Thread Starter
#16
Pocket Rocket gets new goodies..!!
The pocket rocket is munching miles and already crossed 50k. As its been two years and 30k km after remap and nearing three years of ownership of my pocket rocket wanted to do something to spice up. The itch for more power and performance started. I Wanted to do something to push the pocket rocket a little more, Without much hardware mods, like turbo upgrade. I did a lot of research on the options available, which won't defeat its purpose of being a sleeper and daily driven. Finally decided to go with the decat downpipe. But was skeptical and lot of questions in my mind. The most prominent ones were about losing low end and NVH. My plan is to get only get a de-cat downpipe retaining stock exhaust and muffler to keep the exhaust note in check, as its a daily driver mostly driven by my dad.
Plan was to get the decat downpipe and also change the air channel guide to European spec, as the stock one is currently cut open in front, feared of water seeping in during monsoon. So ordered the European spec one. But Delivery of air channel guide got delayed so couldn't get it done. Will do it later. The decat downpipe is the first ever mod i did without being sure of the output. There wasn't a clear picture for me whether i will lose or gain low end. But the gains in mid and top end was sure. For me even i haven't have any gains in low end need it to be the same as the current map. After many chats with Gino, Sajan & sankar i decided to bite the bullet and get the decat downpipe. Contacted gino and fixed a date and gino promised to give back the car ready by same day evening.
I reached the Code6 service point, Carmed, in cochin by morning 9 AM and within few minutes my car was on lift. I wanted to do it as a reversible mod so flanges were welded to the stock downpipe in case i want to revert back to stock in future. Work started within no time and started fabricating the decat downpipe. By evening 6PM the downpipe was fabricated and installed and ready. Before the test drive checked throughly and ensured its not touching any other lines or parts. I was so excited for the test drive and so feared about losing low end as some of the online forums says low end will be lost. If low end is lost and noticeable my dad going to kill me.
Stock catcon
Fabrication in progress
Decat downpipe
The moment of truth arrives, i cranked up the engine and felt the NVH same inside cabin, a slight difference to exhaust note if we go out and stand behind the car. Revved the engine and it felt free revving and climbing the revs smoother and faster with a light tap on accelerator. The moment i left the clutch, i was relieved as the torque at low end was not lost. Felt the same. The car moved forward as it had a lot of horses to unleash like before. Then had the test drive. I Could feel a difference in torque across the rev range, but after the turbo kick in and past 2200rpm it was mental. Like the car behaves differently, accelerates so quick and the engine feels more free revving. Car torque steers if i am hard on accelerator. Its difficult to judge the speed now as engine is free revving and no feel of strain to engine and if not careful easily go past 100kmph even i go gentle at throttle and shift through gears. The car is so fast that in signals i felt the others are slower as i am ahead always with normal shifts. The smoke levels are same as before. There is a sporty sound if rev harder past 2500 inside the cabin, though not loud as those with a FFE. The highway overtaking is a breeze, no gearchanges, just tap accelerator and you done with atleast two cars in a row. FE is down a bit as now, like by a 1-2kmpl in highways as the drives are now at speeds more than used to and easier to maintain high speeds. But still could see 20+kmpl avg easily, If not drive hard. Earlier it was 22+kmpl. I am not complaining as the performance of the car is worth it, and the mileage of 20+kmpl with all these mods is a dream.
Drive back to home. Highway moderate traffic. Sedate driving. Speed below 100kmph.
City + Highway drive. Not so Sedate drive. Moderate traffic.
Highway drive. Early morning. Less traffic.
I feel the car is almost complete in terms of performance mods, now only need better brakes. Researching on the same. Will get it done later this year. Right now the shortlisted options are tarox and black diamond. As of now with all mods, the pocket rocket doesn't have any lag of the normal stock tdi engine and ready to fly from the moment and after 2200rpm its an different animal, difficult to tame. Its only when driven hard i feel the brakes are inadequate, normal driving the brakes does fine job.
There are few issues i had faced too. The main one being the ABS sensors going kaput. First the driver side front gone. The service centre didn't had sensors in stock and informed dad its fine to run, as brakes will work fine but without abs support. But what they didn't said is if drive with a faulty sensor, the rest of the 3 sensors too go off as it will create a voltage difference between ABS sensors. By the time the sensors came in stock the driver side back sensor was also gone. Was lucky that all 4 didn't gone off. As i am out of warranty period now each sensor replacement costed around 4.5k including labour. The new sensors have a 2 year warranty though. It didn't took much long, within 3 weeks the passanger side back sensor also gone and took it to service centre and they said no lift free, can come back later and no issues to run as such as it will only make ABS support off. Give them an earful and asked them not to tell any customer the same as the remaining sensors can go off if drive with a faulty sensor. Then magically lift was free and sensor changed, all in 30 minutes. The VW guys didn't have a proper answer to why its going off just like that. Seems need to put aside 16k every two years for sensors. Also you can feel the abs kicks in even at slow speed braking when the sensor is at the brink of going off. And warning light will come and go in instrument cluster. If something like this happens better get to check it at the nearest service centre if not under warranty.
This pic is for the one who cares for environment and doubts about the emission after deact. Its still within permissible limits and better than many trucks and buses plying on roads.
The pocket rocket is now worth its name and the sleeper look always gives surprises to ricer cars in highways when they try to challenge me. The decat downpipe was a cherry on top as it made the torque better across rev ramge and made engine smoother and free revving. I fully recommend everyone running a remap on polo tdi to do the decat downpipe because it really transform the car. And thanks to code6 team for all the support and helping me making my normal GT TDI to a pocket rocket.
