Stage 1 Apr yes or no

[myawd]

Considering going stage 1 with apr . How much of a difference is it from stock . Enough to hold out to stage 2 until march ??? I read numbers but want driver feedback

Thnx

Myawd

[usurpers26]

Absolutely a no brainer, especially seeing as you only pay for the flash once and every upgrade is free.

However, I'd spend the extra cash now and get an HPFP...

[HandyBanana]

I don't have a tune yet, but from what I've gathered there's a very notable difference between stock and stage 1.

Also, if you're going to do it, do it now while the sale is on. You save $100.

[tbvr6]

I plan on going stage 1 APR sometime before this fall sale ends.

[sfritz]

I did mine to Stage 1+ back during APR's summer sale. And...agree...it's totally worth it. Car feels way better. Lots of people stating differences.

I guarantee you one thing...on the way back from the flash...you will smile ALL the way home.

And correct on the flash upgrades. Buy 1 now and you pay now. Get a HPFP later...and flash is free (and most dealers don't charge for labor to flash to 1+). At least that was my experience.

[XSSIVE]

I don't know about stage 1 alone (it certainly can't be bad) but going to stage 1+ with an intake was like insane night and day, awoke the sleeping giant, holy crap this is fun, can't stop smiling when I drive levels of awesome.

If you can swing it I'd go 1+ and do the HPFP all at once. The stock pump is one of the weak links in making power with these cars so no matter what your future power plans are it can't hurt to get it out of the way all at once.

[jb0ii]

just became stage 2 at H2o with my stock HPFP and WOWWW was all i was saying! just bought a APR pump today and can't wait to get that baby installed and go straight to stage 2+

[R1SEAGA1NST]

110% yes, just upgraded to stage 1 at h2o and I really believe this is how the car should accelerate out of the factory. Going stage2+ when necessary, but really enjoying the extra boost for now.

[myawd]

Thanks guys doing wheels, suspension and stage 1 start. Stage 2 and led tails next

[BigmountainVMD]

Big 'ol YES. Stage 1+ with intake makes me happy to be driving a better version of the car I always wanted. Power is noticeable. No change in MPG. Worth every penny, especially when it's on sale.

[Dantescrub]

My local APR Dealer offered me a "Trial Run" for my car at no charge. He said to try it for a week and if I liked it I could pay him then or he would remove it I didn't want it. I took my car out on the Highway and returned 15 minutes later with a grin and my credit card. The difference was euphoric. The sound of a K04 in third gear gave me shivers. You will find your R to be very addictive and you will probably be smiling from ear to ear every time you drive it.

[ThatJohnGuy]

Considering going stage 1 with apr . How much of a difference is it from stock . Enough to hold out to stage 2 until march ??? I read numbers but want driver feedback

Thnx

Myawd

Brother if you haven't already flashed you are missing out. The stage one will hold you for ooooohhhhhhh, long enough to get a DP HPFP (or the Autotech upgrade) and an Intake :-)

[Copizza]

Yes

[JDilla]

Its a great improvement. I highly suggest it.

[Cortexiphan]

Got my APR stage 1 tune today.

The difference is alright, I was expecting a little more.

Definitely feels like I shaved 1000 lbs off of the car though.

3rd gear pulls nice.

[nickeleye]

I'm in a similar conundrum. Do you just purchase a chip from APR and have it installed or do you have to buy it from a dealer and have them install it also?

I've got a bone stock '12R with only the Soundaktor removed and the DieselGeek shifter about to go in. Was considering a CAI next, but it sounds like I'd be better off spending some cash on Stage 1, then add a CAI, HPFP, etc (not enough $$ for multiple upgrades at once right now).

[Cortexiphan]

I'm in a similar conundrum. Do you just purchase a chip from APR and have it installed or do you have to buy it from a dealer and have them install it also?

I've got a bone stock '12R with only the Soundaktor removed and the DieselGeek shifter about to go in. Was considering a CAI next, but it sounds like I'd be better off spending some cash on Stage 1, then add a CAI, HPFP, etc (not enough $$ for multiple upgrades at once right now).

For the Golf R the tune is just direct port programming, so just go to your closest APR dealer (or whatever tune you want) and they will flash the software onto your ECU through the OBDII port.

[davesxx01]

I had the Stage 1 flash for 4 days,,,, it was nice! Well worth it!
Then I added the VWR intake and HPFP. Re flashed.

I'm still smiling!!
As a matter of fact, I'm laughing!!!
It's great!!

Can't wait to see what a DP does to the equation.

[Sanderskog]

I bypassed 1 and went straight to 1+ with a rebuilt APR pump during the sale. Difference is night and day and worth every penny.

[MersR]

smiled all the way home from the tuner after stage 1+. Clapped and laughed in my car all the way home went I went stage 2+.

[s2d4]

A question for you guys, is the same map suppose to be right fit for all?

Coming from jdm vehicles, each car is individually tuned per their mods.

[Cortexiphan]

Got my APR stage 1 tune today.

The difference is alright, I was expecting a little more.

Definitely feels like I shaved 1000 lbs off of the car though.

