Where's the benefit if....

[logger]

Where's the benefit of getting an ECU upgrade IF one was to drive their car in exactly the same manner after the upgrade?

I know I am not alone in considering a stage 1 ECU remap. I have loads of questions but this one has been bugging me because if probably reflects 80% of the driving my car will do. Undeniably the ECU upgrade gives x more KW and NMs
- however -
If Mr average me launches off from the lights at gets to 60kph in sync with the rest of daily traffic with and without the "powerful ECU Upgrade" what am I going to be seeing for all my money?

I have no problem understanding that I would notice the extra performance if I give the car a bit of stick. But unless I am a hoon or trying to upset everyone else on the road I am struggling to see where I will see the difference in everyday driving. Only obvious exception is when passing.

Dont get me wrong - I want this piece of kit - but I also want to understand it better before I pony up the dosh.

I would appreciate anyones thoughts on this and in particular any current users of the ECU upgrade. Thnx.

[h100vw]

Where's the benefit of getting an ECU upgrade IF one was to drive their car in exactly the same manner after the upgrade?

I know I am not alone in considering a stage 1 ECU remap. I have loads of questions but this one has been bugging me because if probably reflects 80% of the driving my car will do. Undeniably the ECU upgrade gives x more KW and NMs
- however -
If Mr average me launches off from the lights at gets to 60kph in sync with the rest of daily traffic with and without the "powerful ECU Upgrade" what am I going to be seeing for all my money?

Nothing much.

I have no problem understanding that I would notice the extra performance if I give the car a bit of stick. But unless I am a hoon or trying to upset everyone else on the road I am struggling to see where I will see the difference in everyday driving. Only obvious exception is when passing.

Overtaking quickly is one definite benefit.

Dont get me wrong - I want this piece of kit - but I also want to understand it better before I pony up the dosh.

It seems to me you want to spend the money for the sake of it, as opposed to doing it for the power. I could have it wrong.

I would appreciate anyones thoughts on this and in particular any current users of the ECU upgrade. Thnx.

If you are doubtful of the need for the extra power, did you not ask that question when you bought the 1.8T, when you could have got a lower power model?

Apologies if I have missed your point some how.

Gavin

[Yevvy]

Where's the benefit of getting an ECU upgrade IF one was to drive their car in exactly the same manner after the upgrade?

I know I am not alone in considering a stage 1 ECU remap. I have loads of questions but this one has been bugging me because if probably reflects 80% of the driving my car will do. Undeniably the ECU upgrade gives x more KW and NMs
- however -
If Mr average me launches off from the lights at gets to 60kph in sync with the rest of daily traffic with and without the "powerful ECU Upgrade" what am I going to be seeing for all my money?

I have no problem understanding that I would notice the extra performance if I give the car a bit of stick. But unless I am a hoon or trying to upset everyone else on the road I am struggling to see where I will see the difference in everyday driving. Only obvious exception is when passing.

Dont get me wrong - I want this piece of kit - but I also want to understand it better before I pony up the dosh.

I would appreciate anyones thoughts on this and in particular any current users of the ECU upgrade. Thnx.

I think you answered your own question there buddy. Chip = more power = faster car. If you don't need faster car, don't get a chip. Simple

[logger]

If you are doubtful of the need for the extra power, did you not ask that question when you bought the 1.8T, when you could have got a lower power model?

Apologies if I have missed your point some how.

Gavin

No probs... Definately asked myself that question and I bought the 1.8T because I reckon I will indeed enjoy having the extra power when driving. (Being pedantic I don't actually need it though )

I think you answered your own question there buddy. Chip = more power = faster car. If you don't need faster car, don't get a chip. Simple

Yes I understand that.

Really just wanted to confirm my thinking that if you don't intend to actually use it by driving the car somewhat differently you wont see the benefit of having it.

Thanks you both for the quick replies. All helps in the decision process.

[gerhard]

If you are commuting you only need a Proton Savvy, or an old chooktin on gas...

Chips often improve your fuel economy in light use due to running leaner than standard.

[IanJ]

Lets face it. We all have cars that are more powerful than we NEED for running around.....

A little bit more always comes in handy in overtaking situations (provided you can still do so safely)

But the real answer is you WANT more power for that occasional blast that you give the car to get a buzz from owning something a little bit special (otherwise we'd all be driving something korean!)

[brad]

I have no idea about chipped cars but I've done modified intake/exhausts for better breathing on less modern cars, tuned the fuel mixture better & optimised the spark timing & often achieved better fuel economy when driving "normally".

