Are remaps worth it?
Discussion
I once owned a 1.7 Tdi Mk3 Cavalier (with the Isuzu engine) that was a bit frightening coming out of junctions as it would bog down unless you floored it and fed the clutch out vey slowly. However, I learnt to either wait for bigger gaps rather than burn my clutch away.
I don't think it needed a remap...just a rocket up it's backside.
I don't think it needed a remap...just a rocket up it's backside.
veryRS said:
My vRS Octy (TSi petrol) was 7.2 secs 0-60 standard. Its sub 6 secs 0-60 with a Blue Fin. However its the mid range acceleration that is most noticeable with the remap. 40-70mph and 60-100mph is incredibly fast and makes for some very easy overtakes. I felt it was very worth the £500 and made the car what it should have been out of the factory (its now the same bhp and torques as the Leon Cupra R which has the same engine).
Similar story here.I have a Mk.1 VRS Octy. Wasn't slow out of the box, granted, but wasn't that fast either. Sprightly maybe.
Had a Revo remap last summer - and at the time, they were doing them for £199 so a bargain really.
A big difference in my opinion. The biggest change was the engine's willingness to rev - before it used to get a bit ashmatic past 5,000 rpm and struggle onto the redline, not because it wanted to gain more speed - more because you were keeping your foot down for the sake of it. But before the remap, it was pointless - better to short shift at about 5,000 rpm.
After remap - Jeez, she just shoots past 5k and up to the redline with real urge and vigour! So a much keener car to drive if you're giving it max in each gear.
Fatter midrange grunt too, so that Motorway overtakes are much easier - no need to change down, squeezing on in fifth gear at 70 - 80 mph produces instant lunge.
It got rid of an annoying flatspot that was just off a closed throttle. Before, in traffic, as you gently squeezed the throttle on at walking pace, it would begin to move and then die, almost like you'd taken your foot off the throttle again. Now gone.
Fuel consumtion - some people say it is improved after a remap - my opinion is, unchanged. But that may be as a result of faster driving due to a more enjoyable, lively car, who knows? I am not enough of a boring anorak to measure that with any real degree of science or interest
In short, yes, a remap worked well for me. And my car is petrol - I hear Diesels respond much better.
Did I dream it or do some companies offer a free 'time limited' taster remap? I.e. the remap lasts for a month then reverts back to the stock map so you can sample it for yourself without a cost?
andy_s said:
Marf said:
andy_s said:
MC Bodge said:
Posts like this should be banned.
Or at least taken out and beaten with a moot.Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
veryRS said:
My vRS Octy (TSi petrol) was 7.2 secs 0-60 standard. Its sub 6 secs 0-60 with a Blue Fin. However its the mid range acceleration that is most noticeable with the remap. 40-70mph and 60-100mph is incredibly fast and makes for some very easy overtakes. I felt it was very worth the £500 and made the car what it should have been out of the factory (its now the same bhp and torques as the Leon Cupra R which has the same engine).
Similar story here.I have a Mk.1 VRS Octy. Wasn't slow out of the box, granted, but wasn't that fast either. Sprightly maybe.
Had a Revo remap last summer - and at the time, they were doing them for £199 so a bargain really.
A big difference in my opinion. The biggest change was the engine's willingness to rev - before it used to get a bit ashmatic past 5,000 rpm and struggle onto the redline, not because it wanted to gain more speed - more because you were keeping your foot down for the sake of it. But before the remap, it was pointless - better to short shift at about 5,000 rpm.
After remap - Jeez, she just shoots past 5k and up to the redline with real urge and vigour! So a much keener car to drive if you're giving it max in each gear.
Fatter midrange grunt too, so that Motorway overtakes are much easier - no need to change down, squeezing on in fifth gear at 70 - 80 mph produces instant lunge.
It got rid of an annoying flatspot that was just off a closed throttle. Before, in traffic, as you gently squeezed the throttle on at walking pace, it would begin to move and then die, almost like you'd taken your foot off the throttle again. Now gone.
Fuel consumtion - some people say it is improved after a remap - my opinion is, unchanged. But that may be as a result of faster driving due to a more enjoyable, lively car, who knows? I am not enough of a boring anorak to measure that with any real degree of science or interest
In short, yes, a remap worked well for me. And my car is petrol - I hear Diesels respond much better.
Did I dream it or do some companies offer a free 'time limited' taster remap? I.e. the remap lasts for a month then reverts back to the stock map so you can sample it for yourself without a cost?
Much more fun on tracks & Autobahnen too
MonkeyHanger said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
veryRS said:
My vRS Octy (TSi petrol) was 7.2 secs 0-60 standard. Its sub 6 secs 0-60 with a Blue Fin. However its the mid range acceleration that is most noticeable with the remap. 40-70mph and 60-100mph is incredibly fast and makes for some very easy overtakes. I felt it was very worth the £500 and made the car what it should have been out of the factory (its now the same bhp and torques as the Leon Cupra R which has the same engine).
Similar story here.I have a Mk.1 VRS Octy. Wasn't slow out of the box, granted, but wasn't that fast either. Sprightly maybe.
Had a Revo remap last summer - and at the time, they were doing them for £199 so a bargain really.
A big difference in my opinion. The biggest change was the engine's willingness to rev - before it used to get a bit ashmatic past 5,000 rpm and struggle onto the redline, not because it wanted to gain more speed - more because you were keeping your foot down for the sake of it. But before the remap, it was pointless - better to short shift at about 5,000 rpm.
