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
Some will argue that the jump from stage 1 to 2 isn’t even worth it. Intercooler, dp, reflash both ecu/tcu for an additional 30whp in most cases. So an intercooler worth getting is $700+, a dp worth getting is $500+, spark plugs (IE recommends $250 ngk), and ecu/tcu is $1000+. Plus labor if you’re not mechanically inclined or don’t have a space to do it. Then there’s also logging if you’re going through an accessport which has its own risks. Then if you’re manual, a clutch is practically required for just a flash
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
@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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ✌🏼
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.
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 💪
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.
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
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?
@@drivenbyboost would make a great video, just make sure you get Ed to tune your DSG as well. Possibly even think about running a E mix. His tunes are nice, and just now finishing up on my 2019 fully built hybrid turbo golf R, also tuned by Ed
I’ll never go to these common brands like revo/apr for a stage 3. In the car world there known for doing builds for people who dont know much about cars and by customers who can just chuck miney at them. Buy better parts yourself and get a custom map…
Man I’m glad I’m not tuning a car in the US, you guys pay way too much for aftermarket upgrades. Look up the Littco L500 turbo, such a good hybrid and decent spool. Why not remap your Golf to Revo’s latest Mk7.5 map which is switchable with their OBD device. It just seems like your reasons are down to you not doing much research when choosing your remaps or just go custom map with the flexi fuel sensor upgrade.
Lol 😂 really good information however, you should have done more research because bigger turbo, bigger fuel system will always cause boost lag and bad mpg lol 😂
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 😂).
Apr makes different stages to fit what you want to do with your car you said it yourself you liked the stage 2 best Should've stayed with that.... live and learn
Dude, do you even know what tune or mod you want in your car? Listening to your opinion it seems to me nothing would satisfy your level of expectation man.
Depends, at minimum most tuning companies charge 500-600 for tune and 500-900 for a downpipe and then a labor fees so a little over 1k usd all in. If you buy APRs dp the software comes with 👍 and If you’re already stage 1 no charge
Personally I love the GTI/R but anyone I’ve talked to outside the community doesn’t really know what the potential is and overall it doesn’t impress anyone unfortunately. I had a modified GTI and rarely got compliments and my GF hated it, thought it was a chick car but she still had no interest in driving it lol. I stepped it up and got an Audi S4 and I’m stage 2 with full exhaust along with a number of other bolt ons. I get compliments constantly and it’s an instant conversation started when I’m out driving. Anyone thinking about getting a GTI/R I would seriously consider other options.
Driven by Boost Idk, It’s not really on another level, A Golf R is pretty damn expensive. If you are willing to put up with a little more mileage and some age you can find a S4/5 in the same price range. It took me awhile to find but like you said, the car is a beast.
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?
@@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.
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.
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.
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...
You will never be satisfied. At some point you will have to stop driving the Golf 7 and buy a Car that does everything you want from the Factory. I am happy with my7 GTi but am also looking at the Mercedes AMG A45-S because you get 421ps and 500NM in standard form. The A45-S is savage, but at that point you may want to put more work in and just get a Porsche 911. Buy the ultimate Car and enjoy it for a few years - I did the same. At the end of the day we are driving a VW Golf... it isn't a 'special' Car, its just a Car to get from A to B. I use mine on Track, but its still a 'Golf'.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
Well, APR sucks #1, and you're running an automatic in a performance car #2. The way you're driving in the video, you need a stock tune. Did you ever race it? What are your times?
Wowwwwwww..i guess I'll drop some truth in here since nobody else is. Boosting the car is what is going to use fuel, obviously hitting boost on a bigger turbo is going to require more fuel than a smaller one. But around town you'll use much more fuel going into boost every gear on the stock turbo as opposed to not going into boost on a big turbo... his complaint about offering different fuel maps incase your unable to locate 93oct is just bananas. Nearly everywhere in the country has 93oct besides a few states out west which will offer 91. In a pinch running 91 will not hurt the car whatsoever as long as you dont boost it. And dont get it twisted, a stage 3 car is night and day compared to stage 2.
To have 350whp available @4400rpm isn't enough? There's still 2500rpm to go to the top.... Next ride for you is definitely larger liter. If you're into the VAG products, upgrade a 3.0T? But then again, now you have "weight" so you'll want more. You might just be a "there's no replacement for displacement" kind of guy?
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
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
Bro great video, lose the music.. Don't play music in your backgrounds.... People want to hear what you have to say clearly without that horrible distraction.. And if people happened to be listening with a headset on it's even worse.. Great content though..
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.
That’s why automatics suck Vw messed up making their cars all dsg . Your your a Vw fan like I am must go old like a mk2 doimg a vr6 swap 6 speed I have a Mk2 vr6 turbo kills everything on the street I hate the new vw’s
Never trust anyone that wears their hat backwards Unless they drive a gti 😆 BTW - I can’t imagine driving a gti without manual. Yeah they say auto is quicker but it’s not near as fun.
