Couldn't agree more, particularly with the first and last bits. Yes the engine will be pushed hard for short bursts during the stage 1 process but it is just that - short bursts and if your engine can't take that, especially in Leighton's very experienced hands you've got problems even before you head to his place! I'm pretty sure Fiat intended the Coupé's engine to be thrashed on occasions. If your Coupé is in good health, has enjoyed regular servicing with quality filters & fluids and the belts are well within their lifespan you've got little if anything to worry about. The benefits will have you grinning all the way home

it's probably better the engine goes bang on a RR than at 70+ leptons on a road when your engine seizes up & throws you into a world of lovely pain !

Flea all the way....

I will add a some more later regarding the dyno, as it requires a little more than a cursory answer. In short, as I alluded to on another thread, tuning will always require careful attention. It would be remiss of me (or any other tuner) if I didn't explore the upper limits of an engines potential, that is simply what I am being paid to do. However, the key is to do this in a controlled and understood environment, so that you are aware of what is happening at all times and how to deal with it. A generic chip has greater risk because there are unknowns, conversely a custom chip should evaluate all parameters and therefore quench the variables significantly . Method and knowledge are key. It is all too easy to say I can "tune", I can "live map", but this needs to be quantified with real experience and knowledge beyond the very simple basics. Mclaren and Virgin are both F1 cars, but well we all know the difference...

I have yet to have a single car fail as a result of tuning. By this I mean tuning related activities, and I can categorically say the engine is not compromised in any way beyond the requirement to unleash this potential. I would honestly go as far to say that when an engine is setup correctly it will repay you in kind. I have tuned many cars that defy the usual retoric, the standard engine is far more robust than the general consensus would have you know. In an ideal world every car would arrive in perfect health, but they don't and it doesn't take me long to pick up on some nasties. Tuning is not always about fun, it can quickly reveal things that are not up to scratch. I do get the odd occasional perfect car , and it is a pleasure to hand it back and say so, but invariably I am not just tackling the ECU!

As for the dyno, well this discussion is a little gem

In English,

Flea:-
I am the best,no one is as good as me,my hair is long and im not as good as Jbt around the tracks of the Uk,.


Seriously though,live mapping is worth every penny if you want economy,performance but more importantly peace of mind knowing that you can have some fun and be confident that everything is ok.

So kind of you to refer to my Plus

He definetly wasnt refering to mine! Bloody thing.

Flea,
I never meant to question your expertise and I hope you didn't see it that way.
Just wish you did the occasional London trip. Bristol is a long trek for me.

You are joking right? I used to commute to London 3 days a week, and travel to Brighton regularly with a 5 and 6 year old in tow in the coop! Do it, and enjoy the drive home, it'll be quicker and not just in the mind!

And yep, I'm in Bristol

Spoken like a true Londoner A whopping 120 miles or two hours!

It must be such a struggle to even get up in the morning you poor thing.

Haha....actually my coupe does some miles.....I travel for my job and do aprox 700-800 miles per week. Last week I did 400 miles in one day!!
So forgive me, but a 240 mile return trip on a weekend is harsh on me. :-)

Oi oi, enough with the Londoner thing.

Not all of us live in the sticks where the only thing we have to do is drive up and down country lanes and look after the sheep.

errr.. last time i saw him he had a serious mullet chop!!!

Don't rise to it. Bad enough our economy has to subsidise them, but they insult us to boot!

What like mine?

took my car to Flea to get mapped last week and am very happy with the results. Its pretty much standard bar powerflow exhaust and slightly uprated hybrid turbo.

Beforehand asked Barbz to give it a check over to make sure all in good health (compression/leak test done to make sure the engine was strong), he identified a cracked intake pipe and stretched accelerator cable so got that sorted first. Sorting those things made a big difference on their own.

Made the trip over to Bristol (from London), handed over the car, had a nice day in Bristol then picked the car up about 4hrs later. Was very pleased with the results, the car is noticeably quicker, very smooth and feels great to drive. Leighton was great to deal with and knows his coupes. I felt I had left my car in good hands.

Downsides? Well my brakes now squeal more they they used to, my fuel costs have gone up (because I want to drive the car more), and I now have the bug and am thinking I now want a different hybrid and a FMIC for above 300bhp ;-)

All in all well worth the money.

Don't be silly, no one Can have a hair cut that makes them look super

I think it was just a short back and sides!!

Sheeps need some lovin too you know

But seriously, i drove from Norfolk to Bristol to see Leighton, just get up nice and early and you'll be there in under 2 hours easy.

I left mine at 4am, and was at Reading services by 6 (speed limit all the way)

I travelled to Flea's from France. A custom map and chip was done.That was done nearly 18 months ago. I have to say my coupe does not miss a beat and goes like rocket. An nice untouched 20vt does make things uncomplicated though.