A good remap on these doesn't turn them into an uncontrollable monster. You just learn to modulate the throttle slightly in the lower gears when its wet. A custom map could probably limit the torque to your taste in 1st/2nd if you prefer.
You do what you feel is right, 300hp is way more than enough power your gonna use in real life. So many people think if you don’t do much to your car or if you just go buy one instead of ‘building’ one that your not that into cars which is just so untrue you can be into cars and just love the way it comes out the factory. Like you I love a OEM+ look!
Hi Matt, that’s very true mate. There’s deffo an expectation to start modding when you buy a performance car and do social media. We have to remember a lot of development goes into these cars before they hit the market - So sometimes it’s good to enjoy them as the manufacturer intended 😊
Put michellin ps4s’s on the front and leave the contis on the back as the back has a fair amount of camber and allways planted. Trust me it’s absolutely nuts the difference it makes, the first roundabout i took in the wet with them i was amazed and totally understood why everyone swears by them. The compound is so much stickier. Plus it pretty much eliminates hop too .cheers
You can go for Revo then buy the SPS switch that enables you to run on different modes including stock. Also gives you a decent anti theft mode. At the end of the day it’s up to the individual, I too would enjoy seeing how the RS handles the extra power in the wet.
Great video Gary. I fully support your decision to keep it stock power, the car is definitely quick enough even with the stock map. I’m more than happy with stock power on my MK8 ST, I know it’s a lot down in power compared to the Cupra but it also shares the same problem with its gearbox mount when mapped. I never floor mine in 1st either cause the stock power can still cause wheel hop just like the Cupra so a remap would definitely make it a lot more common and I don’t know about other people but to me, the sound and judder the car makes when it wheel hops is so unsettling 🤣.
I’ve surprisingly not had too many issues so far with mine, but I think being so used to fwd cars with bigger power I have learnt to modulate the throttle a bit better and not just mash it😂😂 mine is 374bhp
It’s either wasted power in wheelspin or throttle modulation 😁 But no doubt you’d get used to it! I just think as it is it’s a nice amount of power to have a good old blast without it getting overly lary if you get me?
Mine was a 300, now stage 1 unicorn custom dyno tuned ecu & tcu, its 380bhp, its very worth it, I have r600 (all bits), 3" cat back and Powerflex hybrid mount, running ps4s, its manageable, lc is utterly pointless, but its good fun. We had stupidly heavy rain/ thunderstorms today and I could still pull away fine in cupra mode, But I was on an empty motorway and floored it for shits and giggles in 4th and it spun the wheels, but that was a bit stupid due to the standing water, only time I've had issues pulling away in the wet was the junction was covered in wet leaves. I need to get sports cat + downpipe and some more bits then stage2 (again unicorn)
Make sure you get a dogbone mount. It really helps put the power down. Got a Remap on mine with a set of ps4s tyres on and puts the power down really well. Yeah you have to be careful in the wet but it's not undriveable
I’m not sure I’d benefit all that much from the mount as I don’t boot it in first, all of my fun takes place on a roll 👍🏻 But I have made that upgrade on my Focus RS and it certainly helped.
@@CarFocused even in second gear it makes a difference. Will get rid of most if not all wheel hop. Gear changes feel better even on dsg. Highly recommend one, good mod for £60 ish
My Polo GTi+, even with 100hp less, is crap in the wet too. Even in the dry, it spins its wheels way too easily. Away from the lights, it's hopeless. But show it a few bends and it comes to life. It's a fair bit nimbler than people give it credit for as well. I think my next quick hatchback will be something with AWD. Eyeing up Cupra estates at the moment. 9/10ths as good as a Golf R, and better value. Rarer too.
