Changed to an XL

[markirel]

Upgraded my Altea to an XL due to needing more luggage space for family camping trips. Have stayed with the 140 TDI but have changed to DSG which will take some getting used to. The new one has full leather, 17" Avigor wheels and the Seat Aero bodykit which makes it stand out a bit. I've kept my engine cover to carry-over to the new car and have removed the sliding seat upgrade which I had fitted to the regular Altea in pursuit of more boot space.

I noticed that the option of DSG only comes on the 140 engine and not the 170. Does any one know if this is due to the gearbox not being able to handle the extra torque? I curious as to whether or not a remap would cause problems.

 

[Tony Lawrence]

Mark.

Like you l upgraded to an XL from a 140 TDI Sport in January after 3 years trouble free motoring. . Must say the extra space is nice and l find the ride is better. I opted for the 170 with sports pack and must say the mid range torque is awesome.

Neighbour has a new Golf with the same 170 engine and a DSG box so it is available, and also expensive. Obviously VAG are being particular what they fit it to. (Must say it is also very nice to drive)

 

[markirel]

So the DSG box must be good for the power hike then . I'll be OK for a while as I didn't test drive a 170 so I don't know what I am missing. I'm guessing that I will miss the sports seats though as on the test drive I could feel that the standard seats were not hugging me as tightly. Ride and handling felt good and I suppose the rear springs are stiffer to take account of the extra load.

Quite quiet in the XL as well given that there is only a roller-blind across the boot space and not a real shelf.

 

[Alty]

I have also upgraded to an XL from a 'standard' Altea and have found the extra space invaluable for carrying all the stuff a daughter needs for university!!

You mention that you carried the engine cover over. Can you have these retro fitted and do they make any difference at all eg sound proofing?

 

[markirel]

I fitted the cover as soon as I got home with the new car so didn't really have chance to notice any difference. I don't think that it would have much effect on in-cabin noise but it should be quieter outside as there is an amount of absorbing foam underneath. The main thing for me was the appearance of the engine bay which is much better now.

As far as I know the parts can be ordered separatey (a search on here will probaby reveal the part numbers). It's the cover and three mounting posts/screws that are required, two of which need an M6 thread tapping into the air intake manifold (plastic) in the pre-drilled holes.

 

[neilmac]

Looks good. You mention sliding seat upgrade to your old Altea? Im curious is this a dealer part is it expensive and easy to fit?

 

[Viking]

Dead easy to fit. I bought them off him and fitted them in about an hour. Found £1.50 under the rear seats aswell, just for good measure.

The cost from the dealers is over £200 ( I know because my mate at VW priced them for me before I bought Marks), but you might be able to wrangle some discount off them via your local dealers.

 

[markirel]

Beat me to it, was going to say that the bits cost about £205 and well worth it in my opinion. If you search through the Altea forum you will be able to get a list of the required part numbers

 

[CrispDust]

DSG supposedly has a toque limit it can handle.
I had my 140 remapped to 190+ with a similar increase in torque. Not had any problems so far but not really given if full welly for any extended periods or long drives. Low/mid range range overtaking is superb.

 

[markirel]

Great, week after next I have a week holiday from work and am hoping to get a p-torque remap (have to book and arrange it yet). Changing from a manual to DSG Altea the performance (and economy) has lessened but the my new car has only 5k and will not have loosened up yet.

 

[Viking]

Mark, Will apparently knows his stuff but just be aware that the torque limit for the dsg box is about 260 lb/ft. The engine can be mapped up to about 300 lb ft, but that's well above the specified limit. Better ask to make sure he limits the torque.

 

[markirel]

Cheers mate, will check with Will and see what my options are. Certainly don't want to go above the limit for the box as that will be asking for trouble. Just wondering now if an increase from 236 to 260 lb/ft will be noticable enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[Viking]

I'm sure it'll be a different beast with a mild tune on it anyway, and at least you won't have the problem of slipping clutches to cope with.

Just a thought. Have you considered a removeable / switchable map system? I bought a device from Chipped UK (Bromsgrove based) called ST3, and I plug it into the OBD port, switch maps as required and away we go. Gives me the option of standard map, economy, and fast road whenever I want to change.

 

[markirel]

Looks interesting but is a fair-old premium over the remap. I'd have to find a few other things to sell before I could afford that.

 

[Viking]

If you were a member of another forum, they have a members discount scheme, and also did a group buy where the deal was done for £325. That was for the unit itself and standard map, plus two others of your choice.

 

[chrisash32]

DSG supposedly has a toque limit it can handle.
I had my 140 remapped to 190+ with a similar increase in torque. Not had any problems so far but not really given if full welly for any extended periods or long drives. Low/mid range range overtaking is superb.

190+???? Everywhere i have asked about my PD140 have said no more than 165!!! Who did you manager to get that did 190+ I am seeing them! lol

 

[chrisash32]

If you were a member of another forum, they have a members discount scheme, and also did a group buy where the deal was done for £325. That was for the unit itself and standard map, plus two others of your choice.

That looks like a cool offer!
What does each map you got give you? eco? Fast? etc etc
Cant moan at £325 for the lot!!!!

 

[Viking]

On the 140 engine (2.0ltr), economy gives about 155bhp I think, fast road about 180bhp, and race about 190bhp.

 

[chrisash32]

On the 140 engine (2.0ltr), economy gives about 155bhp I think, fast road about 180bhp, and race about 190bhp.

Hmmm, i might email them and ask as their website only quotes 175...

 

[Viking]

They might be right, as I'm only speaking from memory....