Mild modification or keep standard

I am contemplating making minor modifications to my GTI. At the moment it's a completely standard 1.8 GTI.

I have spoken to a couple of friends and they believe this is sacrilege, changing what is essentially a classic car.

It's by no means perfect and that's what makes me want to tweak it a little.

A set of 15 inch BBS RAs (ideally RMs but they are so expensive) would be my starting point, followed by a drop in suspension.

I assume quite a few people have gone through the thought process, any advice or pointers?

Regards

ST

It's your ride.
It's your Ideal car.
It's your decision, not your mates, or the internets.

When and if you are asking for opinions, you will get them pro & con.

Look at tons of images off of google, you will see thousands of folks who have modded their rides, from lowering to raising and everything in between.

So If you are looking for a consensus for mods, remember, It's your ride…..

If you are happy, then who cares what others think.
Remember it is your dream, not anyone else.

Kind of like a Marriage, if I had listened to what others were saying, I wouldn't of ever married my wife of 40 years.  

Wheels/suspension are easily changed/put back to standard,  

Im with   abfmk1.  Can all be reversed. I am adding rear discs to my 1980 tin top, 4 branch manifold with stainless exhaust and running different wheels. It is lowered to death but changing back to standard as I can’t get it off my very steep drive.  Eventually I shall drop it by just 30 or 40 mm. IMO these are perfectly acceptable changes to it and something someone with simple knowledge could change back if I ever sold it. Not that I want to or would.

Cutting holes in bonnets and changing engines is a bit more serious but as Brian says its personal choice. Personally if I was to build a 2ltr supercharged rear engine mk1 then it would probably started as a golf C as I would not like to butcher a gti, but others are ok with doing just that.

Hmmmm RS4 style rear engine rally golf anyone ? Sounds fun.


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It's your car and really you can do what ever you want to it…

Just keep hold of the original parts you take off, eg if fitting new coil overs keep hold of the original struts and springs, same for the wheels.

They car may be worth more to someone if it's original but somethings you don't want to be original like rubber bushes so fit new stuff if you can.

I've seen someone selling the fact that a "Barn find" car had the original 35 year old tyres on it!
Now that's just dangerous to drive on those.           

Backinblack said

Hmmmm RS4 style rear engine rally golf anyone ? Sounds fun.


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Have you seen the MK1 they dropped a Northstar V8 into it… Well they did have to widen  and lengthen the frame a wee bit but it did look almost OEM sitting by itself.
http://www.thedrive.com/tuned-af/16054/this-volkswagen-rabbit-has-a-6-0-liter-ls-v-8


Shoot, just go for it.

Kind of like my Brother who modded his MGB and when we were at Gymkana's he parked it way off by itself so he wouldn't get bumped in to a different class.

 

Thanks all for your input, it is much appreciated.

I haven't done anything to the car yet, I think that's the stumbling block.

Not had the car long and it still feels like the previous owners. Maybe it's time for some tweaks.

Thanks again!

I'd mod the hell out of it… it's only a piece of metal dude. 

The last car I ripped apart was a totally standard 1974 swallowtail tho, so as you can guess, I really don't care much for originality.

For whatever my $0.02 is worth, I have an old Series 1 tin top that I have been painstakingly trying to keep as original as possible and I believe that Roach  is 110% right. It is only a piece of metal. His old G40 Swallowtail thread is worth having a look at, as are many others around here for some inspiration. Restoration or modified, they're all fantastic and personal to their owners.

Do whatever makes you happy and fits within your budget and lifestyle. There really is not much that cannot be reversed if you do decide to dabble in modifications.


Just try to keep it fun, light, and enjoyable.  

Just do whatever you want to it fella.
Opinions are like bum holes - everyone has one, they're usually awful and no-one is really interested in them.

I've got an '83 Lhasa green tin top.

Coileys, wheels, rear discs

COuldn't care less what other people think.  You want to keep it standard?  Buy it off me.

Keep your old wheels and suspension, if the time comes to sell then you can either revert back to standard or advertise they are included. I have just dropped my sportline on H+R cupkit and so glad I did plus I see it as an upgrade rather than modification. Wheels are so easy to change its not big deal. If you were spraying it bright pink I would say have a good think but then again its your car!!!

Mr Funk said

Opinions are like bum holes - everyone has one, they're usually awful and no-one is really interested in them.

So true Mr Funk, made me giggle.. …