Anyone can pretend to be anything on the Internet, the 21st century's racing bench. european car hears a lot of big talk, and we figured waving fame and the opportunity for a small bit of fortune would flush out all the silent but deadly 1.8Ts we didn't see in our backyard. You delivered. We started with a big stack of entries and sat around paring it down to the ones we thought had a chance. Tuner and exhibition class entries are set; it's up to you to decide which of these 20 enthusiast-built cars deserves to take on the best 1.8Ts North America has to offer.
1. Car: 2000 New Beetle
Owner: Joseph White
Stuff: ATP 3-in. downpipe and high-flow cat, Freedom Design exhaust, TDi midpipe, K04-001 turbo, Forge 007 diverter valve, BMC cold air intake, Neuspeed turbo inlet pipe, Forced Performance lower intercooler pipe, APR EMCS, Diesel Geek shifter, Quaife diff, ECS Stage 3 clutch with light flywheel, Driveshaft Shop Stage 2 axles, Weitec coilovers, H&R front anti-roll bar, ECS Boxster S caliper/Brembo 312x25mm front rotors, 8x18-in. ROH Azzurro wheels and Yokohama Parada Spec2 215/45-18 tires.
Pick me, pick me: My car has exceptional speed and performance, which is not usually expected from the New Beetle.
2. Car: 1997 A4 Quattro
Owner: Steve Schmidt
Stuff: APR Stage 3 conversion, full exhaust, EVO front-mount intercooler, oil cooler, Stage 3 eight-puck disc and pressure plate, custom Motoperson coilovers, Neuspeed 19mm rear anti-roll bar, Alcon 13-in. front/11-in. rear brake upgrade, Technomagnesio Indy 7.5x17-in. wheels and Bridgestone Potenza S-03 225/45-17 tires.
Pick me, pick me: I still can fit the friends and groceries; I just get there faster.
3. Car: 1999 Audi A4 quattro
Owner: Matthew Alhadeff
Stuff: APR Stage 3 conversion and full exhaust, Evolution front-mount intercooler, Blitz blow-off valve, SPEC Stage 2 clutch, SPEC 8-lb flywheel, H&R coilovers and anti-roll bars, big plans for better brakes, Axis Se7en 19-in. wheels and Pirelli P Zero 225/35-19 tires.
Pick me, pick me: I can have every seat in my car filled and still blow away almost every car I encounter.
4. Car: 1988 Rallye Golf
Owner: Chris Kopitzke
Stuff: Ported head, Schrick cams, Garrett GT30 turbo, 3-in. down pipe and exhaust, Spearco front-mount intercooler, tubular manifold, Centerforce clutch, 820cc injectors, Autronic SMC, Koni coilovers, Neuspeed 28mm front anti-roll bar, Audi two-piston calipers, EBC pads and 7x17-in. BBS RC wheels.
Pick me, pick me: It will be the only Rallye Golf and it has good power.
5. Car: 1992 GTI
Owner: Mark MacDonald
Stuff: Garrett T3 turbo, G60 injectors, HKS blow-off valve, Tial wastegate, Neuspeed custom chip, HKS valve controller, Greddy turbo timer, 16V 2Y trans built by Kraftswerk, Quaife diff, lightened flywheel, ACT clutch, H&R coilovers, Neuspeed anti-roll bars, polyurethane front bushings, Neuspeed front strut tower bar, custom rear brace, 280mm Brembo front discs, Ferodo pads, ATS Billet Limited Line 15-in. wheels and Falken Azenis Sport 205/50-15 tires.
Pick me, pick me: It looks like a well-maintained little GTI but makes 279.4 hp at the wheels.
6. Car: 1997 A4 Quattro
Owner: Stephen Ho
Stuff: Ported head, JE pistons, Eagle rods, Schrick solid lifter conversion, Schrick Ti valve springs, Schrick Ti valves, Turbonetics T04E ball bearing turbo, 3-in. downpipe and exhaust, Greddy blow-off valve, Tial wastegate, custom tubular manifold, Supra TT fuel pump, 550cc fuel injectors, modified intake plenum, Spearco intercooler, Nitrous Express 50-hp kit, electric fan conversion, APR engine snubber mounts, AEM stand-alone EMS with modified Honda wiring harness, Neuspeed short shifter, Werks of Art Stage 3+ clutch, APR light flywheel, H&R PCS coilovers, Brembo 13.5-in. brake system, BBS RK 8x17-in. wheels and Toyo Proxes T1-S 225/45-17 tires.
Pick me, pick me: The tuners need some competition!
7. Car: 2000 GTI
Owner: Tony Chick
Stuff: Garrett GT30R turbo, Tial 35mm wastegate, ATP manifold, ATP 3-in. downpipe, ATP high-flow cat, ATP front-mount intercooler, Techtonics cat-back exhaust, 3-in. S4 MAF sensor, TT injectors, Turbo XS boost controller, Evo cold air intake, Greddy Type S blow-off valve, Greddy EGT and gauges, GIAC KO4 software, Peloquin diff, Velocity lightened G60 flywheel, Clutch Masters Stage 3 VR6 clutch, Shine Racing springs, Koni five-way adjustable dampers, custom rear strut tower brace, cross-drilled rotors, Mintex pads, stock Audi TT wheels and Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 225/45-17 tires.
Pick me, pick me: I was originally going to use this car to take over the world, but that didn't work out, so I'm settling for the 1.8T Challenge instead.
8. Car: 1984 Rabbit GTI
Owner: John Pastore
Stuff: Stage 3 T3/T4 turbo, Tial 35mm wastegate, Greddy Profec B boost controller, Quaife diff, custom clutch, Weitec coilovers, Autotech rear anti-roll bar, Autotech strut tower and subframe braces, 280mm front discs, Wilwood four-piston calipers, rear disc conversion, Konig Glide wheels and Kumho Ecsta V700 tires.
Pick me, pick me: This was the first Rabbit 1.8t conversion, finished in late 1998. It has many autocross and track wins.
9. Car: 1999 A4 Quattro
Owner: Larry Victor
Stuff: Bored and stroked to 2.0L, balanced crank, JE pistons, Carillo rods, stainless valves, Piper cams, ported throttle body, larger injectors, ASA supercharger, larger intercooler, 3-in. Brullen exhaust, lightened flywheel and sport clutch, Autronics engine management, AMS/Abt taller third to fifth gears, H&R springs, Bilstein dampers, Neuspeed 19mm rear anti-roll bar, Tar-Ox 330mm upgrade with six-piston calipers, stock rear calipers on Tar-Ox rotors, SSR GT-1 8x18-in. wheels and Toyo Proxes T1-S 245/45-18 tires.
Pick me, pick me: I like to call it a "gentleman's aggressive sport sedan" rather than a "street punk machine."
10. Car: 1984 Rabbit GTI
Owner: Lansworth Sterling
Stuff: ARP rod bolts, T3/T4E turbo, Tial wastegate, HKS blow-off valve, GIAC chip, 020 trans with Quaife diff, Neuspeed Race springs, Koni dampers, 280mm front discs, 16V rear discs, Borbet Type E 7.5x16-in. wheels and Yokohama A520 tires.
Pick me, pick me: I've incorporated today's technology with a vehicle 19 years old.