Time to go off roading!

[pcbootleger]

My skid plate from Diesel Geek has arrived. I figured its a whole lot cheaper than buying a new oil pan or even a whole new engine. There is an OEM add on available from the New Beetle convertible that fits all MK4 Jetta/Golfs (2.0, 1.8T, 2.8, 3.2) as well but its heavier and more expensive. I had a close encounter due to a friend not knowing where reverse in on my car which cause some DEEP scratches on the oil pan. I figured why take the chance a second time.

Top view of the skid plate and accessories.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/431576344_73cfaf985a_o.jpg

Angled view.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/431576347_eb509390c1_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/431576358_99578a4ecf_o.jpg

Now I just gotta figure out what this piece is and where to attach it. Unfortunately, Diesel Geek did not include any instructions http://www.orlandoforums.com/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/431576375_4b49f65fdf_o.jpg

[JCapelo]

looks like fun....but another 5mins to add to oil changes.

[TheDarkSide]

Off road rallying?

[FactorX]

the craze right now is to see who can roll their DD the lowest... there's been several local cracked oil pans in the last couple months... the skid plate helps avoid potential engine destruction when your oil is spilled across the freeway due to a lane reflector tearing the pan in two...

[pcbootleger]

the craze right now is to see who can roll their DD the lowest... there's been several local cracked oil pans in the last couple months... the skid plate helps avoid potential engine destruction when your oil is spilled across the freeway due to a lane reflector tearing the pan in two...

I don't see how any could lower the car that low. I think the R is at the lowest height that a Golf should be. Any lower and you are not gaining any handling and it just looks ridiculous. My height will stay the same with this car. The skid plate is just for good peace of mind for me. Its a lot cheaper than being stranded somewhere with no oil.

[Roy]

I just remembered, VW's don't come with skid plates/ engine plasticly stuff (Real technical term) at all. Everytime I look down the engine bay and see my feet, I'm like "Um..."

skid plate i think is a good idea, keep road crap from getting up in there and to keep your oil pan safe.

[pcbootleger]

I just remembered, VW's don't come with skid plates/ engine plasticly stuff (Real technical term) at all.

They do indeed come with a plastic guard from the factory.

[Roy]

They do indeed come with a plastic guard from the factory.

My roomates GTI 1.8t certainly didn't... Is it model dependent?

[FactorX]

I don't see how any could lower the car that low. I think the R is at the lowest height that a Golf should be. Any lower and you are not gaining any handling and it just looks ridiculous. My height will stay the same with this car. The skid plate is just for good peace of mind for me. Its a lot cheaper than being stranded somewhere with no oil.

:bow: finally somebody who agrees with me that handling is more important than how low you are...

the mkV has a couple plastic shields... mine is hanging low on one side due to probably hitting a critter last night... it jumped out in front of me going 40 or so... about 10 feet in front of me.. no chance to even touch the brakes before i was on top of it...

[LDadrenaline]

i agree that handling is better than how low.... *however* lowering the car reduces the center of gravity and that definately helps.

[TheDarkSide]

lane reflector tearing the pan in two...

:lol:

[pcbootleger]

Skid plate has been installed. The whole process was incredibly easy. If anyone decides to order one and needs a hand, I would be more than happy to help. If I wasnt doing something else at the same time, I think the install would have taken no more than 45 minutes. Here are some pictures. The only problem with the install was that I did have to cut some plastic. Not that big of a deal though. The marked lines are where I wanted to cut a hole, but I dont have the proper tools at this time.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/240/444363173_b3a66e7a1a.jpg?v=0
This screw in the middle of the picture was a pain to put in. It was worse than prom night!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/444363177_d27dd9fbb3.jpg?v=0
Nice clean underbody. No more fears of a damaged oil pan.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/444363207_9701f7737e.jpg?v=0
Not the pretties cut, but it is the best fitting. Only took two attempts amazingly.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/444363211_fcdc0aabf3.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/247/444363215_e21da769c2.jpg?v=0
The plastic guard that comes with the car must be removed permanently. There are two engine side skirts that have to be cut (but will never be seen). The two plastic pieces that you see in my pictures that are cut is optional. You don't even have to have those pieces on the car anymore.


AHHHHHH. Why do image tags never work on this site when I want it to?!!!

[TheDarkSide]

Nice :D

[pcbootleger]

Nice :D

Whats even more nice is the handling improvement. It feels like the plate has stiffened up the body and is able to aid in quicker turns. Its a win win mod for sure!

[rafiki]

my next investment to the mk4 was going to be a skid plate.


and how low you want to go is up to the driver and his/her tastes.

you can just stright up say "handling is better than being low"
becuase that decision is not up to you to make for everyone in the scene.
i personally think that putting your car on the floor looks amazing.
and dropping your car on euro springs and thinking it looks amazing is stupid.

i obviously know there is a point where you begin to lose handling. but my car isnt a race car. and i dont care if it handles well. if i wanted a good handling car, id buy a sports car to race around in.

not an eco friendly family hatch!

congrats on the skid plate though.. one of the best investments if you are low

[pcbootleger]

not an eco friendly family hatch!

congrats on the skid plate though.. one of the best investments if you are low

I wish my hatch was eco friendly :(.

[FactorX]

I wish my hatch was eco friendly :(.

Its Ok... Rafi just doesn't include the "Sports" car category between "Slow" and "Race" :dunno: