[nate1.8t]

taking the plunge! HPA Conversion

After working out the numbers and calculating the cost of buying a 1998 E36 M3, taking it down to active autowerke for a turbocharger set-up and then insuring the vehicle here it didn't make sense.
I live about 20 minutes from HPA motorsports and I am 90% sure I'm going to get the full-blown twin-turbo 24V VR6 4-motion conversion done.
Question is... I currently have a 2001 GTI 1.8T Auto... would it be better/cheaper to just sell the car and buy a brand new 24V VR6 6-spd and get the conversion done or to get the conversion done to the car I currently own? (fully loaded with HIDs, leather, 17's...)
And my current car was paid for in cash so if I do sell it I won't end up upside down on a loan or anything.
Thanks in advance.



[Modified by nate1.8t, 5:36 AM 11-30-2001]

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

Damn...all I gotta say is
YOWZA

That's a lot of money for a super-powered Golf. Here's to hoping it's as reliable as an stock M3. Good luck!

 

[Asperi]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

I HATE YOU!!! YOU LUCKY SOB!!! hehe

.. actually i think i love you! btw how the hell u gonna throw 40large on this??...
If i were you id check with HPA... i think it may be easier to just buy a 24V.... but itll probably be cheaper just to switc out the motors ..

 

[Wildabeast]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

ooo, glad you asked this, since I have done some research in the form of bothersome repetitive questions, HPA are some of the nicest people i've dealt with in all my days by the way, you'll be happy with them, no doubts about that. They can convert ANYTHING as long as it's on the mark 4 chasis, which you already know, as for price, I believe it would be more expensive for you to buy a new car, just because it's buying a new car and all.....there's no tax for them to convert it, but there is for you to buy it, get my drift? Now, that's not to say that it wouldn't speed things along, if you can get your grubby mits on a 24v etc etc with all the options right away, more power to ya, but the plain and simple meat and potatoes of it is that they can get that stuff straight from VW in a damn hurry, they quoted me an entire conversion time, for everything, and I mean everything but the kitchen sink, out the door in 3 1/2 months, pretty impressive for 504 HP to all four wheels, or if you'd like to fork over the extra $ then it'll be 578, which i assume involves some engine work, but as long as you're going all out, why not go....well, all out. My opinion with a little fact blended in, now drive south of the border and make the trek to Minnesota so I can drive it you lucky lucky *bleeeeeeeep* <---edited for jealously and a hint of loathing

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (GTI628V)

quote:[HR][/HR]I HATE YOU!!! YOU LUCKY SOB!!! hehe

.. actually i think i love you! btw how the hell u gonna throw 40large on this??...
If i were you id check with HPA... i think it may be easier to just buy a 24V.... but itll probably be cheaper just to switc out the motors ..

[HR][/HR]​

The problem with buying a new car would be that I think the Haldex requires a different 6-spd transmission than the one available on the new VR6's
How am I affording it? The Turboed M3 would have cost around $40,000 USD in total until I was able to drive it on the street. Not getting it = +$40,000. I'm building a new house in the spring/summer and will probably get a much better rate on the mortgage than expected when I calculated the cost a year ago. Better mortgage = + at least $20,000 USD
That's an extra $60,000 USD to play with.. obviously some will go to a bigger down payment on the house, some will go to Golfzilla.
As for reliablility, whether I went with a turbo E36 M3 or the twin turbo golf, I would most likely have some sort of problems to get fixed down the road.... HPA motorsports is 20 minutes away, Active Autowerke is not even in the same country!

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

I remember somebody posted the pricelist before but I can't find it, does anybody have it?

 

[moonturban]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

That is some SERIOUS cash my man. Are you really sure you want to fork that much out??
On the other hand the car would be sick, but way too fast . . .

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

quote:[HR][/HR]As for reliablility, whether I went with a turbo E36 M3 or the twin turbo golf, I would most likely have some sort of problems to get fixed down the road.... HPA motorsports is 20 minutes away, Active Autowerke is not even in the same country!
[HR][/HR]​

Oh yeah, good point.

I remember seeing one in Road & Track, but it had stickers and stuff all over it. Are you going to go for the sleeper look, where it looks like any other GTI except for the massive horsepower underneath, or are you gonna go for a more racy look?

