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 [...]
With all the fun that happened this weekend at Dubs at the Lake in McHenry, Maryland, it would be a shame to condense it all into a single article. While the meat and potatoes coverage will be released this Sunday in our ongoing Tuned In Weekly series, we thought we’d spend a bit of time talking about [...]
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 [...]
Some years ago right before I started working here at ECS, I had always associated our products with typical performance platforms. The rest of the models offered by European automakers just didn’t have that ‘enthusiast’ owner base that others do, like the GTI, M3, or S4. However, we offer more than just support for those [...]
The MK7 Golf R is VW’s best-performing out of the box hot hatchback solution. It draws enthusiasts to its 292hp turbocharged version of the MQB Gen3 engine, all-wheel-drive system, available manual transmission, and practical 5-door hatchback layout. While it is still new, the MK7 R has not posed too many reliability concerns in the first [...]
We’re cranking out the hits lately. First, the MK5/6 2.0T FSI/TSI fabricated aluminum intake manifold drew tons of attention from big turbo builds. Now, we’re helping you reach those goals to reduce weight and increase efficiency. The new in-house designed MK5, MK6, and MK7 GTI/Golf R OEM Intercooler Delete Brackets are the best way to [...]
The Volkswagen MK4 GTI with the 1.8T engine is one of the most commonly modified platforms available. Thanks to its availability, affordability, and the aftermarket support offered for this engine, it’s more of a question of where to start rather than what to do. Everyone knows bolt-on upgrades paired with a software tune are the [...]
The MK4 platform is one of the best-selling VW models of all time, especially if you include all the possible variants. The Jetta, Beetle, and Golf all shared the MK4 platform from 1998-2005 (give or take, some versions started later, others ended later). With several engine options, layouts, and even models to choose between, it's [...]
The 2.0T FSI/TSI engine has the potential for substantial power. Despite its small displacement, the power ceiling is fairly high for even simple bolt-ons. An intake, turbo-back exhaust, coil packs, software upgrade, and a K04 turbo make the 2.0T an absolute weapon. However, in the process, weak points that would otherwise not be an issue [...]
So, I have a confession to make. Despite spending the past three years writing nearly every day about Volkswagens and Audis, I’ve never quite seen the appeal some do to own them. I’m into BMW, Porsche, Subaru, Mazda (the rotary stuff), and Nissan, but have not been able to find an attraction towards Audi/VW. That [...]