History
We’ve built a lot of MK4’s over the years… earlier this year while trying to mend a customers Golf TDI we were in desperate need of a 5-speed diesel transmission, so we called up our friends at StripSearch VW in Ringo, NJ. It had been a while since we’d reconnected with Jeff, and as luck would have it, he had what we were looking for and then some! As we got to talking, I mentioned I was looking for a “new project” and mentioned a that a MK4 wagon was on my list of possibilities, and he replied “I might have the car you’re looking for. Let me send you some pictures.” (below).
Turns out, Jeff had EXACTLY what I wanted to build: A MK4 “Golf Variant“ (as they were marketed in Europe or a “Golf Estate” as the Brits call it). Better still, this “euro-spec” swap had everything outside of 4-motion AWD which came standard on the VR6 wagons in Europe at that time. This 2003 “Jetta Wagon” started it’s life as a 2.slow and was meticulously converted using 3 different cars to a 24-valve VR6 with 6-speed 02M transmission. It’s hard to tell that it has ~212k miles on the body, it is relatively straight with only a couple dings, blemishes, and was mostly garage kept.
To say it didn’t need some TLC would be a lie, but I had to ask: “Jeff, why would you want to sell the car?” —“Well, I kinda built it in a hurry for Eurokracy a couple years ago, drove it up to Canada for the show, tooled around with it, and it’s been sitting in the back corner of the shop for a while. I don’t want to sell it, but I know with GTM it would be going to a good home.” – I told Jeff to load the trans we needed in trunk, and we’d come get the entire package!
Modifications (updated 7/2021) – more pictures available on IG @grantouringmotorsports #gtmmk4vws
Interior
- Color matched "Galactic Blue" Golf 2.0 complete front clip (fenders, bumper, hood, etc)
- Glass European Headlights
- Clear/Crystal Bumper Markers
- 2002 Wagon "short" / "euro" rear bumper imported from EU
- Black 20AE style headliner, pillars and components.
- European "A4" style rear lights
- Blacked front bumper rubstrip
- Imported flat-black front grille with VW logo
- Golf VR6 rear rebadging
- 2002+ Audi TT ALMS 18"x8" 9-spoke wheels. ET33 with European VW Center Caps imported from UK; w/5mm spacers
Exterior
- Black Leather High Bolster front/rear seats from GTI; with cold weather package, "lift & tumble" seats; GTI rear seat conversion
- Leather door card insert conversion from Jetta GLI (front and rear)
- Center arm-rest delete
- Early style Dashboard with defined Airbag area
- 20AE GTI/GLI louvered vents
- 2005 center console with cup holders
- Above radio cup holder delete
- Interior component refinishing as seen in THIS ARTICLE.
- European RMT-100 (Clarion) dual-din head unit with Bluetooth and AUX
- Golf monster mats
Mechanical
- Custom under hood graphics by our sponsors at www.cdans.com lets us show off the 24v manifold!
- ~130k mile 24-valve VR6 engine with matching 02M 6-speed transmission
- New Sachs Clutch package
- TyrolSport shifter bushings (upper)
- K&N air-filter
- STI coil-packs; with NGK iridium plugs
- Techtonics Tuning Manifold Back Exhaust, 2.25" made of 304 Stainless; high-flow cat, no resonator with Borla muffler; custom tip.
- European ECU - 208+ whp as seen at Autofab Dyno Day 2020 (jump to end of video).
- BFI Stage-2 (Green) Motor Mounts; GTM Stage-2 "red" dog-bone engine mount
- New/Refreshed cooling system; VR6 fan package.
- Track-Studs racing stud conversion
- Removed FK coils and swaped in adjustable Koni Yellow Sport and Neuspeed Yellow Springs for more comfortable street ride.
- ECStuning Urethane control arms
- 034 Motorsports Adjustable Swaybar links
- TyrolSport steering rack reinforcement
- Eurosport Lower Stress Bar; Aftermarket Upper Stress Bar
- TyrolSport solid subframe bushings
- Poly Rear Trailing Arm Bushings (RTABs)
- GTI high-density Ball Joints
- Porsche Boxster (986) "mono-bloc" Brembo 4-piston front-caliper upgrade, 12.25" Audi TT/20AE Rotors, R32 Stainless Brake Lines (front/rear); 20AE Rear caliper upgrade with ventilated rear rotors
- ATE TYP200 DOT4 brake fluid
- Separated Brake/Clutch reservoir system (below); also uses DOT4
Two big projects included bringing the galactic blue paint, though not perfect and showing some age, back up to par by way of a multi-stage process:
…and reconditioning the interior pieces while adding some subtle touches (learn more on how we did this)
What’s next for the Wookie Wagon?
Glad you mentioned that… We’ve toyed with the idea of going “full Euro” and adding 4-motion but that might be a longer term project.
In the meantime, here are some mods we’re considering… and maybe you can help us with that we’re looking for?
Feel free to contact me directly at eric@gtmotorsports.org
- MK4 R32 konig interior (front/rear seats); Black Leather
- 20AE “blacked out” head lights + maintain glass lens
Track Tested… Mother Approved.
In GTM we have about 8+ VWs in varying stages 1 through 4 that are being used in Road Racing. It’s a great chassis, we love them and they are very competitive. Our VR6 GTI (seen below) took an overall win in EMRA‘s ST5 trials class last year! So we’re not gonna deny it… we had to see what the wagon would do on track – Several Times 🙂 #summitpointmain #summitpointshenandoah – He’re some footage of the wagon at GTM’s Summer Bash earlier this year, being used as a camera car.
Special thanks to our new sponsor: TCLT Motorsports out of Hagerstown, MD for on-going support of GTM’s MK4 racing program. Follow us on Instagram / #gtmmk4vws – or visit our website gtmotorsports.org
Our next event is at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PittRACE), August 8-10, with HookedOnDriving!
Want to talk more? Feel free to drop me an email eric@gtmotorsports.org
Thanks for stopping by! #merrymotoring #gtmmk4vws
 VR6 24v.){kind=link}