. I am, as will become clear from the components I will be listing, more than willing to trade in comfort for feel. One last thing to note is that I know this car is not the perfect base for such a build on paper, but I love this car so this is a more emotionally driven journey than one with any real objective goal. Now onto the parts.
1) Verkline MQB fwd bundle.
It is a set of tubular subframes and control arms with monoballs pressed in. I have already purchased this kit and am awaiting delivery. I want to base the rest of this build on the Verkline bundle.
2) Ohlins R&T coilovers
I am leaning strongly towards this set mostly for the dfv design which is very appealing from an engineering perspective. However, I am interested in hearing different opinions on what people might consider a better option for this build.
3) H&R sway bars front and rear
I like these because they are solid and seem to be really strong and well built. I do worry about them being too stiff, however, given that I will also be running coilovers. Also I am really unsure which front endlinks to go for. The Verkline kit comes with rear end links but not fronts. I would appreciate any suggestions there.
4) BFI stage 1 engine and trans mount kit paired with APR pendulum mount
As far as I know, these are widely considered to be the best brands for the respective mounts. I am most likely going to buy these, but, like with everything else, I would appreciate some input incase something better exists
5) Unibrace UBQ and XBQ as well as the Eurocode front strut bar
I really want the car to feel solid like a bank vault (someone on the forum made that analogy and I really like the sound of it). Is there anything else short of a roll cage that I can do to appreciably add to the chassis stiffness? Keeping in mind that the tubular subframes should do a lot to stiffen the chassis just by themselves.
So that completes the list of components that I have specced for this build. As mentioned above, I have already purchased the Verkline bundle and am looking for advice on which components would go best with it. From what I can tell, this build is going to be a bit on the unique side as far as the chassis and suspension mods are concerned, which is why I am asking for your help. Are there any parts of the car I’ve left out? Any better quality parts that I could pick instead of the ones listed above? Any tips on aligment specs, monoball maintenance, etc.?
Thanks to everyone who responds to this long and sorta esoteric post. Apologies for the novel.