[blutopless2]

i took this into consideration when i chipped my jetta.
with 147kW i figured that would be enough. and the fact it would be my "family" car with my wife and daughter or either of them in the car with me 90% of the time i asked myself if i would see any benefit from it.
simple answer is yes. now has approx 180kW and has made a huge difference to the behaviour of the car. takeoff from a standstill has improved, general responsiveness has improved and since i dont thrash it the fuel economy has improved.

[logger]

Where's the benefit of getting an ECU upgrade IF one was to drive their car in exactly the same manner after the upgrade?

Check my Sig...

I think I can now answer my own question - There is a benefit when driving in the same manner with the remap I got.
Throttle response.
Now if I quickly press the throttle from standstill - no more pregnant pause. Previously I caught myself out on a couple of occasions when the car paused momentarily from full stop at an intersection when trying to jump into a gap in right angle traffic. This was most disconcerting. Doesn't do that anymore... .. and of course the extra torque and power is most noticeable.

[spiff]

Check my Sig...

I think I can now answer my own question - There is a benefit when driving in the same manner with the remap I got.
Throttle response.
Now if I quickly press the throttle from standstill - no more pregnant pause. Previously I caught myself out on a couple of occasions when the car paused momentarily from full stop at an intersection when trying to jump into a gap in right angle traffic. This was most disconcerting. Doesn't do that anymore... .. and of course the extra torque and power is most noticeable.

hey logger, how much did it cost ya?
and have you seen the fuel efficiency improve?

my thoughts are the same as yours and i'm considering going with an exhaust upgrade + tune.. apr is quite expensive, but i reckon i would be paying for something good. Giac was a consideration but here in perth, they're too far away.. if anything ever happened, it would be a long drive.

[McDub]

hey logger, how much did it cost ya?
and have you seen the fuel efficiency improve?

my thoughts are the same as yours and i'm considering going with an exhaust upgrade + tune.. apr is quite expensive, but i reckon i would be paying for something good. Giac was a consideration but here in perth, they're too far away.. if anything ever happened, it would be a long drive.

something that was pointed out to me by seb (guy who does unitronic in sydney), was that almost all the ecu upgrades cost about the same in the states. For example, stage 1 for the Mkiv gti costs US$500 for both the APR product, and the Unitronic product.
Now, look at the prices of the two products in Australia, it's $1500 from APR, and $880 from Unitronic.
So although the APR program "may" be better, don't let the price of it let you think it is any better. It's overpriced, at least IMO.

[brad]

something that was pointed out to me by seb (guy who does unitronic in sydney), was that almost all the ecu upgrades cost about the same in the states. For example, stage 1 for the Mkiv gti costs US$500 for both the APR product, and the Unitronic product.
Now, look at the prices of the two products in Australia, it's $1500 from APR, and $880 from Unitronic.
So although the APR program "may" be better, don't let the price of it let you think it is any better. It's overpriced, at least IMO.

Was it necessary to introduce the price thing and chip-v-chip into this thread? Guaranteed road to lock-down and post deletion.

The price the ECU upgrades are in Australia is the price the market will bear/bare/beer. Consumers do their research & decide how much they are willing to pay.

Sure if you could get your ECU reflashed in the USA by mail order then things might be different but as long as most of the reflashes are via an OBD port with proprietry software then you're stuck with Aussie prices (unless you want to import an ST3 or Bluefin)

[h100vw]

So although the APR program "may" be better, don't let the price of it let you think it is any better. It's overpriced, at least IMO.

Let's be really careful where this thread goes. The cost of chipping varies due to many things and agreed APR is the most expensive.

This looks like I am defending them but it's not meant too.

With APR you get the ability to drop to std power, if YOU want to. You can get security lockout and a load of different programs to suit varying fuel.

I think these are unnecessary features and wouldn't pay for them, some folk have to have them and are prepared to pay accordingly. In fact that was part of the reason for removing the APR chip from the S3 I bought and installing Custom-Code. I reset it to std power once before I did it and my wife complained. I didn't like the delivery either but that's another issue.

Anyway, lets not get into the value for money thing again, please.

On a side note, Custom-Code doesn't cost anywhere near what APR does either

Gavin

[logger]

.. Ditto.. previous posters re price comaprisons. Not for here.

hey logger, how much did it cost ya?
and have you seen the fuel efficiency improve?..

Re what I paid see GoAPR for a guide.

Only been on the car less than a day so no idea about the improved fuel economy claims (to be honest I am a bit skeptical about them but willing to be surprised). But 1) because the car is extremely fuel efficient in the first place and 2) because I only do 10,000k year max it is not an issue to me in any case.

Now Better go enjoy my car...

[McDub]

ok understood, just the point i was trying to make was i think APR should try and be more competitive (in their prices) in the Australian market like they are in the states, but i suppose when you already have the market share, there isn't much of a need for that. perhaps times will change.