As the world becomes a smaller and smaller place thanks to social media and the ability to instantly connect with anyone anywhere, the lines between cultures are blurred. When the drift car craze hit American shores in the late 90’s, there was a clear distinction between JDM styling, domestic muscle, and the refined German sports-luxury [...]
Recently, we have been looking back in time rather than forward for successes in the past that outshine their contemporary replacements. Cars like the MK1 GTI, E30 BMW, and AMG Hammer are arguably more appealing than the current production models for their affordability and ease of maintenance. Part of the draw to these rad cars goes beyond their quirky social relevance: cars today are increasingly difficult to own and maintain without professionals and an excessive repair bill. The cost of upkeep on a five-year-old car drives many buyers to a lease on a brand new vehicle or purchase with the intent to sell within a few years. This makes the utilitarian aspect of owning a car from the era that brought us the Grateful Dead and late night talk shows incredibly sound.
The automotive world is vast and full of countless styles, influences, and motivations from nearly every aspect of life in general. It is a beautiful hobby to have, in that automotive enthusiasm allows drivers and owners to express themselves and draw upon inspiration from other facets of their personal lives to create something that wholly [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ghzb_uo0qU Something we find incredibly enticing about cars is how many different ways we can find them exciting. We can appreciate the differences between our cars as they become more than just a utility. In some cases, the prospect of doing something insane with a car is the best way to bond [...]
The news has already spread about our second sweepstakes car, the ECS Tuning and StopTech VW MK7.5 GTI Presented by Racingline. The GTI has already received a massive amount of work and attention courtesy of Zach and all our wonderful vendor partners and it is nearing completion. This most recent update finds us [...]
Whenever I ask a fellow car enthusiast what it was that first struck them about cars in general, the answer that follows is rarely short. For myself, I can remember being given a model of the then-new 993 Carerra Porsche when I was young. From the shape of the car to the articulation of the [...]
For most people, a trip to the shop or dealership and a few hours wait is all they ever think about their brakes until they have to slam them on mid-text message when they miss their exit. For the enthusiasts, brake service is a moment of catharsis like any routine service for which we have [...]
The Volkswagen 1.8T found in the MK4 generation is a staple in the European tuning community. This engine spanned almost a decade in one version or another and found its way into a number of different VW chassis that benefit from its awesome low-displacement power curve and turbocharged goodness. As the engine ages and [...]
Generic clichés are generic because they are so frequently used. One we enthusiasts are familiar with is the timeless classic “hard work and dedication is all it takes to be successful”. It is often the case in the car community that projects start and are never completed or that something somehow impedes us from [...]
After what felt like a never-ending winter, warm weather finally brought with it the show season and an excuse to leave the office to spend a few days on the beach in South Georgia. While the official debut of our sweepstakes GTI happened last month at Euro District, ECS Tuning attended The European Experience [...]