 

[Mackie-1604]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

WEll, the Twin Turbo setup with 4 motion is 40,000
But DAn was telling me the 4motion setup isn't really that great for high horsepower applications.....
Why put that kidna of money into a kit.....????
Talk to Ventodan...
I'm sure for 40,000 you could build a much nicer setup.....

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (Mackie-1604)

quote:[HR][/HR]
Talk to Ventodan...
I'm sure for 40,000 you could build a much nicer setup.....

[HR][/HR]​

Possibly, but definately not locally.
It's nice to have your tuner be close, rather than across the continent.

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (U n i o n 0015)

quote:[HR][/HR]
I remember seeing one in Road & Track, but it had stickers and stuff all over it. Are you going to go for the sleeper look, where it looks like any other GTI except for the massive horsepower underneath, or are you gonna go for a more racy look? [HR][/HR]​

It would pretty much just look like a stock GTI with huge tires and a wide-body kit.
Maybe a grey HPA sticker under the door but nothing that sticks out. Probably no stickers at all.

 

[nshadel1]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

for wilda beast, what kind of price did he quote you for the whole job

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (Mackie-1604)

quote:[HR][/HR]
Why put that kidna of money into a kit.....????
[HR][/HR]​

Instead of custom work? Because a kit is generally cheaper and you aren't the guinea pig.
Or if you were asking why a VW... I can't comfortably drive a Viper or Vette... the only american sportscar I feel comfortable behind the wheel of is a newer model Mustang, since it has a more upright seating position.
Domestics aside, I don't think that as a 20 year old kid I deserve to have a car like a 996 turbo or 360 Modena.

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

And before anyone asks... I do plan on putting a large chunk of the money aside for real driving lessons.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

If you can afford it, (which by the looks of things you can) come out to Az and race with SWE for a weekend, you will leave a very changed individual. Get my Dad in the car with you and he will show you what your newly built car is capeable of.

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (I_Fly_GTi)

quote:[HR][/HR]If you can afford it, (which by the looks of things you can) come out to Az and race with SWE for a weekend, you will leave a very changed individual. Get my Dad in the car with you and he will show you what your newly built car is capeable of.[HR][/HR]​

Thanks for the invite... most of my lessons to start will be high-speed safe-driving based (same course that police and public service drivers have to take) as well as having to re-learn to drive stick (haven't driven manual transmission since driving school)

 

[[email protected]]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

There are tons of schools offered here. I am NASA certified and am going to take the Bondurant school this summer. Road course racing is really fun, not my cup of tea but I always have fun. 1/4 miles baby, Pen*s racing at its best.

 

[A-Money]

Re: taking the plunge! (I_Fly_GTi)

I'm sorry but I have to say it. If you put $60,000 into a VW Golf you are crazy. Step up to the next level. Audi S4, BMW M3, Acura NSX, etc. Don't get me wrong I love my GTI but as soon as I get my next big raise at work I'm moving into a one of the fore mentioned!
Wait that's $60k canadian, ok so that's like $10k USD right?

[Modified by A-Money, 9:15 PM 11-30-2001]

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (A-Money)

quote:[HR][/HR]I'm sorry but I have to say it. If you put $60,000 into a VW Golf you are crazy. Step up to the next level. Audi S4, BMW M3, Acura NSX, etc. Don't get me wrong I love my GTI but as soon as I get my next big raise at work I'm moving into a one of the fore mentioned!
Wait that's $60k canadian, ok so that's like $10k USD right?

[HR][/HR]​

I had originally planned to get an E36 M3 Turbo (1998 or 1997) but it would cost more than the Golfzilla and I would also need a 3-car garage on my new house. Didn't make sense financially or otherwise. RWD doesn't make a whole lot of sense on a daily driver when I live in an area surrounded by temperate rainforests.
I've always loved the GTI, and would honestly rather have a GTI than all the other cars listed there if performance was identical.

 

[nate1.8t]

Re: taking the plunge! (nate1.8t)

Just got the quote back from HPA.. here are the details
ALL PRICES IN US DOLLARS
Full Conversion (587HP 4motion) = $59,000
Trade-in value of old driveline = -$2500
KW Coil-overs = $1750
I think this includes the 18" Porsche turbo wheels and Bridgestone tires (18x8.5 front, 18x10 rears)
I don't remember it being this expensive!