I am stage 3 at 525 bhp. Ttv4 turbo. Yes the torque kicks in later. Around 3k instead of 2.5k along with boost. Yes it feels laggy compared to stage 2. But its minor not a massive difference. The pull it gives from 3- 3.5k - 7.2k is unreal. It pulls relentlessly to the limiter. Stage 2 3rd gear would rip but 4th upwards would start to run out of steam. Stage 3 4th and 5th and 6th pull HARD like 3rd does stage 2. And the noise it makes... is also mind blowing. Like a huge suction machine!! My MPG on the motorway is better than stage 2... around town its similar. Soon as you step on it Yes the fuels gone lol.. I get 35-40 mpg on long drives and 24 around town. Drive does feel slower when cruising slowly but soon as you press that pedal it builds fast. I will be making a channel for Mt stage 3 mk7R soon...
Excellent info that I didn't know. I will definitely stay happily with my APR Stage 2 on my Golf R. The loss of low end grunt, poor mileage, and cost are definitely dealbreakers for me.
johnwjeromejr yeah, I think just stick with stage 2, it’s better to drive a car that feels fast and is fast all the time than the car that is faster but sometimes, + compromising all the other things like city drivability, fuel consumption and turbo lag nuh
I was looking at Stage 3 but am going to go Stage 2. I love the low end torque. I lose that it will affect one of the main reasons I got the car. How do you like the stage 2 and what numbers are you running?
Thanks for making this vid. These were all of my personal reasons for NOT going stage 3 and instead sticking with 2+ while my 2018 R is my daily driver. Once it is my second car and mostly for the track I will go stage 3+. I just subscribed, so looking forward to the content. Keep it up!
You all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know of a way to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my login password. I love any help you can give me
@Johnny Dakari i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Dude seriously what did you expect? Stage 3 is for fast road and track use. Bigger turbo = lag, bigger turbo = better top end pull at expense of bottom end grunt. DSG lazy in Drive? That’s what Sport mode is for if you’re really too lazy to use Tip mode. Shitty fuel economy? What did you expect from a Stage 3 tune? More power requires more fuel. You’ve just turned a nice daily into a serious track-day contender, the lesson to be learned is a track-day car doesn’t always make the best urban daily drive. But damn it’ll be fun on the open road...
Just dump the APR software for a Cobb custom tune with the EFR. My bagged Golf-R runs 10.6@130mph on e85 with a hybrid turbo. Solves 3 out of your 5 problems.
@@LegitSpeedDesigns I got rid of my EQT turbo after the wastegate arm on it bent. I'm not the only one who has had a bent EQT wastegate arm either. Plus, I had really bad customer service with them.
This is a legit review and objective enough to understand the tradeoffs. I try to tune for an experience rather than for any number or comparison and for my daily drivers it's quickness I want, to cut the lag between input and execution.
I got a 6 speed manual Mk5 gti running APR tune get 1 Stage 3+ up with bigger turbo to 104 octane with 507 hp. Amazing tune, runs great, feels great. No problems so far. I do have other stuff in it to complete the job like mounts. GTI Nation
Everything spot on brah.....in regards to stage upgrades & the feelings, experiences, sometimes regrets that comes with tuning high-output vw's. My 2 cent ...I sympathize with you in regards to your having to gas up 80% of the time now...I remembered a company back in day that "might be able" to help with an E-85 conversations, BlueWater Performance bro....they used to have kits for mk3, 2.0l 8v/ up to conversation kits for R32, if useful cool....if not disregard! Thanks for doing your part in helping helping the vw/audi tuning community!
You could always get tuned by United Motorsports and get the flex fuel tune. I run this same kit but with UM tuning on the electric wastegate cars a blast.
Thanks for posting your opinions. I've been enjoying your Golf R content. If I were to go stage 3 and not concerned with emissions (live in CA), I would go with the EQT Vortex turbo, with their Cobb Protune for 91 and E85. Plenty of people have been happy with the setup.
Have heard a lot of good things with that set up! People are making serious power off the EQT Vortex and a Protune. So many good options for this platform
I have a stage 2 GLI with a stage 2 clutch and this makes me feel better. The oppportunity to actually spool up a big turbo and put down 400hp is few and far between for the average city driver
I run a Racingline stage 3+ kit on my MK7, and it shi#s all over the stage 2 in every possible aspect!! Reliable, minimal turbo lag, 0-100 2.9-3.1, runs 11 flat all day long(full weight,120 kg driver) I don't even bother thinking about fuel consumption. Considering the fuel consumption of some other cars that are in the range of 11 sec 1/4 mile, Golfs are superb. Wouldn't go back to stage 2 for anything.
@@chozen_juan APRs stuff is very well engineered and thoroughly tested but even so its overpriced and under delivers. These engines are good for 420 wtq stock, at 7k rpm that's 560 whp, the apr kit comes up more than 80 hp short and you could get the rest of that 80 hp for like $5k less if you are smart and handy with a wrench.
