My Experience - FL Octavia VRS 2.0 TSI STS Remap

[nokiauk]

When I knew I had ordered my FL VRS back in August I knew I would be after a remap for it.

I checked out a few rivals including a local specialist (Star Performance), Revo etc. I'd previously had a Superchips map on my Golf and wasn't impressed so decided to give them a steer. Had read a few excellent reviews on Shark Performance remaps and when I heard their STS device being announced I recked this was the way to go for me as I could add the map or remove it myself when required.

Luckily enough in November a group buy was offered on the STS device which I decided to get into at the last minute, despite the software not quite being ready for the FL VRS Ben was happy to have me on-board and was very helpful of the phone organising the deposit payment etc.

Halfway through December I was informed that the software was now available for my car and so I phoned up Ben to pay the balance and my STS was promptly sent out. The device got into my hands on 23 December and it took no time at all to connect the STS and download the cars original map to the device. The instructions are easy to follow and device so easy to use I think anyone could do this blindfold.

I e-mailed my map file to Ben that day and despite it being the Christmas period the new performance and immobiliser maps were sent back from Ben on the 28 December.

Now very unfortunately just before Christmas we had a heavy snow fall here in Scotland and yet another huge fall on 2 January 2009 so I never got the chance to get the map loaded to the car to try it out. Now this week the snow and ice has all but gone so I couldn't hold back any longer. A quick call to my insurance company who relieved me of £55 for the privilege of the remap and I was ready to upload the new map.

The new map took only about 5 minutes to upload to the car, oddly a message appeared on the Maxidot about half way through and a bong, something to do with cornering lights??

After the map was loaded I turned off the car, disconnected and made sure the car started ok.

I will hopefully get a chance over the next few days and the weekend to try the car out properly with the new map and I will add to this review accordingly but so far in terms of service and ease of use Ben has certainly got an excellent product.

More to follow

Well it's now been a week since I installed the remap to my car and I can safely sat it was worth it. You can certainly notice the extra torque available from low down the rev range and I can now drive about at 30 in 5th no problem, which is good for me as I drive in town to get back and forward to work.

Its now very easy to pick up a rapid pace without realising it as well and acceleration is smooth and progressive, i.e you gain speed quickly but its not a sudden burst like you've been shot from a cannon. Can be a handful in the wet (I managed to spin the fronts in 4th) but if you are sensible and drive within certain limits then its very easy to control the power on tap thats available. Overtaking is certainly not an issue at all.

Too early to say if the mpg is better or worse but the car is certainly improved over factory spec.

I'd certainly recommend this map before going to the likes of Revo,Superchips etc, Thanks Ben and good luck for the future of the business.

Edited 27 January, 2010 by nokiauk

[vRSy]

keen to know how you get on, havent read much about mapped TSI's. just here theytune slightly better than the TFSI's.

you need some lowering action on your car as your next mod though, std vRS's sit way to high IMO. then you want some ARBs and and exhaust and then......

Edited 19 January, 2010 by vRSy

[nokiauk]

you need some lowering action on your car as your next mod though

I'd love to get some Eibach's on to lower it but with the weather I've had here the last 3 weeks don't think thats likely, car was grounding out on all the snow and ice as it is without lowering it any further. :(

[vRSy]

I'd love to get some Eibach's on to lower it but with the weather I've had here the last 3 weeks don't think thats likely, car was grounding out on all the snow and ice as it is without lowering it any further. :(

it'd be awesome, like a 250hp sledge, lol. how far are you planning on tuning the car, just to srage 1 or wil you go further

[nokiauk]

See how things go over the summer this year, I'd prefer to probably keep to stage one for a year or so while I still have the warranty, then depending on funds probably upgrade the exhaust to a Milltek and get a K&N Typhoon or similar and go to Stage 2. Can't see me doing any more that that though.

[nokiauk]

Review updated

[shark_90]

Thanks for the great review Glad you're happy with it.

[SUTTS]

Thank you for the review, and the private message Sounds great.

I ordered my STS unit from Ben a few days ago

[shark_90]

And it will be out for delivery for you tomorrow, so you should have it on Monday

[SUTTS]

Excellent, thank you. Looking forward to it!

[nokiauk]

Well got my car on the rollers yesterday and it came out better than expected, I am extremely happy with the map provided and Ben and Shark Performance.

Graph shown below, no before figures unfortunately :(

Edited 20 March, 2010 by nokiauk

[SUTTS]

Nice one

[nokiauk]

Nice one

Thanks