Chipped LC vs Standard LCR 210

[cuprablue]

As per the title. For those of you who have had the pleasure of owning both how do they compare? From what I can tell they make pretty much the same top end power (ie 210bhp) but how does the power delivery differ?

Plus just how much better is the LCR realistically in the handling/braking dept than the LC when both are in stock form?

Just pure curiosity really.

cuprablue

 

[Ruddmeister]

Not much in performance levels (in a straight line) in the real world between all 4.....It's easier to keep ahead in a remapped LCR but not night and day different......I have had a Std LC, std LCR and remapped LCR

Std LC
Chipped/remapped LC
Std LCR
Chipped/remapped LCR

However brakes and handling let the LC down IMO (I had an early Y-Plate LC)and the LCR inspires more confidence. The weight of the steering and turn in is better, braking is improved and you have more confidence in the LCR that the @rse end isn't gonna be visable through the side window at any minute.

It's easier to drive the LCR quicker but put two divers of equal ability on board and the LCR would pull away......but only slowly

 

[Chris 16v]

I think my face lift LC handles very well and grips like glue to be honest, the weighting of the steering and gears is beautiful, however the arse does get twitchy if you really push it.

My LC is standard right now but id love to go out in a remapped version and an LCR both standard and non to see what the real life changes actually are!

 

[ElasticTangent]

I had an LC before my LCR. I had the trial Revo code installed and the LC was much better than before. In the same week I drove an LCR at a dealers and it just felt better in all areas so I bought that instead of going for the full remap.

A remapped LC is still going to be able to compete with a lot of the current hot hatches mind you.

 

[cordobabrendy]

the lc chipped will have more torque than the lcr standard, it would be pretty even, dont let anyone tell you that the lc doesnt stop though, a simple change of decent pads into it makes it, in the real world, every bit as quick at stopping as the lcr brembos, maybe round a track with prolonged braking the 4 pots would begin telling.

 

[Chris 16v]

What pads do you recommend - my brakes fade soemthing cronic!

 

[Colonelk]

Is there much difference in the engines between a 20VT and an LCR? Obviously the BHP figure, but they are both 1.8 are they not? Is it a bigger turbo etc in the LCR?

 

[Steve_B]

I don't think there'll be much difference in normal driving on the road between an LC or LCR chipped or not. If you're on a track then it's a different matter, I still wouldn't expect the LCR to be massively better than the LC imo

 

[ElasticTangent]

What pads do you recommend - my brakes fade soemthing cronic!

I replaced the pads on my LC with EBC Green Stuff which were amazing and squeal free. It's a matter of taste if you like the green pads showing though.

 

[cordobabrendy]

I found greenstuff to be poo compared to pagid fr pads, athey are around 45-50 quid and you can fit them yourself with basic tools.

 

[Steve_B]

Is there much difference in the engines between a 20VT and an LCR? Obviously the BHP figure, but they are both 1.8 are they not? Is it a bigger turbo etc in the LCR?

They've both go the same basic engine but the main difference is that the LCR has a bigger turbo and twin intercoolers compared to the LC

 

[cordobabrendy]

If you are looking to get the best out of them ie 300 bhp + it costs the same either way, stage 3 remap fmic and big turbo kit so that negates the difference as standard, both versions have their own + and -'s. We wouldnt have bought one if we didnt like them for what they are.

 

[andycupra]

engine wise the LCR had a ko4 turbo against a ko3/ko3s for the LC.
the LCR also has a larger maf housing and two slightly smaller intercoolers compared to one on the LC.

as a result the inlet manifold on the LCR is the opposite way around.. (ie inlet is on the nearside compared to offsied on the LC. but its basically the same.

other than that do a search on here for the differences, there are many suttle differences other than the engine.

 

[Colonelk]

I'm aware of most of the cosmetic and internal differences it was just the engine I was wondering about. Thanks for the clarification folks

 

[Ruddmeister]

Plus just how much better is the LCR realistically in the handling/braking dept than the LC when both are in stock form?

dont let anyone tell you that the lc doesnt stop though, a simple change of decent pads into it makes it, in the real world, every bit as quick at stopping as the lcr brembos, maybe round a track with prolonged braking the 4 pots would begin telling.

TBH Brend that wasn;t the question as I could put Carbon metallic pads on an LCR and the LCR stops on a sixpence. The question was about brakes in stock form, the LC brakes in stock form are terrible IMO, the LCR brembo's are better in stock form.

Neither are great though.

 

[Ruddmeister]

I think my face lift LC handles very well and grips like glue to be honest, the weighting of the steering and gears is beautiful

Compared to what the LCR ?

 

[-=Rob=-]

I've has an 03 Cupra and now have a 54 plate Cupra R. I had the Cupra re-mapped and it had more torque than the R but the power tailed off quicker, this was the K03s running out of puff... I however had no problems with the brakes so perhaps the braking was an issue on earlier LC's? The Brembo's on the R do have a totally different feel though which you need to get used to.

The LC had a slightly more relaxed ride, so on Motorway journeys it was more comfortable than the R and quieter. The R is more planted in corners and has slightly less lean that the Cupra which gives you more confidence. However the LC does handle pretty well (I had S3 strut braces fitted which made it better).

Another thing to mention is the fuel consumption. I get on average 300, maybe less to a tank. Even on a run at 80mph it's not much more. The LC would easily break 400 miles a tank on a run, think the most I got was 430ish which is impressive from a 215bhp (re-mapped) motor.

In my opinion a standard R is perfect, the power delivery from the standard map is smooth and the car really shifts. The LC is slightly underpowered and the re-map does the car justice. If you want to watch the pennies get an LC, re-map and you'll save on tyres, brake pads, insurance and fuel. If money is no object get an R....!

Something to add - On a back to back test drive, you won't notice much difference between the two on the handling side of things. This is what I thought anyway when I test drove originally and got the LC. You need to have both cars for a long period of time to appreciate the difference between the two, and there is a difference.

 

[Colonelk]

Thats a nice report Rob. How much did your LC remap cost btw? and what brand was it, Custom, REVO, etc etc

thanks

CK

 

[Cowie]

Thats a great mileage figure you quote Rob...400 miles on a tank in your old LC,what kind of driving was that,town,motorway?,i get about 330 out of my 03 LC and thats pretty much all town n country driving steady away,and i thought that was pretty good!!

 

[-=Rob=-]

Thats a nice report Rob there Rob. How much did your LC remap cost btw? and what brand was it, Custom, REVO, etc etc

thanks

CK

Thanks Colonelk, hope this helps the OP out too.... I had an Upsolute re-map on the LC, think it was around £300. I ran this for 63k miles.

Thats a great mileage figure you quote Rob...400 miles on a tank in your old LC,what kind of driving was that,town,motorway?,i get about 330 out of my 03 LC and thats pretty much all town n country driving steady away,and i thought that was pretty good!!

Cowie, the 400 miles plus tanks were always on long motorway journeys keeping to a steady 75/80mph. Around town or short journeys I would get similar figures as you, possibly slightly more. The re-map did improve my economy....