Cheers.
The pocket rocket is munching miles and already crossed 50k. As its been two years and 30k km after remap and nearing three years of ownership of my pocket rocket wanted to do something to spice up. The itch for more power and performance started. I Wanted to do something to push the pocket rocket a little more, Without much hardware mods, like turbo upgrade. I did a lot of research on the options available, which won't defeat its purpose of being a sleeper and daily driven. Finally decided to go with the decat downpipe. But was skeptical and lot of questions in my mind. The most prominent ones were about losing low end and NVH. My plan is to get only get a de-cat downpipe retaining stock exhaust and muffler to keep the exhaust note in check, as its a daily driver mostly driven by my dad.
Plan was to get the decat downpipe and also change the air channel guide to European spec, as the stock one is currently cut open in front, feared of water seeping in during monsoon. So ordered the European spec one. But Delivery of air channel guide got delayed so couldn't get it done. Will do it later. The decat downpipe is the first ever mod i did without being sure of the output. There wasn't a clear picture for me whether i will lose or gain low end. But the gains in mid and top end was sure. For me even i haven't have any gains in low end need it to be the same as the current map. After many chats with Gino, Sajan & sankar i decided to bite the bullet and get the decat downpipe. Contacted gino and fixed a date and gino promised to give back the car ready by same day evening.
I reached the Code6 service point, Carmed, in cochin by morning 9 AM and within few minutes my car was on lift. I wanted to do it as a reversible mod so flanges were welded to the stock downpipe in case i want to revert back to stock in future. Work started within no time and started fabricating the decat downpipe. By evening 6PM the downpipe was fabricated and installed and ready. Before the test drive checked throughly and ensured its not touching any other lines or parts. I was so excited for the test drive and so feared about losing low end as some of the online forums says low end will be lost. If low end is lost and noticeable my dad going to kill me.
Stock catcon
Fabrication in progress
Decat downpipe
The moment of truth arrives, i cranked up the engine and felt the NVH same inside cabin, a slight difference to exhaust note if we go out and stand behind the car. Revved the engine and it felt free revving and climbing the revs smoother and faster with a light tap on accelerator. The moment i left the clutch, i was relieved as the torque at low end was not lost. Felt the same. The car moved forward as it had a lot of horses to unleash like before. Then had the test drive. I Could feel a difference in torque across the rev range, but after the turbo kick in and past 2200rpm it was mental. Like the car behaves differently, accelerates so quick and the engine feels more free revving. Car torque steers if i am hard on accelerator. Its difficult to judge the speed now as engine is free revving and no feel of strain to engine and if not careful easily go past 100kmph even i go gentle at throttle and shift through gears. The car is so fast that in signals i felt the others are slower as i am ahead always with normal shifts. The smoke levels are same as before. There is a sporty sound if rev harder past 2500 inside the cabin, though not loud as those with a FFE. The highway overtaking is a breeze, no gearchanges, just tap accelerator and you done with atleast two cars in a row. FE is down a bit as now, like by a 1-2kmpl in highways as the drives are now at speeds more than used to and easier to maintain high speeds. But still could see 20+kmpl avg easily, If not drive hard. Earlier it was 22+kmpl. I am not complaining as the performance of the car is worth it, and the mileage of 20+kmpl with all these mods is a dream.
Drive back to home. Highway moderate traffic. Sedate driving. Speed below 100kmph.
City + Highway drive. Not so Sedate drive. Moderate traffic.
Highway drive. Early morning. Less traffic.
I feel the car is almost complete in terms of performance mods, now only need better brakes. Researching on the same. Will get it done later this year. Right now the shortlisted options are tarox and black diamond. As of now with all mods, the pocket rocket doesn't have any lag of the normal stock tdi engine and ready to fly from the moment and after 2200rpm its an different animal, difficult to tame. Its only when driven hard i feel the brakes are inadequate, normal driving the brakes does fine job.
There are few issues i had faced too. The main one being the ABS sensors going kaput. First the driver side front gone. The service centre didn't had sensors in stock and informed dad its fine to run, as brakes will work fine but without abs support. But what they didn't said is if drive with a faulty sensor, the rest of the 3 sensors too go off as it will create a voltage difference between ABS sensors. By the time the sensors came in stock the driver side back sensor was also gone. Was lucky that all 4 didn't gone off. As i am out of warranty period now each sensor replacement costed around 4.5k including labour. The new sensors have a 2 year warranty though. It didn't took much long, within 3 weeks the passanger side back sensor also gone and took it to service centre and they said no lift free, can come back later and no issues to run as such as it will only make ABS support off. Give them an earful and asked them not to tell any customer the same as the remaining sensors can go off if drive with a faulty sensor. Then magically lift was free and sensor changed, all in 30 minutes. The VW guys didn't have a proper answer to why its going off just like that. Seems need to put aside 16k every two years for sensors. Also you can feel the abs kicks in even at slow speed braking when the sensor is at the brink of going off. And warning light will come and go in instrument cluster. If something like this happens better get to check it at the nearest service centre if not under warranty.
This pic is for the one who cares for environment and doubts about the emission after deact. Its still within permissible limits and better than many trucks and buses plying on roads.
The pocket rocket is now worth its name and the sleeper look always gives surprises to ricer cars in highways when they try to challenge me. The decat downpipe was a cherry on top as it made the torque better across rev ramge and made engine smoother and free revving. I fully recommend everyone running a remap on polo tdi to do the decat downpipe because it really transform the car. And thanks to code6 team for all the support and helping me making my normal GT TDI to a pocket rocket.
Cheers.