Mihnea 3b chip impressions - slightly long

[Alan Cordeiro]

I was waiting to install a real boost gauge and do more testing, but in the
meantime,
I can second what Craig said.

Very smooth power, the peak comes in by 3500 rpm and stays through 6000.
And my gas mileage seems to have improved slightly, from about 20 to 22 in
my mixed (freeway+stuck on freeway+city) driving.

By the way, Mihnea, I just got a second chip from Ben, what will this do? I
have been
travelling too much, and have not opened up the ECU to pop it in. Will it
fix
the occasional "checksum error"?

Alan




----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Gary" <cgary at psu.edu>
To: <200q20v at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 4:52 PM
Subject: Mihnea 3b chip impressions - slightly long


>
> Greetings all,
>
> I know the there are still quite a few listers out there who are
> considering an ECU chip upgrade, so I thought I'd provide my
> impressions of Mihnea Cotet's chip / transducer set.  My impressions
> are solely seat-of-the-pants, as I have no way of generating
> performance figures (ie, 4-wheel dyno, G-tech, G-timer).
>
> My engine is completely stock, with a k24 turbo and the stock exhaust
> manifold, so I went for Mihnea's basic chip configuration (though I did
> opt for a 3-bar pressure transducer instead of 2.5 - anticipating
> potential future modifications)
>
> I've been running the MRC chip set in my 200q20v for two months now and
> have been extremely pleased with the performance increase.  It quite
> honestly drives like a different car - not that I was at all
> disappointed with it's performance before - but, now I really look
> forward to driving the car (especially since I ride my bike to work
> every day, and only get to drive on evenings and weekends).
>
> I've had the opportunity to drive the car a variety of conditions, and
> have been impressed not only by the noticeable increase in power, but
> in the increased fuel economy.  Over Memorial day weekend, I made a 400
> mile round-trip to Ithaca, NY and averaged 28 mpg, which wouldn't be
> incredibly significant if it weren't for my stuck-open thermostat,
> which had previously been limiting my economy to 23 mpg or so.  Pretty
> impressive.  I can't wait to test it after the thermostat is
> replaced... and the huge pile of other parts that I have waiting to
> install.  While I was in the area, I also had a chance to run Watkins
> Glen.  It was only three paced laps in the rain, but we were moving
> faster than I expected - 85 mph on the straights, and pretty fast
> through the turns.  It's a fun track, I can't wait to attend a weekend
> event there.
>
> The power delivery is very smooth under boost, and the car pulls
> quickly and strongly into the red.  I really haven't been pushing the
> car very hard overall, because the timing belt is due to be replaced,
> and my aging (stock) TBV just died.  I picked up a new (cheap)
> Stratmosphere at WaterFest 2003 over the weekend, and threw it into my
> pile of to-be-installed parts.
>
> I should point out that while I've had my Avant for almost 4 years now,
> I've never driven another 200q20v, much less a chipped one, so I can't
> give any relative impressions vs. IA or Lehman.
>
> Mihnea has been very easy to work with, and seems to be a good, honest,
> and knowledgeable guy.  Even if his chip set wasn't less than half the
> price of the competition, I can't believe that the other tuners have
> anything more to offer.
>
> _______________________________________________
> 200q20v mailing list
> 200q20v at audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/200q20v