Erik’s 2004.5 VW GLI
August 22nd, 2007 • Related • Filed Under
Article by: Manuel Manansala
Photography by: Chris Kuehl
º Upsolute Software
º EVOMs FMIC
º Authority Intake w/ K&N Filter
º EIP Competition Series Short Shifter (40% Throw Reduction)
º WRD Advantage Urethane Lower Transmission (Dogbone) Mount Kit
º GHL 3” Down Pipe
º GHL 2.5” Cat-Back Exhaust
º GHL Pancake Replacement Pipe
º SAMCO Red Boost Hose Kit
º SAMCO Red Turbo Inlet Hose
º FORGE Motorsports Black 007 DV
º WRD Race Lowering Springs
º Autotech Rear Sway Bar
º WRD Advantage Front Lower Stress-Bar
º 18X8.5 (F) 18X10 (R) RH ZW3-Technic
º Falken Ziex Ze 512; 225/40/18 (F); 245/40/18 (R)
º Brembo Cross-Drilled & Slotted Rotors 12.3” Front Brakes
º 10.1” Rear Brakes Discs w/ Mintex Red Box Pads
º Caractere Grille
º Rieger 4 Motion Valance
º Rieger Infinity Side Skirts
º Rieger Rear Apron
º Euro Front Rub Strip
º OEM Euro Taillights
º 42Draft Designs Smoked Repeaters
º Chrome Mirror Caps
º Blue Aspherical Mirrors
º Stubby Antenna
º 18% Tint On All Windows
º Disabled Daytime Running Lights
º e55 Bi-Xenon Retro HIDs
º Euroswitch
º OEM Lexan Covers
º Stewart Warner Boost Gauge in NS Offset Column Pod
º 42Draft Designs Interior LED Kit
º Audi TT Shift Bezel
º Kenwood DVD-911 (In Dash DVD w/7? Touch Screen) Head Unit
º Sirius Satellite Radio
º Rockford Fosgate 551S 550-Watt (Peak) Amplifier
º 2 Memphis 10” Subwoofers (Model # 15-PR10D4)
A car is built with a purpose in mind. We all have a different reason in building a car to suit our needs. A 2004.5 Volkswagen Jetta GLI was perfect for Erik Eaton to build upon. He was inspired to build cars coming straight out of high school. His fellow classmates were into muscle cars which later inspired him to build a car of his own.
In September of 2004, Erik’s wife went into a Volkswagen Dealer to have some work done to her car. As he wandered around the dealership he came across the GLI Jetta. At that time, Erik was not in the market for a new car. However, something about this specific model intrigued him enough to purchase one for himself. Since the car was bone stock at the time, Erik started noticing others with the same car. He knew he had to make changes to stand out from the crowd. One of the first modifications he made was to add a new set of wheels on his Jetta. A lot has changed since that first modification.
Currently the car is sitting on WRD Race Lowering Springs giving it a nice stance. The chassis is being stiffened up using the H&R Front Sway Bar with an Autotech Rear Sway Bar. A WRD Advantage Front Lower Stress-Bar is also added to provide more stiffness. The wheels he selected for this setup is a set of RH ZW3- Technic wheels 18×8.5 in the front and 18×10 in the rear wrapped in Falken rubber. Power is put to these wheels from his turbocharged 1.8L motor. Hidden behind his bumper is a EVOMs Front Mount Intercooler to keep that forced air at proper temperatures. The exhaust duties are being handled by a GHL 3? down pipe mated to a GHL 2.5? cat back system to keep the gases flowing.
Erik decided to go have a Rieger kit fitted on the car along with a Caractere Grille to further stand out from the crowd. He also decided to retrofit e55 Bi-Xenon HID’s into his headlights to further illuminate the road at night.
Right now Erik is satisfied with his current setup and doesn’t have any major plans in the works. He would like to give thanks to his Wife for all the support she has given in this build, his sponsor WRD, the 757 guys, Euro Colony and VW Vortex.