Viezu Tuning on Golf R....WOW!

[ViezuAustralia]

I can't hear it properly, but I'd say compressor surge.

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:40 PM ----------



Hi Simon

Do you have any hard evidence to back this up about the bottom end handling 25psi safely?

Cheers Paul

Hi Paul

Sorry this was amended in a later post - it's lower 20's (21 is normal for our motorsport tune) psi you'll see on a KO3, unless you stick a KO4 conversion kit on of course (!) We're about to get a Golf 5 GTi as a demo car so we'll see how far we go. With the new package deals we'll be offering it will be having a DP/full exhaust system, our very own Viezu Australia Authorised Carbon CAI, a host of other engine goodies, bigger intercooler, our own authorised package deal coil overs, carbon bonnet (body colour...) and we'll look at upgrading to the KO4 but we're working on turbo options. I'll be happy with 350hp as long as it's smooth, usable, with no lag, ridiculously quick all over the revs, but sedate when you want it to be.

Sounds like a plan.... Then onto a Golf 'R' in due course as those are begging for some more Viezu treatment aside from the host of test cars we have all over Australia. Same treatment to come and headlines of 350hp on those is easy. Making it as smooth and drivable and a wall of torque across the revs.... not so. But as you guys know we specialise in just that

Lots of news not far away. Will keep you all posted !

Exciting year ahead

[willow]

Sounds good Simon, please don't forget about us Passat owners also. I'll be keen to get a blue optimize tune once you have a dealer lined up in Sydney.

[ViezuAustralia]

Sounds good Simon, please don't forget about us Passat owners also. I'll be keen to get a blue optimize tune once you have a dealer lined up in Sydney.

Ah yes !!! We'll have everything for all motors pretty much !

The FSi gen2 development work for your 1.8fsi and for the 2.0fsi in the golf (6) gti/tiguan etc is slightly delayed but won't be too much longer

That'll be all over here when that's launched - lots of people waiting on that... And for polo, tiguan, passat etc options and hardware.

One to watch for sure Keep you posted for sure

[PTW]

Hi Paul

Sorry this was amended in a later post - it's lower 20's (21 is normal for our motorsport tune) psi you'll see on a KO3, unless you stick a KO4 conversion kit on of course (!) We're about to get a Golf 5 GTi as a demo car so we'll see how far we go. With the new package deals we'll be offering it will be having a DP/full exhaust system, our very own Viezu Australia Authorised Carbon CAI, a host of other engine goodies, bigger intercooler, our own authorised package deal coil overs, carbon bonnet (body colour...) and we'll look at upgrading to the KO4 but we're working on turbo options. I'll be happy with 350hp as long as it's smooth, usable, with no lag, ridiculously quick all over the revs, but sedate when you want it to be.

Sounds like a plan.... Then onto a Golf 'R' in due course as those are begging for some more Viezu treatment aside from the host of test cars we have all over Australia. Same treatment to come and headlines of 350hp on those is easy. Making it as smooth and drivable and a wall of torque across the revs.... not so. But as you guys know we specialise in just that

Lots of news not far away. Will keep you all posted !

Exciting year ahead

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the reply. Looking forward to seeing how the R mods go.

[DreamensioN]

Hey guys - well after a couple of weeks of living with the tune, I can happily say it is the best money I've ever spent on a car.

And below is my honest, raw, opinion.

For the record, I've got an MY11.5 Golf R with DSG. It's completely factory standard (apart from this tune).

So after first loading the tune, and from hearing all the talk about the Viezu tune, I was immediatly impressed by the performance gain - but I wasn't "blown away" (just yet). Let me explain.....

Throttle Response
From the factory, I always felt the Golf R was a bit "slow to respond/laggy" under around 2800rpm. The throttle didn't feel linear to input responses. I would push down, the car would slowly move. I'd push down a bit further, and the amount of input to the pedal, didn't equate to the amount of power I was getting out of the engine. This was something I first noticed long before I took delivery of my own Golf R, and when I was driving the demo model at the dealership.

I also think that in the stock D mode, the gears change up a fraction to soon. And in S mode, the gears held on just a bit too long for daily street use. Ideally what I wanted was something inbetween for every day use.

After getting reflashed - the immediate difference was instantly recognisable. Throttle response is MUCH sharper. The car is more responsive under 2800rpm. Gear changes are also more "optimised". No longer does it feel like I'm driving a car that's going up through the gears a little too quickly. The car is more "streetable", and satisfying to drive. Launch control has also been lifted from 3000rpm to 4200rpm (or there abouts).

