For your situation, I suggest these after years with the EA888:

1. 034Motorsport Dynamic+ Rear Sway Bar vs Eibach 25mm Rear Anti-Roll Bar. The 034 kills understeer while keeping things comfy. Eibach was too harsh honestly.
2. Racingline VWR Cold Air Intake System vs APR Open Carbon Fiber Intake System. Unfortunately, the APR had issues with heat soak... not as good as expected.
3. 034Motorsport MQB Dogbone Mount Insert. Basically essential for solid shifts. gl!

yo, just saw this thread and wanted to jump in... I went through this last year with my GLI and definitely learned a few lessons about building a daily. Over the years, I've tested a bunch of setups to see what actually works for a long commute like yours. Basically, you want stuff that improves the 'feel' without making the cabin noisy or vibrating ur teeth out lol.

Option A: Intake Path. I compared the pricey open-air systems to a simple K&N 33-3005 High-Flow Air Filter combined with a Leyo Motorsports VAG 2.0T High Flow Silicone Turbo Inlet Pipe. Honestly, the drop-in and inlet pipe combo is way better for a daily. Pros: It’s subtle, way cheaper, and you don’t get that annoying highway drone. Cons: You miss out on the loud turbo 'whoosh' sounds. Best choice for a commuter is definitely the inlet pipe combo.

Option B: Rubber. You mentioned the PS4S, and they're amazing, but for 40 miles of highway daily, I actually prefer the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS 225/40ZR18. They last way longer than the Michelins and are significantly quieter on rough asphalt. In my experience, the grip is like 95% there for street use anyway.

Option C: Handling. Since people already mentioned sway bars, look into the 034Motorsport Billet Aluminum MQB Front Subframe Locking Collar Kit. Compared to a sway bar, this actually helps with straight-line stability on the highway more. It stops the subframe from shifting, so the car feels way more planted when ur cruising at speed without adding any harshness.

Pair those with a solid Unitronic Stage 1+ ECU Tune and you’ll have a beast of a daily that wont break the bank. good luck with the build dude!! 👍

Solid advice 👍

This^ Also wanted to add, since you're tuning, safety is key.

EBC Brakes Redstuff Ceramic Brake Pads DP31517C vs StopTech Sport Brake Pads 309.16330. EBC is cleaner for daily use, while StopTech handles heat better if you're aggressive.

I'd suggest EBCs plus the Unitronic Intercooler Upgrade for 2.0 TSI Gen3 to avoid heat soak on those 40-mile commutes. Basically, stay safe and keep it cool! 👍

Yep, this is the way