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".

[Manaz]

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

It's far from that simple.

In order to protect cars against lowest-common-denominator owners (who never service, run ****e fuel, don't check tyre pressures or fluid levels, etc), most cars run quite rich when stock. This wastes fuel, as not all of the fuel injected into the combustion chambers burns properly, and hence is wasted.

Chipping a car (or flashing its ECU, whatever you decide to call it) adjusts a few things - changes fueling maps, increases timing, increases boost if you have a turbo, and these serve to do two things primarily:

1. Increase efficiency.
2. Increase torque (and thus power - power being a function of torque).

Note that the two are quite intertwined - increased torque production comes at least partially as a result of increased efficiency.

Now, if you don't use the increased top end power (and let's be honest, it's rare that you use the extra few top end kilowatts you might get), you're almost certainly using the increased torque across the rev range - with more torque, the engine doesn't have to work as hard (you get increased driveability), and along with the fact that it's running more efficiently due to better fueling maps, you end up using less fuel.

So even if you're not chasing outright power, chipping/flashing a car can result in a car that's easier to drive and that uses less fuel. I'd hardly call those two benefits poor second place options behind outright power gain, particularly given that they're encountered and taken advantage of far more often than top end power ever will be.

[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.