How can you make a 2.Slow 2003 jetta faster?

So, i will be getting a car soon(ish), and i had my mind then on a Honda Civic 3-door. but now, after some thought, i decided to get a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. BUUUT there is a catch: i cannot buy anything other than a 2.slow for reasons i won't share with the public. So i need a way to make it faster. anyone have ideas? and should i do a complete engine transplant, or just install a turbocharger, or do neither? please help.\

SunburstYT

 

You can't make it significantly faster without serious work. It's not worth it.

 

so basically you're saying engine transplant.

 

I know a girl who can do an engine transplant on a tractor in 5 hours flat and shes a fully qualified mechanic but she prefers Farm equipment over cars

 

He's saying don't get it. Engine transplanting costs more than buying a car with that engine in first place

 

If it has a Cathalythic Converter: Remove it. My Dad had a 1996 Opel Astra F with 68 hp, diesel, he removed the Cat and it felt like 20 hp more.

 

Will mess with the ecu on an efi car like the jetta.

 

Don't get an ep3 si if you want a faster car. The k20a3 we got was horrible.

 

A Mk4 Jetta? I think ther is a tunning community for it. Im sure you can get turbo kits and modified ECUs for it

 

ECU "messing" is always a good or bad thing. Example: My Uncle had a 2003 Ford Focus with a 75hp diesel, but it had like 100hp because some crazy maniac of Pre owner had messed with the ECU.
It died with 220.000 km on the clock because of Valve failing.

 

Diesel is really different to a EFI Jetta. If the ecu goes kaput on the Jetta, it can go from not starting to it trowing a rod.

 

I a not very experinced with VW so don´t trust me that much but some quick ECU tuning can give you 5-15hp plus

 

of course it can. like in any other car. But cutting the Catalitic converter will only make the ECU malfuncion.

 

If it has some Senors plugged into it of course, but if it has´t it will make some mor hp

 

There is a tuning community behind jettas but more with the vr6 wich theyll tune up to 800hp

 

An engine swap or turbo would both cost more than the car is worth, might as well get something that's powerful to begin with or just deal with the power it has.

 

If you learn to make use of the power available to you, it wont feel as slow. The only things you could really do to make it faster without spending much would be stuff like a pod filter mounted in a place with cold air, some spark plugs or taking a bit of weight out (not recommended for the road). Don't bother with engine swaps or turbo's unless you know what your doing or can do it on the cheap side (safely).

 

Honestly weight reduction would be the safest and cheapest option.

 

but how and that's probably not the safest way
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just change and or clean all the engine parts first because een smooth running engine can make a huge difference

 

I would say take what you have. Where I live we mostly drive 50hp clios that require a calendar to measure 0-100kmh times, and produce about the same torque as a toddler pushing a toy stroller down the road. 115hp and all the torque of a 2L, in a car of the jetta's weight, is pretty good on its own. I assume you're not going to take it on a track otherwise you would have chosen the civic, so just enjoy what the car has.

If you really MUST make it faster though, I guess cold air intake (if it doesn't come with one stock like many modern cars do) and maybe a new ECU.

Agree 100%

For a daily driver there's not a whole lot of weight reduction to be done before comfort and practicality begin to decrease, unless OP plans to turn it into a track car it's a bit pointless IMO