I need your help guys. I can't decide if I should tune the coupé or not. Actually at the moment I can't decide if I should sell up or not but that's a different problem.

Firstly I REALLY do like my coupé, IMO it's a very good, near standard example.
I've just brought a full (incl cat) BlueFlame exhaust but I'm thinking that might be as far as I go on extracting power out of the engine (and I brought this for the looks, sound and reliability over and above performance). I have a PA FMIC sitting at home and the plan was to get an up rated clutch when it was needed (which is now) and a SS turbo along with a boost controller, remap etc over the next year but I'm starting to think it's just not worth spending that kind of money on a coupés engine. I would still be up for spending money on her, like wheels/brakes refurbished, seals painted, maybe bigger rear discs, LE interior etc... stuff that IMO make the coupe a better package not necessarily a faster FWD car.

Does this make sense, do you understand what I'm asking or what I want? Or is my messes right and I am just a contrary car nut who doesn't know what he wants from a car?

taking your last comment first...

If you don't know what you want from the car, don't start ANYTHING - styling, power, handling - nothing.

You need to work out what you want from the car before embarking on what will undoubtedly cost you money.

There are two distinct schools of thought in Coupe-land.

1) Keep it standard - its a future classic and deserves to be cherished

2) The Coupe was good, but had its flaws - thoughtful modding addresses these shortcomings.

Personally, I wanted a standard-ish looking, sharp-handling Coupe that could handle 30,000 miles a year of commuting and business miles, but could turn into a supercar baiter when I wanted it to. Three years and more than a few quid later, I'm very nearly there.

I think that a good standard Coupe should probably be kept that way - certainly if I had an LE, I wouldn't mod at all. I'm even thinking that a really nice 16v N/A wold be a nice project to keep exactly as it left the factory.

However, I'm also of the opinion that what is already a good, quick car can be made very nice to drive, with some gentle power mods and some sensitive handling improvements.

The great thing about this forum is that there appears to be an acceptance that its your car, so you do what you want with it.

unless it involves stripes, graphics, blacked-out windows, stupid veilside-type bodykits or poxy ironing-board rear spoilers, in which case you'll be ridiculed for ever. or even worse, you could adorn the flanks with mis-spelt Coupe specialist advertising

Pure and simple....
You only live once........ so live

yeh go for it

You could just stick on the exhaust and replace the turbo when it's needed, the FMIC might have been a premature purchase if you're not going for a big blower straight away.

[yoda]
cheap modifications the path to failure is
[/yoda]

Do what you fancy, but do it properly

Yeah, do it properly and you can always return it to standard in the future if you wish

I've a loft-full of std seats, intercooler, airbox, springs, clock, dv, etc etc for a hundred years' time.

Think you also need to do a 'health check' on the car before you mod. Sounds obvious but any niggles on a standard car will be made x10 worse by mods.

Uprate the std parts that are known for wearing,turbo, suspension etc.
Like Yellafella said keep all your std parts so you can put it back to std in the future.

.......my advice, DON'T bother, as you'll never stop once you start !


serious by the way

My twopenneth, stage 1 mods are perfect, stage 2 mods give you a fair bit extra for not too much money, stage 3... well sounds like you'll be happy with stage 1

Sound advice, and its sooo tre - the only thing that will stop you once you've started is money. That's the only thing stopping me. I'd love a full system, uprated turbo, fmic, shocks etc etc.

Start with a couple of light mods that dont really have any adverse side effects - a GTech1 is a great upgrade imo and with your exhaust will make it a fair bit swifter.

I've given myself quite a headache over the past couple of months with this same question, but at the same time I've been building a collection of parts ready for the day if it ever came.

Well on Wednesday the coop's going to MotoMech for Paul to work his magic with a belts change and full service. Whilst there I'm having a Gtech1 and PRV fitted along with a Nomad Twin Pod Pillar Trim with Boost and Oil Temp gauges. Other than a few cosmetics the only other performance mod will be a catback BlueFlame exhaust which should be fitted soon after MotorMech.

This WILL be as far as I go with performance mods and the only other changes I'll make will be brakes and suspension when they need changing.

Good luck whichever way you choose to go and don't forget the law of diminishing returns.

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to keep it standard ish, no more engine mods. Like Taz says once I start I wont stop. If I wanted a faster car I should/would go and buy one, still can't take my mind of a 350z.

Nigel, funny you say that about a nice 16v N/A, I was saying the same thing to my gf brother a few days ago after he commented on my coupé. They don't really get much of a mention on the forum.

The only real mods i have done to my car bar a chip and PBV have been improvements on standard parts as they fail, like the turbo or the exhaust and the air filter and PA FMIC for the LPG side more than anything.

Its a slippery slope that very few can stop at when they get onto.

Wouldn't a chip and PRV require a FMIC/WMIC?

Not if you stay below 1.2 bar and in the really hot weather, drop that to 1.1 bar

I am in the same position. hence will tag on to this thread.

I have a 20V Turbo with 72k miles. It is stock mechanically other than a boost gauge. It has full S,History last one at PowerFiat but still i'm going to do a compression test..
I am looking for around 250 ish bhp.

My plan was to,
Fit a freeflow filter, for sound.
Install a GTech 1 chip.
Fit a cat back exhaust.

Do these mods sound ok?

What I also wanted to know is... With this minor proposed state of tune, could I fit a FMIC. As in would it have any benefit?

Many thanks....

And so the slippery slope starts and the money pit opens....



Seriously though, that's more or less my proposed set up and I've been told by "people in the know" that I'll get 250bhp if not slightly more.

Oh, and you need to change your avator!

See my sig, the 20V was here 1st so is my Avitar for now.

It never hurts to fit an FMIC, it will aloow you to run higher boost in hotter temps, so you could quite happily run 1.2 bar all through the summer, without one, as I said above, 1.2 in really hot weather the std IC may not be enough.

I love this forum. It is so helpful.

thanks

Not quite true - if your radiator is not up to it then fitting a big FMIC in front of it may mean your coolant system cannot support the heat generated by the engine. This is particularly pertinent if you also have aircon as the aircon rad sits in front of the radiator which is then sat in front of by the FMIC.

Hmmmmm I see what you mean about restricting airflow to the coolant rad. Luckily I do not have aircon. What about one of those wide thin intercoolers to sit in the bumper below the foam.. Can't remember how much room is down there. Am guessing not much.

below the foam is better but the capacity of the intercooler is not going to be as large.

If your radiator is OK it is not an issue. If it is not OK then fix it first before fitting an FMIC rather than compromising the FMIC. Goes back to the principles of tuning really - get the car working properly and validate its condition before spending money on tuning.

I think that is sound advice John. It is advice I shall be following.

In the same respect, It makes me laugh when young lads put K&N's exhausts on there 1.25 fiesta's and run on high octane fuel etc. Yet don't change the oil plugs/leads..

In reply to 007 and bridges;

Was at MotorMech yesterday for belts and service. Whilst there I also had a Gtech1 chip and PRV fitted along with a boost and oil temp gauge. Let's just say that it was a very entertaining drive home!

BlueFlame cat-back system being fitted this morning and then that's it as far as tuning is concerned. Paul's set the car up with a 1 bar peak and after a couple of blasts last night, that's more than enough for me! - feels like a totally different car!