That'd be easy as well (and much more fair, too). I just need a donor UTEC or better yet, someone who is willing to let me install my XEDE in his UTEC equipped car for a comparo.

 

I'm not exactly local, nor do I have a spare UTEC.. LOL I couldn't even compare my setup to anyone elses, its too dissimilar.

 

Amen!

With some 10 years of hex code programming under my belt, I can assure you this statement is fact. Inevitably, the tool is oftentimes unfairly blamed for the shortfalls of the tuner or the tuning methodology.

I researched aftermarket tuning devices at length before making my purchase. I didn't want anything 'grass roots', and I didn't want a jumble of various devices. I wanted a simple, clean unit that was 'invisible', and retained the MAS as well as the OBDII diagnostics and full functionality. I also wanted something that was supported by persons with a solid reputation and who've demonstrated proficiency with the device. The Xede made the most sense for my mods and my daily reliability/drivability requirements, and so I chose that one.

If I were going with more of a budget route and expected to piecemeal things together over time, I may have opted for a mbc and S-AFC, and/or possibly a Dynoflash. If I was going with a larger capacity turbo, very large injectors and such, I would have opted for the higher priced, race-oriented EMS at the expense of factory features. I feel strongly that what you choose should be suited to what you expect as a realistic endpoint in your modding scheme. I often see people purchase items that won't really help them or are not particuarly well suited for their needs, and aftermarket ECU mods probably rank somewhere fairly high on the list.

 

I prefer the Xede but I think it a is a matter of personal preference and who is going to be doing the tuning.

 

here here I could have cared less about what I chose. There is really no one here where I live that knows either one. I wouldnyt even trust anyone with an EMS around here. I wanted something that could be user friendly once I get the hang of what I am doing. If there was someone tuning Xede, I would have gotten that, EMS with experience, I would have gotten that, see what were saying.

 

Here we go again...

Another Vishnu product is always better against .....

whatever that's out there I guess.

 

Although i've been looking to spend a $1000 or less on engine management, I have a hypothetical question for you guys. I have between $4k and $5k in engine mods either done or planned for my car. Would it be worth it to knock a few mods off my list and spend the extra money for the AEM system?

Heres what my mod list looks like as of now...

TME turbo
BOV
Downpipe/cat-delete
o2 housing
Cat back
exhaust manifold
intercooler and piping
fuel pump
injectors
272 cams
cam gears
head studs
clutch
flywheel

Would it be worth it to take a couple of these items off my list in order to fit the AEM into my budget? About the only thing I could see taking off the list is the TME turbo. That would make up the cost difference right there. Im so freakin confused!

 

It honestly depends on what your ultimate plans for the car will be.. you will spend quite some time (or pay someone for their time) getting it to be as drivable as stock.. The one advantage of both the UTEC and XEDE is the fact that the factory ECU is left to do what it does best, given enough time, money, and tuning (Whether you do it yourself or pay someone to do it) you can make the AEM do what you want, but everyone I've spoken to so far has had some level of drivability quirks, some worse than others. The biggest issue is losing OBD-II, which means in some states it would never pass inspection regardless of if it runs clean or not. Many of the AEM users (and myself included even though I run a UTEC) have modified the car to the point that running the ECU stock is either impossible, or the car would no longer run right.

 

Nah, his challenge is a good idea, but it likely won't prove much since tuning is about the tuner, and not the tool.. Poor tuning can wreck a motor very easily, regardless of tuning tools.. The problem with any tuning tool that the enduser can configure is if they are inexperienced they will break something. I doubt most of the problems are caused by the engine management in itself.

I certainly wouldn't blame any sort of engine management if I nuked my engine.. Since I tune myself, I take responsibility for my mistakes. Kinda like blaming the gun for killing someone, not the person brandishing it.

Tuning yourself (even downloading and installing maps from something other than your own car) means you have to accept the risks associated with them.. The UTEC at this point for the Evo is in its infancy, so there's not alot of maps out there for them. But I'm willing to bet theirs hundreds of them for the WRX, would you trust the life of your engine to a random map you've downloaded?

I posted in the other thread how I feel about canned maps, their either real conservative, or potentially hazardous, thats still a risk.

Although tuning isn't rocket science, and everyone can do it, its important to have the tools and knowledge to do it correctly. Even back in the days of carburetors, I've seen countless guys blow headgaskets or other sorts of damage due to detonation (Glowing header is usually a dead giveaway on the old cars).

I believe tuning is for everyone, its not voodoo, and its not magic.. But it is common sense, and what we have available to us is amazing tools that can do amazing things, but in the hands of an idiot, it can also do idiotic things.

Standalones that offer speed density conversion remove the one restriction that you can't easily overcome in most of these configurations, the MAF sensor, but speed density also has its share of quirks (off topic so I wont' go into it) However there are (somewhat expensive) solutions to the restrictive MAF sensor.

However, the MAF is only a restriction when you begin to move more air than it can register, either it overruns, or becomes intermittent when that happens. However there are very few modified cars that will hit that limitation, heck, most don't even flow enough air that the stock airbox would be a restriction either.

Obviously this isn't a comparison of the two products, but I wanted to point out if you put a chainsaw in the hands of someone who's never used one before, there's a good chance he'll hurt himself, and tuning is no different, but if you take the time to learn how it works, and a few techniques, and not just jump into it.. you'll be alot happier, and walk away with your limbs still attached..

 

Emmisions are not a problem since I don't have them where I live. Basically im looking to build a streetable car capable of running a 11.99 or better 1/4 mile without having to upgrade to a huge turbo. Is this a reasonable goal? I know there has already been a number of people in the 11's with the stock turbo (some even with the stock intercooler and/or clutch) so Im hoping I can do the same.

 

I should add that I have no intention of doing my own tuning. Id love to watch it done and see how it all works, but I'll be leaving that job to someone who knows what they are doing. More than likely ill go to Turbotrix.

 

Its certainly possible and reasonable, you'll see more and more cars cutting those times in the next year. Taking the time and choosing your modifications, and then getting a good tune are really all thats needed, It really isn't even all that expensive. The Evo is a definite paradox when it comes to making power, truths and rumors abound, but when it comes down to it, it can be done fairly easily.

 

Which of these setups do you feel would be best suited for my setup and goals?

 

Either can do what you want.. Personal preferrence would obviously be UTEC.. Once the UTEC is tuned its very consistent and drivable.

 

He speakeths the truth.. listen to this man

shiv