Anybody got an APR intercooler?

[lukecupra2001]

hey guys im just wondering if anybody using an APR intercooler?

Im looking at buying a Leon FR or an mk2 Octavia Vrs and one of the first things im wanting to do is change the intercooler, obviuosly it be important when i up the power but i was also thinking of saveing the car any stress before get remap exhaust etc.

The only reason im thinking along these lines is that im sure my intercooler on my mk1 cupra is one of the reasons its still going strong on nearly 117k and still pulls like a train when the mood takes me.

Any info and opinions on different ideas are welcome as im just looking and weighing up the options.

Cheers.Luke

 

[ares]

The APR intercooler is massive although too expensive. For a stock car the APR intercooler is an overkill, for a mildly tuned car again not necessary. I'll say it's only usefull when you wanna go over the top. If you keep the FR's or VRs' stock turbo I don't think you need to spend a 1000 pounds on an intercooler. An S3 intercooler would be the best value for money in this case.

 

[warren_cox]

. An s3 intercooler would be the best value for money in this case.

+1

 

[vRSy]

I say S3 cooler to start with (k04 cars are using this upto 360HP no issues), then if you feel the need at a later date you can attach the forge twintercooler to it at the smae time and get even better cooling

 

[alx_chung]

I know of at least two members of the forum who run the APR Intercooler on their MKII Cupras. ZBoyd and singh123 and their cars are running 360 odd bhp at the moment.
Alex

 

[ares]

I am running mine with an S3 intercooler currently at 382 bhp and 49kg torque (ISO corrected) with Shell Vpower Racing 100 octane on MAHA. I was never left down by cooling. Plus I am on a hotter country than UK. Unless you street race every car you see on the road for over an hour you won't need a bigger cooler. It may be more usefull though if you are often on the track.

 

[lukecupra2001]

thanks for all the replies guys, like i said i was just after some info and ideas on what everbody else running.

i think i may go down the twintercooler and s3 route then as its bit cheaper than apr and wouldnt have to do it all in one go for whatever reason.

cheers again guys.

luke

 

[ares]

thanks for all the replies guys, like i said i was just after some info and ideas on what everbody else running.

i think i may go down the twintercooler and s3 route then as its bit cheaper than apr and wouldnt have to do it all in one go for whatever reason.

cheers again guys.

luke

Buying an S3 intercooler and a additional FMIC will be almost the same in price as buying the APR from the start (at least in Greece that's the case). Please give note to what I said before - if you are going for an FR or a Skoda VRs go for the APR intercooler only if you are going for a K04 turbo upgrade or bigger.

 

[singh123]

Hi mate i have the apr kit, its a great peice of kit i have no issues with it all it keeps everythong running nice and cool and plus when i got mine it was on a special price so i couldnt refuse

 

[ZBOYD]

Hi mate i have the apr kit, its a great peice of kit i have no issues with it all it keeps everythong running nice and cool and plus when i got mine it was on a special price so i couldnt refuse

Its a quality item, the build is second to none and you get what you pay for at the end of day and that's what choice is about.

Ares is correct in that it is probably overkill for a k04 and was designed specifically for APR's big turbo kits. However it does its job very well and its the largest most efficient IC you can get in the OEM space. I didn't want the IC to be on show as I prefer my car to be a bit of sleeper really, other than the 19" rims.

An IC isn't only about reducing temperatures, the improved air flow takes stress off the components and increases the recovery rate of the engine allowing it to better reach and surpass its potential. Nothing up with the other options though, and as I say that's what choice is all about.

But the special offer price was helpful too.

 

[lukecupra2001]

An IC isn't only about reducing temperatures, the improved air flow takes stress off the components and increases the recovery rate of the engine allowing it to better reach and surpass its potential.

Thats along the lines i was thinking off, as i said in OP im sure thats one of the reasons my Mk1 LC is still going strong. (nearly 9yrs old and 116k)

Thanks for the responses guys it giving me plenty to think about, hopefully going to start looking for new car in next few weeks.

Luke

 

[gezmeister]

How much bigger is the s3 ic to a normal cupra ic? Would you still side mount it in the wing, and is it a straight fit?

 

[alx_chung]

How much bigger is the s3 ic to a normal cupra ic? Would you still side mount it in the wing, and is it a straight fit?

Don't know the core sizes off hand but on the MKII Leon the Intercooler is front mounted and the S3 is plug and play really.
Alex

 

[warren_cox]

One of the things that hampers cooling in the front of our cars is the amount of cores (rads / IC's in the front of the car). The S3 is a pretty good OEM IC, but is hindered by all the other kit around it.

 

[gezmeister]

Just seen a pic of an s3 one, looks tiny!

 

[warren_cox]

Just seen a pic of an s3 one, looks tiny!

there's not a mass of space back there.

A chap I know who ran a twintercooler with his S3 unit professes he didn't see any massive benefit.

I think the way an IC allows air to flow (including the piping around it) can be as important as the overall size of it. I don't know the eact science of it, but you don't want pressure drops.

And whilst it has plastic end plates as opposed to metal like the aftermarket ones, I'd imagine the plastic is pretty reasonable as dissipating heat.

 

[ZBOYD]

This is a comparison image of APR versus the S3 and the VW GTI (197hp) which I have found.

The GTI cooler incidentally looks identical to the OEM Cupra intercooler but I can't verify that without measuring my old one.

Core Width
GTI - 32mm
S3 - 40mm
APR - 57mm

Inlet ID:
GTI - 53mm
S3 - 48mm
APR - 57mm

This is the APR cooler

Stock Cupra the one taken off my car.

 

[vRSy]

what about the THS intercooler. has recieved some top praise from the guys using it on stage 2+ ed30 golfs.

size and price wise it is in between the APR and S3,

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5864.0
This thread shows pics of before and after inclusing logs and comparisons if yor interested. could be of use to you

 

[-pseudonymous-]

^^^
Was just about to say the THS intercooler may also be one to consider as its very similar to the APR but a fair bit cheaper and has proven to perform well on Revo's K1 and the Golfs.

 

[cheungy]

I have one on my car...perfectly healthy though I brought mine 2nd hand for a good price but thats the only reason i have it