Octavia tuning and reliability

[leonard smalls]

Newbie alert...

Anyway, as a long time Skoda fan (I even had an Estelle!) I've now got an '02 1.8T 4wd Octavia Estate, and I'm very happy with it.

However, as a biker as well, I want a bit more speed, and understand that the best single upgrade is to get Jabbasport to do a remap.

So the question is, does it compromise reliability in any way? Frinstance, does the gearbox/clutch cope easily with the extra power? Will it still pass MoTs? Will I actually notice the difference?

Also, is it worth me going all the way to Peterborough (I live in the Welsh Borders), or is there a much closer option that's worthwhile?

Thanks!

[doEboY]

I have a question to add also about remaps.

Does it put the engine/turbo under extra strain that will reduce their life?

[DGW]

I am delighted with my Jabba remap of a similar Octavia which has transformed the car. Fuel consumption is unaffected, reliability is very good and it sailed through the MOT. I don't think that gearbox and clutch will be a problem in everyday use - although you can knacker the latter if you do lots of standing starts or are brutal with gearchanges.

[doEboY]

I don't think that gearbox and clutch will be a problem in everyday use - although you can knacker the latter if you do lots of standing starts or are brutal with gearchanges.

OH dear thats me! how else do i get only 19mpg from a 1.6 Fraud Escort

[mbames]

OH dear thats me! how else do i get only 19mpg from a 1.6 Fraud Escort

lol.. that is worse than the old Ford Cargo 4 horse lorry I used to drive!!!

[doEboY]

Yes! i'm going to swap it for an Ocy in april/may time. I hope.

[TaviaRS]

Well, I've had 2 Octys, both remapped, both driven a smidgeon harder than normal.

The first was my RS, remapped at 10k miles (thought I'd let things bed in and settle). I had it for a total of 29 months, did 139,000 miles of which about 11,500 were track day and Ring miles (728 laps of the Ring ). Had a few problems once I passed the 125k miles mark, don't thing they were remap related though (MAF degradation leading to rod through block)

Current car remapped at 8k miles in April 04, now on 97,000 miles and still running nicely. It's only done 5 track days and 1 Ring trip though.

[doEboY]

lol i only do 7k a year! so a car with 55-60k will last me a good 5/6 years i hope!

[leonard smalls]

In that case I may go for it - especially as fuel economy is only at about the 31mpg level anyway (best ever trip was 42.5...)

But are there any decent tuners nearer to Shropshire?

BTW, any problems doing the remap at higher mileages? Mine's just had the 40k service complete with expensive Haldex oil n'all..

[KLB]

It shouldn't compromise reliability in any noticeable way.

My 1.8T was remapped at JabbaSport over three years ago. It hasn't done the mileage of Jon's (TaviaRS) cars, but it was remapped at around 20,000 miles and is currently on 57,000 miles (including a few trackdays). I haven't had any problems with the engine or transmission (4-speed auto) - touch wood.

It is a bit of a trek to JabbaSport (I live in Newport - the one near Cardiff), but there's usually a Briskoda Group Buy to keep the overall price down, and you get a remap customised to your car. If you want something a bit closer, you could try a Revo agent. I can't comment on Revo vs Jabba - but both have lots of satisfied customers.

[Stuart_J]

Had my Octy 4x4 remapped by Jabba to give 225 bhp & had no probs at all, I then changed the exhaust & added a big intercooler to raise it to 250 bhp, & the clutch finally died, its now well over 300 bhp with a Jabba IHI conversion & the old gearbox is still taking it although it will be changed in a few weeks as top is now too low. As others know the car gets well used & has completed 3 cannonball runs, best placing being 9th & that was with a mere 250 bhp !!

Overall I think with just a remap you wont have any problems apart from possibly shortening clutch life & thats really depenadant on how you drive. If you dump the clutch at the lights then expect the clutch to suffer.

It wont effect MOT,s as you are not touching the cat & will you notice the difference YES YES YES, you will wonder why the car was never built like that in the first place, also on "normal" driving you might actually get improved MPG

[matchmaker]

My vRS was remapped at 5000 miles by Star Performance. It's now up to 16000 miles (I've only had it a year) and is going better than ever. It's going back in on Saturday for a sports cat, full exhaust and a tweak to the remap and I hope to get around 240 bhp from it (216 at the moment). I've had no problems with it at all, although I'm not a total nutter normally I keep that for trackdays :)

Star Performance even do a mail order remap via a module that plugs into the the OBD port. You do however lose out on the before and after checks on their rolling road.

[andy_ccr]

If you are in Wales, I know that Forge may not be a million miles away. They can even slip a 'little' front mount intercooler in for you as well as a remap !

Phone them and ask for Peter

Andy

[JBS Auto Design]

Hi

There are many remaps out there.

We have seen many come and go.

But we deal with Custom-Code.

Do a search and look in to what is available and what is near to yourself.

Be aware that some people will say that they have stupid BHP but then that would depend on what rolling road it was put on to start with.

Some will put an extra 20bhp on so the figures could be out.

If I can help you further please feel free to give me a call on 01246 455005 or check out the web site on www.custom-code.co.uk

Sarah