3rd gear pulls nice.

Maybe it was that I was driving unfamiliar roads last night.

But this morning on my way into work. The car feels completely transformed.

This tune is well worth it

[DaLeadBull]

When does the APR sale end?

I initially told myself that I would be done after stage 1 but I know I will want more after I get a taste.

The only thing that's holding me back about going 1+ is the cam follower situation with the HPFP. I'm not a very mechanically inclined guy and I don't really want to worry about the cam follower too much.

Those of you who have had the HPFP for a while now, have you checked your cam followers? How are they looking?

[.:R-Newbie]

My car has been at the shop this week undergoing its Stage 2+ transformation... Ive driven the car about 4 days and it went straight to the shop (had to take advantage of the sale!!!!)... I am so anxious... cant wait for the call to go pick it up!

[Billy W]

I plan on going stage 1 APR sometime before this fall sale ends.

GIAC

You won't be sorry. Do a little research......

[Geist296]

I went stg1 at 3000 miles and now have 7600 still smiling....exhaust will be going on sometime in the next copl weeks, and probably stg2+ in the spring. Can't wait but I must....didn't realized when I bought this car that she would cost me almost a decent used car once I owned her...

But well worth it..!

[usurpers26]

Well the cam follower is a potential "issue" even with no tune, it's just obviously going to wear at a much slower rate if you stay with the stock fuel pump.

FWIW, I asked my shop and they said they charge ~$200 to change it. Obviously that is a bit high seeing as it's a 30 min job. But if life gets in the way and I just dont have the time to change it, I would have no problem paying that.

There were a few posts of replaced followers floating around with pics. My plan is 20-25k miles, kind of align it with cleaning the VWR filter

When does the APR sale end?

I initially told myself that I would be done after stage 1 but I know I will want more after I get a taste.

The only thing that's holding me back about going 1+ is the cam follower situation with the HPFP. I'm not a very mechanically inclined guy and I don't really want to worry about the cam follower too much.

Those of you who have had the HPFP for a while now, have you checked your cam followers? How are they looking?

[FDP]

Maybe it was that I was driving unfamiliar roads last night.

But this morning on my way into work. The car feels completely transformed.

This tune is well worth it

I don't think it was the roads, I drove home after my stage 1 and almost turned around for a refund but decided to sleep on it. Well, the next day it was a whole different car!! IDK, maybe the ECU needed to adjust to the tune, but what a difference a day makes. I loved it so much that I ordered the HPFP and intake like a week later and went stage1+. I loved that so much that I ordered the downpipe and went stage 2+ like a month later.
Stage 1+ is terrific, worth every penny and the way the car should have come from the factory. If you want to unleash the beast within, stage 2+ will not let you down!!!

[myawd]

I don't think it was the roads, I drove home after my stage 1 and almost turned around for a refund but decided to sleep on it. Well, the next day it was a whole different car!! IDK, maybe the ECU needed to adjust to the tune, but what a difference a day makes. I loved it so much that I ordered the HPFP and intake like a week later and went stage1+. I loved that so much that I ordered the downpipe and went stage 2+ like a month later.
Stage 1+ is terrific, worth every penny and the way the car should have come from the factory. If you want to unleash the beast within, stage 2+ will not let you down!!!

👍👍👍 stage 1 first I'll work my way up

[MersR]

I don't think it was the roads, I drove home after my stage 1 and almost turned around for a refund but decided to sleep on it. Well, the next day it was a whole different car!! IDK, maybe the ECU needed to adjust to the tune, but what a difference a day makes. I loved it so much that I ordered the HPFP and intake like a week later and went stage1+. I loved that so much that I ordered the downpipe and went stage 2+ like a month later.
Stage 1+ is terrific, worth every penny and the way the car should have come from the factory. If you want to unleash the beast within, stage 2+ will not let you down!!!

stage 2+ is beast.

[ECS Tuning]

👍👍👍 stage 1 first I'll work my way up

Sounds like a plan!

[Vickroy6]

Just had stage 1 put on yesterday in anticipation of going stage 2+ when my down pipe and hpfp come in. Wanted to get the flash in while the sale was still going on since upgrades are free.

Gotta say I noticed a big difference. Loving it. Def gonna enjoy of the next week or so before upgrade to 2+.

If you are on the fence, don't be. Do it!

[nickeleye]

I wish it weren't so, but my paranoia regarding voiding my warranty is still bothering me... I want to go Stg 1 so bad, but knowing my luck, something would go wrong and VW would hose me.

[Vickroy6]

I wish it weren't so, but my paranoia regarding voiding my warranty is still bothering me... I want to go Stg 1 so bad, but knowing my luck, something would go wrong and VW would hose me.

First you'd have to have a problem. Second they would have to prove the mod caused the problem for them to deny coverage under your warranty. They are not going to flat out void your warranty for simply modding it.

[usurpers26]

Just find a mod friendly VW dealer...be upfront and honest with the dealers it goes a long way.

I wish it weren't so, but my paranoia regarding voiding my warranty is still bothering me... I want to go Stg 1 so bad, but knowing my luck, something would go wrong and VW would hose me.