Test Drive: Tendy's GTI

[Justin Fox]

This afternoon Tendy came over.

I met Tendy at Top One Automotive (ttp://toponeauto.com.au) a couple of months ago. I was admiring his Golf GTI and I introduced myself to him as soon as I saw it. Since then I've also designed a web site for Naroop (http://www.naroop.com.au), his olive oil company.

Today Tendy generously handed me the keys to his GTI and boy was it fun. The excitement was building as soon as I sat in his R32 Recaro bucket seats. Not as grabby as real race buckets but a lot more grabby around the shoulders that the stock R32 seats in Suga's car. I then noticed the aftermarket paddle shifters which are huge and have an interesting grippy texture to them. I started the car and a familiar Defi gauge intro sequence blinked to the right of my field of vision, awesome!

I was off and at the first corner I dabbed the brakes and realised they were as touchy as Suga's R32 (these cars have way too much grab!). On my short but spirited drive I realised just how different the car was from Suga's R32. The car was quiet but on shifts it made a damn loud and very pronounced "BRRAP" sound from the exhaust which sounded a lot like it was dumping a whole lot of fuel out the back on each shift! The shifts themselves were damn aggressive too, a lot like the MKVI GTI I test drove last week. I loved the way it shifted. Cornering felt very light like the MKVI GTI too. On parking the car the screen came on and showed me a video view out the back of the car with projected guide lines to help me park straight as well as nice and close to the gutter. A nice luxurious touch which I thought might have been more at home on the R32 than the GTI.

Overall I was just in awe and how different it felt to Suga's R32 Golf. Surprising as they share the same chassis. Tendy's GTI hits hard from 3000rpm. Got to love that turbo rush. Suga's car is also peaky up top but in a totally different way. Much smoother, much more linear, more refined and more luxury than sports.

I'm convinced a GTI is the way I want to go if I sell my Skyline. I'm also quite sure I'll be getting a MKV GTI and not a MKVI as I was more than happy with the aggressive shifting on Tendy's DSG GTI.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4430812943_1a3b5fb44d_o.jpg
Naroop!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4430812899_e8553571e6_o.jpg
Brembos FTW.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4431581876_45e10dc810_o.jpg
RPRSNT!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4431581984_28c2bd6e2d_o.jpg
Defi love.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4430813035_3c06eec4db_o.jpg
The inside is a nice place to be. So many small aftermarket touches which has to be seen and felt to be appreciated.

[windyzz]

OMGGG TENDYYYYYYYYYYYY.... Whennnnsss my turnnnnn :( lol

I wish I can be in your car So bad.....

[elisiX]

I've had the pleasure of seeing this GTI in person and from the outside, it's very understated. Which I love!

But look a little closer and you see those Brembo's, the Buckets... all of a sudden you begin to realise that this is no normal GTI.

Nice write up Justin and very nice GTI Tendy.

[nath_mk6]

Nice little write up there Justin, it is a well modded car isn't it.

So Tendy, you're and Oil Baron, that explains it all >D

[scotty1991]

I now understand the numberplate!

[10d]

Thanks guys.

Dang, Justin. I thought you were kidding about the write up. I nearly spilled my dinner when I saw the post on the iPhone.

I just remembered that the "BRRAP" sound is actually fuel dump meant to protect the turbo (or so they said)

Now, I have to write a review on SUGA's car too, since Christina let me try hers.
(put thinking cap on) >D

[Paolo]

didnt' really get a feel with that review? ah well i will hopefully meet up with Tendy sometime this week to see how it really goes!

[kaoticice]

curiosity kills cat. You better let me test drive ur car 10d on the next meet =D

[10d]

Sure thing, guys.

Paolo, your car will be even scarier when it's done. Just remember to upgrade your brakes. LOL. Can't wait to pick up the intake.

Nath, I'm not an oil baron, YET! >D

[Pharkus]

OMG where are the pics of the buckets Tendy??? I don't recall seeing pics of them in your car diary thread.

[Frenchie]

Great write up Justin ! sounds like a weapon this GTI.......

[Justin Fox]

I still can't get over the strange noise it makes when you shift gears. BAAAHHHKKKK! BAAAHHHKKKK! LOL, deifinitely a car with a LOT of character.

