u/Glittering_Poem9779

I bought my Elantra N manual brand new.. watched all the fabulous reviews… love the car very much but two things really really bugged me about it

1. The octane learning rubbish.. I’ve read about it and tried every which way to make it learn.. in almost 4 years no success… maybe once on a long drive on highway I saw 17psi boost but once I stopped and started car it unlearned.. I even contacted Hyundai head office to ask for specific methods to make it work. They corresponded with me Over 6 months after they say they did internal testing but nothing worked … I felt a little ripped off as the car makes under the advertised power when non octane learned and makes the advertised power once learned.. so I bought a car that I was never able to experience the advertised power.   I’ve owned many other forced induction cars, one of which made the advertised power as the minimum and if conditions were ideal provided overboost.. another 15% more power and torque. So the Elantra N made me feel ripped off..  further the i30n hatch does not have octane learning, it gets full boost without any nonsense procedure.. Hyundai advises this is due to it being compliances for Europe, Australia.. EN is American market and Australia and Korea, so different fuels required the octane learning procedure.. I note type R  is sold in many markets including USA without this ridiculous octane learning… so I felt ripped off… am I supposed to spend half my tank each fill up to try learn it to get the advertised power? Just ridiculous 
   

2. I find the Elantra N needs a bit more power to be genuinely exciting to drive. I see many on the roads and they are just nice commuter cars if I cannot get it octane learned… further I have an i20n that has overboost so light weight and it makes it full boost always…  maybe octane learned they feel a bit more special.
   

Everything else in the car I like … my decision was either move the car on in disappointment of not being able to enjoy the advertised power and feeling ripped off or get it tuned and see the potential…

So I contacted Cherry tuning, car now has full bolt ons now and tuned.. makes around 21-23psi.. what a rocket! It’s so so much faster than unlearned octane ,, it drives super smooth and when you put foot down it’s violent and fast.. exciting to drive.. it really is.. what a difference car.. maybe if I could octane learned it would feel OEM+ but based on the non octane learned car, it’s a missile

If you own an Elantra N, if you reasonably confident there isn’t too much warranty issues, go get it tuned and oh my, wow what a car… dont cop this silly ridiculous octane learning rubbish any more.

I’ve read a few comments that the 2.5T engine has limited tuning potential?

If this motor makes its way to the Elantra N, do we see this as an upgrade engine or not really?

The 2.0T has proven pretty robust to about 400 whp?

When the VB WRX was released I placed a pre-order… WR blue manual base model.. sold my 2012 wrx to make way for it

Whilst waiting I took a liking to Elantra N.. test drove it, watched all the reviews, umm and arred and eventually cancelled my VB wrx order and bought Elantra N.. it’s now FBO and tuned, super fun and fast car.. it’s seriously awesome

But every time I see a VB WRX especially in WR Blue I sort of feel like I wish I bought one. Elantra N done nothing wrong, but you like what you like

Despite all the reviews always marking up the Elantra N and panning the VB WRX, I always rated them 51/49 either way… I’ve driven both extensively

Elantra N seems to be the better track car but who actually goes to the track? The AWD in my
Opinion gives more benefits day to day, especially in rain etc.

I like the look of the Elantra N, but also like the look of WRX, both about same size..

The wrx offers jamboree build, awd turbo manual, simple interior, really solid bones

The Elantra N is a fabulous fwd car built for hard charging on the track, heaps of features and customisation

I have Elantra N and stock they are good track day cars but what about modded?

See plenty of tunes that can make 350+whp and make it. I’ve in a straight line or roll race 60-130 etc but what about track day?

Intercooler a must? Tunes? Dump pipes? What sort of boost is it best to limit? Will a tuned Elantra N just heat soak on track?

What is a great modded track day setup?