Engine tune between VAG badges

[fingerz81]

I've been looking and couldn't find anything really focusing on this, hence my post.

I'm considering making a trip of some distance to look at a Leon FR estate CR Tdi. Having driven Audi and Skoda cars with this engine (148 bhp) I notice a subtle difference in how the cars perform, which I consider to be more about the software/management/feel that VAG give the brands according to their price points. I've driven a few Seats, one being an EXEO with the 170 (ish) bhp version of this engine and it felt really slow and agricultural. I was surprised but put it down to brand positioning. This Leon is a newer generation Seat (2016) and I'm wondering if it could be a great fit for me if the engine feels like the units in the cars I have driven...


My question is:
Before I make the trip, has anyone compared this generation FR CR Tdi (2016) to the skoda or Audi branded motors I'm familiar with? How does the performance/feel compare? I'm not bothered about trim etc, I know what to expect. I'm purely focusing on the pull and feel of the engine. It looks like a straight motor and if it drove like the others I've sat behind the wheel of, I'd happily swallow the depreciation and interior quality side of things as it will do what I want.


Thanks in advance..

[Baldchap]

I'd pop to your local Seat dealer or car supermarket and see if you can test drive one.

[xjay1337]

fingerz81 said:

I've been looking and couldn't find anything really focusing on this, hence my post.

I'm considering making a trip of some distance to look at a Leon FR estate CR Tdi. Having driven Audi and Skoda cars with this engine (148 bhp) I notice a subtle difference in how the cars perform, which I consider to be more about the software/management/feel that VAG give the brands according to their price points. I've driven a few Seats, one being an EXEO with the 170 (ish) bhp version of this engine and it felt really slow and agricultural. I was surprised but put it down to brand positioning. This Leon is a newer generation Seat (2016) and I'm wondering if it could be a great fit for me if the engine feels like the units in the cars I have driven...


My question is:
Before I make the trip, has anyone compared this generation FR CR Tdi (2016) to the skoda or Audi branded motors I'm familiar with? How does the performance/feel compare? I'm not bothered about trim etc, I know what to expect. I'm purely focusing on the pull and feel of the engine. It looks like a straight motor and if it drove like the others I've sat behind the wheel of, I'd happily swallow the depreciation and interior quality side of things as it will do what I want.


Thanks in advance..

Given the same engine code will have the same underlying software on the ECU running it, I'd say anything you hear would be differences between either a well serviced or poorly serviced engine, and differences in construction of the car IE some grommets present in certain areas but not in others, exhaust routing for transverse v longitudinal engine and other differences EG sound deadening quality and amount.

[fingerz81]

xjay1337 said:

Given the same engine code will have the same underlying software on the ECU running it, I'd say anything you hear would be differences between either a well serviced or poorly serviced engine, and differences in construction of the car IE some grommets present in certain areas but not in others, exhaust routing for transverse v longitudinal engine and other differences EG sound deadening quality and amount.

Interesting. Thanks.

[fingerz81]

Baldchap said:

I'd pop to your local Seat dealer or car supermarket and see if you can test drive one.

Yeh just feel bad wasting people's time, if only that went both ways!

[J4CKO]

The 170 bhp one shouldnt feel slow, agricultural maybe but having driven a few cars with that engine it never fails to impress me how punch they feel, Golfs with that engine particularly seem to shift pretty well.

[fingerz81]

I guess my question is, do you notice a difference in performance between brands?

[rainmakerraw]

fingerz81 said:

I guess my question is, do you notice a difference in performance between brands?

As you suspected, this is engineered in to some degree. If you connect VAGCOM to the car, you'll see the accelerator pedal sensor set to 'Skoda' or 'Audi', for example - the latter being perceptibly sharper and faster to pick up. It's one of the first recommended mods on the Briskoda forum.

[fingerz81]

Aha. Is this an easy tweak to make? Cost wise?

[rainmakerraw]

fingerz81 said:

Aha. Is this an easy tweak to make? Cost wise?

If you already own a VAGCOM unit? It's free. VAGCOM units aren't cheap though. You'll generally be able to find someone local willing to do it for a few beers on the respective owners' club/forum though.

Edit: You can try a search for 'VAG COM VCDS tweaks (brand/car)' for hints.

[blank]

Base engine is the same, but there can be slight differences in calibration. Audis tend to have a more aggressive throttle pedal map for instance. You can sometimes change some of these elements with tools like VCDS.

NVH could be very different with changes to sound deadening, isolation mounts etc.

[Drive Blind]

The 150 engine is the newer generation EA288 engine, the 170 is the older EA189 unit - the emissions scandal one.

Something also to bear in mind is the driving modes of the cars. They alter the throttle mapping.
I went from a CR140 to a CR184. On the first drive the 184 felt flat until I realised I was in eco mode.

[fingerz81]

Thanks all. Interesting about the throttle info, that makes perfect sense.

The Octavia I drove recently felt amazing in sport mode, maybe the Exeo was in eco and I couldn't find the button, now I'm tarring all Seats with that brush. OK, I'm going to double check the finances and maybe make the journey to see the Leon FR.

[ManicMunky]

Basically, they make the throttle map less linear. So you get more power with less foot movement. It's all a bit of a placebo to be honest, just push your foot down more!

[Rutter]

I've driven all 4 brands a lot over the years and same engine wise other than maybe slight tweaks to sound and throttle response they all feel the same.

[ahenners]

As mentioned it's all about the throttle mapping; quite a few people change the mapping on the Octavia from Skoda to Audi via VCDS and report a perceived improvement.