This popped up in my news feed yesterday. Pretty good figures, tempted to get a new Superb 280 if they’re still making

them when I come to trade-in my VRS in a few years time.

 

 

 

I mean, these figures are what these engines have been mapping to for almost 5 years now, no surprises. Apart from a small number of faulty turbos earlier in 2014-15, as an engine unit it is one of the best VAG motors on offer currently with huge, easy gains with minimum supporting hardware and all of the previous-gen engine's issues solved. That's a consistent  extra 80-90bhp (don't mind the 388 peak as it's very constrained in the rev range) with practically just a software update and an intake. And there's a lot more potential too if you start thinking big but then it goes to a different level. This is like an OEM+ state.

Been running this engine with a stage 1 for 2.5 years now in a Golf and it's been fantastic and actually the performance on the road is greater than the numbers suggest. It has been so good that when I decided I needed the extra space I could only look at cars that featured the same motor so a Sportline 280 (or to be precise 272 in the latest update, not that it matters too much) was an obvious choice.

Edited 30 December, 20187 yr by newbie69

On 30/12/2018 at 12:19, newbie69 said:

I mean, these figures are what these engines have been mapping to for almost 5 years now, no surprises. Apart from a small number of faulty turbos earlier in 2014-15, as an engine unit it is one of the best VAG motors on offer currently with huge, easy gains with minimum supporting hardware and all of the previous-gen engine's issues solved. That's a consistent  extra 80-90bhp (don't mind the 388 peak as it's very constrained in the rev range) with practically just a software update and an intake. And there's a lot more potential too if you start thinking big but then it goes to a different level. This is like an OEM+ state.

Been running this engine with a stage 1 for 2.5 years now in a Golf and it's been fantastic and actually the performance on the road is greater than the numbers suggest. It has been so good that when I decided I needed the extra space I could only look at cars that featured the same motor so a Sportline 280 (or to be precise 272 in the latest update, not that it matters too much) was an obvious choice.

 

I’ve never seen the figures before, but definitely agree for a minimal outlay it’s a good return! 

17 hours ago, courty said:

 

I’ve never seen the figures before, but definitely agree for a minimal outlay it’s a good return! 

 

Yep, one of the reasons the high power EA888.3 engines are a very popular tuning choice with extended tuning support and options available, and with new development of supporting hardware still continuing even 5 years after their launch.

Might seem like a really obvious quesiton but does upping the BHP so much require new brakes, clutch, etc? Presume it puts more wear on them (and the engine) unless I'm missing something?

2 hours ago, Fantantonio said:

Might seem like a really obvious quesiton but does upping the BHP so much require new brakes, clutch, etc? Presume it puts more wear on them (and the engine) unless I'm missing something?

 

It might seem a lot compared to older platforms where you'd struggle for 40-50bhp and would have to upgrade supporting hardware etc. but the extra 80-90bhp is pretty much within OEM limits in these engines. All the systems (fueling, turbo, exhaust) have much higher limits than a stage 1 or 2.

Regarding  transmission, in applications where this engine is offered with a manual transmission (Golf R and Leon Cupra) the clutch indeed needs upgrading even for a simple stage 1. The DSG's limits though which is the only option on the Superb 4x4 are much higher than this, even big turbo setups in excess of 550Nm don't need to mess with anything on the box other than a DSG remap to increase clumping pressure and adapt gear changes.

Brakes are more of a subjective thing. On the road, you won't find that they lack in stopping performance up to stage 2 and 400bhp typically or maybe even above that, but ultimately it depends on how you drive the car and what sort of usage you do.

Edited 2 January, 20197 yr by newbie69

Love that Superb, looks mean in black and subtle at the same time. Must go like stink too with nearly 400bhp!

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

Love that Superb, looks mean in black and subtle at the same time. Must go like stink too with nearly 400bhp!

+1

Whats the costa on just the software out of interest?

 

Mine came with a Steinbauer box in it from the Skoda dealer which they claim adds about 20% but since I've never turned it off to compare and I don't know anyone else with one, I have no idea if it's actually doing anything.

 

Not sure why I'd need to upgrade the brakes unless you were either driving VERY illegally (rather than just a bit illegally) or hitting a track (why? It's a roadboat). The car weighs the same whether it's 280 or 380 so if you're only stopping from normal speeds the stock brakes will do just fine. Those on the 280 are quite substantial anyway.

Stock brakes are fine for the occasional hard braking. Carwow tested a sportline vs a 760 BMW and the Skoda beats it. 

 

Repeated hard braking e.g. track driving, it would be wise to upgrade to braided lines, pads, better fluid as minimum to reduce fade. 

2 hours ago, DBT85 said:

Whats the costa on just the software out of interest?

 

Mine came with a Steinbauer box in it from the Skoda dealer which they claim adds about 20% but since I've never turned it off to compare and I don't know anyone else with one, I have no idea if it's actually doing anything.

 

Not sure why I'd need to upgrade the brakes unless you were either driving VERY illegally (rather than just a bit illegally) or hitting a track (why? It's a roadboat). The car weighs the same whether it's 280 or 380 so if you're only stopping from normal speeds the stock brakes will do just fine. Those on the 280 are quite substantial anyway.

