Modifications straight after buying a new car

[Maypack]

At the risk of a bit of backlash from the community - Why do people modify their cars (be it FR, Cupra et al) within the first week/month of purchase?

These cars (especially the Cupra) have lots of power as standard but yet I see lots of people changing exhaust set ups and adding Stage 1’s without ever getting to know their new car. Why?

My Cupra 300 is powerful enough for me as stock (coming from an Mk3 FR 150) and all I have had planned is a Front Splitter, New Tyres (PS4S) and a Racingline Dog Bone Mount and I’ve had it since June.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s your car and you can do what you want to it and I’m not saying you shouldn’t do the mods. It’s just the car hasn’t even been able to show you what it can do stock before it’s modded.

 

[Damo H]

I didn't quite mod it that quickly to be honest.

But its more about making the car more personal to you. And the fact the Cupra ST exhaust didn't match the car's performance really.

 

[Legojon]

It's a really good question. My Cupra wasn't new, but new to me. I went from a 200bhp FR+ to a 265bhp Cupra. Previously all my cars were <100bhp. I think for me it falls into two categories. Speed and handling.

Speed, I figured +65bhp = 15% smile... therefore + another 30bhp = 23% smile. So it was all about seeing what the car was capable of. Stage 2 was a bit of a lull for me as I didn't really enjoy it. But driving out of the garage with the 2+ on it, it had all been worth it as I proved on the first dual carriageway. In my opinion, speed is more for the lower bhps. Eg I mapped my 170 to 200. If I had a Cupra 300, I'd likely do Stage 1 and leave it alone. But I also think 370bhp is enough for my MK2 with its limited electronic diff. I have no real desire to make it go any faster.

If we're talking handling mods. I believe my car in the hands of a better driver could achieve awesome potential. I have excellent reactions. But I lack a lot of driving skill. Eg, I can't tell how fast is too fast for a corner until I feel the wheels have already started to slide. And then I lack the knowledge to know what to do to correct it. Bet I'm filling everyone with confidence of me being on the roads! LOL. So I've therefore spent money on handling mods to compensate for my admitted lack of driving skill. I believe if it wasn't for uprated roll bars and ESP, they'd have been pulling my FR+ and my Cupra out of a ditch.

 

[Maypack]

I didn't quite mod it that quickly to be honest.

But its more about making the car more personal to you. And the fact the Cupra ST exhaust didn't match the car's performance really.

I’m not against modding cars and after chatting with you at the meet last week I can see why you want to make a car your own as you did and will do with your Carbon.

If someone has had a previous Cupra that was modded to give more power I can see why they would want the same things from a new car.

I was just wondering if people feel they have to mod the car because it is a very moddable system?

 

[Damo H]

I’m not against modding cars and after chatting with you at the meet last week I can see why you want to make a car your own as you did and will do with your Carbon.

If someone has had a previous Cupra that was modded to give more power I can see why they would want the same things from a new car.

I was just wondering if people feel they have to mod the car because it is a very moddable system?

Mines definitely more about being unique. There were a lot of white 280 ST’s with performance pack wheels when I got mine.

Not quite gone to the extreme of modding that I did with the MINI. I’d argue that had more mods on it that @theoldboy ‘s 280.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Hey how did I get involved with this,

Short answer is its modern society - I WANT IT NOW based on what I see or THEY HAVE IT SO I MUST HAVE IT as you said at the meet some people make the change and then roll it back.

I had mine a good 6 months before I started and then after stage one It came to that point do I go extreme or do I change cars to give me a street car that will hold its own on the track. I love the 280 and the financial sheet said to get what I wanted would have been a big Audi so cost just as much.

So I now have a sleeper that can hold its own but I did a long while with Stage one and I still smiled at the end.

I should add here you never make money out of modding, you will always loose cash which is why so many people have to strip the cars back to try and get some of the cash they have invested.

@mayback the modified parcel you sent me arrived today so guess what I am having for tea tonight

I also spent a lot of time talking to both Revo and the Garage about Stage 3 to make sure I could use it as my daily drive as well as being a monster, and it has lived up to the promise.

I know these engines could be tuned further (600 is easy and possibly 650) but it would be no good on the road and I like @Legojon am learning all the time how to use the power (on the track).

The one thing that supprised me is now I know I can beat most of the silly cars trying to race me I find my inner zen saying "dont need to prove I can thrash them because I know I can".

Last point we are all different Modding gets in the blood and can become like the detailing an obsesion but I am finished with power its all about making the outside and inside more personal to me.

 

[Maypack]

@maypack the modified parcel you sent me arrived today so guess what I am having for tea tonight

Eat it in one portion

 

[Tully1980]

At the risk of a bit of backlash from the community - Why do people modify their cars (be it FR, Cupra et al) within the first week/month of purchase?

These cars (especially the Cupra) have lots of power as standard but yet I see lots of people changing exhaust set ups and adding Stage 1’s without ever getting to know their new car. Why?

My Cupra 300 is powerful enough for me as stock (coming from an Mk3 FR 150) and all I have had planned is a Front Splitter, New Tyres (PS4S) and a Racingline Dog Bone Mount and I’ve had it since June.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s your car and you can do what you want to it and I’m not saying you shouldn’t do the mods. It’s just the car hasn’t even been able to show you what it can do stock before it’s modded.

