While many projects follow a rather uneventful evolution from conception to completion, a journey through the transformation of Tony Mairena's Mk4 GLX reveals a tale of trial and tribulation that started with tragedy but ended in triumph.
As '00 came to a close, not only was Tony's life turned upside-down by a family tragedy, but his prized Mk3 Jetta was totaled when a drunk driver hit him on New Year's morning. Although Tony escaped unscathed, his beloved Dub was a crumpled ball of memories.
Dubless but not discouraged, Tony picked up a black '01 Jetta GLX from his VW dealer. "I decided on another Jetta because they're pretty quick, handle great and are practical."
Although the Mk4 was plush and the VR6 tempting, Tony's bout of bad luck left him wary. "It was funny. I told myself I wasn't going to waste money modding this car, but after everything that happened, the car became a focus for me," Tony said. "The car became a labor of love through the hard times."
Although this midnight beauty is the image of perfection, like all great things it saw many changes. "Since owning the car, it's seen two motors, six sets of wheels, three accent colors for the interior, engine bay and exterior, and three audio systems," Tony said.
Despite a lack of initial direction, Tony started with basic intake, chip and exhaust mods, adding coils and wheels for looks. With his Jetta breathing free and handling tight, he visited Waterfest '01 where he decided to turn the Jetta into a show-stopper.
With a Dub-rich history that includes Mk2s, Mk3s and even watercooled VWs, Tony knew about the marque. And even though he yearned to take the Mk4 aesthetically further than any of his previously owned cars, he knew it had to be fast as well as beautiful.
This was achieved through its own dose of misfortune when the VR6's notoriously low oil pan and slammed stance kissed a manhole cover, grenading the motor