Often Overlooked, We Take You To Sweden To See What's Possible With The Five-Door Gti When You Have Time And Talent On Your Side.
Although you might not expect it, Sweden is a goldmine for modified motors of absolutely stunning quality. Owners seem blissfully unafraid to make big changes to classic cars and new models alike, creating a tuning scene like no other.
Those long, harsh, dark winters seem to provide fertile ground for the Swedes, who lock themselves away for five or six months each year, emerging from hibernation with jaw-dropping cars.
Just feast your eyes on this beauty, owned by 24 year-old Fredrik Andersson who lives in the coastal town of Varberg. He's a car painter by trade, yet saying that does him a disservice. The guy is an artist, pure and simple. And what he's done to his GTI is inspirational.
Initial impressions are important when you're looking at a modified car. There's one word to sum up the experience here: quality. Wherever you choose to look, whether it's at the smoothed rear hatch, flawlessly flared wheel arches, or even gorgeous wheels, this car has been lovingly crafted into something special.
Having previously modified several Minis and Civics, Fredrik bought the Golf from his brother, who happens to work for VW and knows the cars inside out. His brother had already worked on the 1.8T with a company called BSR (www.bsr-tuning.eu), which had collaborated closely with Koenigsegg to develop the mental CC8S and CCR; two of the world's fastest cars. These guys were serious about tuning and fitted their own BSR turbo then remapped the ECU, which resulted in an impressive 285hp at the crank with over 220 lb/ft of torque. But the project wasn't without its problems. The Golf went through five race cats, which Fredrik puts down to poor component quality. They eventually settled on a custom Ferrita system and it's been smooth running ever since.
BSR also fitted new injectors, while Fredrik added an ATP intercooler kit once the car was his. There's a Forge blowoff valve but the rest of the engine remains untouched and has proved totally reliable, according to Fredrik.
The suspension had been lowered by his brother with a KW V2 coilover system, plus H&R sway bars. It sits low; dropped 3" at the front and 2.5" at the rear, means it rides stiff but looks cool on the move. It gives the GTI a hunkered-down, no-nonsense appearance.
So with the performance and handling sorted, Fredrik set to work making the VW look special. But it was no overnight makeover- he exercised patience so everything was just the way he wanted it.
Those wheels, for instance, took six months to arrive. Custom-made by Belgian company Evox (www.evox.be), the RM4 split-rim alloys were painted to Fredrik's specification in piano black and were well worth the wait. They're wrapped in 215/35 front and 255/30 rear Pirelli P-Zero Nero rubber.
Peer through the wheel spokes and you'll find some equally impressive stopping equipment, courtesy of Porsche GT3 front brakes, which use Brembo six-piston calipers. The rear brakes are from the Golf R32.
The rear hatch was smoothed by removing the handle and badging, replacing the latter with a simple "Turbo" emblem from Porsche.