APR Stage 1 tune

[sparkyboy69]

I'm reasonably new to site, having recently picked up new MK7 GTI PP. I'm looking at getting a Stage 1 tune (software only) and have been quoted around $2K. Id appreciate advice on value for money of quote and appropriateness of Stage 1 tune


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[tigger73]

$2k is the going price for APR. They sometimes have sales but price went up recently due to exchange rate.

Value for money is a subjective thing as different people value different things. With APR you're getting backup of a dealer network and local distributor. With other tuning brands there can be less support.

Not sure what you mean by is it appropriate?? But if you want to add 60kW and drop the quarter mile time by a second then the answer is definitely!!!!!

Oh yes usual disclaimers surrounding warranty as you're on your own if you blow anything up. Which brings us back to the first question of value and whether you value all the local testing that APR does.


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[Martin]

There is no doubt that the ECU flash is an simple way to enhance performance,
APR was good value for money when it was $1,400 (often discounted to $1,150)
But at $2K I would be going to one of the other tuners - they are a lot cheaper

I was disappointed with the stage 1 tune, fairly mild (has less top end than stock)
Stage II with the hi-flow cat and down pipe was an awesome update with a significant performance boost across the entire rev range

[bobcrusader]

Check out Revo. They are about the cheapest of the Stage 1 tunes and you get similar performance and support. They also do a free Stage 2 upgrade with their downpipe.

[Creampuff]

Viezu for me, brilliant set up and reasonable price. APR is a joke for the price!

[VW Convert]

Interesting the emphasis that is placed on price whenever engine tunes are the subject of discussion. By purchasing a VAG product we've all to some extent paid a premium, inevitably there are cheaper options out there when it comes to cars.

For example, the OP would have paid somewhere around $50,000 for his GTI PP, he could have got something approaching similar performance from a Kia Proceed GT for around $30,000. The OP chose to pay a higher price because of the perception that the Golf is worth more than the Kia (as would I). There are people who would look at those two cars and not see the value in shelling out the extra money for the VW and buy the Kia (certainly not me).

It's no different with tunes, some may see the value in a higher priced tune, others may not. Horses for courses as they say.

Cheers
G

George

[sparkyboy69]

Point taken G, though was seeking advice from a value for money rather than cost perspective


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[tigger73]

Generally the stage 1 tunes are within a few kW of each other. It may be measurable on the track or a dyno but on the road who is going to be able to notice a couple of kW on the bum dyno???

Generally APR tends to come on strong early and then tail off at the top end. Other tuners will start a little slower and pull right through to redline.

No real right or wrong just each tuner having slightly different philosophy about what they're looking to achieve.


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[cbwolf]

Just to throw a cat amongst the pigeons, you also have the option of going with a tuning box. There seem to be a few popular ones around (DTUK, BurgerTuning JB1, Neuspeed). The consensus seems to be they give you 70% of a proper tune, but you keep your warranty as they're not detectable once removed.

[AdamD]

There are ways that tuning boxes can be detected retrospectively; they're no silver bullet. And because they don't have direct control over a number of critical controls (but instead attempt to 'fool' the ECU into delivering more boost and different timing/AFRs based on misleading sensor values), they're neither as effective or as optimised as an ECU tune.

Many vendors who offer a tuning box have only done so as an intermediary step prior to releasing their own tune, or are specifically chasing the low end of the market.