An R - Revitalised

The Golf R that went from a beaten track tearer to a show-stopping bagged beauty.

Picture this. You set out to purchase one of your dream cars before your 21st birthday. You drive it home, testing out the throttle response and enjoying the feeling of getting to know a new member of the family. You pull up onto the driveway, turn off the ignition and sit, hands on the wheel, buzzing with adrenaline after the rather sporting first drive. You daily drive your new slice of Euro hot hatch heaven for a little while until... disaster! The engine blows and you're left out of pocket, unable to get around, and with a costly journey ahead.

Sadly, this is the roller coaster ride that is Aaron's journey of Golf R ownership. Big plans to create something special were dashed whilst priorities changed to getting the car running and back on the road.

"While still being a new owner of the car and not having much knowledge of the platform, the engine blew up unexpectedly. After many weeks of searching for the best Mk7 engine builders I eventually decided upon a garage that could achieve what I was looking for. Despite this, I had to then deal with a very long wait list to get booked in meaning my car was unusable for several months."

What is every petrol heads nightmare was becoming Aaron's reality. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to seasons, and the Golf sat motionless - lifeless - its heart away for serious rework. How did this happen though?

Readers of DAILIED will remember Aaron's build from our final edition where it looked pretty different to how it does now. Unknown at that point was the key revelation that the R had already lived quite a life before falling into Aaron's ownership.

"The Mk7 was originally built as a track car by the previous owner; something that was unknown to me before purchasing."

Many hours spent at full chat on circuits around the UK could most likely be the cause for the engine blowing up in spectacular fashion. The third generation EA888 engine that purrs away under the bonnet is traditionally viewed as a highly reliable power plant further indicating that some track abuse led to heightened strain. Still, Aaron remained positive and as such, now has a Golf R that matches his vision.

"I've always been a fan of the look of the Mk7 platform; however my main aim was to create a unique, head-turning and one-of-a-kind design whilst adhering to the Euro build style."

Now, whilst it might not sound it, this was an incredibly ambitious feat. Trying to build a one-of-a-kind Golf is like trying to reinvent a pair of socks. They work, they're available in a host of designs, and almost every possible amalgamation has been created (formal, ankle, crew, sports, the list goes on...)

So how has Aaron set about creating something new? By changing almost everything and anything he could get his hands on.

The engine bay now looks like a trade village at your favourite car show with a whole host of big brands on display. Everything from a custom RamAir filter, Forge turbo muffler delete, Racing Line turbo elbow, Mountune short-shifter, and a Mishimoto charge pipe & throttle body. To add some extra spice, carbon fibre covers have been introduced to dress the more unsightly sections in a sporting blanket (carbon engine cover, battery cover, intake lid, manifold cover and many more...)

The attention to detail then flows into the exterior firstly by adorning a custom show bonnet with centre cut-out so the intensive engine work can be neatly displayed. The front bumper has been smoothed, clear rear taillights have been added and even the badges have been swapped out with versions from a Mk8. Where's the carbon I hear you ask? Do not fear for Aaron has dowsed the exterior in carbon fibre goodness too. The front splitter, rear diffuser, spoiler, side skirts, grille, wing mirrors, B pillars, wind deflectors and even the window wipers are all carbon fibre.

Aaron's favourite modification? It has to be something carbon fibre right... wrong.

"The West Forged wheels are my favourite part of the car as I am a big fan of the Euro styling, and I believe that they perfectly suit the style of the Mk7."

Tucking under the Wolfsburg-manufactured arches, the polished lips disappear out of sight like a magician keeping aces up his sleeve. Yet (where the Mk7's shows are concerned) there are no tricks, just the treat that is the sensational bagged stance to compliment this euro Golf R inception.

"The car is driven daily and is constantly swapped between wheels in between shows, which is why I decided to go for a tucked setup. This makes it easier as there is less chance of catching the arches."

So we've established that Aaron's Golf R has incredible attention to detail, enough carbon fibre to start a motorsport team, and plenty of performance mods to give it some extra poke, but there is one little surprise that's still outstanding.

"The thing that most stands out when driving the car is the manual gearbox, which is uncommon for Mk7 Golf's but makes it way more engaging to drive."

You heard that right, a manual gearbox! A good 'ol fashioned stick, knob and third pedal for the ultimate driving sensation. Whilst there's no ban on manual cars, the overall ban of all new diesel and petrol cars will mean that the manual gearbox will slowly vanish into a thing of memory. Not only will future children marvel at the fact we had to fill cars up with a flammable liquid, they will be amazed to hear we had to select gears for ourselves as well.

Thinking forwards, whilst almost every nook and cranny of this Mk7 has been switched out for an aftermarket / custom alternative, Aaron still has some work on his list. A front & rear big brake upgrade and a full rear seat removal and boot build overhaul are on the cards for this year.

Overall Aaron and his Golf R are testament to what can be achieved when you persevere through adversity. A major setback did not derail the initial vision that has been delivered in a way that has led to recognition from industry leaders such as Auto Finesse and Ram Air Filters - brands that Aaron is massively grateful for their support. His Golf R build also caught our eye last year, seeing it feature in Issue 15, and has been put on display at multiple shows across the country. I've got a feeling this build is set for more great things in the coming months.

Spec Sheet:

Power Output: 360bhp

Performance: