Alec's Second "Explorer" (The VW)

[Alec]

Well, it can Explore the streets and curves better than Splat could

2003 VW GTI
2.8L 24V VR6, 200 hp stock
6 speed manual gearbox
Loaded

Pioneer 8400 Headunit with XM radio
8 speaker Monsoon system with factory amp
350W RMS to single 8" Boston Acoustics sub

other mods so far:
Retrofit to 2002 headlamps with integrated fogs
Cordless radar detector
Activation of rear fog lamps as aux brake lamps
Front grille emblem swap to black
Changed horns to be louder and deeper

Other mods will be listed as I do them.

Pics:

 

[JGAMBLE]

looks like every other volkswagen I've seen, but so long as you like it, that's all that matters. Have one friend with one and he loves it, hope you do too.

 

[Mike]

WOW!!! the LONG AWAITED PICS!!!.. now you need a trail rig alec..

 

[ok89]

looks nice but now whenever it rains hard you wont be able to drive down harborside.

 

[Alec]

Jon, I already drove down Harborside with water almost to the bumper

Seriously though, the flooding down here was a major concern of mine. I'll just have to be careful where I park on campus, and usually if the water is too high on the roads for a car, the police close the road anyway.

EDIT: Oh, and when I modify the intake I'll get an open filter similar to the KKM that's in the engine bay, not a true cold air kit that sits much lower.

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

Very nice!!! I've alwasy been a fan of the Mk IV Golf GTi. Looks good in that blue. Just curious but have you been over to www.vwvortex.com ? Great site for VW owners.

 

[jimbo74]

what is this fog lights rear mod you are talking about? how is it setup?

 

[Alec]

Mk IV Golf's have a spot on each side for a European/Canadian rear fog lamp. On US models most of the wiring for these and the bulbs are absent, but the sockets and terminals are still there. All you have to do is put in bulbs and jumper a few terminals with a bit of wire, took longer to find the bulbs in a store than to do the mod.

Looking at the rear of the car, these aux lamps are to either side of the reverse lamps, on the bottom of the taillight assembly. They light up exactly when and like the other brake lights do, but they don't function as taillamps (dim) with the headlights on.

 

[Bashman]

On the down side...I guess no more urban assaults on sidewalks.

On the up side... gotta love the VR6!!

 

[Rick]

Looks really nice. How's the sound with the new HU?

 

[Alec]

Yup, no more urban wheeling; oh well

The new HU sounds 100% better than the stocker; music is much crisper and surround-like. The sub adds a lot of depth to the music and is really crisp also, no confusing drums with bass guitar. The audio shop was skeptical about only going with an 8", but with the power we have going to it, it's perfect.

 

[Alec]

Well, this morning was cool and breezy (it was nice while it lasted), so......

I installed a little switch to turn DRL on and off; this is instead of disabling it completely as I like it on the highway.

 

[terdrocket]

Is Volkswagon ever going to start importing the R32?

 

[Alec]

supposed to come soon

Also, the mk V is due out in the next year or a bit more.

 

[Brandons]

well its not splat, but at least its what you want.

 

[springtensi0n]

that's a fantastic HU... all my speakers are blown, and it still makes them sound mint =]

 

[Alec]

I would have done the sub except my dealer recommended I get it done by their recommended guys to keep my warranty, just covering my @ss.

Fixed the other confusion, sorry.

 

[rocket 5979]

All i got to say is that if you are gong to point out that you dont like what Alec has chosen then at least back it up with another option you would have chosen yourself. But just because he went from a supercharged offroading run truck to a onroad not so super powerful economy car doesnt mean he should be criticised for it. People have their reasons for doing things. And having a bigass supercharged explorer that is 7 years old sounds less reasonable than having a newer more economical and reliable car under warranty which is probably the better option for him right now. I think that if i was to have to get a small car for gas mileage and commuting and smaller payments i would either get a VW Passat or Jetta or i would get a Honda Civic SI. But right now that is not what i am looking for. But that is not to say that others arent. All i am saying is that you can say what you got to say. But dont be disrespectful of a persons choice till you know what financial or family situation they are in.

 

[X~FACTOR]

My dad had one of the very first pocket rocket car: a 1984 VW Rabbit GTI. Man, I loved that car. Besides the muffler that needed to be changed every 12 months, everything else was almost bullet proof and very solidly built. That was the quality 20 years ago. You could just imagine the quality they have now.

 

[Rick]

Originally posted by taxxman2k
It used to be

Somehow this thread has gotten away with being in the Explorer registry for much longer than it would have if you or I started it.

You're correct. Actually it should be in the Elite Explorer Registry,