Apr does offer a 91, 93 etc as part of your tune. Yes you can switch fuel options. Have driven coast to coast without any issues. I don't drive through Iowa in most cases this state doesn't have a lot of fuel choices above 88 octane.
Program switching on the fly has me concerned whether to tune for 91 0r 93. Around me theres plenty of 93 gas stations but if I want to go anywhere I'm worried there wont be 93 around
Car is beautiful 👍🏿 question, when you had a GTI w/is20 did you put an is38 in it and if you did, what was that like as far as power delivery on end and high end? I have a manual 17' SE.
I did go is38 on my gti before I sold it. The power felt more even across the power band. No low end punch that immediately spun the tires but a more progressive power onset. Felt faster in a more controlled way if that makes sense. Pulled way harder up top than the is20 did that’s for sure. Not big turbo feeling but the wheel spin was controlled better with the later spool onset of the slightly larger turbo.
Thanks for the video. I choose to keep my car stock because of these annoying issues and I had a really bad experience modifying my car plus good luck on your warranty
The fueling system this Alabama Stage 3 car uses is small compared to what other tuners require to run E85. Also you'd be down on MPG BIG TIME. If you had a legit Flexfuel setup since they do require a lot more fuel. I sent you an FB message Chris lmk what you think.
Believe me putting in slightly different fuel will not hurt the car as long as it’s not consistent,if your stuck somewhere and at a petrol station that don’t run your fuel that your tuned with,putting in different fuel will be fine to get home with or at least to a petrol station that’s got your fuel that your tuned with,and the last thing we worry about in these cars is the MPG lol I’m lucky to get 30MPG on a run and get about 12/15MPG around town but i love it,I’m not stage 3 I’m only stage 2 plus running 388bhp 428ft/lb but running a BBT anti surge core and the boost comes in around 3900K and just keeps on going Love the golf Rs but RS3 for me next summer
I was wondering as an owner of a 2017 Golf how the producers of these videos talk about the DSG transmission. The question I have is if you push the shifter to the right you’re exclusively in manual mode and must shift using the paddles or the shifter. I always use the paddles since the shift lever isn’t intuitive. I wonder why they never mention this in the videos?
Very good to hear a straight, honest opinion about this. That really does seem like far more of a track tune than anything else. I have a '16 Golf S (1.8) that I do plan on going APR stage 1, but I wouldn't do any more than that. The car itself would require so many upgrades to support more, I'd be better off getting a different car. Thanks again!
@Driven by Boost - FIRST off, this was a great video and I love the honest feedback (SUB'd!). SECOND: that COLOR is fucking amazing - I wish they had THIS color on the 2017's...SO HOT! RE: UPGRADES: The best bang for your buck on the MkVII Golf R is an Integrated Engineering Stage I ECU only tune (they have a nice low torque option for those of us with the manual 6spdand stock clutch and higher torque option for DSG). No need for any hardware upgrades and within 30 minutes you'll have +50-60Hp, smoother power delivery, higher redline (7,000!) and you'll feel like you have the little hot hatch monster you expected when you bought the car (also the IE Stage I ECU tune can adapt to some simple bolt on's like CAI/DP/FMI but these aren't required). Plus you get a modest INCREASE in MPG with simple Stage I ECU tune - bonus. Now I'm off to watch the 5 things you love!
Sick car, man! I have a MK7.5 R manual Stage 2+ Cobb Protuned, MPI, upgraded fuel pumps, upgraded intercooler, Intake, catless downpipe, E85, upgraded intercooler pipes, & more. But Next upgrade is going to be an IS38 hybrid turbo. I hope it doesn’t have too much turbo lag. Is the turbo in the APR stage 3+ kit a hybrid turbo?
Krisprz Garage thanks! That sounds awesome, you’re going to love it! And the turbo is not a hybrid, it’s a borg Warner efr7163 twin scroll snail 👌🏼 definitely the best part about the stage 3 kit
Yeah man I feel ya on your point #5. I've got a 335i and an E36 M3. Both are "full bolt ons" and the 335i is pretty quick, but most days on my 10 minute commute to work, I hop in the M3. 3 pedals, 250HP, man it's all you need on a commute like that.
Not trying to be that guy but did you look into sneekytuned, 5150, or GIAC? From what ive seen they are the best for really making a good powerband. Don't get me wrong I am on a stock is20 stage 2 in my mk7 gti tuned with unitronic just to stay a bit more conservative for wear and tear on my engine.
Wonder if the manual would be better for the stage 3 so u can rev it out more to get boost ? Would you recommend a stage 2 if you were to have to do it again for mainly in town driving ?
Yeah stage 2 is more than enough for around town driving. I have always wondered what the car would feel like as a manual. I would imagine it would be easier and less laggy feeling if you could row your own gears.
Not sure about when you bought your kit, but APR Stage 3+ fuel kit is spec'ed as ethanol/E85 compatible. Also, they offer a dongle for your OBD2 port for hot swapping your tune. So reason 2 and 3 don't make sense at all.
