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Hi, before I start talking about Zoë, I first want to talk about me and my car-history.
Coming from South Africa I have had a big influence from the car modification scene - if you didn't already know this, people love to modify their cars in South Africa. Similarly to how each country has its own types of car modifications and aesthetics, South Africa has a whole bunch. My first car was a Nissan 1400 bakkie, thereafter I had a W169 A170 Mercedes-Benz, I got a 1994 Supra SZ - W58 trans, ABS, A01b differential. I moved around and sold the A170, bought an Opel Adam - 1.0t 6m/t base model, but this phase didn't last very long as a semi-truck stopped my plans. At this time, the Supra was a garage queen, and I had no daily driver, however things worked out for the better. I was able to loan my parents' car, and for about a year I drove a Mercedes-Benz W204 C320 CDI.
During my studies I was exposed to many Volkswagens - from stock MK5 non-GTI Golfs, to APR stage 3 MK7 R's. K03, K03-hybrid, K04, K04R, K04RR, you name it. They were there. TDI's, Polo's, Golf's, the list goes on... It was VW country. Being a Toyota guy I had a little problem with the VW's, because it was all there was. There was hardly any diversity.
Now, it's a different ball-game. Today the economy is different, everything is more expensive, supply chain problems, chip shortages, "JDM-tax" ('know what I mean), and global pandemic impacts. We have wars, raging oil prices, and corruption running a-mock everywhere.
An easily, kit-modifiable GTI starts to seems like a good choice. . .
I moved to the US. Lo and behold, I was looking at a GTI. My best friend had convinced me to rather look at a MK6 GTI as they were not as expensive, and with a DSG I would have little issues squeezing out some extra "herspers"! My quest for a GTI begins.
I found Zoë on Facebook marketplace for sale at a high-end dealership out in Hickory, NC.
After having a look at some cheaper GTI's, each with their own set of minor problems; mainly from prior owner neglect, I ventured to Hickory to take a look. The initial problems I found wrong with Zoë were that the roof-liner was coming off, and that there was a big accident at 21k miles. I ruled it to be okay seeing that she was in the 90 000's at that point and everything else checked out pretty good.
Deducing that the wheels were original MK6 R wheels, I had a set of lowering springs, and an original APR Carbonio Stage 2 intake system the rest seemed pretty stock at the time.
It felt fairly stock and rightfully so. A previous owner had added what looks like a sport catted down-pipe, the intake mentioned above, a turbo muffler delete, GFB DV+, a Spulen turbo outlet pipe, R8-coilpacks, APR map switching (Valet, Stock, Stage 2 91octane, Stage 2 93octane), and from what I gather a DSG tune. For the first month while uncovering these mods, the car was on the stock map, giving me the impression that it was fairly stock. But, after filling the tank with 93 and making sure my octane level was high enough; I had to switch over to the 93 tune as soon as possible! It makes a noticeable difference. As you have probably heard countless times, this is how one anticipates the GTI to feel like from the factory. It feels more alive, has more punch, and generally feels more... dare I say it... "sporty".
It would seem that I had bought myself the very GTI I had planned on creating.
Slow iterative mods will follow at this point - as I save up through the hardships of life- and plan the rest of the modifications. I hope to upgrade to bigger brakes, K04 with stage 3 software, and an array of suspension goodies. I am also looking at a whole list of efficiency and iterative upgrades in and around the car.
For now, I am enjoying the wonder of this nippy little hot-hatch.
I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
F.Scarcella
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