The daughter of a friend at work has a VW GTi (if I've got the letters capitalized right), which is turbocharged but still not dramatic in the hp area -- at least my friend is not worried. But now the daughter wants to "chip" her car.

What does this mean, and what does it imply for the power of the VW? Thanks!

 

The "chip" is usually an Engine Control Unit (ECU) change. In non-turbo cars like ours they can adjust fuel-air mixture for more HP, as opposed to gas mileage, emissions, and engine life as many manufacturers original ECU delivers. For us, it can also adjust VTEC transition point. In turbo's it MAY be able to increase total boost, boost earlier, or reduce timing retard (risking detonation).

Some cars get dramatic benefits from a performance chip. Ours is not likely to be one of them. The VW 1.8T is reputed to get a nice benefit.

 

BOOST
from 7 PSI to 15 PSI
GIAC 1.1 bar chip
200 dynoed HP on a 1.8 GTi Mk4 2000-2002 model
240 Pounds of torque

best $500 anyone will every spend

 

werd

 

Thanks!

Ouch. I believe the car is a 2001 with about 150 hp now, so I suspect my friend here needs to think about letting her daughter (18 years old) do that!

Just FYI, I believe the daughter's boyfriend "created" an M3 from a used 328. They have always been into cars and speed, hang out at Summit Point etc. Maybe I can steer them toward an S2000 some day.

 

my friend has an 1.8T and he chipped it.. and we are almost even. The takeoff, he has soo much torque that it is insane. But i can still win in the end. My roommate just traded his 2.0 jetta for the 1.8T can't wait until he chips that

 

In Australia next year, you can get an option factory VW GTi with an upgraded stage 2 turbocharger setup done by Ottefinger or something like that all covered under warranty. Maximum horsepower output is 250hp ... Just imagine racing one, you never know when the one next to you at the lights is a factory equipped sleeper.