Very good review, subscribed. Esp. appreciated the observation about 1)bigger turbos causing more turbo lag, due to shifting the power to the right (up the RPM band), and 2) the negative about the DSG (shifting earlier, thus creating even more turbo lag).
That's why you use meth. I run 93 file with 87 gas. No timing pull or knock. System runs 100%. Dont put meth on high mileage cars unless valves have been recently cleaned.
after installing the apr stage 3 plus including the fueling system did you experience light smoke coming out of your exhaust after letting your car idle?
Awesome content! I bought a standard mk4 golf this may and am looking at getting a Golf R in a few years once I'm done college. Do you have videos or knoe anyone that does beginner car mods and mechanics for someone like me? Thanks and keep pushing the great stuff!
When you buy a bigger turbo you'll get bigger lag. My S3 Audi '19 (same MQB engine) has a stage 2 upgrade which is a blast to drive on a daily base. My golf R '19 has a stage 3 upgrade and had the same lag, swapped it in for the IS38 LM500 Track ( has the LM 6XX core, spools like a IS20 LM440 due to flat torque curve and has the power of a LM500V2) made a huge difference in my opinion. When you want to go bigger I suggest a IS38 LM6xx and a custom mapping profile that suits u and you're driving preference.
If you could go back to stock and start all over what tuning company would you with instead or would you stay with your APR and not go to rage three plus
Good stuff - just got my 2017, loving the low end shove, would hate to loose that feeling after a lot of money spent.... just going to enjoy stock for a while longer!
i just got a 2014 vw cc sport with 71k miles on it for 8k with the 2.0 tsi turbo i don't know if it's a mk6 or mk5 as it's my first vw and wanna go stage 2 apr
I have a MK6 R is there a bolt on turbo I could use instead of spending 7 grand ? I have most of the supporting mods already installed I just want a turbo to can get me 450 hp to the wheels 🛞
My car came with an APR stage 2+ file and it felt sluggish sometimes....sometimes it was quick. Very inconsistent. Went to IE and it was like I had a new car. Just woke it up completely.
Great video so what you think i got a vw gti mk7 is38 apr stage 2 looking to upgrade to stage 3 apr its around 7k for the upgrade, its is worth it? Or just put some money down for a vw r
Very interesting and I have to ask why APR, I would have suggested a REVO stage 3 tune. Quite a few videos on this upgrade with none of the downsides you mentioned.
There's a reason why big V8's are appealing. Power is easy. Engines are flexible. Don't require stupidly high octane to get power. Big rolling torque for holding tall gears at speed. Engines are under-stressed. Any power upgrades make big power without driving the engine to the edge of breakdown. The sound they put out is beautiful at lower speeds and throttle use. In many ways, the engines are just as efficient as highly stressed turbo-4 engines, or moreso. They don't feel weak at low RPM.
Interesting. I don't have a Golf R, but I do have a fully stock MK7 GTI that I've been thinking about working on. Have you ever run any Unitronic tunes? Also, have you ever used a Borla exhaust?
In the uk we don’t have APR stage 3, we have custom maps from various tuners mine is an ECOTUNE tune , one of the top tuners in the uk, I have used a TTV4 ( turbo technics) 522bhp and 622nm of torque, the turbo kicks in about 3500 rpm right round to 7500rpm, sounds like it’s a poor turbo choice that’s supplied, things are certainly different in your county to ours , lush colour by the way 👍
You should’ve run the APR kit with UM Flex Fuel, DSG, Haldex, factory electronic wastegate. Precision raceworks stage 3.5 fuel pump, fuel line upgrade & flex hurl sensor.
greets from Mexico and thanks for sharing your experience, I hope getting a GTI or a SEAT Leon Cupra soon, I think going to stage 3 with the IS38 upgrade and the Revo ECU and DSG tune.
Have you thought about switching tunes? You would be able to switch tunes on the fly and it would fix a few of the complaints you have about your kit. A custom tune could easily be made for your setup on a COBB Accessport. Beautiful car tho, you did it super tastefully. I’ve got an A3 is38+,e85,mpi,eqt tune, fbo and I live in your area if you wanna check out how it feels. ✌🏼
All very valid points. Im surprised by the fuel economy post stage 3+. Always thought a more powerful engine used less energy to move. Just got a 15 Passat TDI a few weeks ago and plan on going with a GTD2260 turbo. Should make 230-250hp with 400ish ft-lbs. They say it should still get 50+mpg.
Could be a lot of factors. How you drive and what fuel. This time of year the winter blends have more ethanol content which leads to lower gas mileage. Average highway speeds for me to get 30 was around 65 and no higher and being super conscious of not flooring it (which is super hard not to do 😂).
they’re great kits, I know a couple people running them and they have no issues. Definitely the cheaper option but very laggy in comparison to the twin scroll EFR7163 that the APR kit comes with 👍
Stage 1 ECU, Stage 2 TCU, Haldex Comp Controller, Cat Back Exhaust. all you need to add to a golf for a Daily Drive, that doesn't ruin the reason for a Daily Drive Car. and only a few K to do.
