jlog1506

iTrader: (2)

I was looking at the Ams Ralliart stage upgrades. There are 3. Stage 0,1,2. Which one would you guys recommend. I see once you re flash the ecu you can't add anymore performance parts for example a intake. Also is it easy to remove your ecu to mail it in? Thankyou

jkennedy293

I wouldn't choose any of them before I've read the GST Basemap sticky in the RA drivetrain forum.

crankIT

iTrader: (1)

+1

Veronica

iTrader: (2)

+2

Brownie614

yeah my friend had a 09 RA and when they had stage 3 at ams with the x turbo n all the goodies he mailed in his ecu had them flash it and i ended up beating him with my stock turbo and no flash on my ra his car also ran like crap so he sold it n bought a x

bossssman38

iTrader: (2)

So you beat a ralliart with stage 3 mods in your stock ralliart?

jlog1506

iTrader: (2)

so you guys wouldn't recommend it? What information should i know. I will gladly read it but what is if for?

bossssman38

iTrader: (2)

They, and many members on here, will recommend using the GST tune that has been given to us for free. All you need is a laptop and the tactrix cable and you can flash the tune.

Brownie614

no my ra was not stock this is all the stuff i had in mine
Engine Mods
K&N drop in filter
HKS ssqv3 bov
AMS fmic with piping
CP-E tbe

Engine Management
GST Base Map

Interior
Rex Speed A pillar gauge pod
AEM Digital Tru Boost
AEM Digital Volt gauge
7in Touch Screen Navi
2 12in Memphis Audio Subs
1000 watt Kenwood Amp

Exterior
Tinted windows
XXR 507W Series Rims 18x7.5
Cooper 215/45R18 ZEON RS3-A

nunyas

iTrader: (2)

but you said "beating him with my stock turbo and no flash on my ra"

I.E. stock ....

Brownie614

yes then i didnt have a flash just running 20lbs of boost he was on 26

Brownie614

i did the flash at mod in october and i ran him in september then he bought a evo after that he still has the CP-E gauge pod for 100 obo if any1 needs a gauge pod its a $200 pod that was used for 3 months

rm_you

Yeah, don't buy the stage kits from AMS, their prices aren't that good and after the past month dealing with them on my order trying to get prices straightened out for stage1+2 (bought them both simultaneously) and the amount they want for their basemap... They charge over $4000 for stage1+2, but I ended up buying:

A used AMS catback on craigslist for $480 (not saying anything bad about their actual products, just their service)
Cobb catpipe for around $200 new from cobb
A stock EvoX intercooler/BPV/pipes also from craigslist for $400
AEM intake for $240 online

I happened to have a Cobb AP so I used their Stage2 tune, but you could use a Tactrix cable (around $170?) + GST map with a $20 boost pill too.

So, everything I bought came out to like 1.4k vs the 4k they wanted. I cut them some slack since obviously I got great deals used, so I still got some other parts from them, one of which (edit: ) Whiteline(?) misrepresented and wasn't at all what I was expecting to get. I shipped both parts back (I was just tired of the whole deal at this point) and they didn't want to refund me because "they were packaged poorly for shipping and were damaged"... Except all I did was open the box, say "nope", close it again, and ship it back. I think I've finally managed to work it out with them (they did waive restocking on the wrongly advertised part). <_<

Save yourself my experience and find out what parts you ACTUALLY want and just buy them separately. Except for the intake (get the AEM, since it works with the GST maps and the Cobb maps) there is not a huge difference between most of the stage parts (any given exhaust system or intercooler) as far as tunes go... It's mostly just the sound the exhaust makes and exactly how big the intercooler is.

I used the 2.5k I saved to buy a set of Enkei PF01's and some nice Star Spec Z1 tires. :P

Edit: After hearing back from them again (post below) I'm willing to cut them a lot more slack -- some things weren't their fault or were merely misunderstandings. My experience was unfortunate, but it may have been mostly one-off problems, not something systemic. I've toned down my aggravation level in this post to mesh better with this new information.

petro

I have had numerous people from Cobb tell me that their stage 2 tune is not designed for intercooler and intake upgrades/adjustments and that they would not recommend it.

NFSLancerRA

iTrader: (8)

You should know that these stage upgrades are for people who don't know anything about cars or modifications.