Being an adult around the holidays is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you’re responsible for your gifts, which means Santa won’t bring anything you haven’t had to foot the bill for. On the other hand, who says you have to wait until Christmas morning to open those boxes of parts and tools you [...]
Modern VWs and Audis use numerous computer modules and sensors to accurately control performance, features, and efficiency. All internal failures are reflected on the dashboard, but the Check Engine Light and various warning lights only tell you so much. How do you know what is exactly wrong with your car? Automotive software that communicates with [...]
Pre-Season Maintenance & Checklist We’ve been fortunate to have a long summer this year, but winter is indeed closing on us quickly. You should have already budgeted for and planned to do at least the basic winter maintenance. Heck, you may already be in progress or finished with everything for your winter daily by now. [...]
Last year, I attended the ‘unofficial’ H2oi in Ocean City, Maryland for the first time. What I witnessed that weekend in person and through social media from a distance disheartened and upset me, but it was only a fraction of what that ‘event’ offered. I also found incredible people, true down-to-earth enthusiasts, with the spirit [...]
As engines age, they inherently become more attention-demanding as their parts wear. Some engines, though, are simply considered unreliable due to common failures even during their lower-mileage life. That doesn’t mean they are worth writing off, however. The BMW N54 and Audi 2.7T are both regularly called ‘unreliable’ but their performance potential outweighs any fears [...]
There’s nothing more exciting than picking up a new project car, especially if it already runs and drives. Even if it doesn’t, often, what’s kept it off the road is something simple enough. However, regardless of whether it’s been sitting derelict for a long time or has just seen better days, there’s a reason why [...]
Owning a Haldex-equipped Volkswagen or Audi is convenient when you need the AWD, but they require regular service to operate effectively. Luckily, we're here to help build your confidence in the garage with this handy guide to all things Haldex. What is a Haldex AWD System? The Haldex system derives its name from the Haldex [...]
Last week, we took an in-depth look at some of the best coilovers on a budget. This week, we're sticking with drivability and performance modifications that are guaranteed to offer better results than more horsepower. If you plan on improving your car’s performance capabilities, want a better overall driving experience, or it’s just time for [...]
What makes a car event stand out as something truly special? Is it the builds? The people? The pop-up meets and activities? The location? All of the above? With so many modern car shows imploring this multi-day approach rather than the traditional parking lot one-day event, it's hard to stand out, especially in a niche [...]
We spend a great deal of time focused on the most popular enthusiast models chosen by the community to drive, modify, build, race, and showcase. It makes sense, because those cars, like the E46 M3, MK7 GTI, B8 A4, and other extremely popular performance cars are what most enthusiasts drive. However, we aren’t exclusive to [...]