Customer Reviews

Water-Cooled Volkswagen Performance Handbook (Motorbooks Workshop)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought the first edition of this book and also the second. Though some of the information remains the same, there is a wealth of new stuff on the A3 platform VWs. The author even stretches out a bit and gives performance advice for A4-platform cars. The photos are crisp and clean. The author really knows his material and the advice he gives is to be trusted. I have already done a number of things to my A3 Jetta based on this book and have really noticed the improvement in my autocrossing performance, as well as just plain street fun! This alone has made the book worthwhile! Buy it, try it, and then go fast!

Very well written stuff, especially for non-experts. The forced induction chapter very well covered, but outdated. It is a pitty this book does not give any in-depth info for the famous VW/Audi 1.8T engine. The only reference is on page 22 where the legend says that the new 1.8T may be the wave of the future (although it is released since 1997) BUT mistakenly the photo shows the V5 engine instead of the 1.8T. Very unfortunate to refer to an engine just announced, and not mentioning the state-of-the-art 1,8T being in production since 97... Any way someone may fing a lot of usefull information in this book, although primarily adressed to American owners.

This is a good book for general information, but many of the pictures are outdated, and the author fails to incorporate discussions of the newer technology. There are a few new photos, and a limited amount of focus on the newer cars on this "Revised" version.

I bought the book as I wanted to do some reseach before starting to disassemble my VW Passat, and was a bit disappointed as the title of the book was rather misguiding - 'Water-Cooled VW...'. Now it is clear that this book is directed this group of VW owners who happen to own a Golf/Jetta/Scirocco or a similar model. There is no mention of turbo/supercharged 5-zylinder engines, for which I was this information looking for. The book is good in many aspects except it gives lower value to an european model owners as many of the tricks are achieved by upgrading with european VW parts. Now where in a heck there is a book for tuning my ol'big-engine Passat? Anyway, the book gives good reading and is mostly worth buying.

I wasted my money here. BUT If you know nothing Nothing at all about cars and have a vw that you want to play with a little then this book might be ok for you. Save some money and go to vwvortex.com or buy a book like A. graham bells performance tuning which actually does have info you can use to give your vw real performance.

This book covers small modifications to sweeten your VeeDub ride. I consider it entry-level, but a good start on your way to be the number one fast of the furious. Bwah ha ha ha!

A reprint/ update of an earlier version, this is THE book for an A1 or A2 owner who has the need for speed. While much of the information can be gathered from other sources, such as European Car, who wants a garage full of back issues? Lots of good photos, well organized with an emphasis on engines & street performance mods. While the author seems to have a few friends in the business and a bias toward certain vendors, the overall info is good. Also, some of the information is a little outdated, such as illustrations of NLA parts, but about as good as a single marque book as can be found for the price. Typical Motorbooks text editing and the paper, at least in the first edition, will yellow over time.

As part of a library including a couple of manuals (Bentley and one of the more generalized books from either Haynes or Chilton) and Per Schroeder's book, a good foundation for just about anything. As the past and present owner of A1, A2, and A3 VW's, the earlier addition was pretty dog-eared until it was replaced by the updated edition. Recommended reference....

Very well written stuff, especially for non-experts. The forced induction chapter very well covered, but outdated. It is a pitty this book does not give any in-depth info for the famous VW/Audi 1.8T engine. The only reference is on page 22 where the legend says that the new 1.8T may be the wave of the future (although it is released since 1997) BUT mistakenly the photo shows the V5 engine instead of the 1.8T. Very unfortunate to refer to an engine just announced, and not mentioning the state-of-the-art 1,8T being in production since 97... Any way someone may fing a lot of usefull information in this book, although primarily adressed to American owners.

This has been the worst purchase I have made. I did not find anything new at all in this book. The back cover promises the world but inside there is nothing at all. Carburetors are covered in one 5 line paragraph in the whole book without mention of who, how, what size, what brand NOTHING zero zip NADA
At one point he say that he wont recomend anything because some companies from his last book went under two years after its release Well thats great no recomendations SO why do I have a book with no suggestions. He says some heads are poor quality and are to be avoided uhhh which heads? what number or code, he DOESNT SAY. I really regret buying this book and if I must say something nice then I suggest you give it to a clueless person who will read it only for entertainment.

I read this entire book in two days, as if it was a novel. This book is aimed at the real enthusiast who already has a knowledge of cars...buy it!