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 👍
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).
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!
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.
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’m closing in on 100k on mk7 R and been doing my homework on what mods I’m going to do. All the things you mention seems like things you should’ve known about before buying and installing. Just saying...
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!
yeah my mk7 gti is stage 2 aswell and i am so glad i went for the mk7 gti instead of the leon cupra 290 the IS38 is amazing at top but fuck that late power when your not even allowed to go faster then 100, stage 2 gti has 340 hp and 530 torq its mooreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee then enough power you simple destroy everything because you got so much power in low
When you over mod a car, it takes away comfort. Racecar isn't streetcar.
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 😂
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.
Some will argue that the jump from stage 1 to 2 isn’t even worth it. Intercooler, dp, reflash both ecu/tcu for an additional 30whp in most cases. So an intercooler worth getting is $700+, a dp worth getting is $500+, spark plugs (IE recommends $250 ngk), and ecu/tcu is $1000+. Plus labor if you’re not mechanically inclined or don’t have a space to do it. Then there’s also logging if you’re going through an accessport which has its own risks. Then if you’re manual, a clutch is practically required for just a flash
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
@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!
Good presenting 👍 one input - The music is a bit annoying - too high pitched 0r just too high volume.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ✌🏼
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.
That steering wheel is badass! Mpg wise : you know that when you start tuning
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 💪
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👍🏿
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
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?
TY looks like you saved me 8k I am staying STAGE 2!!
pretty cool video
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
Not just apr most stage 3 does excatly what you say.....
You should jump to the Cobb accessport and have Ed @ EQT tune you. Driveability will be night and day
This!!
Doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all! Would be very interested in doing a before and after dyno as well
@@drivenbyboost you won't be disappointed!
@@drivenbyboost would make a great video, just make sure you get Ed to tune your DSG as well.
Possibly even think about running a E mix. His tunes are nice, and just now finishing up on my 2019 fully built hybrid turbo golf R, also tuned by Ed
Some One wow that sounds awesome! I gotta get in touch with Ed! Good luck on your build, can’t wait to hear how it turns out 👍
I’ll never go to these common brands like revo/apr for a stage 3. In the car world there known for doing builds for people who dont know much about cars and by customers who can just chuck miney at them. Buy better parts yourself and get a custom map…
You should have checked out HPA Motorsports upgraded Is 38 turbo
Don’t know too much about that, Is it just a hybrid is38?
Man I’m glad I’m not tuning a car in the US, you guys pay way too much for aftermarket upgrades. Look up the Littco L500 turbo, such a good hybrid and decent spool.
Why not remap your Golf to Revo’s latest Mk7.5 map which is switchable with their OBD device. It just seems like your reasons are down to you not doing much research when choosing your remaps or just go custom map with the flexi fuel sensor upgrade.
Lol 😂 really good information however, you should have done more research because bigger turbo, bigger fuel system will always cause boost lag and bad mpg lol 😂
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
background music is loud mate :(
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
Apr makes different stages to fit what you want to do with your car you said it yourself you liked the stage 2 best
Should've stayed with that.... live and learn
Dude, do you even know what tune or mod you want in your car? Listening to your opinion it seems to me nothing would satisfy your level of expectation man.
subbed
How much roughly is stage 2?
Depends, at minimum most tuning companies charge 500-600 for tune and 500-900 for a downpipe and then a labor fees so a little over 1k usd all in. If you buy APRs dp the software comes with 👍 and If you’re already stage 1 no charge
Personally I love the GTI/R but anyone I’ve talked to outside the community doesn’t really know what the potential is and overall it doesn’t impress anyone unfortunately. I had a modified GTI and rarely got compliments and my GF hated it, thought it was a chick car but she still had no interest in driving it lol. I stepped it up and got an Audi S4 and I’m stage 2 with full exhaust along with a number of other bolt ons. I get compliments constantly and it’s an instant conversation started when I’m out driving. Anyone thinking about getting a GTI/R I would seriously consider other options.
The S4 is on a whole different level! Better awd and way better sounding engine, congrats on your stage 2 S4, must be a beast on the street 💪
Driven by Boost Idk, It’s not really on another level, A Golf R is pretty damn expensive. If you are willing to put up with a little more mileage and some age you can find a S4/5 in the same price range. It took me awhile to find but like you said, the car is a beast.
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.
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?
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.
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...
I appreciate the in-depth and honest feedback.
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.
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..?
I was dumb forgot my login password. I love any help you can give me
@Joel Gunner instablaster :)
@Johnny Dakari i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im in the hacking process atm.
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Thank you so much, you saved my account !
Some interesting info. From a DD perspective sounds like you should have stayed Stage 2+. Loving the color of your R! Sub'd
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...
The Golf R is a savage lil hatch, I’d definitely rock one 💯
Katsuyoshi Hironaka it absolutely is!!