Just a heads up but Sam's Club is NOT on the top tier fuel list. I would not use that even with their lower price. However was kind of surprised that Costco is on the list with the other top gas brands. So it is up to you but I only use gas from companies listed on the top tier fuel web site. This was some great insight on the higher level tunes and how they feel. Was considering doing higher level tuning when the warranty is closer to being done on my Mk7 GLI. Keep up the awesome content.
Finally a 5 Things I Dislike Video where the person isnt just saying stupid shit like "the finishing on the driver door handle is starting to come off after 100,000 miles". Great vid!
Super informative video, and great editing! I'm running Stage 2 93 HTq with supporting mods + DSG tune on my '19 R and I definitely wonder about going Stage 3+. I'm worried about losing the low-end power like you mention, and I'm also worried about reliability. In your intro, you don't mention a built block, so I'm assuming you're running on stock internals? Sounds like I should probably stay in Stage 2 and research the hybrid IS38 kits some more..
rmdaggett thanks I really appreciate it! And yes I’m on stock internals at the moment. I do have plans to build the motor later on. It’s all a gamble, gotta pay to play as they say. With these kit I’ve been trouble free since day one including several track days and lots of launches 💪
All pointless in my eyes, you cannot add that bigger turbo and not expect lag. When nodding cars and gaining power you lose fuel economy. It's always a compromise.
Stage 2 all day. Cost effective and keeps that power band we need in Midwest traffic
Nailed it, it’s really the most practical for everyday driving
In a decade or 2 it’s all gonna be about the electric cars and instant torque :)
BULLI KID I hate to admit it but I think you’re right. Everybody going to be comparing battery sizes 😂
size will matter! Lol
BULLI KID a better cost effective is stage one , you get +70-80 hp and the car is still street leagal.
I am stage 3 at 525 bhp. Ttv4 turbo. Yes the torque kicks in later. Around 3k instead of 2.5k along with boost. Yes it feels laggy compared to stage 2. But its minor not a massive difference. The pull it gives from 3- 3.5k - 7.2k is unreal. It pulls relentlessly to the limiter. Stage 2 3rd gear would rip but 4th upwards would start to run out of steam. Stage 3 4th and 5th and 6th pull HARD like 3rd does stage 2. And the noise it makes... is also mind blowing. Like a huge suction machine!! My MPG on the motorway is better than stage 2... around town its similar. Soon as you step on it Yes the fuels gone lol.. I get 35-40 mpg on long drives and 24 around town. Drive does feel slower when cruising slowly but soon as you press that pedal it builds fast.
I will be making a channel for Mt stage 3 mk7R soon...
When you over mod a car, it takes away comfort. Racecar isn't streetcar.
Excellent info that I didn't know. I will definitely stay happily with my APR Stage 2 on my Golf R. The loss of low end grunt, poor mileage, and cost are definitely dealbreakers for me.
johnwjeromejr yeah, I think just stick with stage 2, it’s better to drive a car that feels fast and is fast all the time than the car that is faster but sometimes, + compromising all the other things like city drivability, fuel consumption and turbo lag nuh
I was looking at Stage 3 but am going to go Stage 2. I love the low end torque. I lose that it will affect one of the main reasons I got the car. How do you like the stage 2 and what numbers are you running?
I appreciate the in-depth and honest feedback.
Thanks for making this vid. These were all of my personal reasons for NOT going stage 3 and instead sticking with 2+ while my 2018 R is my daily driver. Once it is my second car and mostly for the track I will go stage 3+. I just subscribed, so looking forward to the content. Keep it up!
Thank you so much! Really means a lot
You all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know of a way to log back into an instagram account..?
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@Joel Gunner instablaster :)
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Dude seriously what did you expect? Stage 3 is for fast road and track use. Bigger turbo = lag, bigger turbo = better top end pull at expense of bottom end grunt. DSG lazy in Drive? That’s what Sport mode is for if you’re really too lazy to use Tip mode. Shitty fuel economy? What did you expect from a Stage 3 tune? More power requires more fuel. You’ve just turned a nice daily into a serious track-day contender, the lesson to be learned is a track-day car doesn’t always make the best urban daily drive. But damn it’ll be fun on the open road...
FYI the inside of the gas door has a spot to put the cap so you dont have to just let it dangle.
Just dump the APR software for a Cobb custom tune with the EFR. My bagged Golf-R runs 10.6@130mph on e85 with a hybrid turbo. Solves 3 out of your 5 problems.
Agreed! Apr stage three is meant for track not daily lol
Where do you get the hybrid turbo ? thats pretty much exactly what i want to do, any guess on cost of all those upgrades ?
@@jeremyrobertson81 EQT Vortex turbo tuned by 5150 Racing
Definitely get a custom tune tailored to your wants and needs!
