Rchive- An FL5 ownership journal

[Noize]

Hondata tuned. The base map is great. It has really nice midrange and a much more exciting powerband.

I ordered the Two Step tune, hope to have it within the next couple of days, and will report back.

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[Noize]

Uploaded the map from @Two Step Performance, and it has been great.
It has slightly more midrange than the Hondata basemap, but the top end is a whole different animal.

The highest praise I can bestow on this tune is that it feels very seamless like a factory map should. Coming from VWs, I am accustomed to feeling a huge torque surge, than the car falls down up top. This map is not that, it keeps pulling toward redline.

It's very easy to get up to go-to-jail speeds on the interstate now.

I highly recommend this tune, loads of value for the cost. I'll be interested to get an intercooler and their downpipe in the hopefully not too distant future.

Thanks again, Hondata and Two Step crews!

 

[ILX6SPEED]

I tried the ITS ADS module for a couple weeks. Its a little softer and less jarring for sure; it feels about one level down from the stock unit. It's definitely much better in +R.

The car was still is bouncy in very hard, fast corners, so I reverted to the stock unit. The key for me to go forward is probably Ohlins coilovers. I will probably resell the ADS and the new, unopened TE37s to fund the coilovers.

Do you think the ITS ADS unit really makes the FL5 behave like the ITS? Im curious as it doesnt seem like it from what I've read which is odd considering almost all suspension hardware is identical.

 

[Noize]

Do you think the ITS ADS unit really makes the FL5 behave like the ITS? Im curious as it doesnt seem like it from what I've read which is odd considering almost all suspension hardware is identical.

It definitely does.
Exact same suspension components.
Same wheel and tire width.

Other than more low end torque, the cars are nearly identical.

 

[ILX6SPEED]

It definitely does.
Exact same suspension components.
Same wheel and tire width.

Other than more low end torque, the cars are nearly identical.

Thank you, looks like an ITS ADS unit would help alot for those who plan to street the car.

 

[keller]

I tried the ITS ADS module for a couple weeks. Its a little softer and less jarring for sure; it feels about one level down from the stock unit. It's definitely much better in +R.

The car was still is bouncy in very hard, fast corners, so I reverted to the stock unit. The key for me to go forward is probably Ohlins coilovers. I will probably resell the ADS and the new, unopened TE37s to fund the coilovers.

Hey man. Somehow I missed your journal. Thank you for the comparisons to the FK8.

Do you still have the ITS ADS unit? I assume you didn't calibrate the ride height sensors after installing it, which makes the suspension feel artificially stiffer than designed. FK8 owners change to a LE ADS because they want stiffer, so they don't really care with (or know about) this step. But since you are moving in the other direction, I believe it's wise to do so.

 

[Noize]

Hey man. Somehow I missed your journal. Thank you for the comparisons to the FK8.

Do you still have the ITS ADS unit? I assume you didn't calibrate the ride height sensors after installing it, which makes the suspension feel artificially stiffer than designed. FK8 owners change to a LE ADS because they want stiffer, so they don't really care with (or know about) this step. But since you are moving in the other direction, I believe it's wise to do so.

I still have it, but reverted to the stock ADS. Thanks much for the info.

it was my assumption that they were set at the same height.

 

[Noize]

Been several weeks since I updated.

I received the new Diamond Silver TE37SL a bit back, but they’re still new in box. I’m going to resell them or try to trade for 19s.

The car itself is doing well. I’m about on target for 6000 miles a year with it. I’m nearly at 3000 miles after half a year of ownership.

 

[chefNoka]

Thank you for the very informative write ups!

 

[Noize]

And, as quickly as it began, my FL5 story has ended.

I shopped around to go back to a Golf R, and found a good trade deal where I came out on top. I took delivery of the VW two days ago.

I'll have a for sale ad up soon for the following items:
-TE37SL 18x9.5 +45 Diamond Silver. New in boxes, never installed. Only one has been opened for photography purpose. Purchased through System Motorsports, vendor here in "System Spec".
-Honda Flashpro Race unmarried/ready to go
-Integra Type S ADS
-FL5 Stock Wing.

I can probably ship everything but the wing, located Nashville, TN area.

I'll link here to the FS thread with pics and pricing. I don't want to break any forum rules, just giving a heads up.

 

[CTR]

And, as quickly as it began, my FL5 story has ended.

I shopped around to go back to a Golf R, and found a good trade deal where I came out on top. I took delivery of the VW two days ago.

I'm bummed to hear that. I could never own a VW but I'm genuinely curious as to why you made the swap back. I'm assuming it's due to the traction issues that are prevalent in a high horsepower FWD platform.

 

[Noize]

I'm bummed to hear that. I could never own a VW but I'm genuinely curious as to why you made the swap back. I'm assuming it's due to the traction issues that are prevalent in a high horsepower FWD platform.

Definitely, but there is a lot more to it.

While the Type R handling and braking speeds are clearly a lot higher in third gear and beyond, the only place you can really explore anywhere close to the limit is on a racetrack. To see a measurable difference between the two on a street, you'll be risking jail time.

The Mk8 R with a DSG is much quicker in low speed corners, from a red light, from any stop or rolling speed (in a straight line obviously) , dicing through lazy commuters on the interstate, and in the rain. This was exacerbated when the Type R is tuned, because traction management in low gears is a tightrope wire walker's exercise in contol. The old addage "We learned at an early age that FWD sucks", is wrong and harsh, but the FL5 is best balanced at stock power in my eyes. The more you increase the power, there's some truth in that proverb. And if you're using an FL5 as a highway roll racer, you're doing it wrong.

The FL5 lacks refinement, most obviously in the suspension tuning. High speed corners would get the car bouncing in +R, sport, and slightly less in comfort. I still can't figure this out, because every single FK8 I've driven does not do this, and every single FL5 does.

Further on refinement, the FL5 beats the FK8, but it's daily driver-ness just can't compare to the Mk8 R. The VW's interior is a lot nicer, audio, lighting... It's just a much more premium vehicle.

I think the best argument for owning an FL5 is going to be as a track star -or- as a well kept + garaged + low mileage machine that will enable it to retain a very high value. I had that second option, but as it wasn't as good of a daily driver for my needs, I decided to let it go while I could still get $50k in trade.

I put a little back in my pocket on this deal, so it was a win-win.

Please understand that people are different. By no means am I belittling the Type R. If you can track it and save it for sunny days, I am pretty sure it's unbeatable at it's price.

 

[spectre186]

What did you get on the trade in. Genuinely curious, as I live out in Memphis.

 

[Noize]

What did you get on the trade in. Genuinely curious, as I live out in Memphis.

$50,500 with 3200 miles, and I had to fight my ass off for that. I talked to at least 12 dealerships, and some tried to hit as low as $46k.

MMR on the car is $50k, but there are a LOT of very lightly used ones out there on lots sitting at $51,000-$55,000.

 

[rBobby]

Makes sense. I had a 23 Golf R 20AE DSG on order since I was going to be driving a lot of highway miles. Fortunately, my situation changed and only have to drive a fraction of the miles now so I got the CTR. I still think the CTR is easy to daily though.

Congrats on the Golf R. Can't go wrong with either. I think its great to have so many options.

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