LCR performance mod's

[RobM]

I've been reading loads this afternoon about remaps, ARB's, exhausts etc etc in a vein attempt to work out what, if anything, I want to do to my LCR.

I'd like to hear opinions on two possible mod's, so I have a simple question to put to you all...

Which one of these would you chose, why, and what are the Pro's and Con's of each:

Option 1: Stage 1 remap - Be it Revo or Custom

Option 2: Anti roll bars and a cat back exhaust

Option 3: Something else I've not considered for similar money....?

If I've done my maths right, both should come in at a similar price. I'm thinking £600 for the remap if I go custom and £400 for the ARB's + £200 for something like the Magnex cat back exhaust as seen on eBay.

What would you go for, and why?

Ta

 

[Ruddmeister]

I'd forget the exhaust until you are ready to look at going Revo stage 2 or change turbo and go for over 300bhp. The only reason to change the exhaust before this is noise or bling-bling tailpipes

Remap will but the biggest grin on your face for the money.

ARB's are a great option too although I'd get the dampers and spring changed at the same time and get something really fun to drive.

Both Custom Code and Revo will be excellent solutions, if you a meant 'Custom remap' firstly understand what you get for your money and what is meant by 'custom' because you may be dissapointed on a stage 1 remap

 

[RobM]

Cheers Steve. To be honest, the only reason for considering an exhaust is to liven up the sound a tad. Most aftermarket exhausts (I'm thinking BF, Magnex, Milltek) don't look a massive amount different to stock LCR, so looks aren't a big deal.

Springs and dampers are something I'd like to do, but to be honest are out of my price range at the moment. If the money was there I'd be shopping for Eibach springs and Koni FSD's

And with regards to a remap, I'm a little stuck here. I fully understand the difference between custom and generic (i.e. Revo), but I'm torn between the two. The way I see it, is I have no intention of getting a FMIC, turbo-back exhaust or anything else like that. The most mods my LCR will see is a cat back exhaust, BMC CDA (unlikely, but the only induction kit I'd consider) and a remap. And I'm fairly sure that the Revo Stage 1 map will have been designed with those sort of mods in mind? Correct me if I'm wrong. So working on that basis, I can't see the custom map offering a massive amount more. The one main benefit I do see though, is being able to specify how the power is delivered - I'd quite like to make more use of the rev range available to be honest, and perhaps a custom map can help here?

See where I'm going with this?

 

[Feel]

If your budget is tight, or you just don't want to mod too far, just get a stage 1 remap, definitely. Over the other choices - bet bang for buck there is.

As for generic vs. custom (true bespoke code) I personally would say don't worry about it, just pick one and get on with it.

Edit: Sounds to me that if you ever do go for more mods, they're not going to be too extensive, so the option to upgrade to stge 2 would be good future-proofing.

 

[LEON_FR]

Id go for the map, excellent gains and doesnt cost too much...as for downside cant really think of one.
All i have on my Leon is a APR map and forge DV and the car feels great.
I would recomend a remap to start off with.

 

[Ruddmeister]

Revo Stage 1 map will have been designed with those sort of mods in mind? Correct me if I'm wrong. So working on that basis, I can't see the custom map offering a massive amount more. The one main benefit I do see though, is being able to specify how the power is delivered - I'd quite like to make more use of the rev range available to be honest, and perhaps a custom map can help here?

See where I'm going with this?

Good glad you are not swung by a pretty sales brochure, headline power figures etc.......hats off to these guys the word Custom with a stage 1 remap really is a clever piece of selling...

I see where you are going and for the level of mods you have in mind I (me personally) would be concentrating on doing a list of Pro's and Con's for the available remaps......see which suits me best.

Think of things like
- Cost?
- Is travelling to get the work done an issue?
- If I have an issue will travelling back be a problem?
- Am I convinced by the level of R&D in this product?
- If I get problems after the remap what kind of back up is there with this tuner?
- etc etc

Also consider the Free trials from Revo and APr both should give you a flavour of what is to come.....

Good luck with whichever you choose.....

The big names Revo, Apr, Custom Code, Forge and Jabba all offer fine products for the money IMO, they are just like different flavours of milkshake, some people prefer Strawberry, others prefer Chocolate

 

[RobM]

Sounds to me that if you ever do go for more mods, they're not going to be too extensive, so the option to upgrade to stge 2 would be good future-proofing.

That's an interesting thought.... Can you tell me though, if Revo Stage 2 would give good results on a semi-standard car? I know to get the best from it you need a 4-bar FPR, turbo back exhaust and ideally a FMIC... but what results are likely with my car? Is the end product going to be any different to Stage 1?

EDIT - Actually, I think I have mis-understood your point, so ignore me. You're saying that the option to upgrade to Stage 2 at a later date would be handy to have.... not that doing it now would be worthwhile.

Sorry, my fault!

 

[RobM]

Good glad you are not swung by a pretty sales brochure, headline power figures etc.......hats off to these guys the word Custom with a stage 1 remap really is a clever piece of selling...

I see where you are going and for the level of mods you have in mind I (me personally) would be concentrating on doing a list of Pro's and Con's for the available remaps......see which suits me best.

Think of things like
- Is travelling to get the work done an issue?
- If I have an issue will travelling back be a problem?
- Am I convinced by the level of R&D in this product?
- If I get problems after the remap what kind of back up is there with this tuner?
- etc etc

Also consider the Free trials from Revo and APr both should give you a flavour of what is to come.....

Good luck with whichever you choose.....

Excellent points. And as for being sucked in by headline figures, that's not for me thanks What happens on the road is of much more interest.