I'm always with you till your finale mate ! I'm still sitting in the fence about this....still debating a remap with my Cupra290 🤔 But having had an FK8 Type R....I agree there is a limit for fwd especially in the wet ! I stand by my previous comments on your other videos, that Michelin's are the way forward....but am beginning to concede that possibly leaving it standard and just enjoying it for what it is the right way ! They are bloody quick as standard ! Great thoughts as usual bud 👍
Thanks Adam - like I said as an everyday driver, it’s plenty quick enough and there’s always a pesky speed camera somewhere waiting to slap you with a big ass fine or worse 😂🙈
Spring next year it will be mapped (Revo stage 1) 😉👍 Personally i always keep a new car stock for a while untill i get use to the power and novelty wears off. I find the Goodyear asymmetric 5 a good tyre for the money. All the best 👍
I know when I had my 300 it was the same and was ridiculously easy to provoke wheel spin in the wet in 2nd,3rd etc. I knew of someone who remapped an earlier (280 I think) to about 360bhp and they soon realised it’s was way too much for the car to effectively lay down and they basically ended up admitting that the remap had ultimately spoiled the car!
If I still had mine I wouldn’t even consider a remap I know that, about the only thing I think it needs is some slight cosmetic tweaks as in it needs the side skirts as it looks a bit odd without them, that and maybe a subtle front splitter and leave it at that
Afternoon mate, another great video. I would change out the tyres to Michelins but I agree I wouldn't do the remap, just enjoy what you have. Maybe do the dog leg mount and an exhaust, but if I was you, I would concentrate on the gorgeous mk2 RS 👍
I have a 184 fr, went totally overkill on the tyres and got Michelin pilot sport 4’s. Doesn’t really need it at that power level but I can imagine with basically 2 of my car packed into such a small platform you’ll be getting tyre spin regardless of Michelin / Conti! But fully support your decision with remaps, it’s your car end of the day. Why ruin the fun for yourself
I am looking to buy the 280 in this coming year and go for a stage 2 map. It can handle this, but you need to do your engine mounts transmission mounts e.t.c my friend has done this and watch it be a different car!
Fair enough. I drop my ST map back to Perf+ in the Winter so I can still drive it 'hard' without getting loads of wheelspin. Otherwise, with the Race map, having to modulate the throttle all the time spoils the fun.
@@CarFocusedThe Dreamscience handset with 5 maps to swap between gives great flexibility - I can change map according to mood, roads used or weather conditions. 👍
@@eddiec438 if I were to map it I’d probably go down the Mountune iFlash route - you can switch between maps / torque settings via an app on your phone. You can also use valet mode and lock out the ECU if going away etc.
I agree with you on that, doesn't need it. I would say go for it on the 280/290 versions as they all remap to the same 350bhp (370 on 99 ron). Big gains to be had on those versions. 300bhp is enough on fwd they just become tyre shredders. Sport contact 7 is a great tyre, changing to a ps4s Michelin may help in the wet but will still be overwhelmed at 350bhp
I love it mine was spinning in 3rd at 60ish in the wet on pirellis got Yoko's on there the other day and they are better like glue no remap... But would be interested to hear how your get on with a remap
I do agree Gary I've remapped my mk3 focus st & in the rain u might asell have a fiat panda u just can't put the power down still a bit of a hand full in the dry but in the wet forget it
Look here I have done it Stage 1 remap Res delete On a preface lift cupra 290 black edition. First thing I did was get Michelin ps4s tyres put on as the Bridgestones where absolutely awful !!!! They tyres transformed the car And they were so much better in the wet And I mean night and day !!! The car had 375 bhp And I never had wheel spin So it’s how you drive it too Just be a bit more progressive And you’ll be fine And the benefits of the remap is so much more punch when rolling These engine are totally over engineered in my opinion And totally held back It was a fantastic car And would recommend anyone to buy a Leon Cupra
I think you’re right not to mess about with the Cupra. It’s got more than enough power for British roads and front wheel drive IMO. I think a lot of the time people just modify cars for the sake of doing it and having bragging rights to big BHP figures. If it’s makes the car un drivable or upsets the balance for daily duties there’s no point.
I have a scirocco r 280bhp with Bridgestone potenza sport and in the wet I have the same problem with the wheel hop but in the dry it can easier put the power down, there’s no point in remapping fwd cars past 300
I follow a couple of people that are running beyond 500bhp on their cupras. They're really quick in a straight line (around 6.5 seconds 100-200). Can't imagine what they're like in the wet though.
