First cars aren't supposed to last. That's why they're first cars. Beat-up, beat-down, as well as hand-me-downs are the norm for your first set of wheels. Sure, you may lust after a Porsche or some other high-end car, but you're probably going to wind up with something anemic, boring, and cheap. Like any sane person, you ditch it as soon as you can to move up the automotive food chain.
Kris Bonagura, a Chrysler service advisor from West Orange, NJ had other plans. As a self-professed car guy and VW enthusiast from an early age, he set his eyes on a black '96 Mk3 Golf four-door. "I used to love Beetles and stuff like that when I was little," Kris recalled. "So when I got my license I wanted to get a VW, and I ended up with this Golf as my first car."
Sure it was an 2.0 8v auto, but that wasn't a bad start. And for somebody like Kris, it's a blank canvas to transform into a work of art.
It's unusual for somebody's first ride to still be around, much less one that looks as good as this. Dark and smooth, yet quite aggressive, it looks like something you'd see cruising to Wrthersee. It has a real Euro-vibe, but it didn't happen overnight. The process has taken him nearly five years.
"The car has gone through a couple of different stages," he said. "It had the big Mattig bumper, the big Rieger rear bumper, the M3 side skirts and DTM Kreuz wheels. But I kinda wanted to change it up, and wanted to go with a cleaner look."
The original four cylinder and slush-box had remained through all his previous mods. But after the stressed 8v motor finally gave out, it presented Kris with the perfect opportunity to makeover the car.
VR6 transplant is mildly tuned
The two-liter was removed in no time, and a VR6 swap provided new life for the four-door. Kris then enlisted the help of his buddy Chris Palumbo to install the motor and complete the conversion to a five-speed.
The engine remains largely stock, with the exception of an internally-ported intake manifold and an aggressive side-exit exhaust.
"I like the way it sounds with the stock air box," Kris explained. "With an intake, it got a little raspy." The mild tune won't last forever though, as a forced induction is on the cards.
With the car sporting new power and a fresh lease on life, Kris got around to perfecting its appearance. He contacted Northfield Collision to carry out the modifications. "They've been a really big help to me," Kris said. "They did all the bodywork on the car since I've had it."