Nice thing with REVO is they quote prices on most of their items, services in their webpage:

https://www.onlyrevo.com/product-details/software/skoda/superb-mk3-2015-/244/stage-1

The advertised 330hp / 420Nm from the Steinbauer are a pretty mild increase, midway between stock car and a proper stage 1 remap that see typically see 360-370 and 460-480Nm.

The need for better brakes in tuned cars does not come from the fact that you'll start driving at previously unreachable speeds everywhere but rather, because you can achieve higher speeds in the same time frames / driving opportunities so to speak. So in a scenario where you'd normally hit 60mph till you had to brake you'll now be doing 80mph hence the need to stop better.

Of-course this is a matter of judgement and in theory it should never happen as you must still foresee that you should not surpass 60 due to approaching the brakes limit for that scenario but we'll agree that not everyone can contain themselves with the extra power nor you can always foresee the unexpected so that's where the need for bigger setups comes from.

As I said before and agree with you, stock brakes are plenty adequate for the occasional fun with a stage 1-2. For more intensive or competitive use even stock setup could benefit from improvements.

360hp and 440nm is decent although not the +80 increase from 280 as I am sure the stock engine on 99ron gives more than that. 

 

100nm more torque should be fun day to day in the mid range definitely. 

1 hour ago, KeteCantek said:

Stock brakes are fine for the occasional hard braking. Carwow tested a sportline vs a 760 BMW and the Skoda beats it. 

 

Repeated hard braking e.g. track driving, it would be wise to upgrade to braided lines, pads, better fluid as minimum to reduce fade. 

Not surpsed at that test to be honest, as I s aid the stock disks are substantial on the 280 as it is, bigger than those on my brothers STI anyway, though of course that has different calipers and stuff.

 

As much as I am happy with how the 280 handles, the idea of taking one to a track for anything beyond a few laps is beyond me. Even in Sport it's just not that car. 

 

1 hour ago, newbie69 said:

Nice thing with REVO is they quote prices on most of their items, services in their webpage:

https://www.onlyrevo.com/product-details/software/skoda/superb-mk3-2015-/244/stage-1

The advertised 330hp / 420Nm from the Steinbauer are a pretty mild increase, midway between stock car and a proper stage 1 remap that see typically see 360-370 and 460-480Nm.

The need for better brakes in tuned cars does not come from the fact that you'll start driving at previously unreachable speeds everywhere but rather, because you can achieve higher speeds in the same time frames / driving opportunities so to speak. So in a scenario where you'd normally hit 60mph till you had to brake you'll now be doing 80mph hence the need to stop better.

Of-course this is a matter of judgement and in theory it should never happen as you must still foresee that you should not surpass 60 due to approaching the brakes limit for that scenario but we'll agree that not everyone can contain themselves with the extra power nor you can always foresee the unexpected so that's where the need for bigger setups comes from.

As I said before and agree with you, stock brakes are plenty adequate for the occasional fun with a stage 1-2. For more intensive or competitive use even stock setup could benefit from improvements.

 

Ahh yes so they do. Maybe one day I'll treat myself. Probably won;t ever get around to it. I still haven't bought myself some lowered seat rails for the S2000 and I've had it on my list for 2 years. Hopefully this year I'll put more than 500 miles on the thing though. Babies do have a habit of getting in the way of an a/b road blast with the lid down.

 

I understand what you're saying about the brakes. Since you can get to 80 in the space it took to get to 60, you might find yourself with brown trousers if you need to get back down to 0 in a hurry! Not something I'd worry about even if these weren't as good as they are.

 

21 minutes ago, KeteCantek said:

360hp and 440nm is decent although not the +80 increase from 280 as I am sure the stock engine on 99ron gives more than that. 

 

100nm more torque should be fun day to day in the mid range definitely. 

 

Not sure I've seen a run with one on a dyno with proper fuel in it. Mine has been graced with 95 for about 15 litres since I got it 18,000 miles ago. Apart from that its been Tesco Momentum.

@DBT85 Regarding power output of the ea888, that is an assumption based on a few things. 

 

1. I seen dyno charts for stock 280 cupra that produced 300+ 

 

2. The 5.8sec 0 to 60 is an underestimate as you can consistently get under 5.5 using launch control. 

 

Therefore I deduce VW probably don't bother to change the maps on the engine whether it's for the golf r or seat/Skoda. 

2 hours ago, KeteCantek said:

360hp and 440nm is decent although not the +80 increase from 280 as I am sure the stock engine on 99ron gives more than that. 

 

100nm more torque should be fun day to day in the mid range definitely. 

Probably slightly higher with 99 but absolute figures are of little importance anyway as every dyno reads different, and then between different cars there's different conditions, tires, drivetrain losses etc. What makes more sense to focus on is before/after runs on the same car and same dyno and compare the power and torque curves. That gives you the best idea about where exactly you make the extra power and how much did you actually gain, so you know how to better drive the car when you're after the absolute best performance.

Mid-range gains is where it's at with these stage 1 tunes. With the extra torque, the pull even in 6th gear no matter the load, speed or road slope is silly, and it does not stop accelerating hard until well above 6K rpm. It's actually funny to see that going from 120 to 180kmh is as effortless as 30 to 70.

Edited 3 January, 20197 yr by newbie69