Water-Cooled Volkswagen Performance Handbook

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!

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 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!

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 Also, some of the information is a little outdated, such as illustrations of NLA parts, but about as good as a single marque book as can be found for the price.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....