Just thinking about the questions you pose there... Revo does sound the best option. The reason for that is down to my choice of tuner: JKM. I have absolute faith in their ability, they are 30 minutes away from me, I know they would bend over backwards to help a customer and I know I can always get a friendly and honest answer should I have problems afterwards.

Thanks

 

[Ruddmeister]

As for generic vs. custom (true bespoke code) I personally would say .....

.......Who the bl00dy hell really does that and do I have to win the lottery to be able to afford it

 

[paul26982]

agree with all the advise givin, but my choice of map if not going custom would be APR, in my opinion are excellent

 

[Ruddmeister]

That's an interesting thought.... Can you tell me though, if Revo Stage 2 would give good results on a semi-standard car? I know to get the best from it you need a 4-bar FPR, turbo back exhaust and ideally a FMIC... but what results are likely with my car? Is the end product going to be any different to Stage 1?

EDIT - Actually, I think I have mis-understood your point, so ignore me. You're saying that the option to upgrade to Stage 2 at a later date would be handy to have.... not that doing it now would be worthwhile.

Sorry, my fault!

IF you are talking Revo then Stage 1 can be 'tailored' [is that the right word ] with an SPS controller much like I understand Custom Code have free software to download onto a laptop.

By using these tuner tools and logging with VAGCOM you could find the ultimate setup.

That said it's not 'that' easy as todays cool damp conditions mean you can probably run more boost........then more logging for different fuel types etc......you could spend more time adjusting things than driving

I used a Revo setup that 'felt good' seat of the pants stuff and left the tweaking alone......for that you could borrow an SPS or look out for one 2nd hand at a later date.

Depends what floats your boat, plug and play and get on with it.....or tweaking and fiddling to find a nice set up.

If JKM are close why not start with the Revo trial and take things from there? if you don't like it cross Revo off the list and move on....

 

[paullec]

Im just wondering what these remaps are like for people who use there car day in day out traffic etc do they make them more "extreme" or "unreliable" or is it like just buying the lcr with 260 odd bhp from stock ? TBH i will be sorting out handling before remap

 

[Banana Man]

I would have to say that Revo Stage 1 with SPS2 is an excellent start.
If you do remap, I think it's a good idea to change the turbo intake pipe and DV. SPS2 switch is handy for turning the map to "stock" when handing car in for servicing/valet/girl/wife etc plus has additional immob.
I'm running standard suspension on my LCR and have a ball!

Remap is easiest route for larger power gains without hassles IMO.

I will be selling my SPS2 as planning for stage 2 and SPS3, you'll want FMIC, exhaust and 4bar fpr for this etc but remap is only £50.
ENJOY!

 

[RobM]

If JKM are close why not start with the Revo trial and take things from there? if you don't like it cross Revo off the list and move on....

Far too many horror stories about what's left behind after a Revo trial. I'd rather avoid that option to be honest.

Everything is pointing towards a Revo remap to start with. Will have to raid the piggy bank I think and see what's what. Will probably wait until insurance renewal time in Feb and see what difference it makes

 

[p1tse]

hi rob, good to see your in the modifying mood here.

i am too looking at a similar thing. have seen revo and apr for the likes do like a stage 1 and 2, but are the differences that noticeable to worry about it. i.e if an exhaust was on and FMIC 4 bar fuel, would stage 2 give much better poke.

make sure you choose the correct place. many Revo dealers. any "monkey" can plug in a port to the car and upload, but make sure you choose one who know's what they are doing, i.e before and after diagnostics etc.

this is where a custom one can be better, such as AMD, APS etc.

 

[RobM]

Hey bud. You saw the Celica, I've never been one to turn down the opportunity to mod my car

When it comes to remap time it will be a choice between AmD and Revo for me, as other options are simply to far away and don't offer anything these don't.

With regards to Stage 2, if you have the other parts you need for it, then it's well worth the extra £50 if what I've read here is to be believed. The headline power figures might not seem that different, but the way in which the power is delivered makes stage 2 a good upgrade.

 

[Ruddmeister]

if you have the other parts you need for it, then it's well worth the extra £50 if what I've read here is to be believed. The headline power figures might not seem that different, but the way in which the power is delivered makes stage 2 a good upgrade.

Agreed if you have the mods it's worth it, but shelling out for

Induction Kit
4bar FPR
Exhaust
+£50 for the map

could total £800-£1,200 which is better spent on the suspension IMO

 

[scottzedal]

Alright Rob

I had all the same questions and queries as you mate.

I decided to bite the bullet as suggested and opted for Revo software at Votex in Congleton.

I wanted the reassurance that i was getting a remap by a company that has specifically develpoed the map for VAG turbo engines, that i hope would avoid any problems.

The hardest decision for me was opting to run on standard or 98 Ron fuel.

Revo can be tailored to run on either at the time of install.

I opted for standard fuel as i can't justify the extra 5p per litre/finding a garage with 98Ron etc etc.

I am impressed with the performance gains but not as much as i'd hoped.

I am going to go back to Votex and have the map altered to 98Ron and run with that for a while to sample the difference.

Only problem for me is fuel consumtion.

I have to admit to having a very heavy right foot as before i was averaging 20mpg. Now i'm averaging about 15/16mpg.

Hope that helps.

Scott

 

[ElasticTangent]

I decided to bite the bullet as suggested and opted for Revo software at Votex in Congleton.

Hey Scott. How good were the guys at Vortex? They're just down the road from me.

 

[Feel]

They're supposed to be okay - Empi5 loves 'em.

@RobM - Regal aren't that far from you I don't think, and they're a GIAC (garrett) dealer. No recommendation, just another option.