VTDA is in, TTDA in hybernation till next summer... Also, some thoughts and comments!

[SprinTTer]

During the past five years of TT ownership I've tried the following as far as engine breathing is concerned:

a)several replacement filters, none of which seemed to work,

b)the BMC CDA, which was better than the stock airbox but only till the engine bay got hot enough,

c)the TTDA which was WAY better than the BMC even though I don't have a FMIC so it's not force fed,

d)the VTDA.

Now, I'd be a liar if I said I could feel a less than 10bhp power gain in a StgII 225, but I can HONESTLY say the car performs much better with the TTDA than any previous CAI I've tried up to that time. When the VTDA was introduced, I decided to buy one and probably sell my TTDA depending on the outcome.

The VTDA results are certainly better than I expected. Try breathing through a TTDA and a VTDA and you'll notice that the VTDA is much less restrictive. What surprised me was that the car seems to have gained down low more than in the high rpm range! I always expected the engine to drone down low with such a CAI.

I had a discussion with other TTDA owners and they kept saying that the VTDA is no better than an insulated BMC. That's very narrow-minded 'cause the BMC isn't designed for direct flow, it has a huge plastic reversed cone that -to me- acts as a obstacle to incoming air, and lacks the venturi-effect design of the VTDA.

The week point of the VTDA is that in urban driving it can't help but suck in hot air. It's great now that the winter is approaching but the ECU is not going to like it during the hot days. Also, the hissing sound of the turbo is very profound now and that's not to everyone's liking. The dv sounds louder as well, try imagining the flutter of an Optimus or a Greddy type-S in start-and-stop situations and you get the idea.

To cut a long story short, I'm very pleased by the way the VTDA performs. I've decided however to keep the TTDA for the hot days or when I want to avoid the noise of the VTDA (during a trip for instance). I'm wondering whether a TTDA which is force-fed can out-perform a VTDA, but till I get a FMIC I can't say for sure. For now, the MAF reads higher with the VTDA.

Btw, the other way I had a look at a friend's GruppeM intake. It sounds exactly like the VTDA does, of course I can't compare between the two 'cause our cars have totally different setups (he won't lend it to me either)... It looks like a million $ and I'm sure it performs well but at that price you can have two TTDA's AND a VTDA. Becides, how much of a power gain difference can there be? :-/

[MOBlueTT]

I believe VTDA wins - vag them both and see - I've just had NO TIME...
I force feed BOTH - close up and personal - on Steve's Fotki ;-P

[joe@vwvortex]

setup on two different MAF's. Not saying one if worse than the other - but i'd like to see more comparison results.

[TTR-RIP]

does your friend also go here?

want to see his GruppeM

btw you can lend him your vtda instead and see the difference.

from the review, just imagine if "the VTDA is much less restrictive", then how much more less restrictive the gruppeM that has open bottom could be.

U got the point, it looks like a million $, it worth every buck you spent (looks and performance).
compare to cheaper one but only made of some wood and plastic that may deliminate after few months (I didnt mention what brand, but there is one or two products like that). vs something made 90% CF and still look as new after 2 years.

[MOBlueTT]

seeing his logs of VTDA vs TTDA - Gear does make a difference... my log of VTDA w/ VW MAF gave this:
First 26.38 3560 93.0
26.69 3800 142.1
26.99 4160 182.7
27.29 4560 173.1
27.59 5000 179.9
27.89 5360 196.8
28.19 5720 207.3
28.49 6040 121.8
28.79 5640 -
29.08 5120 -
Second 29.39 4160 127.3
29.69 4360 185.2
29.99 4560 178.3
30.29 4760 173.0
30.59 4920 179.2
30.89 5080 184.6
31.19 5240 192.2
31.49 5400 189.8
31.79 5560 190.1
32.09 5680 190.9
32.39 5840 190.9
32.69 5960 190.2
32.99 5760 -
33.28 5240 -
Third 33.59 4560 144.0
33.89 4680 181.0
34.19 4760 163.0
34.49 4880 173.0
34.79 4960 175.0
35.09 5080 175.0
35.39 5160 173.0
35.69 5240 180.0
35.99 5320 181.0
36.29 5400 179.0
36.59 5440 178.0
36.89 5480 183.0
37.19 5480 110.5
37.49 5520 -

[joe@vwvortex]

Im using the factory "M" maf for my car - both an original and a refurbished that I installed. My car is bone stock - with the exception of a Forge DV and GIAC programming which is currently only pulling 17psi - for a currently unknown reason.

[MOBlueTT]

[joe@vwvortex]

It's either a bad wastegate actuator, boost leak or bad turbo. Problem is that it only shows at high psi - over 15psi and 5k rpms and when under load. VERY frustrating.

[MOBlueTT]

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]