Best Turbocharger for Volkswagen Golf

I have 40k on my car (30k on stage 2) and it's flawless.

Mine has over 200k now, still running the stock turbo. I will probably keep this car for awhile.

Garrett t3t4 here, NO restrictor. 3+ years and no issues.

Well if it matters I just hit 108k miles on my k03s. Been chipped since around 60k. Added a tbe at around 80k. I used whatever the dealer told me to use for my warranty period (50k) changed every 5k miles. I switched to full synthetic since then and still change every 5k. Change the plugs every 40k until I switched to the NGK 7Es which I change every 10k. Timing belt every 60k, fuel filter every 50 along with tranny fluid. I just hit 108k yesterday and I still have the original clutch and dv.

In my '00 Golf it lasted 189,000 miles. 174,000 miles chipped.

Having driven my 2001 in both modes as well, I would say the top-end gains are where I felt a change, but even then, we're not talking 5-car-lengths in races here, folks. That being said, my K04 works nicely and the torque feels a bit more broad and I am enjoying it.

There are IS38s that have failed under stock conditions. You're not going to gain much insight here. Some fail, most don't.

I'm APR stage 2 currently waiting on a Golf R Turbo and a tune for that! Currently limited by my tires and suspension(only lowering springs, still too soft)

My IS12 turbo's wastegate failed. Thankfully, it was replaced under warranty at 57k miles, even with a stage 1 Apr tune.

I just replaced my 2015 TSI 1.8 after it lost all compression on #4 cylinder. It is IS20 turbo with the APR tune.