If you own a wagon, my respect goes to you. If you own multiple wagons, then I will double my mad respect to you! Heck, I will even personally shake your hand to show my respect! And shake Em’s hand, I did! A few weeks ago, we featured Em’s very well-maintained Stage II B5 S4 Avant. On this week’s blog entry, I will give an insight on Em’s other wagon: MK7.5 Golf Alltrack SE.
This white Alltrack serves as Em’s daily driver. The most noticeable part of Em’s Alltrack is its lowered stance. While most people (myself included) might have gone for the lifted off-road look, Em wanted to build his version of a “Golf R Alltrack.” With a golf R in mind, a power upgrade is priority (stock Alltrack only makes 170HP) and Em wasn’t messing around by going stage III on his daily driver. A turbo upgrade, a custom one-off E85 tune, Haldex tune, Miltek exhaust (to name a few performance upgrades) went on Em’s shopping list. Did I mention lowered stance? This Alltrack’s lowered stance was achieved by upgrading the suspension to the OEM Golf R Estate (talk about OEM+ build!). A set of TT-RS fitment Weds Sport TC105X wheels were purchased to complete the exterior department. Em mentioned that he specifically went for the lower offset TT-RS fitment wheels because they would clear any Big Brake kits on the market.
After getting everything fine-tuned for the last two years, Em can finally say that he is happy with his Alltrack. His only future plan is to upgrade his seats to the Golf R ones to complete that “Golf R Alltrack” goal.
Intro:
Hello again my fellow Long Roofers, my name is Em, and I’m a wagon (Estate, Variant, Avant, Kombi) fanatic, I have always had a passion for fixed up wagons, growing up it was always very rare when someone would show up to a car show in a modified wagon, so to me they stood out, most people don’t like them here in U.S, but Chris @Avantturous work is slowly changing that. Thank you Chris for the exposure you give these Long Roofs from all over the world.
Share your unique story behind your WAGON ownership.
With the work needed on the B5 S4 Avant, I need a “reliable” daily driver I did not want just another car, it had to be a wagon, so I choose this VW Alltrack platform because right of the bat I wanted to make my own Alltrack R Estate, you know those wagons we never get here in the United States, yeah I could have gotten Golf R hatch but once again it’s not a wagon. Plus I needed the room for my baby’s stroller, car seat, etc., So I found an old stock brand new 2018 Golf Alltrack in HB that was not selling from the lot, salesman told me it was because it had beige interior, she had 78 miles and I purchased her Feb 2019 for $26k , the salesman told me they just wanted to get rid of it, works for me I knew what I was going to build and now I had the perfect specimen.
Did you consider a different WAGON instead of this one?
No I wanted a Golf Alltrack, it had to be AWD because I wanted that advantage, It was actually Paul from Shop DAP , when he built his Alltrack wagon that gave me the first look of what an Alltrack can do, and I did purchase numerous parts from SHOP DAP on my built. So, thanks Deutsche Auto Parts.
What was your original objective with your car and has that objective changed?
It was supposed to be a simple stage 1, and a few bolt-ons, but it led to CTS IS38 upgrade with help of APR Stage 3 tune plus DSG, I thought I was done at least that’s what I told Matt Torian owner of Matts A Plus Car Care, the shop mainly responsible for helping me with this built, Matt and his crew has been wrenching on this car since new, within 1 week he did my first oil change at 500 miles to make sure all the fluids are new after all it was just sitting on the dealer lot for over 1 year. The urge the obsession of just taking the 1.8t to another level I wanted to make this something special, so I began the research the parts search most of all finding a tuner familiar or who knows the 1.8T, this is no 2.0T which are highly tunable and have so much aftermarket support form all over , this was the hardest decision to make what parts should I use and who will tune it. Until now she still has a factory 1.8T stock unmodified block.
What style would you say best describes your car?
I wanted to make euro Golf R Wagon of my own, the Alltrack version of what I thought it should be, so I wanted to make sure the parts I use are not as u say “Fake” and wanted a no none sense sleeper, This wagon has surprised so many, and if you think running ¼ mile races is all it does then you are wrong. I’ve tried to build the complete package handling and braking first before even trying to go “FAST” that’s always been my build formula.
Who assisted in the planning/building/modding of your car?
Once again wanted to thank my brother, it was he who found Matt, while researching shops around the area, he must have looked into numerous people, but it was Matts A Plus that he told me to go to. And he was right since the beginning every installation, advise and just flat-out customer service, has been nothing short of amazing, this is not just me saying this ask any of his customers. I knew I found my installer, the right shop that will take this Alltrack to that level, and here we are today. Thank you to all the guys their Matt, Mike, Art, Adam & Cesar. To Thomas E. for finding the perfect custom tuner, thank you for this amazing work. The hours, weeks if I can be honest on the Dyno (not just any street pulls here, lol) really did its diligence and established this 1.8T. And my beautiful wife Sarah, for helping me find parts as far as Brazil and sometimes when FEDEX does not deliver, pick it up at the HUB Station. Thank you for allowing me to finish this crazy obsession thank you Baby, love you.
What do you feel makes your car unique / special in your eyes?
It’s a just a stock block 1.8t MPI wagon with CTS hybrid 550 Dual Ball Bearing Turbo with basically every supporting part and then some to go with its craziness. Lots of parts that I can’t even remember I should really count the receipts.
What is your favorite part/feature/function of the car?
Its the vw oem stuff, such as my hidden tray under the seat and the oem euro power folding mirrors with puddle lights, I’m a sucker for OEM PLUS parts……OH, the sound of that turbo building up to that menacing spool, its just great hearing it.
If you could pick one thing you aren’t satisfied with about your car, what would it be?
It would be the beige seats yes it comfortable and nice, but it does lack support on the needed areas, I could easily get a set of aftermarket seats from Recaro or Sparco, but I have something coming that will finally resolve this issue, stay tuned…….
What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced while building this car?
Finding the right tuner, asking lots of questions sometimes shops are friendly sometimes they’re not, I meet some people that did not care for my business once they found out “its just a wagon with a 1.8T”. Well, these so called tuners and builders I guess just could not handle the pressure or know how, or maybe my ideas was thought of as just impossible or even crazy. I never gave up this Alltrack was my “covid built “and took me 2 ½ years during the pandemic , you can say it was my stress reliver from the pain I saw during these hectic times, being in the medical side of the pandemic I worked ridiculous amount of hours, I don’t regret it one bit, I had to make sure I did my part as a Health Care provider. This was the scariest I have ever been working, some days I did not think I can go home I slept in the Alltrack, I could not have contact with family this Alltrack did it all for me and was my primary vehicle going back and forth to work.
What one word best describes your car?
“Determined “ I was asked do you get angry when someone copies your build? My answer to that is “the best form of flattery is Imitation,” their will always be someone better, but this Alltrack was a genie pig on many levels, and that something i’m very proud of trying and risking new ideas. So, if someone “copies” my style in wheels, intake, brakes, etc, it’s because I have gained their attention and their imagination that their wagon can be just like mine. Thats why i’m Determined to make this the best Alltrack for Me it does not matter what you have or what you did or accomplished what you think you accomplished. There will always be someone better and I would never say or have the audacity to even say mine is the best of anything. This is just a car their is more to life then lables……….
What is your final goal with this car?
If you asked me this two weeks ago I would say the car is 90% done, but now maybe just maybe a next stage has presented itself, after all my background in 90’s is building all my cars with N20. Enjoy it, Drive it , Most of all share it with my daughter she loves her white alltrack as much as I do. She is the reason this idea came about. This DADWAGON thing….
