Manual MK7 Golf R (+recent history)
Discussion
I read a lot of Reader's Ride threads so I thought I would contribute.
Prior to the Golf R, I owned and loved my Renault Megane RS250. It was and is the best drivers car I have ever owned. I fettled with it pretty extensively, B14 Coilovers, FMIC, Decat, Recaro Pole Positions, sticky tyres, striped out and a remap of 310bhp. Just before winter 2018, I was just about to place the Megane in the garage on the trickle charger and jump back in my daily Seat Exeo, when I decided to sell. It was a car that needed to be used. The day after I listed it, a guy and his missus traveled down from Leeds with the asking price in cash. Quick, easy, stress free sale.
After the Megane I wanted a car that could be both practical to use everyday (5 doors) and to have a bit of poke. I knew the Cupra had pedigree after it stole the Nurburgring record from the Megane.
So with a bit of research I knew I wanted a Cupra. I also wanted a manual (yes, that's right manual) as coming from such a driver focused car in to an auto/DSG would have been too much for me to take. The hunt began.
Enter my Leon Cupra 280, Manual, Dynamic grey, Black pack with heated front buckets.
Breathed on it a bit:
Turbo elbow
Intake hose
VWR Springs
TRC Splitter
Maxton designs spoiler extension
Sachs Performance clutch
DMS Performance remap 370bhp/368lbf
Team Dynamics
Even after fitting a dogbone mount and new tyres it still suffered with wheelhop in anything other than bone dry conditions. Plus the Golf R was always in the back of my mind...
Step forward my white, manual, 5 door, R. Bought from Sinclair VW in Cardiff, service was fantastic.
more to follow.
Prior to the Golf R, I owned and loved my Renault Megane RS250. It was and is the best drivers car I have ever owned. I fettled with it pretty extensively, B14 Coilovers, FMIC, Decat, Recaro Pole Positions, sticky tyres, striped out and a remap of 310bhp. Just before winter 2018, I was just about to place the Megane in the garage on the trickle charger and jump back in my daily Seat Exeo, when I decided to sell. It was a car that needed to be used. The day after I listed it, a guy and his missus traveled down from Leeds with the asking price in cash. Quick, easy, stress free sale.
After the Megane I wanted a car that could be both practical to use everyday (5 doors) and to have a bit of poke. I knew the Cupra had pedigree after it stole the Nurburgring record from the Megane.
So with a bit of research I knew I wanted a Cupra. I also wanted a manual (yes, that's right manual) as coming from such a driver focused car in to an auto/DSG would have been too much for me to take. The hunt began.
Enter my Leon Cupra 280, Manual, Dynamic grey, Black pack with heated front buckets.
Breathed on it a bit:
Turbo elbow
Intake hose
VWR Springs
TRC Splitter
Maxton designs spoiler extension
Sachs Performance clutch
DMS Performance remap 370bhp/368lbf
Team Dynamics
Even after fitting a dogbone mount and new tyres it still suffered with wheelhop in anything other than bone dry conditions. Plus the Golf R was always in the back of my mind...
Step forward my white, manual, 5 door, R. Bought from Sinclair VW in Cardiff, service was fantastic.
more to follow.
I managed to remove most bits from the Cupra to the R including the Team Dynamics.
As it stands:
Panel Filter
Turbo intake pipe
Turbo Elbow
Short shifter
Clutch delay valve removed and pedal stop
RTS Clutch
VWR Springs
Powerflex dogbone mount
Team Dynamic 1.3s
Black badges and wing mirror covers
KSB splitter
Maxton spoiler
Airtec Intercooler
Full Scorpion exhaust (resonated and valved) with miltek tips as they look better.
DMS automotive remap
Most recently a retrimmed steering wheel by Royal Steering Wheels
(Mrs Bowen driving)
As it stands:
Panel Filter
Turbo intake pipe
Turbo Elbow
Short shifter
Clutch delay valve removed and pedal stop
RTS Clutch
VWR Springs
Powerflex dogbone mount
Team Dynamic 1.3s
Black badges and wing mirror covers
KSB splitter
Maxton spoiler
Airtec Intercooler
Full Scorpion exhaust (resonated and valved) with miltek tips as they look better.
DMS automotive remap
Most recently a retrimmed steering wheel by Royal Steering Wheels
(Mrs Bowen driving)
I recently had a 350mile round trip to North Wales for work, the route took me within 2miles of the Evo Triangle , so I naturally had to oblige. 2pm on a Wednesday, no other cars, just me, some sheep and the speed cameras.
The car did really well through country lanes, with the abysmal weather and I couldn't have been more comfortable. 4WD really proved it's worth.
The car did really well through country lanes, with the abysmal weather and I couldn't have been more comfortable. 4WD really proved it's worth.
That looks lovely on the team dynamics.
Think a lot of people are put off the manuals as the clutch is a bit limiting, same one as the gti if I remember correctly?
A mate has a 3dr manual with the APR low torque map (to preserve the clutch) and it's already slipping like mad. He's going for the sachs clutch but can't decide between sintered or not. How do you find yours?
