As the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change, we start to enter prime boosting season. That’s correct, as the weather gets spookier, the efficiency of your charged air system improves. The cooler, denser outside air is much easier to cram into your GTI’s cylinders than the thick muggy summer air. However, just because the outside temperatures are dropping, that doesn’t mean the heat is leaving your stock intercooler.
If you recall from our review of the stock components, VW shrouded the base of a good intercooler design in the support system … Continue Reading ››
By now the pedigree of the Volkswagen GTI is widely known. It's been around for what feels like forever in a handful of different variations, and more or less invented the hot-hatch segment. Now that we're on the 7.5th generation, and rapidly approaching the 8th, the MK6 is quickly becoming the poster boy for the VW enthusiast scene.
The MK6 ended up being more of a visual improvement over the MK5. The facelift that came about in 2009 added some edges to the rounded and bubbly styling of the GTI’s younger generation. The … Continue Reading ››
Turning into a badass isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes time to build up that sort of reputation. People like Chuck Norris or Bear Grylls seem to have always carried that persona, but it took so many seasons of roundhouse kicks and survival stunts for them to be fully recognized. Honda has had 42 years to build up the Accord’s reputation from everyday econo-box to subtle bad boy, and while some of that stigma lingers, we’re doing our part to make the “Bad Boy” part less subtle.
Just like building up street … Continue Reading ››
Every superhero has a weakness or villain thwarting them at every turn. Superman has those glowing alien rocks. Batman is constantly putting out fires both figuratively and literally set by some deranged clown, and the internal combustion engine has its respiratory system clogged up by its own lifeblood. Yes, we’re talking about blow-by. Granted, carbon buildup from blow-by might not seem as serious as the threat of a supervillain, but it’s an affliction that affects every engine out there, even your new Honda Accord.
The 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T might not be flying … Continue Reading ››
When it comes to turbocharged cars, the flow of air through the system is just as important as keeping it cool. From the factory, the MK7s do get some extra attention in the performance category, especially when it comes to the GTI and Golf R, but they’re never really pushed past what the VW engineers designed them for. Given the popularity of cranking up the boost on any turbo vehicle, especially the 2.0T found under the hood of most modern VWs and Audis, it’s no wonder that the stock intercooler piping turns out to be a restriction.
Continue Reading ››
An inside look at the engineering of Mishimoto products.
If you recall from our review of the stock components, VW shrouded the base of a good intercooler design in the support system … Continue Reading ›› 
The MK6 ended up being more of a visual improvement over the MK5. The facelift that came about in 2009 added some edges to the rounded and bubbly styling of the GTI’s younger generation. The … 
Just like building up street … 
The 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T might not be flying … 