Galen, Thanks! Great info! Is the 337 essentially the same as the 20th Ann. that came out in 2003?
Is the 6-speed the same that became available on later models? (also, same drive flanges, etc.) Everything is stock on this 337 that I can tell except for the chip, a light tint, and an added Rabbit icon badge (I hope it wasn't drilled to attach). The 337 wheels are gorgeous... wouldn't by one without them. But those Pilot Sports are pricey! Thanks, Mark ________________________________ From: Galen Bergthold <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 7:58:57 AM Subject: RE: [a2-16v-list] chipping a 1.8T The 337 is a very nice VW, I bought one and flew up to NY to drive it home. It was about 90% factory original, after some work was able to get it back to 100% original. The only modification that the 337 would need would be a chip. Make sure it has the right wheels, they are expensive. We used full synthetic oil, never had any problems. Sold it a couple of years ago, still miss the car. Factory listing of features: VOLKSWAGEN 2002 GTI 337 1500 units total in the U.S and 250 units total in Canada POWERTRAIN • 1.8t turbocharged 180 bhp @ 5500 rpm with 173 lb-ft torque @ 1950 rpm • 6-speed MQ350/O2M350 manual transmission BRAKES & SUSPENSION • 12.3 inch front rotors, 10 inch rear vented rotors, red powder-coated calipers (all from Audi TT) • Eibach springs that are 20% stiffer than stock, 23mm RSB, 21mm FSB, gas charged Monroe shocks • 30mm lower ride height, upgraded metal/rubber rear bushings EXTERIOR • Color: Reflex Silver • 18" BBS RC Wheels with ball shot peened finish • Michelin Pilot Sport 225/40-ZR18 high performance tires • Votex body kit with front valence, side skirts, rear valence, and hatch spoiler • Special exterior retro GTI badging • Chrome 2.25" exhaust tip with full underbody piping INTERIOR • Black interior with grey headliner • Recaro seats red/black • Red-lined seat belts • Brushed aluminum interior trim • Leather-wrapped 3-point steering wheel • Red stitching on steering wheel, shift boot and handbrake knob • Special golf ball shift knob similar to original GTI shift knob • Red trimmed floor mats • Aluminum pedals with rubber inserts • Silver GTI door sills • Monsoon Sound System > Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:16:47 -0400 > To: [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] chipping a 1.8T > > I agree with Matthew, if the 337 had a TEPO you could be in for some headaches. > > If there are maintenance records for the vehicle check to make SURE TPO did > the > oil changes at the PROPER intervals using the PROPER oil. VW's 1.8Ts are > good engines > but not all that forgiving if the owner ignores oil changes or uses cheap > (ie non synthetic) oil. > Nice, shiny paint and a good body is great but that won't matter much if > the engine and mechanicals were not taken care of. > > You might also want to familiarize yourself with the 337 model. > IIRC they were a limited edition with only a certain number produced. > Are there any parts of the vehicle that are unique and not shared with > other VW models? > If there are unique parts, are they just cosmetic things (seats, interior > bits, etc.) that > would not impact the operation of the vehicle? If the unique parts are > something that will > stop it dead on the side of the road are those parts still available from > VW or other sources? > If so, how much will they cost? > > Have you checked on the cost of maintenance and parts for a 337? > One would have to think that keeping one on the road will cost more than a > 16V VW. > Is it due for any expensive maintenance service? Might want to look into > those costs to avoid any surprises. > Remember this 337 is 8 years old now. Parts are going to need to be > replaced going forward. > You can pretty much count on being SOL when it comes to getting at least > some, if not most, 337 specific parts. > VW has a nasty habit of "Obsoleting" parts quicker than you might think. > Unfortunately, there is little or no > logic to what VW does Obsolete and when. > > The best thing you can do before purchasing the 337 is to continue to ask > questions about it and learn > more about it like you have been doing. That way, you can make an informed > decision regarding purchasing it. > > Sorry if the post above is stating the obvious. When it comes to late model > VWs sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. > > Good Luck. > > Charlie > > > > > > > At 05:56 AM 9/2/2010 -0700, Matthew Yip wrote: > > >I