Well the bad news is my plans to buy a new car will have to go on hold a bit due to financial uncertainty (a sign of the times I guess). The good news is I have had a remap done

Had a look through this forum and picked Angel Tuning, not least because of the convenience of them coming to me, but also most people seem happy and it's not regarded one of the aggressive maps. I've done no other mods to my VRS and probably won't, so just wanted something to give me a little more poke.

Not a lot to say about the company that's not already been said, quick reply to my email, then rang them Tues and they came today (Friday). The guy took it for a drive then did the remap in about 15 mins before a final drive to make sure it was OK.

And now for a completely subjective and non-scientific review

Same old tractor off the lights, but 2nd gear has turned into a bit of fun. I find with my style of driving and the VRS in general the action happens in 3rd upwards, with 1st and 2nd just a frantic excuse to get there. Post remap and 2nd now is much better I think because it's revving a bit smoother and not running out of steam.

Into 3rd and 4th and seemed quicker but got stuck behind slow moving traffic so had to wait until I arrived on the dual carriageway before I opened her up. 70mph came up real quick as always, but in gear poke is better, for example exiting roundabouts, it seems to be a bit brisker.

Taking a right turn on a nice quiet and wide roundabout I floored it in 4th coming off and heard a new sound - like air being sucked in through a tight straw, I take that as the VRS being pushed as far as it can sensibly go with regards to getting air in!!

Nice to see no huge billows of smoke behind me when pressing on - a definite haze but not Mount Etna.

On to country roads now and slowing to 30mph for a village, sticking it in 3rd and then flooring it at the start of the 60mph (a great feeling in the VRS before the remap) and it's same again but quicker. Tried revving a lot higher (I normally change quickly as always thought - another old debate I know - that the acceleration was low RPM where the high torque is) - and it did really well.

Finally on the journey back was behind a truck at 40mph in a 60mph limit so overtook but was lazy and did the whole thing in 4th - it took off pretty quick and got past in no time at all - a definite improvement.

I know these things are subjective and the reality is the performance might only be quicker by seconds or less, but I'm certain there's a nice amount of extra power there. Above all, it seems just the right amount to still be usable, aside from the sucking in air sound no issues at all with grip, wheel spin or anything blowing up.

Being able to rev higher and it still having some power up there also makes the drive "feel" better, again subjective I know.

So after an hour's blast around various roads and speeds, my honest opinion is this has NOT changed it into Porsche, but has given it a bit more power that is both noticable and seemingly within the limits of what the car can use. I paid £275, and am pleased with the result.

I'll report back when I have done a few hundred miles or when something breaks, whichever is sooner

Fun isn't it?

I had an Angel remap done about 3 months ago and I still love it. I don't drive in the week anymore but take it for a 'brisky' at weekends, and I love the mid-range pull now. It's just become so much more responsive in higher gears. It still burns off nicely in 1st and 2nd but what's the point? If you live in a city (London in my case) you're only going to burn out the clutch between traffic lights, speed bumps and cameras, so I wait to get out in the Essex sticks a bit and have a proper drive.

The motorway (when it's clear) has become a dream as well. Touch the accelerator and the power's all there now, whereas it wasn't before. Lovely

Good luck with it and another for Angel Tuning

You sound made up! So should be worth every penny to you.

I'm impressed with my Angel Tuning remap, I do have the Pipercross panel filter and PD160, but it felt hugely more responsive after the remap.

I'd be interested to see if your fuel efficiency increases. I've done 3 or 4 tanks since the remap and can't really see any increase in efficiency. Still seeing 50/51 MPG, although it is hard to resist the urge to squirt it about.

lol im exactly the same, still does 50mpg religiously and i cant resist to feel the torque!

think if i gave it to the wife for a week she would but im still impressed with my map! rs tuning one that is !

as above i've got an angel remap, pulls like a train but still nice to use on the commute to work, worth the dosh in my opinion.

What effect has the remap had on your insurance premium?

What improvement on the original bhp / torque figures do you get with angel?

Interesting that you choose Angel Tuning and your from Ipswich. I say interesting as I'm also from Ipswich and looking into getting mine mapped in a couple of months. Where did the guy travel from?

If we ever manage a local meet you'll have to take me for a spin in it.

What improvement on the original bhp / torque figures do you get with angel?

mine made 173/280 on the rollers

Tim - You're welcome to come out for a spin anytime, just let me know, I'm on the east side of Ipswich. Angel don't really give specific figures and as a mobile service there's no rolling road to test it before and after (which puts some people off) but markvrs above had his measured as you can see. It'll be interesting to see whether you think the difference is worth £275, I'm well happy with it but ideal for you if you can see it in action before you buy.

There are quite a few places to choose within easy travel of here but I went with Angel because of the convenience and also the feedback I found on them searching back through this forum. The guy said he had come up from Braintree way.

I did another 120 miles or so today with a blast up to Norwich and back - mostly "normal" driving as busy Sunday afternoon, no probs at all, cruises just as well then when you need some poke to overtake you do get an extra shove.

Regarding MPG, I got about 51 going and 48 coming back, so not a lot different than normal (that's from the trip computer).

I was minding my own business on the A14 when a metallic blue Octy VRS cruised past, I must say they're a cracking looking car in that colour.

What effect has the remap had on your insurance premium?

An extra £59 for the year with a +40 BHP figure, with Adrian Flux

Two week update. No problems to report and economy has not decreased in any way.

I am still enjoying that extra poke, though this morning in heavy traffic I did think even if I had 1000bhp I couldn't use it on this country's roads. I am seriously considering spending any further money on a track day or similar (never ever done anything like it) and driving some really fast cars at really fast speeds and getting some driving kicks that way.

Insurance +£45 for remaining six months (Direct Line), total cost then £320.

Two week update. No problems to report and economy has not decreased in any way.

I am still enjoying that extra poke, though this morning in heavy traffic I did think even if I had 1000bhp I couldn't use it on this country's roads. I am seriously considering spending any further money on a track day or similar (never ever done anything like it) and driving some really fast cars at really fast speeds and getting some driving kicks that way.

Insurance +£45 for remaining six months (Direct Line), total cost then £320.

You should bring the remapped fabia on the track day advertised in my sig

Pleased to hear that you are impressed with the remap

my fiat was mapped by angel at 4000 miles, just passed 80,000 miles, and no map related probs... original clutch/flywheel/turbo ect they all still feel like they did when it was new, big for angel.

Just to add another testimonial for Angel, my old car (Ibiza SE TDI) was remapped by Angel and it certainly improved power and MPG.