So I've had Racingline OEM+ on my car for a bit now, so thought I'd write up a bit of a review which will hopefully help some people unsure whether or not to take the jump and invest.
I previously had a 2016 Cupra 290 that was entirely Racingline too; OEM+ Stage 2, TCU Map, Oil Management, FMIC, all 3 upgraded engine mounts, R600 and all intake hardware. So I'm quite familiar with what to expect from Racingline, but nothing ever really prepares you for the step up from stock to stage 1. It's always a pleasant and shocking surprise when you go from what is already a fast car, to something much faster, but yet feeling more efficient and reliable in achieving the performance, and all from essentially a software update.
When I picked up my R, I was always going to go back to Racingline for more work, only this time it's slightly different as I now have a manual and I intend to go full stage 3. I let VAG Manchester and Racingline know my intention of going to stage 3 and we have a rough plan to get there. I will be taking my time with the build and I will be doing various dyno runs at each stage to show the gains/losses with each mod, although the final bhp/torque figures aren't what my build is about.
Racingline have a lot of racing pedigree with them, and it clearly is evident in the performance from their hardware and software. Just from my current OEM+ stage 1 map, the car feels sharper, more awake. The accelerator has become a lot more sensitive, just the slightest of touches and the car growls and pounces on its prey in front. I've not done a dyno run yet - as everyone knows with the stock Cupra clutches in the manual cars (and as Racingline nicely put it), they are made pretty much out of chocolate. So I'm slightly cautious of this during full throttle. However, the motion through the rev range is so smooth. I personally feel the power delivery in my manual R is better than in my previous 290 DSG. I just wish I could change gear as quick as the DSG
However, it still throws you deep into the seat and the gear changes are a lot more satisfying with the burbles/gargles/pops from the exhaust (also contributed to by the VAGSport Res Delete). I believe that the pops on gear change and overrun aren't intentionally put into the maps, it's just a very happy coincidence.
On a side note...oddly my fuel economy has improved too! No idea how, but with the res delete and the OEM+ map, I'm getting late 30 to mid 40mpg...highest I've achieved so far on the M6 during rush hour was 45.6mpg. I only just about achieved this on my 290 after the FMIC was installed. I wouldn't say I'm a 'slow' driver. But I'm certainly not a 'full throttle everywhere' driver either. I get on average around 420miles per full tank (I do get a bit giddy towards the end of the tank).
The next step is to get a Sachs Sintered clutch fitted - setting it up ready for OEM+ stage 3, and allowing me to dyno the car throughout the build. The plan is to dyno the car with just the OEM+ map, then dyno it after each hardware upgrade - next one will be the R600 intake with all the hardware to go with (muffler delete, turbo intake hose, turbo elbow).
I can't recommend Racingline enough I'll hopefully have some dyno figures to show in the coming months.
I previously had a 2016 Cupra 290 that was entirely Racingline too; OEM+ Stage 2, TCU Map, Oil Management, FMIC, all 3 upgraded engine mounts, R600 and all intake hardware. So I'm quite familiar with what to expect from Racingline, but nothing ever really prepares you for the step up from stock to stage 1. It's always a pleasant and shocking surprise when you go from what is already a fast car, to something much faster, but yet feeling more efficient and reliable in achieving the performance, and all from essentially a software update.
When I picked up my R, I was always going to go back to Racingline for more work, only this time it's slightly different as I now have a manual and I intend to go full stage 3. I let VAG Manchester and Racingline know my intention of going to stage 3 and we have a rough plan to get there. I will be taking my time with the build and I will be doing various dyno runs at each stage to show the gains/losses with each mod, although the final bhp/torque figures aren't what my build is about.
Racingline have a lot of racing pedigree with them, and it clearly is evident in the performance from their hardware and software. Just from my current OEM+ stage 1 map, the car feels sharper, more awake. The accelerator has become a lot more sensitive, just the slightest of touches and the car growls and pounces on its prey in front. I've not done a dyno run yet - as everyone knows with the stock Cupra clutches in the manual cars (and as Racingline nicely put it), they are made pretty much out of chocolate. So I'm slightly cautious of this during full throttle. However, the motion through the rev range is so smooth. I personally feel the power delivery in my manual R is better than in my previous 290 DSG. I just wish I could change gear as quick as the DSG
However, it still throws you deep into the seat and the gear changes are a lot more satisfying with the burbles/gargles/pops from the exhaust (also contributed to by the VAGSport Res Delete). I believe that the pops on gear change and overrun aren't intentionally put into the maps, it's just a very happy coincidence.On a side note...oddly my fuel economy has improved too! No idea how, but with the res delete and the OEM+ map, I'm getting late 30 to mid 40mpg...highest I've achieved so far on the M6 during rush hour was 45.6mpg. I only just about achieved this on my 290 after the FMIC was installed. I wouldn't say I'm a 'slow' driver. But I'm certainly not a 'full throttle everywhere' driver either. I get on average around 420miles per full tank (I do get a bit giddy towards the end of the tank).
The next step is to get a Sachs Sintered clutch fitted - setting it up ready for OEM+ stage 3, and allowing me to dyno the car throughout the build. The plan is to dyno the car with just the OEM+ map, then dyno it after each hardware upgrade - next one will be the R600 intake with all the hardware to go with (muffler delete, turbo intake hose, turbo elbow).
I can't recommend Racingline enough
I'll hopefully have some dyno figures to show in the coming months.
