Tweaking Tweeters
Fortunately for Fierek and the installers, the factory location worked well for the front stage's Polk Audio SR 6.5-inch components. They only had to tweak the tweeter location, creating custom tweeter pods to bring the stage a little higher. In the rear, the same components lodged right into the factory locales with only minor modifications necessary.
At Center
Up front, Fierek kept modifications at a minimum by dropping in an Alpine IVA-W205 head unit to replace the factory source. All the convenient add-ons were integrated, including the KCE-300BT for Bluetooth and the NVE-872N plus KCE-900E for navigation. To retain the steering wheel controls, the installers incorporated a PAC interface and for satrad with NavTraffic, they tucked away a Directed Electronics SIR-ALP10T. An Alpine PXA-H701 multimedia manager helps out with processing the various source options.
Amping Up
To keep the juice flowing, the team installed an Orion HP4800 4-channel to feed the component systems and an Orion HCCA D5000 monoblock for the subs. Given Fierek's place of work, the remaining essentials were a no-brainer: Directed Audio Essentials for all wiring and power accessories. A Kinetik HC2000 battery steps it up from the original. Lastly, a Viper Responder LE Pink (a special Susan G. Komen edition that supports breast cancer research) enables Duran to start her Jetta from afar and keep it secure.
Spacious Interiors
The installers faced their biggest challenge when trying to make the Jetta's cargo space accommodate the Orion HCCA 10-inch subwoofer. "How do you install a 50-pound woofer under a functional spare tire and keep the factory floor height?" Fierek posits. "With that we went to the bathroom for inspiration." We don't think he literally took a trip to the john, but the installers did come up with a toilet bowl-shaped enclosure to gain the goal airspace of a cubic foot. "There is the core enclosure that the sub drops into and the rim rests on and the rest of the enclosure runs back, utilizing the space between the spare tire and the rear cargo wall," he explains. The result is exactly what they wanted: clean tight bass while retaining a warm feel.
Beauty On The Outside
What custom car is complete without a few exterior touches? A Caractere body kit and E-Code HIDs instantly shout that this Jetta has something special going on, even if you glimpse it from across a parking lot or a few lanes away on the highway. New 19-inch PIAA Super Rosa wheels received a wrapping of 235/35/19 Toyo Proxes 4 tires and the whole setup slings low thanks to new Eibach coilovers. When you upgrade your wheels and your go power, don't forget your brakes. Duran didn't, taking on new Baer brakes with ABD stainless steel brake lines.
Green Performance
Duran wanted the Jetta to perform, so she didn't skimp when it came to engine mods. A slew of KERMATDI upgrades include a new turbo, injectors, nozzles, downpipe, the list goes on. Other upgrades include the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, ABD cold-air intake, EuroJet front-mount intercooler and AEM Dry Flow air filter.