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pkaps

vz310
May 10, 2022
277
133
Don't know about tuning boxes. Has anybody done it on this Formentor?
Somehow I also tend to stay away from tuners that promise better mileage and hp increase at the same time.
 

Delanor

Active Member
Aug 9, 2022
98
37
Well I had the RaceChip GTS 5 on my previous 190 BHP Formentor with a claimed 56 bhp increase and obviously without a Dyno check I cannot confirm that figure but it certainly increased performance and it was noticeably quicker with regard to fuel consumption figure I cannot confirm that either as I never had it long enough driven on a long trip driven sedately to see any difference.
Suffice to say I kept the RaceChip when I sold that Formentor and with the GTS you can have it reprogrammed to suit another car which just happens to be my VZN now so I will get it reprogrammed and fit it to see if it feels anything like 370 bhp, the brakes have been uprated ready!
 

KJA

Active Member
Feb 18, 2024
111
27
South East England
For fuel consumption I can say fill the tank do a journey then fill the tank make a note.
Then do the same journey again and fill the tank it should be more or less same figure.
Then after race chip you can do the same and that would be real world estimation.
 

pkaps

vz310
May 10, 2022
277
133
In my mind there is no way any tuner can achieve better mileage than the carmaker, especially when hp goes up.
Carmakers spend millions and millions on labs/tests/innovations/personnel (some of the best in the world) etc in reducing emissions and consumption while at the same time maintaining efficient and high output combustion engines. They have to meet some quotas or they are heavily fined.
No tuner with limited resources can be any better than them on consumption, especially via a small tuning box, and that's that.
Its catchy to be advertised as such but it simply does not work that way and really it should not be advertised at all if they want to be credible.
More output means more consumption, unless you want to drive like a snail or with an egg on your gas pedal.
 
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Delanor

Active Member
Aug 9, 2022
98
37
The way it works is that an increase in power means the engine has to work less to achieve similar performance in addition theoretically it is using less fuel for that performance, manufacturers scale engine performance to suit all conditions and outright performance is not one of those conditions as reliability has to be factored in, aftermarket tuners use the opportunity to fill in areas where extra performance gains can be made again they also have to factor in a certain amount of reliability as customers would not take to kindly to find gaining extra power resulted in a short lived engine,
 

pauly1299

Active Member
Oct 3, 2022
108
12
When SEAT announced the 2019 Leon Cupra R ST Abt they said it had 370 bhp. They had to reduce that on UK cars, how have they got the power back on the Formentor?
 

pkaps

vz310
May 10, 2022
277
133
The way it works is that an increase in power means the engine has to work less to achieve similar performance in addition theoretically it is using less fuel for that performance, manufacturers scale engine performance to suit all conditions and outright performance is not one of those conditions as reliability has to be factored in, aftermarket tuners use the opportunity to fill in areas where extra performance gains can be made again they also have to factor in a certain amount of reliability as customers would not take to kindly to find gaining extra power resulted in a short lived engine,
My friend, this is not true at all, increase in power first of all means more fuel, not just more air, if you make the mix poor with more air than fuel, in order to claim savings in fuel, then the engine will soon fail. Simple as that.
No tuner can achieve more power gain with less fuel consumption without risking engine life. Simple as that.
Don't be fooled with what tuners are promising, they all want to sell their product, that's why they NEVER give you a straightforward engine or parts warranty nor do they promise in writing any fuel savings and engine warranty (and where they do offer a warranty its so limited and under so many conditions that in reality it can never be materialized) , its all talk and promotion al for people who actually believe that, or for people who want to believe something like that.. Only ABT does it, limited though and in conjunctions with VAG, but with modest modifications and without promising any fuel savings, to the contrary, note the below from ABT:
QUOTE
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data for the CUPRA Formentor VZ3 x ABT Sportsline collaboration vehicle is not available as official testing does not factor in accessories fitted post-registration (such as the ABT pack). Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data provided is for the standard CUPRA Formentor VZ3 model. Actual MPG figures for the CUPRA Formentor VZ3 x ABT Sportsline collaboration vehicle are likely to be lower and CO2 emissions figures are likely to be higher than the values stated.
UNQUOTE
If ABT says that, then you can easily figure out why other tuners are misleading you and lie about it.
Moreover, see the ABT warranty conditions, just to have an idea, what such a warranty is and what really covers so that you are not fooled and be expecting a factory like warranty.
 
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Dave W.

Active Member
Oct 24, 2024
14
7
Has anyone on here got an ABT Formentor. I'm interested to hear what they think. Real world usage would be interesting. They have dropped hugely in price from the original £60k. However they still vary quite a lot in price. They still don't seem to be selling at the lower price. I'm really fancying one as a weekend car. If they go below the £40k I will be getting one. I'm in no rush.
 
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Delanor

Active Member
Aug 9, 2022
98
37
I doubt very much they will drop below £40K if so the VZ3 etc would have to follow suit and any Formentor over £40K new its £600 pa road tax for 5 years even used and with Rachel Thieves on the war path God only knows how much it will be next year - your choice, you will have an electric car!
 
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Dave W.

Active Member
Oct 24, 2024
14
7
I agree, the £600 road tax is a total robbery imo. However with the savings that are being made at the moment it has been paid for. Most ABT Formentor cars are pre reg with delivery miles. As time passes they get older and hopefully cheaper.
I would like to hear from an owner of one of them to see how they are getting on with it.
I'm not ready for an electric car yet. And to be candid, I don't think the infrastructure is ready.
 

Delanor

Active Member
Aug 9, 2022
98
37
Looking at the new Formentor ABT on Autotrader they vary in price from £44K to £50K as long as you want Grey or Black, the Grey looks like it is in primer and just needs a few coats of a nice colour, even at £44K its £10K above what I paid for my 6 month old ex Cupra owned VZN in Mountain Green which comes well equipped but I added uprated disc`s & pads and a RaceChip 63 bhp upgrade for approx` £600 and you have quite a quick and rare 370 bhp Formentor!
 

Dave W.

Active Member
Oct 24, 2024
14
7
That green is a lovely colour imo. Probably one of the best. You got a lot of car for that money. Have you done a thread about your chip upgrade. I'm sure there will be lots of interest.
I agree about the ABT colours. Graphene grey is my choice but it varies so much depending on the light.
 
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