@@LegitSpeedDesigns I got rid of my EQT turbo after the wastegate arm on it bent. I'm not the only one who has had a bent EQT wastegate arm either. Plus, I had really bad customer service with them.
This is a legit review and objective enough to understand the tradeoffs. I try to tune for an experience rather than for any number or comparison and for my daily drivers it's quickness I want, to cut the lag between input and execution.
I got a 6 speed manual Mk5 gti running APR tune get 1 Stage 3+ up with bigger turbo to 104 octane with 507 hp. Amazing tune, runs great, feels great. No problems so far. I do have other stuff in it to complete the job like mounts. GTI Nation
Everything spot on brah.....in regards to stage upgrades & the feelings, experiences, sometimes regrets that comes with tuning high-output vw's. My 2 cent ...I sympathize with you in regards to your having to gas up 80% of the time now...I remembered a company back in day that "might be able" to help with an E-85 conversations, BlueWater Performance bro....they used to have kits for mk3, 2.0l 8v/ up to conversation kits for R32, if useful cool....if not disregard! Thanks for doing your part in helping helping the vw/audi tuning community!
You could always get tuned by United Motorsports and get the flex fuel tune. I run this same kit but with UM tuning on the electric wastegate cars a blast.
Thanks for posting your opinions. I've been enjoying your Golf R content. If I were to go stage 3 and not concerned with emissions (live in CA), I would go with the EQT Vortex turbo, with their Cobb Protune for 91 and E85. Plenty of people have been happy with the setup.
Have heard a lot of good things with that set up! People are making serious power off the EQT Vortex and a Protune. So many good options for this platform
@@drivenbyboost Agreed. It's way too easy to spend money on this car.
Once you get bit by the mod bug it’s all over. $3 more for waffle fries no thanks... but a $300 CAI not even a second thought 😂
I have a stage 2 GLI with a stage 2 clutch and this makes me feel better. The oppportunity to actually spool up a big turbo and put down 400hp is few and far between for the average city driver
I run a Racingline stage 3+ kit on my MK7, and it shi#s all over the stage 2 in every possible aspect!! Reliable, minimal turbo lag, 0-100 2.9-3.1, runs 11 flat all day long(full weight,120 kg driver)
I don't even bother thinking about fuel consumption. Considering the fuel consumption of some other cars that are in the range of 11 sec 1/4 mile, Golfs are superb. Wouldn't go back to stage 2 for anything.
All good points man. Haha, I just showed my gf the ending. "Vroom, vroom, vroomvroom. POPPITTY POPBAMBAM" Diggin the blue light blocking glasses btw.
Haha it’s the only real difference between em all 😂
Driven by Boost pretty much! Hahaha
@@drivenbyboost for 10k in mods I can throw a built motor in my STi and stomp a golf R. I love these cars but 10 stacks for that kit is retarded.
@@chozen_juan APRs stuff is very well engineered and thoroughly tested but even so its overpriced and under delivers. These engines are good for 420 wtq stock, at 7k rpm that's 560 whp, the apr kit comes up more than 80 hp short and you could get the rest of that 80 hp for like $5k less if you are smart and handy with a wrench.
7:27 is the face I make when I floor my stock car knowing I’ll soon be at the gas station very soon
Great video. I own a mk7.5 gti and been deciding between stage 1 or 2 mountune52 all the way. But this was a big help. Thanks man.
This is the most informative customer review for a stage 3 golf 7R. Very clearly explained. Thank you
I went with the ecs tuning i.s. 38 , on my mk7 GTI , apr software and supporting mods... spanking 90% of the competition.
Apr does offer a 91, 93 etc as part of your tune. Yes you can switch fuel options. Have driven coast to coast without any issues. I don't drive through Iowa in most cases this state doesn't have a lot of fuel choices above 88 octane.
Program switching on the fly has me concerned whether to tune for 91 0r 93. Around me theres plenty of 93 gas stations but if I want to go anywhere I'm worried there wont be 93 around
Car is beautiful 👍🏿 question, when you had a GTI w/is20 did you put an is38 in it and if you did, what was that like as far as power delivery on end and high end? I have a manual 17' SE.
I did go is38 on my gti before I sold it. The power felt more even across the power band. No low end punch that immediately spun the tires but a more progressive power onset. Felt faster in a more controlled way if that makes sense. Pulled way harder up top than the is20 did that’s for sure. Not big turbo feeling but the wheel spin was controlled better with the later spool onset of the slightly larger turbo.
@@drivenbyboost I see and thanks for the response👍🏿
Thanks for the video. I choose to keep my car stock because of these annoying issues and I had a really bad experience modifying my car plus good luck on your warranty
The fueling system this Alabama Stage 3 car uses is small compared to what other tuners require to run E85. Also you'd be down on MPG BIG TIME. If you had a legit Flexfuel setup since they do require a lot more fuel. I sent you an FB message Chris lmk what you think.
