Polo GTi Future and Reliability

[Buller_Scott]

Thanks for giving me the heads up on alternative companies as well btw.

not a problem at all, mate. 3 years ago, when i started looking at maps, at first glance it seemed like if i wanted a tune for my diesel, it had to be Oettinger, and it was going to cost me a full $2k at the local APR dealer (i still go to him for service because he's an awesome mechanic).

imagine that - 10% of the cost of the car (rounded down), for a tune that i can't switch, that isnt even getting the best claimed figures.

thankfully, though, we've seen a recent real rise in the competition (i dont owe John@DNA Tuning ANYTHING, for example, but damn... come down to melbourne - he is putting huge smiles on the faces of quite a few VAG scene punters down here).

there are more than a couple of EXTREMELY reliable tuners out there with tested-and-trusted tunes, who WONT try to charge you $1700 for a ''name brand'' tune that always seems to come in 2nd/3rd place on dyno days

[manol]

I know there are other, possibly better tuners out there, but first of all I don't want my car to be a testbed. I'm also happy to settle for less because being Brisbane based, a 10 minute drive is better than a 3 or 4 day drive when I need to figure something out

I can assure you, your car wouldn't be a test bed with any of the other tuners.
There are tuners with local dealers in your area that ISN'T APR. APR has burned people, badly.

I don't see John @ DNA or GIAC or Revo ever really burning people on their tunes or their aftersales support. The bad stories always seem to come from APR.

[pologti18t]

I can assure you, your car wouldn't be a test bed with any of the other tuners.
There are tuners with local dealers in your area that ISN'T APR. APR has burned people, badly.

I don't see John @ DNA or GIAC or Revo ever really burning people on their tunes or their aftersales support. The bad stories always seem to come from APR.

Never had an issue with my APR tune (4yrs+). I would expect a large majority of the people with tweaked ECU tunes on these forums would be APR.

Interested to hear what bad stories you are talking about.

[noone]

Every tuner will have praise and critics.
You have to evaluate what you want (safety, support, dyno numbers, cost).

[noone]

APR held a majority as they spent time building a reputation in the Aus market, much like DNA is now.

How many tuners do we have to talk to on this forum?

Dont neglect CC, Gav is an awesome tuner and nice guy. If I were in Adelaide, he would have my business.

[Guy_H]

Buller_Scott & Manol,

Let me know what your personal experiences are with APR, from what I gather, neither of you have had an APR product in your car?

Also Oettinger software for the Polo 9N has been $1350 for some years, not $1700, nor $2k as you state above.

We have just spent 6 weeks straight on the calibration for the new Polo GTI here in Australia (yep, sorry, not a US model), and we now have a huge understanding of the complexities of this car / motor. from what I understand (talking with my European Counterparts), no one has taken the twincharger 1.4 to the level we now have & with different stages of tuning.

I can assure you, your car wouldn't be a test bed with any of the other tuners.
There are tuners with local dealers in your area that ISN'T APR. APR has burned people, badly.

I don't see John @ DNA or GIAC or Revo ever really burning people on their tunes or their aftersales support. The bad stories always seem to come from APR.

Our own car is our test bed, it has been dynoed (over 30 runs), many, many street logs, track testing & now tested independently by a magazine.

I suggest you clarify your statement, a search of your posts show that you typically post against anyone looking at APR.

[way]

Manol, not this again. As with every tune, there will be the occasional issue for whatever reason. All I know is that APR will stand by their product and fix whatever issue if it crops up. I have had great experience with APR as have 5-6 friends who I have recommended.

[kaanage]

Also Oettinger software for the Polo 9N has been $1350 for some years, not $1700, nor $2k as you state above.

Does it depend on the submodel? I was quoted $1700 late last year for a TDi.

[Guy_H]

Does it depend on the submodel? I was quoted $1700 late last year for a TDi.

Depends on ECU type & engine capacity (EDC 15 / 16 / 17 / 17.5) and there is a with & without warranty option. Polo 9N's are $1350.

[Blitzen]

I have dealt with APR for the past 3 years and have had 3 dealers (Harding Performance, CVWC, and European Autotech) work on my car, and have nothing but the highest of praise for them. The customer service and warranty help has been excellent with no questions asked. I looked at 7 different products before I settled on APR, and after the dealings I have had with them, I can't recommend them highly enough, but saying that, I know that Gavin with CC and Jmac with his product are both great people with great products.
Get what you like though, it's your car... I'm interested to hear about the problems people have had with APR... I haven't heard anything bad.