five Ways to make it better

1 GaskeT FiX Swapping the head gasket is a smart move, especially if you’re unsure of the car’s maintenance history. The uprated multi-layer steel item from HKS costs from around £260 depending on supplier, although the US Cometic brand is well respected and cheaper.

2 keePiNG cOOl We’ve already mentioned the need for a healthy cooling system and swapping the standard radiator for an uprated item with better flow characteristics will pay dividends. Promising much improved cooling capacity, lighter aluminium items are available from around £200 but we’d advise joining one of the excellent MkIII forums for more first-hand advice.

3 MOre POwer The sky really is the limit here. Clearly, it’s dependent as much on your budget as it is on your views on originality, but it’s possible to vastly improve on the standard power output – £50 buys an uprated air filter for improved breathing and a fruitier intake rasp, while reshimming the turbo’s wastegate is a cheap way to increase boost pressure.

4 UPGraDe THe eXHaUsT This is a relatively simple modification that can release a few extra horsepower and improve the sound of the straight-six. Prices vary widely and there are a host of suppliers out there, so do your homework before committing, but bank on spending upwards of £500 for a stainless steel system. 5 iMPrOVeD HaNDliNG Another area where seeking advice from the forums is wise, there are plenty of options when it comes to transforming this GT into something sharper. A set of lowered springs will set you back around £200, with twice that amount securing uprated dampers, while firmer bushes are a couple of hundred pounds per set. Fitting should be a DIY task if you’re handy with the spanners.