7:27 is the face I make when I floor my stock car knowing I’ll soon be at the gas station very soon
You will never be satisfied. At some point you will have to stop driving the Golf 7 and buy a Car that does everything you want from the Factory. I am happy with my7 GTi but am also looking at the Mercedes AMG A45-S because you get 421ps and 500NM in standard form.
The A45-S is savage, but at that point you may want to put more work in and just get a Porsche 911. Buy the ultimate Car and enjoy it for a few years - I did the same. At the end of the day we are driving a VW Golf... it isn't a 'special' Car, its just a Car to get from A to B.
I use mine on Track, but its still a 'Golf'.
I went with the ecs tuning i.s. 38 , on my mk7 GTI , apr software and supporting mods... spanking 90% of the competition.
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.
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.
Amazing review! All true! About no 5, try to drive a friend car with stage 2 tune.. It will feel so slow..
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.
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.
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
FYI the inside of the gas door has a spot to put the cap so you dont have to just let it dangle.
Lmfao complaining about 500rpm. All you have to do is drive one gear lower than usual🤦🏽♂️
MQB engine always Hybrid turbo is better.. fast spool easy fitting.. thanks for the honest feedback bro
Well, APR sucks #1, and you're running an automatic in a performance car #2. The way you're driving in the video, you need a stock tune. Did you ever race it? What are your times?
Wowwwwwww..i guess I'll drop some truth in here since nobody else is. Boosting the car is what is going to use fuel, obviously hitting boost on a bigger turbo is going to require more fuel than a smaller one. But around town you'll use much more fuel going into boost every gear on the stock turbo as opposed to not going into boost on a big turbo... his complaint about offering different fuel maps incase your unable to locate 93oct is just bananas. Nearly everywhere in the country has 93oct besides a few states out west which will offer 91. In a pinch running 91 will not hurt the car whatsoever as long as you dont boost it. And dont get it twisted, a stage 3 car is night and day compared to stage 2.
To have 350whp available @4400rpm isn't enough? There's still 2500rpm to go to the top....
Next ride for you is definitely larger liter. If you're into the VAG products, upgrade a 3.0T? But then again, now you have "weight" so you'll want more. You might just be a "there's no replacement for displacement" kind of guy?
I love the color of your caR.
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
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
Bro great video, lose the music.. Don't play music in your backgrounds.... People want to hear what you have to say clearly without that horrible distraction.. And if people happened to be listening with a headset on it's even worse.. Great content though..
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.
really interesting video and info..love it man!
That’s why automatics suck Vw messed up making their cars all dsg . Your your a Vw fan like I am must go old like a mk2 doimg a vr6 swap 6 speed I have a Mk2 vr6 turbo kills everything on the street I hate the new vw’s
Never trust anyone that wears their hat backwards
Unless they drive a gti 😆
BTW - I can’t imagine driving a gti without manual. Yeah they say auto is quicker but it’s not near as fun.
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 👍
It sucks, but all of this sounds like things not thought about before buying/upgrading. It's something to think about: Ya, before spending thousands.
how about stage 0 with an APR stage III badge? 40mpg, still fast, no dramas, free...
Great content man. United motor sports stage 2+ here.
Golf gas to be practical and fun
I don't know how much is too much but maybe stage 2 will retain practicality and max fun
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 🙏
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
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?
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!
Welp…seeing as Stage 2 isn’t that well recommended either…staying Stage 1+ it is!
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.
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.
Thanks for a well done video, I like the music but it should be just a little bit lower, other than that well done
I appreciate it! Will definitely keep in mind the music volume for the future. Thank you for the feedback 🙏
I’m closing in on 100k on mk7 R and been doing my homework on what mods I’m going to do. All the things you mention seems like things you should’ve known about before buying and installing. Just saying...
I like that steering wheel. Is it stock?
Steering wheel is forged carbon from TawCustoms 👌🏼
Manual transmission ...
Is it just me or does the hat, that’s just placed on top of his head, look doofy?!?
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!
yeah my mk7 gti is stage 2 aswell and i am so glad i went for the mk7 gti instead of the leon cupra 290 the IS38 is amazing at top but fuck that late power when your not even allowed to go faster then 100, stage 2 gti has 340 hp and 530 torq its mooreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee then enough power you simple destroy everything because you got so much power in low
Definitely something to be said about that low end punch 👊
That’s why you buy a manual 😘
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!
Its really a nice video you made and the music that started the video I liked it
Full stage 2 is perfect for mountain drives and daily use.
In my opinion, the music too loud over the voice. And I don't like the hat.
Deezamn, that Costco gas? Costco 93 is like 89 LOL.
Should have went EQT Vortex with E30..... shame
music is ignoring in the background and takes away from your comments
You could try a variable vane turbo for a best of both worlds effect
Custom tune is likely your best option
Cool video, but bro your 5th point its every car' case 😂
Great input and honest objective review. Thanks for this. Just about to get the stage 2 and his confirms it
is the home depot next to costco? I think I saw you on the road. oh. right. its Randhust lol