After remap - Jeez, she just shoots past 5k and up to the redline with real urge and vigour! So a much keener car to drive if you're giving it max in each gear.
Fatter midrange grunt too, so that Motorway overtakes are much easier - no need to change down, squeezing on in fifth gear at 70 - 80 mph produces instant lunge.
It got rid of an annoying flatspot that was just off a closed throttle. Before, in traffic, as you gently squeezed the throttle on at walking pace, it would begin to move and then die, almost like you'd taken your foot off the throttle again. Now gone.
Fuel consumtion - some people say it is improved after a remap - my opinion is, unchanged. But that may be as a result of faster driving due to a more enjoyable, lively car, who knows? I am not enough of a boring anorak to measure that with any real degree of science or interest
In short, yes, a remap worked well for me. And my car is petrol - I hear Diesels respond much better.
Did I dream it or do some companies offer a free 'time limited' taster remap? I.e. the remap lasts for a month then reverts back to the stock map so you can sample it for yourself without a cost?
Much more fun on tracks & Autobahnen too
I really love my Mk.1, everything about it...would have to be a significant difference to get me to upgrade. I think the later cars are much bigger / more bloated looking and I really struggle with how the headlamp units have got bigger and bigger to almost comedy proportions!
Tell me - how do you find the newer car?
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Mmmm, I keep looking at newer VRS's, and often wonder how much better they are to mine.
I really love my Mk.1, everything about it...would have to be a significant difference to get me to upgrade. I think the later cars are much bigger / more bloated looking and I really struggle with how the headlamp units have got bigger and bigger to almost comedy proportions!
Tell me - how do you find the newer car?
Not sure if they are "better" than the mk1 per se. But I do like my 2010 FL Mk2. I think the looks differences are a love or hate thing, you either prefer the pre-fl look or not. Mine is an ex-demo and the dealer who put it on the road basically went down the options list and ticked everything (Columbus, DSG, Comfort Pack, Heated Leather vRS seats, the works). I got it pretty much half the OTR price (inc options) a year later so an utter bargain. With the remap, lowered by 20mm from standard and a few other "extras" it can stay and play with anything pretty much. Or I can slap a Phil Collins MP3 on, bung it in D and just enjoy I really love my Mk.1, everything about it...would have to be a significant difference to get me to upgrade. I think the later cars are much bigger / more bloated looking and I really struggle with how the headlamp units have got bigger and bigger to almost comedy proportions!
Tell me - how do you find the newer car?
veryRS said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Mmmm, I keep looking at newer VRS's, and often wonder how much better they are to mine.
I really love my Mk.1, everything about it...would have to be a significant difference to get me to upgrade. I think the later cars are much bigger / more bloated looking and I really struggle with how the headlamp units have got bigger and bigger to almost comedy proportions!
Tell me - how do you find the newer car?
Not sure if they are "better" than the mk1 per se. But I do like my 2010 FL Mk2. I think the looks differences are a love or hate thing, you either prefer the pre-fl look or not. Mine is an ex-demo and the dealer who put it on the road basically went down the options list and ticked everything (Columbus, DSG, Comfort Pack, Heated Leather vRS seats, the works). I got it pretty much half the OTR price (inc options) a year later so an utter bargain. With the remap, lowered by 20mm from standard and a few other "extras" it can stay and play with anything pretty much. Or I can slap a Phil Collins MP3 on, bung it in D and just enjoy I really love my Mk.1, everything about it...would have to be a significant difference to get me to upgrade. I think the later cars are much bigger / more bloated looking and I really struggle with how the headlamp units have got bigger and bigger to almost comedy proportions!
Tell me - how do you find the newer car?
Mine also has H&R spring and Bilstein dampers - plus some nice Brembo discs and pads - so handles and stops well, but as you say, does motorway cruising too!
nottyash said:
Totally depends on the car.
Skoda Fabia VRS and 150bhp Golf GTI turbo I have experience of, is your daft if you dont.
Well, I didn't with my Fabia VRS, although many do. Why? Because if I remapped it then the weak clutch and flywheel would probably go, the brakes would have definitely needed upgrading, the suspension would have needed upgrading etc leading to a lot more expense. It would spin the wheels in 2nd as standard and I suspect it would rather compromise the chassis. Therefore I thought if I wanted a faster car I would change it! The Golf GTI however... Never say never!Skoda Fabia VRS and 150bhp Golf GTI turbo I have experience of, is your daft if you dont.
Tyson1980 said:
Yes.
My old mans 2.0d X3 was remapped. Beforehand the car was very dangerous as it was so slow pulling out from junctions.
Forget the keyboard nobodies, I am using an auto 118d and understand the issue, you have to think at least a few seconds before pulling out on a junction.My old mans 2.0d X3 was remapped. Beforehand the car was very dangerous as it was so slow pulling out from junctions.
In regards to remaps, I have had a few TD's and among them the cars that stood out after remaps were a 406 hdi and Audi tdi, both remapped and looking at 30 bhp plus makes a hell of a lot of different for little losses in mpg. The driving experience increased 10 fold.
A remap can also tune the gearbox on autos's as well as the engine, but this is probably lost on the goldfish people that frequent here without a clue.
Edited by The Spruce goose on Friday 23 March 23:33
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