Not that I'm ready to start throwing $$$ at my newly acquired '09 T5 R-Design 6MT just yet, but just starting to brainstorm for the future. Been seeing a lot of impressive results in some of the threads here, so wanted to get your thoughts based on your experiences. Would love to know what specific parts you like or what you haven't. Please school me, because I'm entirely new to the P1 platform. Here's where my head's at so far in thinking about the future, prioritizing from first to last, saving some of the dream stuff for last. Bummer part (not really) is that some of these items have very recently been done but not upgraded by former owner, so it kills me to swap out basically new, perfectly serviceable parts. Haha. Anyway, here goes:
1.) Brakes - Not impressed with whatever's on there. Not sure if factory or just cheapy pads. Maybe go with some of those fly Wilwoods? I'm thinking bigger rotors, beefier calipers, better pads.
2.) Tires - Came with Falkens. My last performance car had Michelin Pilot Sports. Tough going to these. Limits are not much. Could be what's effecting my lackluster braking too.
3.) Engine Torque Mount - Self explanatory.
4.) Front & Rear Sway Bars - Think I'd tackle these next as it's a cheap, easy-ish upgrade. Would this help address the vehicle's understeer?
5.) Suspension - Car's coming up on new struts. They're not shot yet, but I can hear them talking. I really do appreciate the factory's compliant ride, but would like to eliminate some of the squishiness. Hoping I can find a nice middle ground that's both comfortable, but can hug the road better. I want less body roll. I had an Audi A4 quattro where a previous owner lowered it slightly and did some great suspension work. No idea what it had, but the handling was next level and didn't beat you up. I want something like that again.
6.) Intake/Downpipe/Exhaust - All the breathing bits, likely at once. Liking the stuff I'm seeing from Elevate.
7.) Tune - Not only would I like something like a Polestar or Elevate tune to begin with, but thinking I kinda need to do it so all the exhaust stuff doesn't give me a CEL. Is that right? Perhaps this can be moved up the list. Might do that somewhere more up top since it's so attainable.
Now on to the more dream sheet items I may never do, but would be sweet:
Beefed up cylinder sleeves before...
Upgraded turbo before the car reaches its final form, being...
AWD from V50 donor
Final thoughts: The factory M66 is open diff, not LSD, right? If not LSD, is that worth the upgrade? Also, how about factory clutch/flywheel? Worth upgrading or just leave it alone. From what I've heard, the factory setup is pretty stout and I do like it's feel. On a previous car, I upgraded both and clutch pedal was so heavy, it was just a chore, although engaged crazy good and revved a bit freer. Still. Didn't like the one I went with overall. This is a family daily driver, so might just keep that close to factory. Clutch was replaced within last 30K or so and still feels like new. Will prolly wait til this one's burnt up before even thinking about swapping to anything else.
1.) Brakes - Not impressed with whatever's on there. Not sure if factory or just cheapy pads. Maybe go with some of those fly Wilwoods? I'm thinking bigger rotors, beefier calipers, better pads.
2.) Tires - Came with Falkens. My last performance car had Michelin Pilot Sports. Tough going to these. Limits are not much. Could be what's effecting my lackluster braking too.
3.) Engine Torque Mount - Self explanatory.
4.) Front & Rear Sway Bars - Think I'd tackle these next as it's a cheap, easy-ish upgrade. Would this help address the vehicle's understeer?
5.) Suspension - Car's coming up on new struts. They're not shot yet, but I can hear them talking. I really do appreciate the factory's compliant ride, but would like to eliminate some of the squishiness. Hoping I can find a nice middle ground that's both comfortable, but can hug the road better. I want less body roll. I had an Audi A4 quattro where a previous owner lowered it slightly and did some great suspension work. No idea what it had, but the handling was next level and didn't beat you up. I want something like that again.
6.) Intake/Downpipe/Exhaust - All the breathing bits, likely at once. Liking the stuff I'm seeing from Elevate.
7.) Tune - Not only would I like something like a Polestar or Elevate tune to begin with, but thinking I kinda need to do it so all the exhaust stuff doesn't give me a CEL. Is that right? Perhaps this can be moved up the list. Might do that somewhere more up top since it's so attainable.
Now on to the more dream sheet items I may never do, but would be sweet:
Beefed up cylinder sleeves before...
Upgraded turbo before the car reaches its final form, being...
AWD from V50 donor
Final thoughts: The factory M66 is open diff, not LSD, right? If not LSD, is that worth the upgrade? Also, how about factory clutch/flywheel? Worth upgrading or just leave it alone. From what I've heard, the factory setup is pretty stout and I do like it's feel. On a previous car, I upgraded both and clutch pedal was so heavy, it was just a chore, although engaged crazy good and revved a bit freer. Still. Didn't like the one I went with overall. This is a family daily driver, so might just keep that close to factory. Clutch was replaced within last 30K or so and still feels like new. Will prolly wait til this one's burnt up before even thinking about swapping to anything else.
