Car: 1994 Jetta GL

Cost: $119.25 plus $60 core charge from Velocity Sport Tuning (No longer in business)

Impressions:

About a week after I had a friend install a new tranny (close-ratio with a 5th gear conversion), pressure plate, clutch, flywheel, and a Velocity Limited-Slip Differential Upgrade on my car, he mentioned that Velocity now had a lightened and balanced flywheel. I had wished that I had known about this sooner so that I could have gotten one (I did not want to have my tranny pulled just to swap flywheels -- it was just too much work, not to mention the cost).  About 4 weeks later I started having trouble with my tranny and it would have to pull it to fix the problem, (It had to do with a bad pressure plate) so I ordered it.  After looking at it, the first thing you notice is how light it is compared to stock, it weights about 75% of the stock weight.  After we (he did most of the work, I just stood around and asked questions) installed it and put everything back together and started the car -- It didn't sound different.  Tapped the gas and boom, the RPM's raced towards red line.  Tapped it a few more times -- each time the needle raced towards the red.  I then pulled it out on to the road and hammered the gas, the car surges, the needle races to redline breaking the tires loose.  I would have never guessed how taking a few pounds off of the flywheel would make the engine so much more responsive.  The engine winds up quicker and there seems to be more power to the wheels.  The only drawback is that I can feel the cam more when the car is at idle -- big deal.  If you have to do any tranny work, and have the money to replace the flywheel, DO IT.  It is a 0 horsepower upgrade that makes your car perform.  Thanks Matt and Chris!

Eric Ansay
1994 Jetta GL

Car: 1997 GTI VR6

Cost: $100.00 plus $200.00 core charge from Velocity Sport Tuning.

Impressions:

In the VR6, I barely notice the lightened flywheel at all. I've driven Eric's car (listed above), and his flywheel was very noticable. Perhaps the momentum of the six cylinders in the VR6 keeps the engine from revving-up and down as fast. None-the-less, if you are going to be doing some transmission work anyway, you might as well get a lightened flywheel. Many companies are offering them for less than $200 without a core charge.

Todd Taylor
1997 GTI VR6