Its always a good plan. but once bitten by the MOD bug, you just can't stop lol...
My jetta tdi gets over 50 mpg highway, and has over 200 ponies and 390 torque at the wheels. It completely transforms the car. Sure. I can go drive my audi r8 for the performance, but not at 51mpg. At best, my stock jetta tdi got 43mpg. Not interested in a hot rod, if i was, I would build one up. The cost is way higher though.
That's an impressive increase, I as well have torque monster toys but it comes nowhere close to the efficiency your TDI has. In-fact neither the 70 Yenko or Off road built Yukon( LS1 re-powered) set any efficiency records but both are in the 550+ hp & wheel torque scale.
I bought the TDI after a buck chasing 2 doe's quite literally jumped over & landed on the right front fender & hood area of the Mercedes causing excessive sheet-metal damage and breaking my heart, there was no way the paint on this car could ever be blended being 21 years old; garage kept highway missile, loved that car.
I was under the TDI to see what was needed to install a rear sway bar prior to buying one & was shocked to see one was already there, (neon green) attached to a multi link rear suspension. Strange considering I know the car's previous owner was the original owner, an elderly lady in West Palm Beach. Happy it's there I shifted my purchase to a big brake kit (front/rear) instead.
Perhaps at some point I may increase the exhaust pipe sizing while keeping it stone quiet but being a 2 wheel drive version coupled to the fact that I wanted a stock and efficient car that is fun to drive and comfortable on a daily basis, it will likely end there. Next stop is to remove the headliner and have it replaced with new material, it's typical German glue and Southern US shrinkage error.
I think a 4 Motion model might be fun, I had Quattro's in the early thru mid 80's until we started a family, then all went away to focus on raising children including my 930 which did not get driven much anyway, oddly don't really miss that car that much. As brutal as acceleration was for the era, that was about all it had going for it while the sale paid completely for the birth of my Daughter an excellent return on investment ha ha!
It's good speaking with you. I'm curious how the torque increased so dramatically and if any detrimental effect on the drive-train has been evident since the power increase.
Doug
