Downpipe, intake, tune, and upgraded intercooler and you have a car that can keep up most everything out there.
Pros: car can keep up
Vehicle:
Ford Mustang
Owner reviews for intercooler
Manufacturers
I run the full APR intake system and, most importantly, the APR Intercooler. My large intercooler keeps IATs (and therefore EGTs) down. This keeps the oil temps in the safe zone where 0W-20 still protects the bearings.
Pros: keeps oil temps safe
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Tiguan
Depo 3.5 intercooler.
Personally, I drove at Stage 2 for a while and then went up to 3 for 93 AKI gasoline. I am happy I did. I have noticed more lag, but it is with respect to faster acceleration; I have not noticed more lag with respect to how the car drove at Stage 1 or 2. The lag is there, but as others were discussing above, I start out in race mode using the manual paddle shifters and allow the RPMs to go higher than the TCU would normally allow to build up exhaust gases in 1st gear. I then flip the vehicle into S-mode to allow the TCU to take over and the car will quickly shift through 2nd into 3rd gear, where most ppl with these cars feel the acceleration really kicks in. Also, turn off the ESC stability control; it really hampers acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear as well.... though you better keep those hands well-gripped on the steering wheel when you stop the accelerator ;-)
Pros: happy with stage 3
Cons: noticed more lag
In 2 years/ 27k miles, I never had to add oil between oil changes. My MK7 was the same way.
Pros: no oil consumption
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
Mileage: 43452 km
The APR intercooler is very good and more than adequate for anything stock turbo. The stock intercooler is the devil, I can feel that turd heatsoaking in our current 35ish temps and anything over 40 and it feels like it's heat soaked before I even have full oil temps.
Pros: very good, more than adequate
Cons: stock intercooler heatsoaking
Thanks for this great thread. I was about to pull the trigger on the EQT update for full torque on my Mk8R but I'm similarly skeptically about the possible long term consequences. Frankly speaking, it's darn quick already and I appreciate the overall flat torque curve. I feel it will be better for the track as well when I'm really revving it out..
Pros: overall flat torque curve
Cons: long term consequences
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
The mk8 is certainly less subtle than the mk7, especially in Lapiz Blue. I've had my fair share of guys wanting to run. Elantra n, civic type r, a few Audi s's, WRX. On an empty highway I'll enjoy a few friendly 40-90 pulls in good fun.
Pros: enjoys friendly pulls
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
with aftermarket intercooler and exhaust, make sure it is also (mildly) tuned otherwise you might find it goes into self protection (limp mode).
Cons: self protection, limp mode
Vehicle:
Nissan Patrol
Lot of work had to be done the past 12 months - intercooler replacement, front upper AND lower control arm, transmission flush, NOx sensors…
Cons: intercooler, control arms, NOx sensors
Mileage: 230000 km
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Owner reviews for intercooler
As of March 2026, PartReview has 44 reviews across 12 manufacturers for intercooler. Unfortunately, there are not enough manufacturers yet to build a ranking for intercooler. You can help by adding a review.
Popular manufacturers of intercooler
The most popular manufacturers of intercooler on PartReview include:
- APR - 24 reviews. PR Score: 97, average rating: 4.5.
- OEM Volkswagen - 4 reviews. PR Score: not available yet, average rating: 4.5.
- OEM Nissan - 2 reviews. PR Score: not available yet, average rating: 3.0.
- OEM Porsche - 2 reviews. PR Score: not available yet, average rating: 3.5.
- WAGNER - 2 reviews. PR Score: not available yet, average rating: 4.0.
Most opinions about performance and characteristics of intercooler are collected on these pages.
Top manufacturers of intercooler
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Comparisons of intercooler manufacturers
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