Hello!
I'm back! Had a quick look around the NG and there seems to be still numerous people whose names I recognise from the "old days". I expect you'll remember me - you used to give me enough stick over anything & everything!
I'll try and sum up 2 years. Went economic and bought a small French car. Nice, but got bored of the (lack of) power, borrowed the parents T5 for a couple of weeks whilst they were on holiday and decided I just had to get one for myself, no dicking around this time. So I'm now the proud owner of an 850 T5 estate with all the toys.
I've still got the Renault. I bought it brand new (silly me) and so don't really want to see the huge depreciation in it's first couple of years. Am thinking of keeping it for the long term (10 years or so) and using it on my commute & regular journeys. That leaves the T5 to play with :-)
Had a quickish search around the Internet and the RICA chip seems to be the preferred option for people tuning the T5's. Paper figures seem alright - 305bhp and 420 NM (300 lb/ft) of torque. Enough of them have had it done - and at £490 it's very good value (IMO) for the increase in power.
However. I have an automatic version (and I'm proud of it - so smooth to drive!), and I'm a bit worried about putting this power through the Auto gearbox. I've no doubts that the engine will take the power as
350bhp is possible before internal work needs doing. What'd you reccomend? I was thinking a fresh gbox fluid change and maybe an extra cooler on the system would help?I'm finding the automatic a little gutless (well, as gutless as 225bhp can be!) mid range in comparison to the manual version. I've got it booked into Volvo as the boost gauge doesn't seem to be going as far into the white section as the manual version when it's accelerating hard (in sport mode). I know the actual turbo is fine, but am thinking there might be a boost leak?
Well guys, hope all is well with you. I see SteveH still has his Alfa penhant and Dervman is still diesel-lovin (but driving a petrol). Some things will never change :-) Hope someone can answer my question(s) and even if you can't, reply and say "hello" anyway!
Hugo TJ