Photos: Andrew K. / Words: Nicholas F.
Tom Grinsell made the right decision back in 2009 by purchasing this gorgeous 2007 Fahrenheit GLI as his next step into the Volkswagen world. After owning a modded MKIV GTI, he decided it was time to move on to something newer.
Volkswagen has always built and designed some amazing cars with unique colors such as the MKIII Harlequin Golf, and the MK4 20th Anniversary cars. The Fahrenheit MKV GTI’s and GLI’s surely match up to that stature. The bright yellow on Tom’s GLI is a complete eye-catcher, and there is no doubt in my mind that someone can walk by it and not take a glance at it. It screams look at me, with a subtle and sophisticated edge, and not to mention that it is properly stanced on BBS RF wheels.
When Tom airs out, those properly restored RF’s tuck right into the fenders like a match made in heaven. The wheels are not something that you would see on a MKV platform, but it totally works. The lips are polished to a mirror finish, the faces resprayed, and the nicely done gold bolts all tie into the subtle euro look Tom was going for. The inspiration for the Jetta came from Jake over at WFSU and his gorgeous MK5 GTI with the super wide BBS RS wheels.
Body mods are not so extensive on this car compared to most, and thats okay because it works. Tom went with the badge-less look in the front end, complimented by a filled hood notch and blacked out side marker lights. Luckily his favorite part of the GLI’s appearance happens to be the clean front end. We asked Tom if money was no object, what would he do to his GLI? He replied with “ money can’t buy style”, but that he would change a few things to the body.
According to Tom the wheels were his biggest obstacle in building this car. They are BBS RF’s 17×8.5 et19 in the front 205/45/17 falken 512 1.5″ lips, and the rears are 17×9.5 et12 2.5″ lips 215/45/17 512s 24k hardware. He said that parts for the wheels were scattered all over the place or off getting blasted and powdercoated. After everything for the wheels was complete, Tom went ahead and started to assemble them. The wheels were assembled, sealed, and mounted just a few days prior to h2Oi last year.
When it comes down to it, other people have been the biggest critics of the build thus far. Tom says “if other people don’t like it, not my problem” And thats a great way to look at it, because some people lose track of their vision and let other peoples overrule their own.
Grisnell rates his car a solid 8 because the car is still missing a few things that he would like to have done, which would bring him to be as happy as he can be with the car. If he can describe his car in one word; it would be “yellow”.
Tom would like to give huge thanks to his friends, Scruggs; a local shop, Dan Hagen from AirLift, and his local guys over at Dubs In The Buff.
Tom loves hard parking in his gorgeous Fahrenheit GLI, it never gets old to him, and I can see why it doesn’t. Who wouldn’t love waking up every morning and seeing that car in their garage?
Modification List
Wheels: BBS RF’s
Fronts: 17×8.5 et19, 1.5” lip, and Falken 512’s 205/45/17 Rears: 17×9.5 et12, 2.5” lip, and Falken 512’s 215/45/17
24k Gold hardware
Suspension:
AirLift Slam kit
Frame notch
Max negative camber
Single Viair compressor
Dual OSIR center console gauge pod
Performace:
Eurojet EA Pipe Forge Diverter Valve
