125 TSI remap review - brief

[Pullstarter]

It'll still have 3ft more ground clearance than a GTI

[clip]

125 remap - my thoughts

Just remember these are my thoughts only, and I might not have any idea what I'm talking about as I've never owned a turbo engined car before (although I've driven 911's, GTi's, Renault 225's, WRX's etc).

First up, being tentative on the throttle, it was hard to notice any difference. The car still drives very conservatively with normal throttle openings (up to around a 1/3 of full pedal travel), and letting it build revs - even moving through +4000, the car just continues to accelerate pretty much as normal. No surge around the 3000rpm like the stock setup. It does pull harder, but nothing dramatic. This is the peculiar thing - at least to me anyway- as it seems to be more about throttle opening than revs. I can play with the pedal at 4000rpm for the first 1/3 of the pedal travel and it makes small difference. However, push your right foot a little harder and things start to happen. Push it even harder and your speed builds pretty much in line with your revs . It accelerates in an almost silent rush as you reach for the next gear only to find yourself reaching for another gear a few seconds later as you're approaching max revs again.

Overtaking performance is very much improved - e.g. at 100k/h in 6th it will pull away nice and easily, drop it back to 5th, and you'll knock off a few seconds, drop it back to 4th pushing your foot down, and you'll be into the "losing your license throw away the keys move over bubba zone", before you know it.

BUT, pushing the Tig hard through the twisties really highlights the engineering that has gone into this car. This is not a cheap car, even though it is priced that way. The increase in power really allows the opportunity to experience what it is capable of. While the Tig has very neutral steering, the increased power when cornering brings in a bit of over steer that is fine by me. I'm wondering now just what it is capable of. I'm thinking much more.

Anyway, I'm sure you guys get the idea, so I won't go on about it.

Pros:
1. transforms a solid performer into something special (not outrageous, but a genuinely satisfying drive)
2. acceleration - just have to push your foot down
3. overtaking and hill climbing performance - move over everyone.
4. economy - it's still telling me I'm averaging 9.2 even with the driving I've been doing (must be something wrong with the trip computer?). I'm certain the remap is improving the fuel economy on a trip.
5. still under-performs when using normal throttle openings and conservative rev limits - which makes it very non-threatening and very easy to drive quietly around town (and, I suspect, return very good fuel economy figures).

Cons:
1. still under-performs very easily when using normal throttle openings and rev limits - which makes it very non-threatening and very easy to drive quietly around town (and, I suspect, return very good fuel economy figures). Personally, I like an early throttle response. Even when you're right in the fat, if you don't push that right foot down relatively hard, it will just sit there. Once you do, all hell breaks loose as I've said. So I'm thinking this may be a design characteristic of this map. I can certainly see the advantages of it.

So:
Do I like it? - hell yes.
Is it worth the bucks? - for what it delivers, definitely! I mean, that little money for that increase in performance? It's a no-brainer.
Would I recommend others to do it? - you'd have to be seriously crazy not to do it - even if you're grandmother is going to drive it.

I am really interested in what APR will come up with. I think the platform that the Tig has been built on is capable of a lot more - both performance and handling. And, I would like to see what a Tig is capable of with a minimum of the usual expensive modifications.

[Pullstarter]

Awesome write up Clipper I too am very eager to see what APR comes up with as the time I take delivery of my Tiggy should be very close to the APR chip release.

Keep us informed on your longer term impressions too

[clip]

Will do.

Since posting this (amazing how fast the internet works!), I've since just got off the phone from a mate and his suggestion was that it might have more to do with the calibration of the accelerator pedal, rather than the map. I hadn't thought of this, but when he mentioned it, I remembered that the new Suzuki Grand Vitara's had a problem with their accelerator pedals going out of calibration. Not that I think the Tig is out, just that the particular characteristic that I talk about may be more to do with the calibration of the accelerator pedal than with the actual map? (even though I'm sure it's part of the same process in any case - just another control variable?).

[Pullstarter]

That's entirely possible with all the sensor type thingies most cars have these days, TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) etc. Must admit I like the idea of the multiple settings on the APR chips, not taking anything away from the Oettinger though, sounds like a great setup.

[Sharkie]

The markets APR and Oettinger are aimed at are slightly different IMO.

Oettinger has better warranty and a slight more sedate image aimed at a particular demographic.

APR on the other hand has always been more aggresive in their remapping (when they don't code share with Oettinger) and in the GTIs has a characteristic "boost spike" early for a really aggresive feel.

Turbo cars though in general are peculiar in the way that they react to throttle openings (in comparison to NA cars). Having a boost guage fitted demonstrates this best. You could be doing 4000rmin at light throttle and the turbo would not be working at all. At full throttle at 4000rmin it would be a totaly different story. You learn to use this to best effect because when the turbo IS working your fuel consumption skyrockets.

Personally though, I'd wait for an APR remap.

[Tigga1]

clip, thanks for your thoughts and write up so far...I am REALLY interested how different it will be in the auto version...perhaps Guy or someone else has some input/experience to offer here...

will problably get the upgrade, even though the standard 125 with std wheels is no slouch But, as you say, the upgrade is a no-brainer, and I agree, even before having done it!

the higher torque (and associated improvement in economy) alone would be worth it, for improved drivability.

have you fitted an upgraded swaybar yet, clip? This will definitely help too.

I'm also keen to upgrade to 17" wheels or some such, not sure there's much available at present. With the std wheels (and upgraded Pirelli tyres) there's just a bit too much understeer/slippage when you hasten it through the bends

I'm guessing that the overall experience/drivability will take some time to sink in (considering that you didn't really have the standard version long enough to make a considered determination on the difference..

happy to be another guinea pig; although, what happened to me previously that the local dealer (read service section) took my chipped Golf for a 60km test drive (that's got to be at least an hour's driving) when it was in for a regular service...and no doubt thrashed the sh*t out of it...

I recently got a call from the dealer where I traded asking me "did I really take the chip out, because the car drives so well"... go figure

I'm with pullstarter in that I am keen to see what APR develops...only so I can "de-tune" Tigga before putting it in for service...

Tigga lives!

[clip]

haven't got the way bar yet. But that is next on the list.

And, I'm waiting for one of you guys to be the guinea pig for the lowering kit. I'm really interested to see how that goes.

[Pullstarter]

haven't got the way bar yet. But that is next on the list.

And, I'm waiting for one of you guys to be the guinea pig for the lowering kit. I'm really interested to see how that goes.

I have a feeling that guineau pig may well be me LOL. Well, depending on how fast the local dealer can get my Black Pearl 125 to me anyways

[sama13]

hi guys, I'm also waiting for my wifes Tiggy that is supposed to get here by the end of May. It's a track and field 125 6 speed manual, and I have already on my hands a set of H&R Springs and a set of 18 x 9 OZ Superleggera with BFG's KDW2 255/45R18. If all my calculations are correct and comparing to the R version, this should fit without the need of the fender flares hope so!

Hope you guys get to lower it first and comment on it. I will also be reflashing it to around the same as you guys.

Keep tuning mates!!!