Your intercooler hit 380hp on the first dyno pull, but dropped to 340hp by the third. Heat soak isn't just losing power, it's killing consistency when you actually need it.
That €800 intercooler upgrade shows impressive dyno numbers, but your IAT logs tell a different story after 15 minutes of hard driving. Heat soak physics don't care about your modification budget.
Your stock GTI ECU is designed to protect Volkswagen's warranty, not unlock your car's potential. Conservative timing maps and overly sensitive knock detection can cost you 80-100hp even with full bolt-ons.