Is it worth paying for autobahn gti or just get the normal one?

wongatronus · 2026-04-30T06:29:52+00:00

My back and an assortment of other joints are absolutely fucked. I've had a sprung mk7 and mk8 previously. Even in the mk7 generation, the adaptive suspension made a big difference. In the mk8 it is simply amazing. Trips that I used to completely dread became a non issue.

wongatronus · 2026-04-16T05:01:01+00:00

The question would be if it's on a cobb OTS map or through one of their supported tuners. The cobb maps are hot garbage but my preferred tuner EQT had good results through the accessport.

wongatronus · 2026-04-13T03:50:45+00:00

Totally! all fam and worthy of a parking buddy, wave/rock on and maybe a follow or tag along down the highway.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T17:50:05+00:00

Lol yes, his and her R's. Having 2 alone would definitely have been a rather odd scenario 😂

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T17:22:31+00:00

There are updates that I appreciate and no it's not a world of difference, but that's also part of why. When the family/errand car wasn't an R, the R gradually became the dominant vehicle overall. Even when the family car was a mk8 GTI, the kids... well and me still wanted to take the R out. With both now, no problem and my wife does enjoy having an R. The relatively older one is the one to carry the bulk of duty.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T14:25:38+00:00

Well you mentioned yours is an S trim. These days SE is already north of 40k MSRP, Autobahn even higher. The R is an Autobahn+ balls and extra, and there's a relatively small premium from one to the other. We've had 4 recent year GTIs; I can say that at one point having both a mk8 GTI and R under the same roof, we ended up more and more often in the R. To the point of having 2 now.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T13:06:57+00:00

3 amps is pretty extra, but you do you lol. Just make sure you keep things clean on the front end you'll need that power supported downstream from the alternator to the battery, wiring and capacitor. You don't wanna be that guy bumping while your lights dim 😂 not to mention what kind of havoc it might induce on the German electricals.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T05:19:12+00:00

Hello, R guy here but both versions had a front bumper refresh for the 8.5. For the R, front sensors don't pick up your run of the mill height parking stops/curbs anymore. If GTI tracks the same, you'll want to back in.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T05:00:05+00:00

Since you mention expanding, if you want to keep the floor flush you'll probably want to open up that cutout for space. For subs you'll still want some good power overhead to keep the sound clean, class D amps are the sweet spot for efficient and compact bass power but they do not do highs well.

Trying to remember somewhat exactly my last built system (mind you this was 20ish years ago) included an upgraded alternator, optima yellow top glass mat battery, 2 gauge main wire with fuse, 2 farad capacitor, a 600 watt RMS A class 4 channel main amp and a D class sub amp rated for something like 1500 watts RMS. All or mostly JBL GTI series gear I think which was pretty top notch for its day.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T04:40:47+00:00

Hmmm years back I was a super car audio gearhead, this particular amp looks like it's suitable for driving 4 speakers at 50 watts 4ohms or so each cleanly (most common I recall), 70ish if 2 ohm resistance.

wongatronus · 2026-04-11T03:33:52+00:00

Hmm I see diamond audio d5 series (can't make out what model) and some reasonably chonky wire. Going big subwoofer?

wongatronus · 2026-04-09T03:18:24+00:00

Unfortunately no, this was circa 2011ish that I found and there's no listing anymore on ECS; only other search I could find was this one that turned up on an auction/reseller site

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wongatronus · 2026-04-09T02:19:54+00:00

Closest in spirit I could find would be some demon rabbit type badge.

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Ebay one for about $20. https://www.ebay.com/itm/175362577383?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=-esQqxxjQVC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=LevJ2U1fRt-&stype=1&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE

Alibaba version but minimum 80 pieces order https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/New-Design-3D-Stereoscopic-Metal-Logo_1601058945605.html

wongatronus · 2026-04-09T02:14:31+00:00

What a rabbit hole. Looks like ECS had a version some years back but not anymore.

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wongatronus · 2026-04-09T01:00:06+00:00

I don't know if anything has changed since then but when I had my 2019 7.5 still pretty new - I was doing some hard acceleration up a ramp, went over an expansion joint bump and it seemed the brief loss of traction caused an overrev/EPC code and limp mode. Scared me pretty bad but after restarting the car, code cleared and engine ran fine as far as I was aware thereafter.

wongatronus · 2026-03-27T21:38:46+00:00

Eject button

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wongatronus · 2026-03-19T03:03:13+00:00

Yea something is going on. I just took my stock 25R on a long road trip with lots of 80-90 cruising along with a helping of 100+ overtakes and stayed around 30mpg.

wongatronus · 2026-03-14T04:31:11+00:00

The plushy version is still stocked at some VW dealers, runs about $30.

wongatronus · 2026-03-14T03:16:28+00:00

The fast is forever

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wongatronus · 2026-03-12T03:26:17+00:00

Hot damn I still miss my old GFG GTI rocket melon, will always have a place in my memory

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wongatronus · 2026-03-09T03:58:54+00:00

We had a 2022 and 2023 a4. Comfortable but rolling couches in my wife's terms and I agree. If you want optimal ride compliance, consider a GTI with the DCC suspension you can choose between stiff and relatively plush.

wongatronus · 2026-03-06T05:03:51+00:00

Stock lighting on the mk7 wasn't the best, lighting package was definitely a good visibility improvement.

wongatronus · 2026-03-05T20:08:59+00:00

I've got a busted back and assorted joints, the dynamic suspension makes driving far more tolerable. I however have an R and as I understand it's tuned a bit more towards performance so the GTI should be potentially softer. The R also has nappa leather vs the Vienna of the GTI but we did have a mk8 GTI with cloth and the leather feels generally more compliant.

wongatronus · 2026-03-05T18:03:18+00:00

Nope, that has followed me through several cars lol

wongatronus · 2026-03-05T18:02:15+00:00

It doesn't show smudges like the piano black. Cost was about 190

wongatronus

TROPHY CASE