Gaining foothold in the world of hot hatches was never meant to be a stroll in the park, with fine examples dating back to the 80s receiving a cult following even when pitched against modern, more technologically accomplished siblings. The Golf was one of the few who stood out over more than three decades spanning seven generations, withstanding the test of time and
emerging as the preferred hauler for all occasions. The GTI was never built to be an out-and-out driver’s tool, but those who rate the Golf fettled with steroids highly admired its wide breadth
of abilities housed in an all rounded package.



As expected, aftermarket tuners had plenty of options for the GTI, and that paved the way for a wide market of possibilities for owners to work on various enhancements on a tried-and tested platform. The Mk6 GTI featured here is an example of a VAG car tuned to reach maximum potential without extensive fabrication. Nyan, the owner of this pocket rocket, purchased the GTI back in June 2011 and never looked back since. Before this acquisition, Nyan had driven a Toyota Corolla Altis, Toyota Camry, Honda Integra DC5 and a Mazda RX8. His leap of faith into the world
of German haulers proved to be very positive thus far, as emphasised by his desire to be the proud owner of a GTI ever since the day he received his license in 2005.



Nyan was swayed by the looks and performance of the GTI. With more than 200bhp on tap in stock trim, the GTI always punched far above its numbers, courtesy of a 6-speed DSG supplying quick- re shifts on demand. Satis ed with the initial performance, Nyan commenced with aesthetic enhancements starting with Golf R taillights to embellish the rear third with the full LED e ect. He then bolted on a catback exhaust to extract more oomph from the 2.0-litre EA888 powerplant, especially in the higher regions of the rev range.



More mods streamed in within the first two years of GTI ownership, with his favourite mods included once the basic aesthetic and performance upgrades were achieved. “I would rate the Caractere bodykit as my favourite aesthetic upgrade as it transforms the OEM silhouette into a more aggressive weapon for the streets. As for performance, the GT28 turbo in a Stage 3 tune brings my car to an entirely new level, with regards to the torque improvement over the OEM setup that is already impressive in stock guise.”



Nyan’s mod journey did not go entirely according to plan, encountering slight issues along the way into his fifth year of ownership. “Wear and tear issues such as cracks within the engine gasket led to engine oil leakage, but that was solved with a quick fix. The roof lining also sagged due to long hours parked under the sun. My paintwork was also not in the best of condition, but it was resolved with a Frozen Red plasti dip solution by PD Customs, drastically altering the appearance of my car.”



The flamboyant nature of Nyan’s GTI was amplified with no lack of handling mods, too. A bevy of stabilisers make sure that the GTI’s understeer tendencies are kept well in check, while sticky Toyo rubbers and massive 6 potters by Brembo ensure that it comes to a complete halt when situations call for more immediate maneuvers. Despite extensive additions on his car, Nyan aims to further strengthen and stabilise the GTI’s undercarriage with more anti-roll bars, along with a Recaro bucket seat for a sportier feel behind the wheel.



What’s next for Nyan? “Deciding on my next car in Singapore is admittedly not an easy task due to the governmental regulations driving car prices skywards. But if  finances play to my advantage, one car definitely on my shopping list will be the Mercedes Benz C 63 AMG as it packs the performance of a supercar housed in a family-friendly cabin.”

Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk6)

Engine

GT 2867R turbo kit, CTS Turbo air intake, CTS Turbo intercooler, CTS Turbo oil catch tank, Eurosports Stage 3 software, Mk6 GTI coil pack spark plug ignition

Undercarriage

“Black Edition” magic bars, Whiteline anti-lift kit, Uberholt control arm reinforcement bar, Ultra Racing front strut bar, FP Rims, Toyo R1R tyres, front Brembo 6pot Porsche big brake kit, customised rear rotor

Exterior

Customised PD Customs bodywork, Caractere front bumper

Interior

OSIR Design add-on shift plate for DSG, GTI steering wheel center sticker decal, GTI seat lift wrench insert trim, Non-slip interior front door mat, 3D dashboard panel console switch sticker, “Transboard” storage tray