I have read quite a bit about this topic on NASIOC, but figured I would get the opinion of our board (since I trust you guys more and SS and TS post on here). I won the drawing for $200 at SOG at the Warehouse meet, I also somehow managed to win free dyno time, so, I can almost get tuned for free by SS (once I get my friggin UP/DP installed). Since I will only be stage 2(according to cobb...) and not planning to go beyond this anytime in the near future (read 1 year+) how much of an improvement will there really be with a stage 2 tune. I could use the GC for some camber plates or other suspension related bits. I want to stay in STX this autox season (and most likely next since I keep missing events...). So, what do you guys think? Go for the protune, keep working on the suspension? Something else? Also, slightly related question. If I did go with a protune, it would be the base map, correct. If I then switched to an STX real time map, would that present problems, tune wise? Thanks for any opinions suggestions...
when SS tuned mine, we stored plots for the stage 2 OTS and protuned... the OTS actually made like 3 more WHP and not as much TQ as the protune... however, it ran high boost and lean up top which would not be a safe setup... then again i had CAI and TMIC which are more than what the OTS map could compensate for... if u have EXACTLY the same setup recommended for a particular stage, u should be fine running OTS... your gains may be lower but for the lower stages i doubt theres a lot of improvement with protuning... as u go up in stages, i think protune makes more and more of a difference in performance and longevity... personally, anything beyond stage 2 (up+dp) i would get protuned
I'm not super happy with my OTS stage 2 map...it's an improvement but too jerky for my taste, which can't be great on the drivetrain but I'm not an expert by any means....So I'm getting protuned next Friday with SS to smooth things out and hopefully squeeze some more HP out of this bad boy... I guess it all depends on priorities...if you looking to auto-x it then maybe your money is better spent on suspesion mods....hope that helps
Protune smoothed out my car considerably. I took my mom for a ride after I got it, not going into specifics about what we had tuned. The first thing she says is, "your car runs and feels smoother!" It did wonders for my car, going from the OTS Stage 2 to a Protune. Scott managed to bump it up to a safe peak boost, and it made my car feel like a brand new one again. However that's just my experience, but I voted for the protune because I love it. Craig
Thanks guys! Yeah, I am far more concerned with drivability than absolute HP/TQ. I know I will eventually get protuned, but just not sure its something I NEED to do at this stage of modification...