Think a lot of people are put off the manuals as the clutch is a bit limiting, same one as the gti if I remember correctly?
A mate has a 3dr manual with the APR low torque map (to preserve the clutch) and it's already slipping like mad. He's going for the sachs clutch but can't decide between sintered or not. How do you find yours?
Hammy98 said:
That looks lovely on the team dynamics.
Think a lot of people are put off the manuals as the clutch is a bit limiting, same one as the gti if I remember correctly?
A mate has a 3dr manual with the APR low torque map (to preserve the clutch) and it's already slipping like mad. He's going for the sachs clutch but can't decide between sintered or not. How do you find yours?
In the passed I had a mk2 TTS DSG and I never really got on with it, i would always flick it to manual mode and use the stick and not the paddles, that and the Megane was such and engaging car I couldn't ever imagine going back to a manual, just my personal opinion.Think a lot of people are put off the manuals as the clutch is a bit limiting, same one as the gti if I remember correctly?
A mate has a 3dr manual with the APR low torque map (to preserve the clutch) and it's already slipping like mad. He's going for the sachs clutch but can't decide between sintered or not. How do you find yours?
OEM clutch is chocolate in the MQB platform and slips on standard power.
I had a Sachs Organic in my Cupra and it was heavy, I kidded myself that it was fine and liveable with day to day but in traffic, especially traffic uphill, holding the bite was like calve pressing 150kg. Not fun, calve did get big though.
I have an RTS clutch in the Golf which claimed to have an OEM feel, so I took a punt on it and low and behold, it does have an OEM pedal feel but is rated to 440lbs/ft so able to hold stage 2 power.
Been really busy with work and being a dad to a 7 month old, so the Golf took a backseat for the start of 2020. I did have to go to Anglesey in late Feb so I stopped for a quick photo in Snowdonia.
On the drive back from North to South Wales, It seems to have developed a rattle or knock, comes from the front passenger side wheel when going through standing water. The rattle/knock starts and then when the wheel area drys out the knock stops?!There's no other effect other than hearing a knock, engine has power, steering is responsive and no sooner does the knock start it stops. This only happens in very wet weather.
Other news, I took the Golf to DMS in South Wales who remapped the car in stock form just to see how the decat and FMIC is helping. Can't recall the exact figures but 360bhp, since fitting the decat and FMIC I have lost some mid range but gained at the top end. Engine temps are 20c lower.
I then purchased an intake. I was going to buy an R600 but the MST intake is getting great reviews and looks a bit more purposeful;
Recently lockdown had me bored so I ordered some new bits. A 42 Draft Designs shifter bushing kit. These bushes remove the sloppy shifter feeling and firms things up nicely.
At this point I was going to go stage 2 but I want to ensure reliability, anyone with a GTI/S3/Cupra/R knows that the stock IS38 is a lottery turbo. Some pop some don't. I have been in touch with Littco about an L380X, which has been proving to hold over 400bhp.
That's it for now.
On the drive back from North to South Wales, It seems to have developed a rattle or knock, comes from the front passenger side wheel when going through standing water. The rattle/knock starts and then when the wheel area drys out the knock stops?!There's no other effect other than hearing a knock, engine has power, steering is responsive and no sooner does the knock start it stops. This only happens in very wet weather.
Other news, I took the Golf to DMS in South Wales who remapped the car in stock form just to see how the decat and FMIC is helping. Can't recall the exact figures but 360bhp, since fitting the decat and FMIC I have lost some mid range but gained at the top end. Engine temps are 20c lower.
I then purchased an intake. I was going to buy an R600 but the MST intake is getting great reviews and looks a bit more purposeful;
Recently lockdown had me bored so I ordered some new bits. A 42 Draft Designs shifter bushing kit. These bushes remove the sloppy shifter feeling and firms things up nicely.
At this point I was going to go stage 2 but I want to ensure reliability, anyone with a GTI/S3/Cupra/R knows that the stock IS38 is a lottery turbo. Some pop some don't. I have been in touch with Littco about an L380X, which has been proving to hold over 400bhp.
That's it for now.
Lockdown purchases and changes.
Started with painting the calipers:
Then the wheels, which I wasn't sure about at first but they are growing on me:
The this arrived from Dan at Littco an L380X hybrid turbo. This turbo is based on the stock IS38 turbo but has been designed with a higher flow compressor wheel. A slim nose compressor with a larger inducer allows more airflow but none of the associated surge when the turbo is pushing to high stage 2 boost. Should be good for 400+bhp
Hopefully have this fitted and mapped when the Corona is over.
Started with painting the calipers:
Then the wheels, which I wasn't sure about at first but they are growing on me:
The this arrived from Dan at Littco an L380X hybrid turbo. This turbo is based on the stock IS38 turbo but has been designed with a higher flow compressor wheel. A slim nose compressor with a larger inducer allows more airflow but none of the associated surge when the turbo is pushing to high stage 2 boost. Should be good for 400+bhp
Hopefully have this fitted and mapped when the Corona is over.
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