The two main purposes of this website are to document the modifications done to my car, as well as to provide help to other Volkswagen enthusiasts who are attempting the same modifications. It seems to be reaching those goals as the site, in its variations (http://www.geocities.com/roadsleeper, http://roadsleeper.terrashare.com, http://www.vwmafia.net/~roadsleeper and http://roadsleeper.vwmafia.net), has received several hundred thousands of hits from all over the world in the past few years that it has been in existence. I have received many e-mails of thanks for help and information, but I would like like to thank all those who have come to visit my site, as cliched as it sounds, it is because I get visitors that I continue to spend time working on it.

The site contains several sections in the menu that cover the modifications that have been done to the car, informative articles and do-it-yourself guides. Within each modification section is a link to a detailed explanation of the modification, and any information pertinent to it. In some cases installation tips are included in the corresponding article, in other cases there DIY guides under the info section in the menu. There is a detailed description of the pictorial guides under the info notes section. Any help needed can be sought from the webmaster of this site.

People continually ask why so much time and effort has been invested into this car, after all it is just a car. In fact, when the car first arrived there were no plans whatsoever to modify it as its purpose was to be a daily-driver. Time passes, things change, people get bored and eventually a plan was made to create a show-class European spec Volkswagen Golf GTI. As of April 2002 that goal was reached, with the addition of a complete front-end conversion to Euro-spec xenon lighting, tail lights, front and rear Recaro seats, interior trim as well as other little details (24 hour time display for example).

The Volkswagen GTI has had a relatively long and interesting history in the United States. Starting out as a variant of the fabled Volkswagen "Rabbit", which arrived here in the early 1970s, the GTI was the quintessential hot hatch, the car for which the term "pocket-rocket" was coined. Of note, the GTI was (and still is) a submodel of the Golf (or the original Rabbit) in the European/international markets. Whereas it is considered a completely different model in the North American markets (United States and Canada). There seems to be some confusion that because the cars are marketed differently, they are different cars. They are in fact exactly the same car, the only differences are usually engine and interior material choices, as well as small options (such as a rain sensor, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power windows, etc).

The GTI has gradually gained weight since the Mk. I, due largely to the requirements of the North American federal crashworthiness regulations. The Mk. IV GTI with the proven 12 valve VR6 weighs in at just under a hefty 3000 pounds, and although the engine puts out 174 horsepower at 5800rpm and 181 lbs-ft of torque at 3200rpm, the overall effect is that the engine is "just right" for this car. The 8 valve 2.0l four cylinder engine (115hp), which was originally available as the alternative to the VR6 in the GTI 2.0, seems overwhelmed in terms of torque and power for a car of this weight.

Volkswagen has tried to address this issue by introducing the 2.8l 24 valve VR6 (201hp), and most recently the Golf R32's 3.2l 24 valve VR6 (240hp) which is sourced from the VW Phaeton luxo-barge. The Golf R32 was first introduced to the press and public at the Madrid Salón Automóvil in April of 2002. It is indeed the ultimate Golf ever made, boasting not only a 3.2 liter 241 horsepower VR6 engine, but also the security of the Haldex based 4Motion all wheel drive system.

However, there is also the latest darling of the import tuning crowd, the 5 valve 1.8l turbocharged four cylinder engine. Originally debuting with a benign 150 horsepower in 2000 as the GTI 1.8T, several changes in engine management software have increased its output to a class leading 180 horsepower beginning in the MY2002 cars. The "one point eight tee", as it is affectionately referred to, is an amazingly versatile engine that with very minor modifications (intake, exhaust, chip) can be made to produce at least 225 horsepower (as seen in the Audi TT).

What's next (from VAG)? The lastest, and apparently greatest, Golf GTI (Mk. V) debued as a "prototype" in Frankfurt in 2003. It took center stage on VAG's display and for a very good reason. With its 4 valve 2.0l turbocharged four cylinder engine, it represents the next evolution in the GTI family, and a revolution in the sense that it is supposed to be a return to the GTI's roots. The Mk. V GTI is slated to appear in the United States in late 2005 or early 2006, and by all accounts, it will be a stunner!

The car that this site is centered around is an early model year 2000 Volkswagen GTI GLX, purchased in late September of 1999. It is a 4th generation Golf, which is referred to as the Mk. IV (mark four) or A4 platform. The exterior color is Satin Silver and the interior is black "Buffalino" leather. As with other GTI GLXs, this car came with all the options available at the time which included the fabled 12 valve VR6, an automatic climate control system and rain-sensing wipers.

The Mk. IV Golf/GTI looks good, not only because of its fluid design, but also because it hasn't taken an intergalactic leap in terms of its styling from the last generation. If you line up the four generations of GTIs next to each other, the lineage is unquestionable. This method of basing each following design upon a tried and true foundation is one taken by every automotive manufacturer with a respectable heritage. Take the photograph that Porsche places in almost every 911 catalogue for example. It can usually be found within the first few pages, and shows every generation next to one another. The resemblance from model to model is undeniable in its very being as well as its aesthetical appeal. Bruno Alfieri puts it best in his 1992 book, Mercedes-Benz º SL, "Experience has shown that a car design which stands out against others by means of fancy avant-garde form elements is bound to be outdated quicker than those cars which deliberately shun such effects."

Although it often falls short of the power and/or handling benchmarks set by its competitors, the GTI is still a fun car to drive right out of the box. It can be handled like a go-kart, and will go like one when pushed while maintaining its composure and that of its occupants (albeit barely at times). There is obviously room for improvement, which is not necessarily a bad thing. In the opinion of many, the Mk. IV platform offers one of the best starting points for modifications on the market. The American import tuning scene is quite alive, and the European scene is booming, so 'Dub drivers are in no shortage for either inspiration or supply.

related information/reviews:

Volkswagen Germany's Web Site
Volkswagen of America's Web Site

Information on the European-spec Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Information on the North America-spec Volkswagen Golf
Information on the North America-spec Volkswagen GTI

Car & Driver review of the '00 GTI GLS 1.8T
Car & Driver review of the '02 25th Anniversary / 337 Golf GTI
Edmunds.com reviews of Mk. IV VW Golf and GTI
Roadsleeper.com review of the '01 Golf 4Motion V6