Tarmac terror takes his ‘Ferrari’ up a notch
CHATSWORTH resident and tarmac terroriser Sayed Essup’s VW CitiGolf was more than just a mode of transport. It was an opportunity to follow in his drag racing father’s footsteps.
His father boasted owning the fastest Ford Sierra XR6 in Chatsworth when he was younger.
The Golf can aptly be described as the Ferrari of the working class. It is a highly scaleable budget vehicle capable of transcending its humble roots through a myriad well-priced, prideinspiring performance modifications and accessories.
Essup acquired his glossy red CitiGolf 1.4i six years ago. His plan was to make his little car run like a bigger two-litre, partly inspired by his brother having a 2.0 Golf GTI a few years before.
To get bigger engine performance from the little block, the standard engine was altered radically.
The suspension system was also upgraded.
Cool aesthetic additions included a Webasto tilt and slide electric sunroof and, beneath the hood, a hammered painted radiator.
The mods had impressive results with power output up more than 20 percent to 85kw and 170Nm of torque.
With the car’s light weight, that translates into an impressive power to weight ratio.
The urban cycle fuel consumption is a thirsty 14.5l/100km. LIST OF THINGS CHANGED Performance modifications included a 272 Cut Cam, a Bigger 1.8iR fuel rail, a remapped ECU setup, Blue Thunder straight air induction system, a skimmed, lightened flywheel mated to an LUK high-performance clutch, a Cowley four-into-one custom branch with 50mm free flow piping and chrome mirror boxes. Suspension changes included customised Enkie compressed springs teamed to 17-inch 7.5J “Diamond Cut Flawless Bobert” mag wheels riding on Achilles Super Sport 205 40/17 rubbers. PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE CAR Prima Force, Wolfsburg, Barons, Webasto, Dubtronics (Akhil, Shaylin &Memz). WHAT IT COST The project took Essup about three years to complete and cost roughly R33 000, which Essup considers a small price to pay for the realisation of a dream.