Believe me putting in slightly different fuel will not hurt the car as long as it’s not consistent,if your stuck somewhere and at a petrol station that don’t run your fuel that your tuned with,putting in different fuel will be fine to get home with or at least to a petrol station that’s got your fuel that your tuned with,and the last thing we worry about in these cars is the MPG lol I’m lucky to get 30MPG on a run and get about 12/15MPG around town but i love it,I’m not stage 3 I’m only stage 2 plus running 388bhp 428ft/lb but running a BBT anti surge core and the boost comes in around 3900K and just keeps on going
Love the golf Rs but RS3 for me next summer
Dope car , where did you make that custom steering wheel? And how much dif it cost
I have also 7R and want to make some thing too
Gasolina wheel is from TawCustoms! They do awesome work
Driven by Boost thanks, can you tell me how much did it costs?
Gasolina It was around $900 and I got several hundred back from trading in my old oem steering wheel
Driven by Boost sound good , thanks for answer 👍✌️
Gasolina no prob!
I was wondering as an owner of a 2017 Golf how the producers of these videos talk about the DSG transmission. The question I have is if you push the shifter to the right you’re exclusively in manual mode and must shift using the paddles or the shifter. I always use the paddles since the shift lever isn’t intuitive. I wonder why they never mention this in the videos?
Mines manual and i want to go stage 2 but i want to upgrade the clutch before that. Anyone know how stage 1 is with stock clutch?
Can I ask how do you have 8 liters per 100km on highway? Are you driving 100kmh? My stock is 11 liters on 160-180 average
Very good to hear a straight, honest opinion about this. That really does seem like far more of a track tune than anything else.
I have a '16 Golf S (1.8) that I do plan on going APR stage 1, but I wouldn't do any more than that. The car itself would require so many upgrades to support more, I'd be better off getting a different car.
Thanks again!
Hey same here man
@Driven by Boost - FIRST off, this was a great video and I love the honest feedback (SUB'd!). SECOND: that COLOR is fucking amazing - I wish they had THIS color on the 2017's...SO HOT!
RE: UPGRADES: The best bang for your buck on the MkVII Golf R is an Integrated Engineering Stage I ECU only tune (they have a nice low torque option for those of us with the manual 6spdand stock clutch and higher torque option for DSG). No need for any hardware upgrades and within 30 minutes you'll have +50-60Hp, smoother power delivery, higher redline (7,000!) and you'll feel like you have the little hot hatch monster you expected when you bought the car (also the IE Stage I ECU tune can adapt to some simple bolt on's like CAI/DP/FMI but these aren't required). Plus you get a modest INCREASE in MPG with simple Stage I ECU tune - bonus. Now I'm off to watch the 5 things you love!
Sick car, man!
I have a MK7.5 R manual Stage 2+ Cobb Protuned, MPI, upgraded fuel pumps, upgraded intercooler, Intake, catless downpipe, E85, upgraded intercooler pipes, & more. But Next upgrade is going to be an IS38 hybrid turbo. I hope it doesn’t have too much turbo lag.
Is the turbo in the APR stage 3+ kit a hybrid turbo?
Krisprz Garage thanks! That sounds awesome, you’re going to love it! And the turbo is not a hybrid, it’s a borg Warner efr7163 twin scroll snail 👌🏼 definitely the best part about the stage 3 kit
Driven by Boost nice! Can’t wait to upgrade my turbo 💯
Krisprz Garage I’m excited for ya! Keep me posted dude 👍
Driven by Boost for sure, man! 💯
@@KrisprzGarage How is the IS38 turbo? Any turbo lags as borg Warner efr7163
Yeah man I feel ya on your point #5. I've got a 335i and an E36 M3. Both are "full bolt ons" and the 335i is pretty quick, but most days on my 10 minute commute to work, I hop in the M3. 3 pedals, 250HP, man it's all you need on a commute like that.
Not trying to be that guy but did you look into sneekytuned, 5150, or GIAC? From what ive seen they are the best for really making a good powerband. Don't get me wrong I am on a stock is20 stage 2 in my mk7 gti tuned with unitronic just to stay a bit more conservative for wear and tear on my engine.
Wonder if the manual would be better for the stage 3 so u can rev it out more to get boost ? Would you recommend a stage 2 if you were to have to do it again for mainly in town driving ?
Yeah stage 2 is more than enough for around town driving. I have always wondered what the car would feel like as a manual. I would imagine it would be easier and less laggy feeling if you could row your own gears.
Not sure about when you bought your kit, but APR Stage 3+ fuel kit is spec'ed as ethanol/E85 compatible. Also, they offer a dongle for your OBD2 port for hot swapping your tune. So reason 2 and 3 don't make sense at all.
