Hello everyone, I need to talk to you all about my 56 plate black magic VRS.

I've had it for about 3 years now and originally thought I would be replacing it about now. However due to current circumstances it seems I need to keep it for 2 or 3 more years.

Therefore, so I can kinda still have that new car (ish) feel I want to make some changes. I've ordered and new stereo and I'm planning on getting a couple of dents sorted, cut and polish and interior valet.

However I want the driving experience to feel different too. So I was thinking a remap. I have the shark and p-torque ones in mind based on what I have read on the net, but I'm a bit nervous I'm going to ruin it. Its currently on 110,000 miles and I've had no real problems with car in my ownership (I bought it at 47,000 miles). I worry that I'm going to end up breaking either the clutch or turbo and getting a bigger bill than first planned.

What do you guys think? Good idea? Bad idea? Other ways to make it feel different? (maybe anti roll bar?)

Thanks in advance for your help.

This probably isn't going to be what you want to hear, but if your reasons for keeping the car longer than you thought are money-related, I possibly wouldn't remap it. The car's had a lot of life before you owned it, and you've put a fair few miles on it, so you don't really know what condition the clutch is in. A lot of tuners will say "yes sir, we can do a map which will save your clutch" but realistically they mean their map will be inside the limits of a new stock clutch (around 300lbft). No one can know how much torque your clutch is capable of holding, it could be virtually new or it could be on the verge of breaking down even with your standard torque. If it does start to slip then at that milage you're ideally looking at a new clutch, flywheel and labour, which would be ~£700 to replace with a new standard clutch or ~£1000 to replace with an uprated clutch. Not cheap, and not a bill you want to suddenly land on you if you're already having a cashflow problem...

If of course your reasons aren't money-related and you're able to save up to cover the eventual bills, then I'd get a Shark remap every time. Nice and smooth so you know that when your clutch does eventually fail its through natural causes and not poor mapping

Ditto what you just said, sage advice. Unless you have the cashflow if it goes wrong, are you that keen to bust something which works (the old brummy saying better said in right words).

Driven carefully, if this is necessary it may carry on for a good while yet. What is more important to you, enjoying the ride or maintaining the reliability you've enjoyed so far.

If the remap is a worry and you want to update the handling, a rear anti roll bar is a cheap but effective upgrade. As is fitting 312mm brakes off of another VAG car.

Keeping the power the same and improving the shocks, lowering slightly, polybushing, uprated farb,

rarb, front and rear strut brace will make the car behave completely differently.

Vastly improved handling with stock power will make the car feel different and renewing your suspension

and bushings will ultimately increase the general life expectancy of the car.

The car will carry more speed into and through the bends and feel noticably faster.

Particularly if your tyres are any good.

Add bigger brakes into the mix and you'll be able to scrub the mph off quicker when you need to thus

braking a bit later.

IAM or Rospa?

Highly recommend them if you think about improving the person behind the wheel

I agree fully with gac... My next plans are all for handling

Hello everyone, I need to talk to you all about my 56 plate black magic VRS.

I've had it for about 3 years now and originally thought I would be replacing it about now. However due to current circumstances it seems I need to keep it for 2 or 3 more years.

Therefore, so I can kinda still have that new car (ish) feel I want to make some changes. I've ordered and new stereo and I'm planning on getting a couple of dents sorted, cut and polish and interior valet.

However I want the driving experience to feel different too. So I was thinking a remap. I have the shark and p-torque ones in mind based on what I have read on the net, but I'm a bit nervous I'm going to ruin it. Its currently on 110,000 miles and I've had no real problems with car in my ownership (I bought it at 47,000 miles). I worry that I'm going to end up breaking either the clutch or turbo and getting a bigger bill than first planned.

What do you guys think? Good idea? Bad idea? Other ways to make it feel different? (maybe anti roll bar?)

Thanks in advance for your help.

Purchased a Toledo PD130 with 96k on the clock. Had it remapped straightaway. Clutch and engine lasted until 182k when I changed cars - was still going strong. This was a P Torque remap @ 175bhp and 284lbs/ft (note: when I had it on my preferred local rolling road it made 167bhp and 265lbs/ft). So take the tuner's remap figures with a pinch of salt.

Nothing you do will make the car feel like a new car, you'll get used to the modifications rather quickly, trust me

If you're wanting to keep costs low I would suggest asking your insurance company how much extra they want if you map it before going any further, some want nothing, some want a minimal amount and rarely some refuse cover, whatever you do don't be tempted to 'forget' to declare it.

With regards the clutch how long is a bit of string? It could start to slip tomorrow without being mapped, it could last to 150k with a map, it depends on the clutch and the driver.