1. I would look around on the board for vendors that do canned "mail-in" tunes. I would look for the end-users so you can get their feedback and even possibly PM them asking for their thoughts. We don't offer canned "mail-in" tunes at this time for various reasons.

2. If you have no interest in how tunes work (which is just fine of course) then I believe your best bet would be to check out the AP and it's canned flashes. With the AP you can datalog without a laptop which is very helpful and allows you to keep an eye on things pretty much whenever you drive without the hassle of lugging things around. When/if you ever get comfortable with tuning, you can use COBB's free tuning software to customize the tune, or you can find a local Pro-Tuner to customize the tune exactly to your personal Evo.

 

I do have one question, I know the AP does logs, so can I log my performance and then send it to you/another tuner if you all don't do that and have a custom map created and emailed to me? I don't have a local tuner here that I know of so that's why i'm asking about having it done this way.

 

Yes you can do that. That is how a lot of on-line tuners do it.

There are "off-the shelf" mail-in tunes and there are on-line tunes that are custom tunes tweaked over various data logging sessions and back to back emails.

 

If you want to flash your car back to stock that's not a problem at all. When you load the new map in we send you you will connect to your car first. Once you do that you will simply click, file, save as, and then name that file, STOCK TUNE. Then if you ever need to put it back into the car, hook your cable up and load it again.

The amount of power you will gain will depend on the fuel you run and the mods you have.

I'd like to be blunt about this but it will earn me points for vendor bashing so I won't.

Personally, I think someone is a fool to NOT use Ecuflash and a tune from someone. I have nothing to gain from it by saying this. The cable you buy online and not from me. You can then pick a tuner, me, Al, Razorlab and others. Just pick someone with some experience.

You will have less money out of your pocket and in my opinion better product development with much quicker updates to the software than anyone has provided in the past.

If you ever want to mess with tuning the car yourself you can do that too.

 

ohhhhhhhhh ok, well that's a plus and likely what I would do. What sort of cost is involved in having a custom map or whatever done for the AP like that?

 

Varies by vendor.

 

Well I certainly cannot argue with anyone here considering my lack of knowledge, but I don't have a laptop ... not that is mine anyway, so that and the cable would cost me however much and then having someone do the tune as well... all of that wouldn't add up to the cost of an AP?

 

Cobb in Plano Tx is offering their accessport along with a custom tune for $700. And of course you get to keep the AP when their done.

 

yeah, but i'm not anywhere near texas.

 

Thanks for reminding me Dave!

I forgot to mention APs generally have a great resale. Once your done, sold the vehicle, whatever, uninstall and the next person can install and enjoy. The little bit of extra money spent to get the AP goes back in your pocket.

Thanks,

 

honestly guys.. I am happy to get unbiased opinions.. I am considering all options, but I just want to find the best one for me. The money isn't so much a concern as ease of use, what sort of power gains I can expect, increase in mileage ( which I know I will get from almost any tune ), and all of that with limited mods. I don't plan on ever doing anything such as going for a bigger turbo or any of that, airflow mods such as UICP, LICP, FMIC, MBC, a boost pill perhaps? I'd be happy having the car with enough power to go low to mid 12's, which on this Evo isn't hard from the posts I have read.

 

Hello Methodical
Im here to offer youadvice based on what i know and have used with these products. Ecuflash requires a Laptop, cable, and the ability to use the software (trust me some people cant handle that )
AP requires Some form of PC to load maps to the accessport and then you have to follow the directions on the AP to flash the car.

For a remote tune (which you seem to want)
I would go with the accessport. You can have several maps that you can flash and change @ a whim.
You can also log data (very well i might add) with the actual ap itself and send to your tuner for review/ adjustment. (or review it yourself)

And if you decide after aw hile that you want to tune for yourself you can use AccessTuner race and have a great logger and mapping software free from Cobb to go along with your already snazzy device. not to mention that not too far down the pipe is LIVE tuning for the AP. Yep LIVE adjustment and mapping.

I tune both, i Prefer certain aspects of both over the other.
I have an AP for my evo X and love it. i can log wheneveri want its always with me
no need to tote a lap top around to log or change maps is great for someone who is ALWAYS messing with the car (and its hard to have a laptop on a ride @ buttonwillow, hahah)
The decision is up to you.

 

Word up. I say go for the accessport. It allows you to flash your ecu and update if you need all while being less involved than the other options, and from how your posts sound, is the route you want to take. Oh yeah, and do you really want to buy a laptop? Just get the AP then sell it when you no longer need/want it.

 

great advice guys.. thanks for your input.

 

I am a Cobb dealer also. I have experience with them all too.

If you do not want to mess with anything and do not want to get a custom tune then pull your ECU out, send it to me, I'll load the tune in the ECU and you are done. It takes all of 5 minutes to take the ECU out, it's right under the hood behind air filter. We've flashed a BUNCH of EVOX ECU's through the mail like that.

Personally, if I were you and didn't want to mess with it. I'd buy the few parts you want to get for the car that you mentioned and then go get a custom tune done. That is by far the smartest thing to do. I would not waste $700 on a XX or money on a licensing fee either.