Thinking back on it I also realise how nice some of the interior mods are. I'm not 100% sure I like the sandpaper like texture on the paddle shifters, but they were definitely different and the aircon dials Tendy has fitted up made me just reach out and start playing with them. The Defi gauge, the carbon touches all over the cabin, the seats, the bluetooth intro sound, the reverse video picture, it all really makes a lot of difference.

[10d]

WTF??? not you too. LOL. I'm not writing a review on yours. Too similar. Just different suspension. Once you got the CROSS it will be more or less the same.

John's car has always been my inspiration, same internal mods, different on the outside. >D

[10d]

Hahaha. Actually come to think of it, your PSS10 is set a lot harder than SUGA's. Didn't feel the tyre rubbing at all during all your WOT! or the corners.
Been really itching for a track day, especially during turbo weather.

[Justin Fox]

I didn't noticed those gear change noises at all Justin. Is that a sound before, after or during the change?
J, the sound was very loud on every gear change at WOT. It's a sound which comes out of the exhaust. "BAKKKHHH!" on every up shift. It was even louder when the window was down. Surely you heard it?!

And J, what settings are you running your PSS10's at? Suga's on 5 front and back and it's pretty stiff as it is, the rubbing issue is at the front where the little tab is in the fender. I'm thinking it's more because of the offset (she's running +45 where most people seem to run an 8inch wide rim with +50?).

[10d]

To answer for J. His front set @ 6 and 5 rear. But he got big ass sway bars front and rear. SUGA should feel a lot like that after Thursday.

[Paolo]

J, the sound was very loud on every gear change at WOT. It's a sound which comes out of the exhaust. "BAKKKHHH!" on every up shift. It was even louder when the window was down. Surely you heard it?!


i know what you mean! the sound is caused from the awesomely fast dsg shifts combined with his exhaust. AGGRESSIVE!
i love how his car attracts alot attention, not the bad ricey kind but the oh damn that car is fine kind!

[DeanCorp]

i know what you mean! the sound is caused from the awesomely fast dsg shifts combined with his exhaust. AGGRESSIVE!
i love how his car attracts alot attention, not the bad ricey kind but the oh damn that car is fine kind!

How does it compare to mine Paolo.

[Paolo]

How does it compare to mine Paolo.

i wouldnt know, havent been in your car yet =P
ill let you guys know when i get my stuff put in and give 10d a fang in it to see how it compares with his
pulls quite nicely but like i said hes car is modified inside and out! small nifty touches here and there
alot of character and the cosmetic mods couldn't have been done any better

[10d]

i wouldnt know, havent been in your car yet =P
ill let you guys know when i get my stuff put in and give 10d a fang in it to see how it compares with his
pulls quite nicely but like i said hes car is modified inside and out! small nifty touches here and there
alot of character and the cosmetic mods couldn't have been done any better

Fang on! LOL! can't wait, eh? 2 more days, mate!

[chris32]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4430813035_3c06eec4db_o.jpg.

I've got paddle envy.

[stephen8512]

nice GTI tendy!

just a question, how easy/hard was it to put on that OSIR D-frame and S caps on the cluster? did u have to take it apart?

[10d]

Thanks Steve. It is really easy to put on, just have to be real careful as it is a single layer of carbon fibre with very thin resin. The caps not a problem at all

[stephen8512]

Thanks Steve. It is really easy to put on, just have to be real careful as it is a single layer of carbon fibre with very thin resin. The caps not a problem at all

Oh i see. So does it stick over the clear plastic? Or do u take the plastic off and the apply it, then put the plastic back over it?

[HCGTI]

you got R32 buckets?
how much and where from?

[10d]

Oh i see. So does it stick over the clear plastic? Or do u take the plastic off and the apply it, then put the plastic back over it?
The GTI don't have the plastic covering. Fit straight onto the black plastic bit. The caps the same story.

[10d]

you got R32 buckets?
how much and where from?
Hong, it's from a friend's R. He traded the car in with my original seats.

[HCGTI]

Hong, it's from a friend's R. He traded the car in with my original seats.

u lucky bastard!!>D

[10d]

u lucky bastard!!>D

This is coming from a guy who run the RSR tune! Swap? Hahaha.