I’ve had my 300 since the end of July, and I’ve fitted a res delete and had a Stage 1 remap.

I fitted the res delete because I didn’t like the way in which the standard exhaust sounded and, in my opinion, the res delete has made it sound how it should have done when it left the factory. I’d actually bought the res delete about 2 months before I took delivery of the car...!

I’d been thinking about having the Stage 1 done for a while, but was fortunate enough to be in the position to be able to afford it a few weeks ago, so I decided that I’d go ahead and do it then.

I’ve got no plans to mod it any further, not least because the car is a lease so I don’t want to do too much as I’ll only need to take it all off again when I hand it back!


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[Carbonara]

Wheels (and tyres) for me, followed closely by a carbon fibre Rearguard - then nothing until out of warranty. But I keep looking at the resonator delete thread...

If my exhaust wasn't already black I would have been tempted to sort that out - or just never clean it.

 

[Maypack]

I’ve had my 300 since the end of July, and I’ve fitted a res delete and had a Stage 1 remap.

I fitted the res delete because I didn’t like the way in which the standard exhaust sounded and, in my opinion, the res delete has made it sound how it should have done when it left the factory. I’d actually bought the res delete about 2 months before I took delivery of the car...!

You made the car your own but drove it for a while before going Stage 1. You didn’t map it straight from the showroom lol

With great power comes great responsibility I.e. increased servicing costs etc

Enjoy your car the way you want it...I get that

 

[Tully1980]

You made the car your own but drove it for a while before going Stage 1. You didn’t map it straight from the showroom lol

With great power comes great responsibility I.e. increased servicing costs etc

Enjoy your car the way you want it...I get that

The funny thing is, my car now feels no quicker than it did when I first bought it. It’s only when I overtake something that I realise (and boy do you realise!)..


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[Legojon]

Not like me to thread-jack ... but on a vaguely related subject. As @theoldboy pointed out, modding is dead money. I've spent around £7-8k in modifications now. So the only cost effective option for me now is to run the car into the ground till it goes no more. I'm fortunate in that I do around 5k miles a year and I actively try not to waste miles. I'm currently on 44k and figure it'll be >100k before I start hitting big problems and the car becomes uneconomical to maintain.

So I guess my question is for those with heavily modified cars do you actively try not to add miles to it? Are you planning to go round the clock twice? At what point would you consider cutting your loses and trading in?

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Like you I only do around 5k but that will increase now as i am trying to get to the track more often but conversely I will do less road work as I wont need to take her out to get the Adrenalin rush.

I currently have no plans to trade in but more that the car will get stripped down and be turned into a pure race track car that is street legal so I can drive there.

I don't worry about millage other than it means the car has to go in for an oil change sooner.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Eat it in one portion

I Wish, I am afraid I have to share with the mrs but looking forward to it thanks very much.

 

[AndrewJB]

My Cupra 280 was 2 hours old when I dropped it off at Volkswagen Racing HQ for them to add a load of bits on it in 2014. I knew what a standard Cupra felt like anyway as had been on track with the press cars etc.

Cayman wasn't even out of the showroom when I was changing bits.

 

[Leeoncupra]

Hey how did I get involved with this,

Short answer is its modern society - I WANT IT NOW based on what I see or THEY HAVE IT SO I MUST HAVE IT as you said at the meet some people make the change and then roll it back.

I had mine a good 6 months before I started and then after stage one It came to that point do I go extreme or do I change cars to give me a street car that will hold its own on the track. I love the 280 and the financial sheet said to get what I wanted would have been a big Audi so cost just as much.

So I now have a sleeper that can hold its own but I did a long while with Stage one and I still smiled at the end.

I should add here you never make money out of modding, you will always loose cash which is why so many people have to strip the cars back to try and get some of the cash they have invested.

@mayback the modified parcel you sent me arrived today so guess what I am having for tea tonight

I also spent a lot of time talking to both Revo and the Garage about Stage 3 to make sure I could use it as my daily drive as well as being a monster, and it has lived up to the promise.

I know these engines could be tuned further (600 is easy and possibly 650) but it would be no good on the road and I like @Legojon am learning all the time how to use the power (on the track).

The one thing that supprised me is now I know I can beat most of the silly cars trying to race me I find my inner zen saying "dont need to prove I can thrash them because I know I can".

Last point we are all different Modding gets in the blood and can become like the detailing an obsesion but I am finished with power its all about making the outside and inside more personal to me.

That red and white wrap

bagged fr , k1 rep , 19s

 

[Damo H]

Well talking of mods, my first one is ready...

Just need to book it in for it’s second and order the 3rd...

 

[Maypack]

Well talking of mods, my first one is ready...
View attachment 2212

Just need to book it in for it’s second and order the 3rd...

Is that to replace Cupra on the boot? Looks good. You do it yourself?

 

[Damo H]

Is that to replace Cupra on the boot? Looks good. You do it yourself?

It is.

I bought the black BOCANEGRA badge for £20. Cheaper than a black CUPRA badge. (Why the hell is it chrome on the carbon!!!)

Then I just measured CUPRA on the boot and spaced the CARBON to fit the same space.

 

[Maypack]

It is.

I bought the black BOCANEGRA badge for £20. Cheaper than a black CUPRA badge. (Why the hell is it chrome on the carbon!!!)

Then I just measured CUPRA on the boot and spaced the CARBON to fit the same space.

That’s ingenuity for you. Class