TC's MKV VW Rabbit (Updated, post #1)

[olletsocmit]

I just picked up a 2008 VW Rabbit about 2 weeks ago. I got an amazing deal on it. Picked it up with only 19,000 miles on it. The car is in 100% mint condition!

I am not planning on doing anything crazy with this car. Its a great daily driver.

Current mods:
- R32 Steering Wheel (MFSW)
- R32 leather arm rest
- Chrome Euro Switch
- R32 OEM Monster Mats
- BSH torque Mount
- Audi MFSW modules
- Euro Reverse Fog Light!
- Front Fenders Rolled
- OEM R32 sharkfin antenna
- Windows tinted 30% (Shades of Gray)
- Karthoum wheels
- APR Chip (Fully Loaded ECU)
- Lowered on Ksport coilovers ~ 3"
- OEM front Votex lip
- 5000K HID kit
- APR Carbonio Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake
- Paint Matched: side markers, side molding, & front molding
- Navigation system (VW OEM navi)
- etc, etc, etc, etc

Future mods:
- GTI headlights
- R32 rear bumper
- Shaved front bumper (side markers & front molding)
- Exhaust (close to stock look & sound as possible)
- Front & Back Seats (leather R32 seats)


Current Picture (9/16/11):





Here are a few camera phone pictures of the car Stock:

[JDMTyler3326]

Goodluck with it ! Gonna slam it?

[R_Rambo]

for some reason I like the look of the rabbit front bumper over the gti (minus the corner molding ****)

[PunkboySL2]

Definitely paint those moldings, they look like **** in raw haha.

[olletsocmit]

Originally Posted by JDMTyler3326

Goodluck with it ! Gonna slam it?

Right now. It is only gonna be lowered 1.6 inches. I need to save up for coilovers! There are sets that are like $350, but I feel like that would just be a waste of $. They would either be super bouncy or too stiff to drive on every day. Looking to spend around $500 - $600. Hopefully I will have enough extra $ within the next few months.

[evomike]

Fk's are cheap just get them.

[olletsocmit]

Originally Posted by PunkboySL2

Definitely paint those moldings, they look like **** in raw haha.

Yea I agree. Painting the black side molding and ones under the headlights are a night and day difference.

Does anyone on here do good paint work? I would like to get them painted soon. Can anyone recommend someone on the forum to paint them for me?

[olletsocmit]

Originally Posted by evomike

Fk's are cheap just get them.

Are these the ones you are talking about? http://bit.ly/fZw1QO

[evomike]

Yea run those with no helpers or perches.

[240driver39]

Originally Posted by olletsocmit

I lowered my car tonight. And now my car is having Big problems! I swapped my stock springs with Spax lowering springs (1.6 inch drop). Now when i press the gas i hear a whistling sound, its almost like a "womp, womp, womp" sound, but its whistles and not womp. lol. It almost sounds like the tire is rubbing on plastic, but I am 100% sure the tire is not rubbing on anything. After i start to get over about 20mph the 2 front wheels feel really bumpy and rattly. It feels like the 2 front wheels are loose, but they are not. When i rev the engine in Neutral there is no problem and when I am coasting, its smooth. The only issue is when I am accelerating. Soon as I get off the gas, its fine. Could it be possible that the axles are not in all the way or something??

Kind of hard to tell by your description. Did you have these springs put in at a shop? or just in the driveway? I am in the area all weekend if you need a hand trying to figure it out.

[Willdue]

Sure the perch is not rubbing? Look at the inside of your tire. I dont see it rubbing from that much of a drop though. Who installed it? New struts to? Couldve blown the wheel bearings out, make sure to re attach everything, like ball joints?

[olletsocmit]

I just installed H&R coilovers last night. I basically maxed them out. Can only go about another 1/4 inch lower on the coilovers. I still have decent ground clearance. Gonna wait a week and see how it looks them. I will post pics when I have a chance.

[02vwgolf]

if your that low it could be the stock sway bar grinding away the axle or getting bound up on something underneath...im not sure about mkV/mkVI but with my markIV when i lowered it that much i had to ziptie my swaybar up into a tucked back position because it literally was chewing the **** outta my axles. check that out

[olletsocmit]

Apparently when you go lower than 1.5 inches on the mkV and mkVI you are supposed to get shorter axles. I have been told this by many people now.

[olletsocmit]

Ok, I changed my ride height again... I am lowered about 2.2 in the front and 1.8 in the back. Going to leave it there for a while.

I was thinking about getting my ECU chipped sometime soon, but can not decide if its worth the $$. Any VW people on here have the APR chip? Should I go APR, or some cheaper company? Is there a way to get it cheaper? Possible to download the flashed online and do it yourself or is it kept "top secret"?

[olletsocmit]

Ok, so I have settled on this ride height for a while. I like the look when VW's are lower in the front. Do you like like how this looks, or do you think I should go lower? It does not look super low, but... the front is about 2.4 inches lower then stock and the back is about 2 inches lower.

Lower back, lower both, leave alone??

[92dxman]

I think it has a good stance as is and wouldn't go any lower. BTW, VW has some good looking stock/factory wheels coming out these days..

[Willdue]

looks stock. lol.

But like said above if you really did go that low its an axle/sway bar issue

[DC2-Chris]

depends on the look you are going for, doesnt look to low, however, if you like it keep it, personally i would have the coils maxed out for winter, then work more on it after winter to get it lower, thats just my opinion though.

[02vwgolf]

i would leave it like that for the winter save up for the axles or swaybar that you need and then slam it with the proper steps taken in the spring. Also APR is a very legit company... i dont know a ton about the 2.5 engines but i think its worth going for it makes a huge difference in alot of cars