Some interesting info. From a DD perspective sounds like you should have stayed Stage 2+. Loving the color of your R! Sub'd
Very good review, subscribed. Esp. appreciated the observation about 1)bigger turbos causing more turbo lag, due to shifting the power to the right (up the RPM band), and 2) the negative about the DSG (shifting earlier, thus creating even more turbo lag).
tedjohnson64 I appreciate it man! Thank you 🙏
Appreciate your honesty both $$cost$$ and performance. 93 does not exist in Calif so no stage 3 here.
That's why you use meth. I run 93 file with 87 gas. No timing pull or knock. System runs 100%. Dont put meth on high mileage cars unless valves have been recently cleaned.
John Doe wtf that works? I don’t have a golf but I come from the bmw n54 community and meth is a common mod. Didn’t know you could do this.
after installing the apr stage 3 plus including the fueling system did you experience light smoke coming out of your exhaust after letting your car idle?
Awesome content! I bought a standard mk4 golf this may and am looking at getting a Golf R in a few years once I'm done college. Do you have videos or knoe anyone that does beginner car mods and mechanics for someone like me?
Thanks and keep pushing the great stuff!
Theres a little holder on the inside of your filler for your cap to sit in when fuelling 👍🏻
I like that steering wheel. Is it stock?
Steering wheel is forged carbon from TawCustoms 👌🏼
In your opinion is it better to go from stock to stage 3+ or stock to stage 2 then 3?
When you buy a bigger turbo you'll get bigger lag. My S3 Audi '19 (same MQB engine) has a stage 2 upgrade which is a blast to drive on a daily base. My golf R '19 has a stage 3 upgrade and had the same lag, swapped it in for the IS38 LM500 Track ( has the LM 6XX core, spools like a IS20 LM440 due to flat torque curve and has the power of a LM500V2) made a huge difference in my opinion.
When you want to go bigger I suggest a IS38 LM6xx and a custom mapping profile that suits u and you're driving preference.
If you could go back to stock and start all over what tuning company would you with instead or would you stay with your APR and not go to rage three plus
MQB engine always Hybrid turbo is better.. fast spool easy fitting.. thanks for the honest feedback bro
how about stage 0 with an APR stage III badge? 40mpg, still fast, no dramas, free...
Good presenting 👍 one input - The music is a bit annoying - too high pitched 0r just too high volume.
What steering wheel is that? Stock to R?
The Golf R is a savage lil hatch, I’d definitely rock one 💯
Katsuyoshi Hironaka it absolutely is!!
Good stuff - just got my 2017, loving the low end shove, would hate to loose that feeling after a lot of money spent.... just going to enjoy stock for a while longer!
How much did you spent overall? can you give us a breakdown?
i just got a 2014 vw cc sport with 71k miles on it for 8k with the 2.0 tsi turbo i don't know if it's a mk6 or mk5 as it's my first vw and wanna go stage 2 apr
I have a MK6 R is there a bolt on turbo I could use instead of spending 7 grand ?
I have most of the supporting mods already installed I just want a turbo to can get me 450 hp to the wheels 🛞
You could try a variable vane turbo for a best of both worlds effect
Custom tune is likely your best option
My car came with an APR stage 2+ file and it felt sluggish sometimes....sometimes it was quick. Very inconsistent. Went to IE and it was like I had a new car. Just woke it up completely.
KMFDM781 I’ve heard nothing but great things about IE 💯
Where did u get the steering wheel
Great video so what you think i got a vw gti mk7 is38 apr stage 2 looking to upgrade to stage 3 apr its around 7k for the upgrade, its is worth it? Or just put some money down for a vw r
Are we able to do Dual Tunes with APR or any of the big VAG tuning companies?
I believe you can stack the tune with a JB4 but not 100% on this
Very interesting and I have to ask why APR, I would have suggested a REVO stage 3 tune. Quite a few videos on this upgrade with none of the downsides you mentioned.
There's a reason why big V8's are appealing. Power is easy. Engines are flexible. Don't require stupidly high octane to get power. Big rolling torque for holding tall gears at speed. Engines are under-stressed. Any power upgrades make big power without driving the engine to the edge of breakdown. The sound they put out is beautiful at lower speeds and throttle use. In many ways, the engines are just as efficient as highly stressed turbo-4 engines, or moreso. They don't feel weak at low RPM.
really interesting video and info..love it man!
Interesting. I don't have a Golf R, but I do have a fully stock MK7 GTI that I've been thinking about working on. Have you ever run any Unitronic tunes? Also, have you ever used a Borla exhaust?
I need to know if I own a golf r how much does the stage 2 cost
You can run lower gas and for sure higher as long as your not getting on it at low rmp it wouldn’t blow it up
In the uk we don’t have APR stage 3, we have custom maps from various tuners mine is an ECOTUNE tune , one of the top tuners in the uk, I have used a TTV4 ( turbo technics) 522bhp and 622nm of torque, the turbo kicks in about 3500 rpm right round to 7500rpm, sounds like it’s a poor turbo choice that’s supplied, things are certainly different in your county to ours , lush colour by the way 👍
What prescription glasses are those?
would you recommend stage 1 apr on mk6 gti?
