I asume that all turbos have different characteristics but do stage 3 turbos genrally make boost much later?
I have a stage 1 on my S2 an love that it makes boost at 3000rpm but want to have the power that a stage 3 gives without loads of lag

 

Yes in my experience it makes boost much later (700rpm approx) go for a stage 2 unless you want more than 225bhp'ish.

 

Does it make boost right to the redline though? Or does it still run out of puff like the standard t3?

You put your cylinder head on yet?

 

That all depends on what boost you are trying to run and the VE of your engine, for example it will easily hold 15psi but try and get it to do 30psi and it might struggle! lol
Yeah my head is on, just waiting till the 6th for my tune up and we'll see what power I can squeeze out of her!