The shiny new exhaust tips may be a giveaway to what lurks underneath. But the difference was immediate. We experienced better throttle response right off the bat, and a slight subtle growl when we hit the gas.
WE’RE EXHAUSTED Adding a Techtonics Tuning cat-back exhaust system to your water-cooled VW makes a big difference! •• By DG Leadbetter
A
s any VW enthusiast will tell you, sometimes you just can’t diameter than your stock muffler. This wider opening allows more leave things alone. If there’s even a possibility of upgrading space for the gases to flow more freely. or redoing a stock component, nine times out of ten, we’ll jump Secondly, you can expect better gas mileage. The cat-back imon it. Doesn’t matter if it’s interior, exterior, or drivetrain… better proves airflow, meaning your powerplant doesn’t work as hard to is ALWAYS better. Our 2015 Golf Sportwagon was doing just fine eliminate the exhaust. Less load on the engine equals more miles with its APR Stage 1 ECU software upgrade, but we wanted more! per gallon. The next logical step was a cat-back exhaust system. Lastly, adding a cat-back can improve your ride’s sound. DeSo exactly what is a cat-back system, anyway? For starters, it pending on the muffler you choose, you can get a more aggressive has nothing to do with felines. A cat-back is an exhaust pipe moditone, or something a little more robust than stock. There’s a ton of fication designed to help improve airflow. As the name implies, the choices out there. system runs from the catalytic converter to the exhaust tips. We reached out to our friends at Techtonics Tuning in SheriOkay, Mr. Wizard, how’s my water-cooled VW going to benefit dan, Oregon. They’re one of the leaders in the water-cooled VW exfrom a cat-back system? Great question! Let’s break it down: First, haust industry. They invited us up to their headquarters to follow increased horsepower. If the engine doesn’t have to flex its muscles along as they gave our 2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI S a much-needmore than it should to push spent gases out, ed exhaust upgrade. This is more of an it can use that energy to make more horseoverview on what goes into installing a power! There’s somewhere between a 10 cat-back system in your ride. Always know Techtonics Tuning and 15% power loss with the stock exhaust your limitations when it comes to installing Sheridan, Oregon system. What? Yes, really: That stock exsomething. When in doubt, always opt to sales@techtonicstuning.com (503) 843-2700 or (800) 821-0598 haust could be a roadblock to your VW’s full have professionals do the install for you, so potential. Cat-back systems have a larger you know it’s done right.
54 VW TRENDS • SUMMER SUMMER’23 ’23
