306 GTi-6 and Superchips (Tuning)

Member Name: gti6

Product:	Tuning
Date:	03/10/00 (4820 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Better fuel economy more mid range power

Disadvantages: a bit costly at £250

Peugeot 306 GTi-6 and Superchips
Mark Peugeot GTi Autosport Club
www.peugeot-gti.co.uk

On 11th July, 2000 I attended at Falkland Performance Centre, Glenrothes, a well established performance tuning company with experience gained from the race track and consequently the biggest Superchips dealer in Europe.

I have a local company just up the road from my house who fit a variety of different chips but decided to use Falkland because of their reputation and fortunately they offer club members a discount on their product range.

On arrival for my 1500hours appointment (made the day before) I was met by Kev Adam a partner in the family business who welcomed me and explained the 306 GTi-6 was a Serial Re-programme and that I would be supplied a customer key.

I seem to be a bit of a worrier and quizzed Kev to the potential problems I could encounter with Peugeot should I need to claim of my 3 year warranty. He immediately put my mind at ease and explained because of my customer key I would be welcome to come back and have the car returned to the factory programme anytime although this would incur a nominal charge for his time (fair comment).

Kev wasted no time and proceeded to plug some extremely fancy gizmos leading to a laptop into the diagnostic serial port of the car just located underneath the steering wheel. Within seconds the computer had identified the program on my ECU and copied it onto my customer key. The only reason the bonnet was even popped was to take note of the VIN number which was also loaded onto the key.

The laptop and accessories were removed after a maximum of five minutes and I was handed my customer key in a cool little Superships box.

Kev then asked me to take the car for 5-10 minutes test-drive which I done. Initially I asked myself is there were any difference to the 167bhp on tap as standard. I could feel the car's throttle response was slightly more sensitive but n
ot much more than that.

I returned to Falkland and probably sounding a little disappointed and briefed Kev as to my findings. Kev said this was a common reaction but just go away and play with the car for a couple of days and I would see the difference and feel the improvements.

That evening Jennifer and I went out for a decent test run with a little bit faster driving, it only took a few minutes by which time I rated the Superchip upgrade as money well spent. I don't know what the initial problem was, maybe I was expecting big power increases.

To summarise the differences I have found throttle response to have been significantly improved, feels more like my old 106 GTi taking less effort to actually wind the car up. The mid-range power seems to be the big winner with that pre 4000 rpm flat spot disappearing completely and free revving right up to the redline. I would say the 0-60 mph time has been cut but have no figures to quote you, it just feels quicker, you probably know what I mean.

Fuel which is a big issue seems to be a winner giving me about 25-30 miles more milegae out of a tank with more power - yes it is true.

Initial Thoughts were the chip is average

After time thumbs up and well worth £200 - £250 depending on who does the job.

Mark

Summary: