Category Archives: Performance Related

APR Stage 3 with OEM IS38

This is the upgrade I thought I’d never do because it increases maintenance needs and removes some of the low-end torque that I really enjoy… and it’s expensive. Still, I would have instinctively seen an IS38 as a good upgrade … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Product Review | 6 Comments

Baun Performance Cat-Back Exhaust

Updated on March 16, 2022 If you’ve followed my site for a while, then you may recall that I had almost no interest in upgrading my exhaust. I had even added a resonator to suppress the extra drone that resulted … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Product Review | 4 Comments

90,000 Miles and APR Update

Looking at the latest activity on my blog, I can see that there’s been hardly any activity at all! I’ve been busy doing other things: LIFE. 🙂  The car has surpassed 90,000 miles without any significant issues. It continues to … Continue reading

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Vibrant 17950 Resonator

Upgrading to APR’s downpipe yielded great results, but the free-flowing downpipe also introduced a prominent drone, starting at 2800 rpm, even with an otherwise-factory exhaust system. At cruising speeds below 2800 rpm, the car sounded just as it did when it … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Product Review | 4 Comments

Firestone Firehawk Indy 500… and Bent Wheels…

When my car was in for the APR Stage 2 upgrade, the mechanic noticed that the tread on one of my tires was separating. I had just starting hearing some noise that sounded a little like the tread wear bars … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Problems, Product Review | 4 Comments

More APR Goodies!

I had planned to add APR’s downpipe and intercooler in the spring. Being a relatively new resident of Virginia (I maintained Texas residency during my military career), I had created a financial safety net so that I wouldn’t have any … Continue reading

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RSR Clutch Upgrade

I knew I was testing the limits of my stock clutch when I added 81 hp and 111 lb-ft with APR Stage 1.  The car drove great and the clutch held the extra power for over 16,000 miles (for a total … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Product Review | 10 Comments

More Power, Much More…

The first generation TDI was one of the first cars in VW’s North American line-up to be able to make substantial gains from what was then known as “chip tuning.” The chip was physically removed from the ECU and replaced with … Continue reading

Posted in Mods & Projects, Performance Related, Product Review | 4 Comments