[CRVW]

I ordered a "performance" chip from Aliexpress a while ago for fun. $7.34 including shipping from China!
(This is the same as the "Thorton" chip!)
It actually arrived promptly and was exactly what I expected. A tiny, poorly built PCB with a 16F59 PIC on it (as promised).
Though the etching on the PIC is of such low quality I suspect it is actually a fake...
Nothing else noteworthy on the board. A few (a lot of) 10K resistors, a crystal oscillator for the PIC, and not much more.
It has just enough computing power (134 bytes of program memory) to flash some LEDs, which is a coincidence, as that is exactly what it does.
Apparently, this will work with any vehicle, gas or diesel, and give you an extra 60hp - no matter what you started with.
Anyway, bottom line is it's a total scam (though $7.34 for the parts and free shipping is actually not bad!).
If one of my electronics techs saw the board and the quality of work, they would scream. Rightly so.
And as a microelectronics guy, I screamed too. The claims of what this can do versus the hardware are ludicrous, if not downright criminal.
Anyway, so ends my review...

 

[CanadaTaos]

So, you’ll be “suffering” with the vehicle, which from following your comments since summer of 21 performs as you expected when you bought it, and won’t turning it into a street racer?😃. Thanks for putting the chip to the test! An amusing review, as I believe you intended.

 

[The Smurf]

 

[Cumberland Racer]

“There’s no free lunch.”
“You get what you pay for.”
“If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”
….and other classic truths Thanks saving folks the 7 bucks!

 

[Cumberland Racer]

As life-long fan of European cars and American trucks, I’m on POV #40 including a caged Porsche race car. The Taos IMO is the best engineered car in its class…with bits related to the Golf R in the AWD version.

The odds are not super good that VAG will breathe R Type mods into this model for a variety of reasons, mostly related to that fact that it competes with CVT tinker toys for sales. We love our attractive, well built, Kings Red ‘22 SE AWD. The 24iR update is on the money and allowed us to reset the Carista direct throttle to OE specs (although Direct Throttle is still the way to go on our VR6 Altas SELP.) Sounds like the rear brakes are a supplier problem and that VOA is moving to offer early replacement under a Warranty extension?

Bottom line, there are good tuners out there who may soon develop legit Taos performance packages that may interest owners in the future…the factory is likely to withhold an actual future sporty SUV package for an upmarket nameplate with more profit margin…or maybe just go to a “big *ss battery” IDx hot rod.

 

[Cumberland Racer]

PS I’ve spent my adult life in a love affair with internal combustion LOL But I could see myself getting in line for a crazy fast VW battery car. The day we bought our Taos, an iD.4 swooped back from a customer test drive into the underground parking garage used by Bethesda dealer…and it kinda sounded and looked like the future

 

[FJB]

As life-long fan of European cars and American trucks, I’m on POV #40 including a caged Porsche race car. The Taos IMO is the best engineered car in its class…with bits related to the Golf R in the AWD version.

The odds are not super good that VAG will breathe R Type mods into this model for a variety of reasons, mostly related to that fact that it competes with CVT tinker toys for sales. We love our attractive, well built, Kings Red ‘22 SE AWD. The 24iR update is on the money and allowed us to reset the Carista direct throttle to OE specs (although Direct Throttle is still the way to go on our VR6 Altas SELP.) Sounds like the rear brakes are a supplier problem and that VOA is moving to offer early replacement under a Warranty extension?

Bottom line, there are good tuners out there who may soon develop legit Taos performance packages that may interest owners in the future…the factory is likely to withhold an actual future sporty SUV package for an upmarket nameplate with more profit margin…or maybe just go to a “big *ss battery” IDx hot rod.

If anything, they will make an R-Line Taos, which doesn't really mean anything other than big wheels and a body kit. There's nothing "R" about the R-Line Jetta or Passat, but those not in the know are non the wiser.

 

[The Smurf]

Little badge means more money 😂

 

[Cumberland Racer]

Agreed. VW really has legit hot hatches…but nothing across other models like the Audi S-line program.

 

[The Smurf]

My R line bug was kinda nice being loaded but would have been better with the Golf R power

 

[CRVW]

So, you’ll be “suffering” with the vehicle, which from following your comments since summer of 21 performs as you expected when you bought it, and won’t turning it into a street racer?😃. Thanks for putting the chip to the test! An amusing review, as I believe you intended.

I've seen teardowns of these before, but for 7 bucks I wanted one to play with. Even though it's just an LED flasher, or, as a certain Smurf would say, a Disco Box, I'm not sure if I could build one here for $7. So, I suppose it's value for money, lol.
Anyway, glad you enjoyed the review. Guess I'm stuck with 158hp. Bummer.

 

[CRVW]

“There’s no free lunch.”
“You get what you pay for.”
“If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”
….and other classic truths Thanks saving folks the 7 bucks!

I spent 7 bucks, so you don't have to! LOL!

 

[CRVW]

As life-long fan of European cars and American trucks, I’m on POV #40 including a caged Porsche race car. The Taos IMO is the best engineered car in its class…with bits related to the Golf R in the AWD version.

The odds are not super good that VAG will breathe R Type mods into this model for a variety of reasons, mostly related to that fact that it competes with CVT tinker toys for sales. We love our attractive, well built, Kings Red ‘22 SE AWD. The 24iR update is on the money and allowed us to reset the Carista direct throttle to OE specs (although Direct Throttle is still the way to go on our VR6 Altas SELP.) Sounds like the rear brakes are a supplier problem and that VOA is moving to offer early replacement under a Warranty extension?

Bottom line, there are good tuners out there who may soon develop legit Taos performance packages that may interest owners in the future…the factory is likely to withhold an actual future sporty SUV package for an upmarket nameplate with more profit margin…or maybe just go to a “big *ss battery” IDx hot rod.

I agree with the fact that an R version is unlikely, mainly because it is a North America model only. A Golf R, which exists elsewhere, probably barely made it to NA. A Taos R would have to be a NA specific model, and let's face it - how many would they sell? I'd buy a Golf R over a Taos R any day and just keep it in the garage when the snow gets too deep. The Taos would cover winter duty. If you had to pick one then maybe a Taos R would make sense, but it would still have lower ground clearance and presumably bigger brakes, thus reducing winter tire options.

 

[The Smurf]

I spent 7 bucks, so you don't have to! LOL!

Damn you I wanted a 200hp car. You have shattered my street racing dreams now

 

[Ins]

I already have a Taos R, mine came with the black roof, lol. I also just put a deposit on a 20th anniversary MK8 R (picking it up tomorrow). Have an MK7 R in the garage with 17k miles (will be up for sale soon). Too many Rs in my life, lol.

 

[The Smurf]

I already have a Taos R, mine came with the black roof, lol. I also just put a deposit on a 20th anniversary MK8 R (picking it up tomorrow). Have an MK7 R in the garage with 17k miles (will be up for sale soon). Too many Rs in my life, lol.

😂 black roofs add HP for sure

 

[Ins]

😂 black roofs add HP for sure

You better believe it. That magic box stands no chance! 🤣

 

[CanadaTaos]

I have no experience with a black roof, however when I started driving racing stripes and fuzzy dice improved performance immensely! Or perhaps that was only when combined with an 8-track!

 

[The Smurf]

Stickers stickers they make you faster too