wouldn't be so concerned about the chip as I would about TEPO (the evil > >previous owner) - chip or no chip, if TEPO drove the car like a psycho, it > >may > >look nice but ridden hard and put away wet (I remember seeing lots of cars > >like > >that when I lived in NC - fancy wheels, shiny paint and enough slime under > >the > >hood to make the Gulf Oil Spill look like a rain drop). > > > > > >APR makes several chip stages - each more aggressive than the other. That > >having been said, I have a truck with 180K miles that's had a chip of some > >sort > >for the past 160K miles. It's still going strong, granted it's a diesel BUT > >Navistar probably didn't intend for their turbos to push 30 psi (18 psi > >stock, > >IIRC). My antique M5 had a chip as well - a very aggressive chip from > >Conforti > >that the butt-dyno felt had more guts than the Dinan version. Ultimately, > >while > >it upped HP from 256 US to roughly 300 US (with a Euro cam gear), the most > >noticeable difference was that it improved driveability so much that the > >car was > >actually enjoyable to drive after the chip. > > > > > >Bear in mind that the manufacturer builds in some sort of a safety zone into > >their factory tuning - some are more conservative than others and knowing the > >Krauts, VW probably has a fairly broad safety zone. A chip that exploits > >that > >safety zone won't cause excessive wear - at least not in a measurable > >degree. > >It will result in a driver who gets on the power more frequently and more > >aggressively but otherwise, it won't cause excessive internal engine wear. > > > > > >My $.02...Matthew > > > > > > > > > >----- Original Message ---- > > > From: Mark Stanton <[email protected]> > > > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Thu, September 2, 2010 3:09:00 AM > > > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] chipping a 1.8T > > > > > > One of the reasons I'm asking is that I'm eyeing a 337 that has a Stage > > 1 APR > > > chip on it already. The car has about 52K and looks to be in perfect > > >condition > > > > > > but I wonder how much life has been taken out of the engine because of > > the > > >chip. > > > > > > Makes me a little nervous. > > > > > > > > > Mark > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: Chad Rebuck <[email protected]> > > > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 11:42:03 PM > > > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] chipping a 1.8T > > > > > > I don't know anything about a 337, however ... > > > > > > If you can hear pinging its bad for sure, but it isn't the only > > indicator of > > > bad/over aggressive tuning. when purchasing a chip go with companies that > > > have a good reputation with engine tuning. Don't necessarily go for the > > > company claiming the most hp. Chip tuners should still need to be a bit > > > conservative to have their chip work all over the world whether hot, cold, > > > humid, dry, etc. A chip from a major tuner is probably cheaper than > > paying > > > someone in your area to tune your car on a dyno. Perhaps tuners even > > offer > > > chips that are more tolerant of extreme heat and humidity areas? I > > haven't > > > kept up with what oem computers can be easily programmed these > > days. Honda, > > > for example, was very easy to program for very little cost, and maybe > > VW has > > > computers that can be updated easily now? > > > > > > On a sidenote - a friend of mine purchased an inexpensive usb > > cable, plugged > > > it up to his wrx, and updated the stock ecu to give more boost, adjust the > > > air/fuel, etc. You'd better trust the source of the data if you go that > > > route :) Can this be done with vw systems these days? > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Sep 2, 2010 at 1:18 AM, Mark Stanton <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > I guess if there's no pinging... no problem, right? > > > > Anyone know what stock boost is on a 337? > > > > > > > > GTI 337 HP TQ BOOST > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > > > STOCK 180 173 ? > > > > APR 215 242 ? > > > > UNItronic 215 235 18PSI > > > > > > > > mmmm, that torque looks deeelicious! > > > > > > > > > > > > Mark > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > > [email protected] > > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >a2-16v-list mailing list > >[email protected] > >http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > >For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above.