Absolutely, currently have a stage 1 mk6 gti and it is perfect. Should have come from factory that way. Night and day!
Driven by Boost any noticeable difference in power? cause i know mk7 goes way harder than mk6
S oh yes. You’ll spin the tires off the line very easy. The car is way more responsive and feels much better at higher speeds
You should’ve run the APR kit with UM Flex Fuel, DSG, Haldex, factory electronic wastegate. Precision raceworks stage 3.5 fuel pump, fuel line upgrade & flex hurl sensor.
Truckee Locklear I do have UMs haldex tune and absolutely love it, totally transformed the car 👍
greets from Mexico and thanks for sharing your experience, I hope getting a GTI or a SEAT Leon Cupra soon, I think going to stage 3 with the IS38 upgrade and the Revo ECU and DSG tune.
Hello men, what is the front lip you got there?
Alexandre Da Silva it is a custom lip from strafe designs
@@drivenbyboost very cool man 👌🏻
Alexandre Da Silva thank you sir 🙏
DivX diverter should help on the lag.
where did you get all the parts
Amazing review! All true! About no 5, try to drive a friend car with stage 2 tune.. It will feel so slow..
Have you thought about switching tunes? You would be able to switch tunes on the fly and it would fix a few of the complaints you have about your kit. A custom tune could easily be made for your setup on a COBB Accessport. Beautiful car tho, you did it super tastefully. I’ve got an A3 is38+,e85,mpi,eqt tune, fbo and I live in your area if you wanna check out how it feels. ✌🏼
what color wrap is this?
Ryan Spiese gloss atomic teal by 3M
@@drivenbyboost looks dope i might have to do this to my gti
Ryan Spiese thanks, you should definitely do it!
Great input and honest objective review. Thanks for this. Just about to get the stage 2 and his confirms it
How do you like the is38 compared to your golf r?
All very valid points. Im surprised by the fuel economy post stage 3+. Always thought a more powerful engine used less energy to move. Just got a 15 Passat TDI a few weeks ago and plan on going with a GTD2260 turbo. Should make 230-250hp with 400ish ft-lbs. They say it should still get 50+mpg.
How is that surprising? 230hp u should be getting hella good fuel mileage.
What steering wheel is that?
Program switching on the fly is called: Driving around with your laptop and cable
How much power are you putting down to the wheels on 93?
Song at the beginning of the video
That’s good to know about the lack of program switching. You could on the MK5 easily using the cruise control stalk.
great video again keep up the work
What song is that in the beginning?
I have a unitronic stage 2 right now and I’m at 51k miles and my highway fuel economy is around 23 or 24 mpg. Carbon buildup causing this you think?
Could be a lot of factors. How you drive and what fuel. This time of year the winter blends have more ethanol content which leads to lower gas mileage. Average highway speeds for me to get 30 was around 65 and no higher and being super conscious of not flooring it (which is super hard not to do 😂).
Driven by Boost I never floor it ever, i use shell 93+ and I am about 80% highway driving
Are CTS Boss 600, 700 kits any good?
they’re great kits, I know a couple people running them and they have no issues. Definitely the cheaper option but very laggy in comparison to the twin scroll EFR7163 that the APR kit comes with 👍
Stage 1 ECU, Stage 2 TCU, Haldex Comp Controller, Cat Back Exhaust. all you need to add to a golf for a Daily Drive, that doesn't ruin the reason for a Daily Drive Car. and only a few K to do.
Its really a nice video you made and the music that started the video I liked it
Just a heads up but Sam's Club is NOT on the top tier fuel list. I would not use that even with their lower price. However was kind of surprised that Costco is on the list with the other top gas brands. So it is up to you but I only use gas from companies listed on the top tier fuel web site. This was some great insight on the higher level tunes and how they feel. Was considering doing higher level tuning when the warranty is closer to being done on my Mk7 GLI. Keep up the awesome content.
Full stage 2 is perfect for mountain drives and daily use.
Nice video bro!
Thanks my man 👍
Finally a 5 Things I Dislike Video where the person isnt just saying stupid shit like "the finishing on the driver door handle is starting to come off after 100,000 miles". Great vid!
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback!
Super informative video, and great editing! I'm running Stage 2 93 HTq with supporting mods + DSG tune on my '19 R and I definitely wonder about going Stage 3+. I'm worried about losing the low-end power like you mention, and I'm also worried about reliability. In your intro, you don't mention a built block, so I'm assuming you're running on stock internals? Sounds like I should probably stay in Stage 2 and research the hybrid IS38 kits some more..
rmdaggett thanks I really appreciate it! And yes I’m on stock internals at the moment. I do have plans to build the motor later on. It’s all a gamble, gotta pay to play as they say. With these kit I’ve been trouble free since day one including several track days and lots of launches 💪
All pointless in my eyes, you cannot add that bigger turbo and not expect lag. When nodding cars and gaining power you lose fuel economy. It's always a compromise.
Great vid bro