Maybe I'm focusing on the wrong platform

[n2nsanity]

I picked up an 01 passat last year for super cheap. It's the 1.8t auto, but this thing had some balls and quite the sleeper. Anyway it had some electrical issues and I had to park it and haven't had the time to do much with it. I did already buy the k04-15 which is supposed to be good for an extra 30hp and work perfectly on the stock ecu. Still haven't got around to messing with it because I know so little about the platform and it's a little intimidating. If you've ever tried working on a german car, you should be able to relate.

But anyway, the other day I was trying to price some parts to try to get this thing back on the road and stumbled across this.
APR VW Passat 1.8T - APR ECU Upgrade
50hp for $400??? That's insane! If the numbers aren't fudged at least...
With this ECU upgrade, the k04 and an FMIC, I'd increase hp by 50% for less than $1k.
I know this is just theoretical, but can you imagine adding 150hp from bolt-ons and for less than $1k on the 3/s platform?

I wish we had more options like this.

[anyonebutme]

Not even going to mention that power/$ ratio with HD diesels here.

[donniekak]

I've got a 3s in my driveway close to 150hp over stock, i probably only have about $1,200 total in it. And i mean total, car included. 13g's at 18psi, 450's and a meth kit. I traded parts until i had a whole car. But, nothing beats dsm's for power per dollar. I had about 5-6k into my dsm and could pull 600cc sportbikes.

[bluzvr4]

im at 1700 in my dsm and its set up to run low 12's

[nodoze]

im at 1700 in my dsm and its set up to run low 12's

im at alot more than that and will only run like 2-3 second faster

[bluzvr4]

only 9's or 10's... it takes quite a bit more to get into 10's and be reliable in the dsm world

[nodoze]

yea im literally sitting at 10x what u have into yours . . . .

[bluzvr4]

is it a dsm or vr4? 1g or 2g

[donniekak]

You can get into the 10's for under 5k. Auto car, cams, e85, and a good bolt on turbo, as well as typical boltons. Everybody and their brother is eeking into the 10's now with an auto transmission.

[vroom4]

A 1.8t automatic doesnt have balls. I dont know what the hell you were on when you decided that. I just sold a 1.8t a4 auto and that thing could barely get out of its own way.