One of the key messages we were keen to get across with our Mk5 Volkswagen Golf GTI build is that power should be one of the boxes to tick off on your shopping list. New tyres, brakes and coilovers slashed the deficit to our Golf R target car by 2.4 seconds around Curborough’s figure of eight layout, but last episode’s trip to Brands Hatch revealed that despite it being much more capable in the corners, our GTI was now underpowered.
Besides, we still have around three seconds to make up on the Golf R, and while I’m sure I’ve gained a few tenths after some tuition from Porsche Carrera Cup GB champ Charles Rainford, we’re going to need some serious hardware to slash the gap. For reference, the GTI is as it was when it left the showroom back in 2006, save for a Milltek cat back system that presumably provides a miniscule uptick in performance. And with 17 years and nearly 100,000 miles under its belt, PH Project Car probably isn’t delivering the full 200hp it mustered when new.
Virtual shopping list in hand, I headed to eBay in search of some go-faster bits. Remember, we’re working with a £10,000 budget here, which includes the cost of the car, so while it’s tempting to raid eBay for the very finest aftermarket goodness, we’ve only got around £3,200 to play with. So here’s what we’ve gone for: a new intercooler and induction kit from Revo, along with a Milltek sports cat to go with our existing cat back system. And while I’ve found it’s faster to leave the car in third gear for our timed runs around Curborough, we’ve also gone for an upgraded clutch and flywheel to handle the extra grunt being funnelled through the front wheels.
Of course, the engine management doesn’t adapt when you throw new parts at the engine, so even if you’re sucking in more cold air, the ECU will continue to operate as if the car was stock. Seeing as we’ve mostly stuck to Revo parts in the name of consistency, we sent our newly improved GTI over to the company’s HQ to undergo a much-needed remap. Our updated parts list puts us in line for Revo’s Stage 2+ remap, which should take PH Project Car from an optimistic 200hp to somewhere in the region of 240hp. Still down on the Golf R’s 333hp output, of course - but don't forget the GTI has a weight advantage of around 200-odd kilos.
Revo doesn’t open up its dyno to anyone, mainly because it’s a hub dyno and is therefore a right faff to set up. However, the team was just as curious as we were to see how much power the remap had unlocked, so they made an exception for us. This particular dyno provides a wheel horsepower reading, which isn’t as high as a conventional flywheel power figure but is apparently a more accurate reading of real-world grunt.
The result? After five runs, the GTI mustered a maximum wheel horsepower figure of 239.87, which is, by our calculations, around 273hp at the flywheel. That’s a staggering 37% increase in power if we are to take VW's claimed 200hp stock output as a baseline. We’ll find out if it’s capable of beating the Golf R next time out for the series finale, which we’ll premier at our PH25 anniversary event at Bicester Heritage on August 12th, but the initial impression is that it’s absolutely rapid. So, in case you haven’t already, hit the link here so you’re in with a shout of winning PH Project Car at the end of the year. Watch out, Golf R, we’re coming for you...
This video is presented in partnership with eBay. Shop for motoring parts and accessories here. To be in with a chance of winning our project car, click here, answer the question and cross your fingers. You’ve got until 11:59 on 5th November to get your answer in. Good luck!
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