Meet our two girls from Florida. One just started college and bartends near home in West Palm Beach, while the other lives in Orlando and works in financial services. Both girls had never met until we brought them together because they share a common interest. Their unrivaled passion for VWs and shared learning experience wrenching on cars created common ground and led to one of the most fascinating articles to hit these pages.
Barely LegalAlthough not old enough to appreciate the original '83 VW GTI, 18 year-old Monica Rossi didn't have a problem applying her unique style to this 20th Anniversary GTI.
Interestingly, Monica wasn't introduced to VWs like many of us; it was photography that provoked it. "I stumbled across VW Web sites and used them to help my photography," she explained. Monica continued to read about VWs and finally bought her first Veedub.
"I bought it from an auction for less than $9k because it has a rebuilt title," she explained. "It needed a full respray, new fenders, wheels and driver-side headlight. I thought the engine was fine but a mount fell out one day, so I ended up buying another 1.8T from a wrecked GTI."
After piecing together the injured 20AE, it was time to start having some fun. "I do all the work myself," Monica continued. "I learned how to work on cars building this one."
Pink n' polished engine bay
The engine mods came first, with a simple GIAC software upgrade. Next came an evoms cold-air intake and Milltek 2.5" turbo-back exhaust, which freed additional horsepower.
Monica wanted her GTI to be quick but also look aggressive, so a Milltek front-mount intercooler was also installed behind the stock front bumper. But it's not only go parts under the hood - Monica hand-polished the intake manifold and powdercoated the engine cover pink for her own delight.
Standard on the 20AE GTI, the six-speed manual transmission is already strong and the brakes featured 12.3" front and 10.3" rear rotors. These are bigger than the standard GTI, so Monica left them unmolested, although she painted all four calipers pink to match her personality.
The 20AE suspension is 30mm lower and outfitted with thicker sway bars as well as revised rear bushings. But Monica wanted her car to handle tighter and sit lower, so H&R's threaded coilovers were installed.
On the exterior, she didn't want to detract from the OE look so kept the Votex front and rear valances but swapped the side skirts with R32 parts. To tidy the front, a JOM badgeless grille was installed, while the bumper notch and side markers were shaved.
After research, Monica ached for a bser hood so she fabricated her own metal extension and molded it on.
Wheels came next, and something rare was required to set the car apart. In her search, Monica came across a set of Tramont Staria 5 wheels, and she claimed they're the only set in the States with a VW bolt pattern. "I bought the wheels gold but they were pitted, so I redid them in white by hand," she said.
Downsizing to 17" wheels from the standard 18s, the widths are 9" front and 10.5" rear for extreme chubbiness. A set of Dunlop SP Sport tires were then stretched onto the rims.
A pink plaid headliner looks fantastic!
Perhaps the most difficult task was the interior. "The headliner was the hardest to do," she told us. "It took 12 hours in the Florida heat." Ditching the stock black headliner, pink plaid now adorns the roof and pillars.
The rest of the interior didn't need much so the stock 20AE Recaros, aluminum trim, leather steering wheel and shift boot remain.
Keeping it simple and Euro-style with extremely wide wheels, a low stance and bser hood, Monica achieved plenty with her first, self-built project. She told us a GT28RS turbo awaits her but the car's a daily driver and she gets plenty of teasing from guys everywhere she goes. "On the forums, I get eight-page threads just because I'm a girl. It's kind of rough. But for the most part, they're lighter on me if I do something ridiculous to my car, like anything pink. But hey, I'm a girl!"
Tech Spec2003 VW GTI 20th AnniversaryOwner: Monica RossiLocation: West Palm Beach, FLOccupation: student and bartender
Engine: 1.8 liter four cylinder 20v with GIAC X+ software, Forge Motorsport polished 007 diverter valve, evoms V-Flow cold-air intake, Milltek 2.5" turbo-back exhaust, front-mount intercooler, polished intake manifold, powdercoated engine cover, Optima Yellow Top battery
Drivetrain: six-speed manual transmission
Brakes: pink calipers
Suspension: H&R coilovers
Wheels & Tires: 17x9" front, 17x10.5" rear polished and painted Tramont Staria 5 wheels with 225/45-17 front, 245/40-17 rear Dunlop SP Sport 8080E tires
Exterior: custom bser hood, shaved side markers, OE R32 side skirts, JOM badgeless grille, 15% window tint
Interior: reupholstered plaid headliner and pillars
Thanks: Eric Luipersbeck, Ryan Meloy