A low-compression 2.0 liter turbo motor is a dog until it gets into boost. There's no getting around it. A free-flowing exhaust helps improve spool-up and all-around power but a reflash (or alternate engine management), with or without exhaust mods, really makes the mid-range torque come alive compared with stock. IMO, a reflash on a stock vehicle is the best value per dollar and the best mod for seat-of-the-pants improvement in driveability.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

Good advice, you beat me to it.

(I couldn't have explained it that good though)

 

The 3/16th mod is crap. Don't do it unless you have a boost gauge...it just makes the ECU unable to control the boost properly.

I would say get the reflash for low end. If you're not into that I would get an uppipe/downpipe, but then you run into emissions problems. My old Cobb stage 2 had a great low end, and I hear that stage 1 is just as good, without the high end boost increase.

$400 for a reflash that's a 5 minute install is insane bang-for-the-buck.

 

Remove the silencer. It doesn't make a big difference, but it does make the turbo spool just a bit quicker (roughly 500 rpm earlier or so). The boost delivery seems smoother too, since it starts earlier as well.

 

ported turbo and up-pipe. figure $600 + installation, and you'll have a hell of a lot less lag and spool time. add I/C hoses and a DP, and all of a sudden you have a whole new motor.....

 

Pectel ECU with AL should do it for you.

You might want some supporting mods to run it though

Mike

 

Just messing.

Up and downpipe with tuning will help, a lightened flywheel helps the car rev faster thus making it feel less laggy so to speak.

Mike

 

James-

A reflash can be detected, but with minimal powertrain mods, a dealer would likely never look for it. It's not totally obvious. Also, you can order reflashes on a core exchange basis- you get sent a reflashed ECU, and swap that into yor car, then send back yours. Alternatively, there are some "rental" ecus on the private sale forums that you can work out a borrowing price for.

To improve low end and lag, your best bets are a reflash combined with an uppipe and maybe intercooler hoses. A downpipe or full exhaust will also help, but are more expensive, more obvious to a dealer, and will also make a big difference in top end. The uppipe and reflash will make it feel like you suddenly have a much larger motor pushing that turbo, giving you boost at about 2800-3000 rpm.

I also agree with Mike that a lightweight flywheel is a great mod. However, with labor, it's quite expensive, probably $1000 installed for a flywheel, plus another $350 or so for the stronger organic clutch you would want to go with it.

 

..and cheaper, with not quite as much difference (but much better bang for the buck ratio than a flywheel swap) is a lightweight/underdriven crank pulley.

flame on.

ken

 

ride5000 - Not sure about the flame on bit perhaps your used to other boards?

But with regards to the Pulley yep I agree but seeing as running both together throws some strange codes and your eventually going to have to change a clutch anyway you may as well throw in the flywheel then. If you had a pulley already you would have some issues so the flywheel whilst not the first mod I would do would be one I would do when replacing the clutch and after all the subject is about removing lag not what mods to remove lag at any given time.

Mike