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| ROADTESTS |
| SAC VolksWagen Golf GTi-s Conversion |
 | Magazine | | | - The SAC twin intercooled VW GTi-s - | | VW's Golf 4 GTI offers more than adequate performance from it's 1.8-litre turbocharged engine. | | But, as always, performance tuning specialist SAC believes more can be had from the GTI. | | Meet the SAC twin intercooled VW GTI-S | | At first acquaintance, there's nothing much to suggest that this white VW Golf GTi is anything but ordinary. | |  | |
| The wheels are standard, the ride height unaltered, and there's not even a spoiler in sight. | | On closer inspection though, you notice the twin exhaust pipes sticking out below bumper and the subtle twin-intercooled badging. But even that saya very little. | | And that's what we thought, too. | | It was only we subjected the SAC GTi to our performance tests at the Gerotec vehicle testing facility near Pretoria that we realised just what a mighty punch this machine packs. | |  | |
| For starters it dispatched the 0-100 km/h test in only 7.79 sec, went on to cover the quarter mile in 15.84 sec and ran to a top speed of 229.6 Km/h. |
| Compare those to the standard car's figures (tested in 1999) of 0-100 km/h in 9.12 sec, quarter mile in 16.94 sec and a top speed of 213.6 km/h and it becomes clear that the SAC conversion is far more than just a mere performance boost. |
| For a cost of R17 500, SAC introduces a number of modifications. | | The car's electronic control unit is remapped via a Unichip Piggyback computer and it's head is gasflowed | | Next comes the addition of a SAC performance exhaust system, an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and an SAC performance air filter. | | The airbox and turbo boost actuator are modified and an SAC twin-intercooled kit is fitted. | | This means power rises to 130 Kw at the wheels at 5954 r/min and 407,5 Nm of torque at 4164 r/min compared to the standard car's flywheel maximum of 110 Kw and 210 Nm of torque. | | What's really impressive about this conversion is just how flexible the Golf remains. | | There's practically no turbo lag to speak of, nor any traces of torque steer. | | In traffic, the car remains easy to drive with no need to ride the clutch of chase the revs up for a speedy departure from the traffic lights. | | The standard gearbox is retained as well. | | With the extra power, the GTi-S standard suspension and brakes feel a bit soft, though. | | We would definitely stiffen the springs slightly and add a performance braking system. | | | |
| There's more on the way through. |
| Part two of the project aims to build a super Golf fitted with a larger turbocharger to produce in excess of 200 Kw. It will, however, have to run on 102 octane fuel. |
| We definitly have plans to take this Super Golf out to Gerotek and see exactly what it is capable of. |
| If the Twin-intercooled SAC Golf is anything to go by, then it is likely to be a hooligan on the road. |
| Having said that, we'd be quite happy to live with the SAC Golf GTi-S as it stands. |
| It offers impressive levels of power, great in-gear flexibility and huge performance potential, And its understated looks are a further boon. |
| This conversion includes SAC's six-month or 20 000 km Why Worry Warranty |
| | VW GOLF 4 GTI (STD) | VW GOLF 4 GTI-S | | 0-100 km | 9,12 sec | 7,79 sec | | Quarter Mile | 16,94 sec | 15,84 sec | | Top Speed | 213,6 km/h | 229.6 km/h | | | | | | | | | |
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