Power
While response off boost is dramatically improved, the power delivery when it comes on boost is magical. The car has been transformed into a much more aggressive version of itself. The best way I can describe it is.... imagine a photo, but the photo is dull and lifeless and a bit washed out. This is the stock Golf R. Now, imagine that photo getting worked in Photoshop, where contrast and colour saturations are turned up. Now it's vibrant and full of life. That is the Viezu reflashed Golf R. It's simply a better version of itself....a version that has tapped into its full (factory) potential. The way it should have been.

The improved power delivery is linear and constant through the rev range, and you can sense the flat torque curve at your fingertips. If I can draw a real world experience.... it's that - my 200SX didn't put a smile on my face like this until I did the exhaust, doubled the boost, and had an ECU replacement. I now get that same "push back in the seat" feeling out of the Golf R, with just a tune.

Fuel Economy
One very surprising aspect I discovered is that fuel economy has actually improved! Ok ok... so yes, I do around 80% highway driving. This is sub-3500rpm driving, mostly in 6th gear. After going through 2.5 tanks of fuel since the tune, I am experiencing a 7-10% increase in fuel economy. I say 7-10% because with the first tank, I got around 38km more before the fuel light came on. And with the 2nd tank, I got around 50km more before the fuel light turned on. I used to get around 540km, and now I can get around 580-600km.

But I stress, this is highway driving - and around Brisbane there aren't a lot of massive hills that I need to go up/down every day. However - the gain in fuel economy is tangiable.



So, at the start of this I said I wasn't blown away at first. And this is true. I was impressed, but the whole "OMFG WOW *FAP FAP FAP*" factor didn't kick in at first. This may be because I was coming from a quite powerful Nissan 200SX as my last car. Because lets face it... someone coming from a Toyota Corolla, into a Golf R, and then a flashed Golf R; they are going to have a different experience from someone who's coming from say... a 200rwKW Japanese drifter, into a Golf R, then a flashed Golf R.

So while I wasn't instantly blown away at first - as the tune bedded in, it really did just get better and better. For me it took around 400km worth of driving. I started to see the bigger picture and the benefits as they developed. Now I can say...this is no doubt, the best value for money investment I reckon I could of done to this car.

Going back to my real world comparision before - lets take into account what I spent (initially) on the 200SX to get a similar result. Custom exhaust - $1800 (this was in 2001). Apexi-AVCR (that's a boost controller) - $800. Apexi PowerFC (this is an entire ECU replacement) - $1100. 5hrs dyno time & tuning @ $140/hr - $700.

All up - that was $4400 to make around 170kw at the wheels. To gain another 20kw, I had to upgrade the fuel pump, injectors, cams, intercooler, coil packs... etc etc etc.

How much power does the Golf R make now? I don't know yet because I haven't been on a dyno. BUT - what I'm getting at is... for a fraction of the cost of modifying the 200SX, I now have the same level of satisfaction.

And in the end....isn't that what it is really all about?




tl;dr?
AAA+++ would buy again.

[FLOSPOLOGTI]

Directed at ecu reflash companies: I have to ask - what is this 'bedding-in'/'learning' process for a re-flashed ecu? It is [reflash] not just like a different 'firmware' for any electronic item whereby results should be instant!?? eg such as firmware upgrade for a camera, Blu-ray player etc which has immediate results...am I missing something here, or is there marketing being employed to ensure a buyers placebo affect comes into play when people arent initially greeted by their go-faster expectations, and then convince themselves over time that it was 'well worth it'.

Is there a sound technical explanation for the bedding-in process?

[Tim]

Directed at ecu reflash companies: I have to ask - what is this 'bedding-in'/'learning' process for a re-flashed ecu? It is [reflash] not just like a different 'firmware' for any electronic item whereby results should be instant!?? eg such as firmware upgrade for a camera, Blu-ray player etc which has immediate results...am I missing something here, or is there marketing being employed to ensure a buyers placebo affect comes into play when people arent initially greeted by their go-faster expectations, and then convince themselves over time that it was 'well worth it'.

Is there a sound technical explanation for the bedding-in process?

Modern cars dont really work like that. The ECU tune is always adapting based on feedback from multiple sensors. So yes the flash is instant but it can take a little while for the ECU to learn what to do with all the new information.
Not really a technical explanation sorry but thats the general idea.

[Greg Roles]

I have no idea as to EXACTLY what happens, but the plain and simple fact is that multiple customers have told me that this is the effect, Viezu told me this is the effect, and well, this is the effect. As Tim mentions the car "learns" and that takes time.



---------- Post added at 09:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 AM ----------

Thanks for the honest review Noel, glad you are loving it, and thanks for outlining the adaptation process. I am planning a dyno run for you and two other R's in the next fortnight, please drop me a PM with the best days in the next two weeks and well get this finalised. Zero cost to you apart from your time.

