Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

@dibtojyoti10 Without doubt the DSG can handle a Stage 1 tune. When I had my MK6 GTI tuned the tech at Achtuning (Redmond, WA), one of the most experienced APR shops in the US, asked if my GTI was manual or DSG. When I replied the latter he said, "Good. We won't have to have 'the talk' about upgrading or periodically replacing your clutch." He was right over the 40,000 miles I put on the car after the tune.
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@ipvelocity1873 Take a look at the APR website. https://www.goapr.com/news/2014/07/16/apr-presents-the-apr-stage-1-mk7-gti-2-0t-ecu-upgrade/ The info from APR claims increases of about 75 HP and torque compared to stock. Obviously, the figures provided are from APR but I have no reason to think they're inaccurate from my experience with the Stage1 ECU tune combined with the MQB Carbon Fiber Intake System in my Gen6 GTI. Power increases are immediately obvious and HP and torque curves are linear and not at all "peaky." Note that the figures APR claims are with 93 octane fuel. The best we get in Washington State is usually 91 octane so power is likely somewhat less than claimed here. Some things to keep in mind. () Stage I tuning does NOT invalidate an existing warranty unless an issue can be shown to result directly from the ECU modification. For example, if you manage to burn up your turbocharger it likely will not be subject to a warranty claim but if you have a suspension issue it would be covered. () After putting about 40K miles on my last GTI with a Stage 1 tune, I never experienced any issue, whatsoever. But I'm a fairly conservative driver on the street and seldom take the engine to red line, much less beyond it. If that doesn't describe you, YMMV. () If you have a manual transmission count on periodic clutch replacements, ideally with an upgraded unit. With a DSG that's not an issue. In addition, count on more frequent tire replacement and rotation. Putting 300 or so HP in a FWD vehicle will almost inevitably mean more tire wear. Follow a more frequent schedule for maintenance than with a standard tune. I personally change oil at 5000 mile intervals for example. In my case, my fuel economy dropped about 1-3 mpgs on average. Accessing the engine's new found power is rather addictive.
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@dha588 Estimates depend on a number of factors. A conservative estimate based on dyno testing of my MK6 (2013) GTI put it at 290 HP or so. Others get somewhat higher HP results using 93 octane fuel but 91 is the best available in Washington State.
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@M_773 I can't speak for more extreme modifications including replacement of the GTI's turbocharger but my experience with an APR Stage I+ tune on a 2013 MK6 DSG GTI over 40K miles was virtually no impact on a 100% record of reliability. A more valid, though still not a scientific, sample are reports from a local (Seattle area) group of GTI and Golf R owners and various other owner boards. Based on those reports I'd say the impact on reliability is negligible if not non-existent.
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@dha588 If you're talking about APR the "+" (i.e. Stage I+) simply signifies the inclusion of a backup warranty that matches the VW warranty for the years/mileage remaining on the stock version of the car.
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@dibtojyoti10 I had excellent service from my Stage 1 APR tune. Put it on at 40K miles and drove it until I sold it at 80K miles with no isues, whatsoever.
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Owned the 4 dr 2013 version of this MK6 GTI, the last of the German built and the last before the shift to VW's global architecture. Put 80K miles on it, the last 40K of which were with an APR Stage I tune and intake that made a noticeable difference in performance with only a slight degradation in fuel economy. (The temptation to take advantage of the performance was difficult to resist.) Never ever had a check engine light or any issue, whatsoever, with the car. I would probably still own it except for the fact that I wanted the safety and driver assistance features of the MK7.5 version in 2018 so my teenage daughter could drive it with less worry on my part. This video answered a question I've had about a variety of reviews of GTI's that claim the DSG automatically upshifted in manual mode, behavior that I never experienced either in my MK6 or MK7.5 versions. It appears that both the previous and current versions will upshift automatically if one significantly exceeds the redline, something I NEVER do. I've never made a practice of over-revving my many MT vehicles and I don't do it in my DSG GTI, either. Perhaps that explains why I've had almost no engine or transmission problems with almost every car I've ever owned.
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