Me personally I'm glad I mapped my 300 like you say in the wet it's a bit much but in the dry it bloody great lol having said that I don't really drive it that quick anyway 🙄
As other people have said, get a Revo or other flash mapper which lets you switch maps on the fly would suit you. Otherwise a more wet/rain oriented tyre like Rainsports would be a little more suitable for the conditions. Personally i avoid hooning around in those kinds of conditions regardless as your braking and handling grip is so heavily impacted anyway. A good remap should bring in the power more progressively as well so a stage 1 or 2 remap mightnt actually be as unwieldy as you might think?
Yea I’m sure there are options out there - but essentially the car is plenty fast enough as it is I think. Licence losing speeds can happen very quickly 🙈 It was never going to be a car to modify but a lot of people have told me to map it so thought I’d put this video out as it can be feisty in the wet. I actually just watched one of Misha’s videos of him taking a 600bhp Cupra around the Nurburgring and that was ludicrous 😂
I think if you drive a remapped one you might change your mind. You just need to get use to controlling your right foot to prevent wheel spin. You don't have to use all the power all the time that's all I'm saying but it will be there when you need it. 3rd onwards you shouldn't have big issues. You can always get the mapper to limit the torque in first and second like the focus rs does as standard it will be alot more fun that's for sure
Think is mate modulating the throttle is still wasted power. I’m happier with having usable power on tap. Don’t get me wrong, in the dry it would be savage but it wouldn’t be all that fun over the winter. She’s plenty quick enough in standard form 👌🏻
So I wonder then how how efficient the RS with revo nuckle, Type R with dual axis, Hyper Strut on the Megan RS - where they separate the steering nuckle to eliminate torque steer.. those have sophisticated front wheel suspension
I mapped my cupra 280.. had an engine mount done which stopped wheeel hop and alot of wheelspin.. other than that.. you can't give it any beans in the wet.. or you'll be sat there spinning watching the 100bhp 1.2 liters beating you off the line..
Exactly this. People are talking about throttle modulation but it’s still wasted power. I feel that at the moment it’s manageable, but with more power it’ll be a handful. The 300 in standard form is a cracking car 👌🏻
How tall are you? Is the seat in the deepest position? How is the comfort for long drives? I'm thinking to buy the car for like 4-5 months but no dealer closer than 200km has it to yest drive it. I'm pretty big myself 185 cm and 110kg. I don't like seating up high specially in sporty cars.
Hi mate. I’ve got a 2019 Cupra 290 (GPF) 7 speed DSG. I was unsure about a map as well. I always said I’d never get one but then I changed my mind a year later and decided to get a Revo Stage 1 - ECU map. It’s mapped to take 97 RON so the BHP is now roughly 350 and it’s really changed the car for me. I never drive fast in the rain though as this is the first performance car I’ve owned. I don’t feel confident enough to do that so I can’t comment on it but in the dry when I do floor it, it’s really enjoyable! I didn’t get the TCU mapped as I didn’t want to spend so much at once but I don’t know if I really need the TCU map. If anyone has both mapped and could tell me if I should get the TCU done and the reasons why then please let me know….
The car as it is at the moment is fine for me, it would just get a bit out of hand if it had more power. For me the Golf R is quite dull in comparison to the Cupra. Great for chucking more power at but the Cupra ticks the boxes for me in its current state of tune 👌🏻
@@CarFocused Yeah I imagine MQB platform car parts are probably interchangable, the room for the rear diff is probably on the chassis. Love these Leon Cupras, I had that shape Leon but recently picked up a new model, not a cupra unfortunately. On the wishlist for sure. Great video, looking forward to seeing what you do to yours.
Could get a bluefin or similar handset and have it how you want it depending on the weather with switchable maps. If it's not for you you'd probably get 75% of your money back if you sold it.
In all honesty for me, it doesn’t need anymore power. It feels nicely balanced at the moment and although it does like to spin it’s wheels in the wet, it’s manageable and still fun 😃
@@CarFocused fair enough, I think you would still find an extra 50bhp manageable and fun but can understand you justifying not spending money unnecessarily.