[Candyman]

A lot has to do with ignition timing

AFAIK, all good maps set timing conservatively at first install for safety reasons and the ECU then advances timing as necessary within safety parameters

Getting good flow through the inter cooler and running the car with load in 3rd and 4th gear on boost, speeds up the process

The ECU then makes slight adjustments to fuel mix etc to accommodate

[gh172]

Hey guys - well after a couple of weeks of living with the tune, I can happily say it is the best money I've ever spent on a car.

And below is my honest, raw, opinion.

For the record, I've got an MY11.5 Golf R with DSG. It's completely factory standard (apart from this tune).

So after first loading the tune, and from hearing all the talk about the Viezu tune, I was immediatly impressed by the performance gain - but I wasn't "blown away" (just yet). Let me explain.....

Throttle Response
From the factory, I always felt the Golf R was a bit "slow to respond/laggy" under around 2800rpm. The throttle didn't feel linear to input responses. I would push down, the car would slowly move. I'd push down a bit further, and the amount of input to the pedal, didn't equate to the amount of power I was getting out of the engine. This was something I first noticed long before I took delivery of my own Golf R, and when I was driving the demo model at the dealership.

I also think that in the stock D mode, the gears change up a fraction to soon. And in S mode, the gears held on just a bit too long for daily street use. Ideally what I wanted was something inbetween for every day use.

After getting reflashed - the immediate difference was instantly recognisable. Throttle response is MUCH sharper. The car is more responsive under 2800rpm. Gear changes are also more "optimised". No longer does it feel like I'm driving a car that's going up through the gears a little too quickly. The car is more "streetable", and satisfying to drive. Launch control has also been lifted from 3000rpm to 4200rpm (or there abouts).

Power
While response off boost is dramatically improved, the power delivery when it comes on boost is magical. The car has been transformed into a much more aggressive version of itself. The best way I can describe it is.... imagine a photo, but the photo is dull and lifeless and a bit washed out. This is the stock Golf R. Now, imagine that photo getting worked in Photoshop, where contrast and colour saturations are turned up. Now it's vibrant and full of life. That is the Viezu reflashed Golf R. It's simply a better version of itself....a version that has tapped into its full (factory) potential. The way it should have been.

The improved power delivery is linear and constant through the rev range, and you can sense the flat torque curve at your fingertips. If I can draw a real world experience.... it's that - my 200SX didn't put a smile on my face like this until I did the exhaust, doubled the boost, and had an ECU replacement. I now get that same "push back in the seat" feeling out of the Golf R, with just a tune.

Fuel Economy
One very surprising aspect I discovered is that fuel economy has actually improved! Ok ok... so yes, I do around 80% highway driving. This is sub-3500rpm driving, mostly in 6th gear. After going through 2.5 tanks of fuel since the tune, I am experiencing a 7-10% increase in fuel economy. I say 7-10% because with the first tank, I got around 38km more before the fuel light came on. And with the 2nd tank, I got around 50km more before the fuel light turned on. I used to get around 540km, and now I can get around 580-600km.

But I stress, this is highway driving - and around Brisbane there aren't a lot of massive hills that I need to go up/down every day. However - the gain in fuel economy is tangiable.



So, at the start of this I said I wasn't blown away at first. And this is true. I was impressed, but the whole "OMFG WOW *FAP FAP FAP*" factor didn't kick in at first. This may be because I was coming from a quite powerful Nissan 200SX as my last car. Because lets face it... someone coming from a Toyota Corolla, into a Golf R, and then a flashed Golf R; they are going to have a different experience from someone who's coming from say... a 200rwKW Japanese drifter, into a Golf R, then a flashed Golf R.

So while I wasn't instantly blown away at first - as the tune bedded in, it really did just get better and better. For me it took around 400km worth of driving. I started to see the bigger picture and the benefits as they developed. Now I can say...this is no doubt, the best value for money investment I reckon I could of done to this car.

Going back to my real world comparision before - lets take into account what I spent (initially) on the 200SX to get a similar result. Custom exhaust - $1800 (this was in 2001). Apexi-AVCR (that's a boost controller) - $800. Apexi PowerFC (this is an entire ECU replacement) - $1100. 5hrs dyno time & tuning @ $140/hr - $700.

All up - that was $4400 to make around 170kw at the wheels. To gain another 20kw, I had to upgrade the fuel pump, injectors, cams, intercooler, coil packs... etc etc etc.

How much power does the Golf R make now? I don't know yet because I haven't been on a dyno. BUT - what I'm getting at is... for a fraction of the cost of modifying the 200SX, I now have the same level of satisfaction.

And in the end....isn't that what it is really all about?




tl;dr?
AAA+++ would buy again.

Bloody good review mate , very well written!
For anyone who's thinking about adding a tune to their car, this review sums it up perfectly.