Tuning a warranty car - worth it?
10/23/15, 05:42 AM
#21
Mach 1 Member
I hear you on the gas Kanine. I drive 60+ miles a day. As a test one week, I tried to see if I could go 5 days on one tank of gas. I pulled it off with 20 miles to E. Unfortuntely, the driving experience is not something I want to trade off for a few extra mpg's.
If Zto5 is reading... How do you like JDM for tuning? They are about 45 mins drive from where I am.
If Zto5 is reading... How do you like JDM for tuning? They are about 45 mins drive from where I am.
10/23/15, 08:36 AM
#22
I Have No Life
I hear you on the gas Kanine. I drive 60+ miles a day. As a test one week, I tried to see if I could go 5 days on one tank of gas. I pulled it off with 20 miles to E. Unfortuntely, the driving experience is not something I want to trade off for a few extra mpg's.
If Zto5 is reading... How do you like JDM for tuning? They are about 45 mins drive from where I am.
If Zto5 is reading... How do you like JDM for tuning? They are about 45 mins drive from where I am.
In a nutshell, I love JDM Engineering, esp Nick P. If/When you do go with them, make sure you work with Nick. That kid has been fantastic. Customer service and technical depth. Bundle that all together and you get the whole package. I'm very happy with my tunes from him. Jim Sr. writes the tunes but Nick works with the customers. I first went with him when I upgraded my Maggie pulley from stock 3.9 to 3.6. The stock Magnuson tune (that came with the blower kit) was super duper rich, inefficient, and just very jumpy, and not very drivable. We went through 4 or 5 tune iterations because, well, they're perfectionists. Their tuning is very conservative too, which I like. They err on caution rather than power. Their throttle response is also right on the money - responsive, but not overly so... I datalogged and essentially street tuned with them (logging idle, cruising, and wot). There are not too many Magnuson blown Coyotes out there, but they still did a fantastic job on my setup.
I'm on the latest iteration now with my new 98mm intake. And since they know me and my car pretty well, they gave me one tune, and it's been dead on perfect right away. Other part I love about Nick? Everyone (vendors, friends, forums, etc.) all told me the next mod for my car was Headers and Hi flow/No cats. I was all prepared to do that, but Nick actually told me I need to focus on my air restriction. The Maggie uses the stock MAF, so it was at 82mm... he said I should open that up first before messing with the headers/cats. So while everyone was trying to sell me those mods, Nick wanted to do what was right. I have since done that, and now my car is running perfectly, at about 570-575whp. They will be looking at my tune next spring when I throw Kooks LTH's/H cats on, and retune if necessary.
So long story short, I highly recommend JDM Engineering - go with Nick P., tell him Burton from Iowa sent you.
Last edited by FromZto5; 10/23/15 at 08:38 AM.
10/23/15, 12:57 PM
#23
Mach 1 Member
Many thanks for the great write up, Burton! Sounds like JDM is the way to go come Spring. I want to pair the tune with a better intake/TB. As much as I want a blower I just can't swing it financially. I'm going to keep it N/A for a while. Just out of curiousity... You drive all the way to NJ to get your mods done?
10/23/15, 01:10 PM
#24
I Have No Life
Originally Posted by Last1
Many thanks for the great write up, Burton! Sounds like JDM is the way to go come Spring. I want to pair the tune with a better intake/TB. As much as I want a blower I just can't swing it financially. I'm going to keep it N/A for a while. Just out of curiousity... You drive all the way to NJ to get your mods done?
As far as my mods, I do all the purchasing and installing myself (except headers in spring which I'll have done professionally). With JDM being in New Jersey, that's why I mentioned that I pretty much deal with them on the phone and through remote tuning. In my mind and in their mind, I am not just some random customer from the Internet. Despite the distance, they work with me over the phone and through email, then they send me the tune and we go from there.
Last edited by FromZto5; 10/23/15 at 02:12 PM.
10/23/15, 01:13 PM
#25
2 words....**** yeah!
I put the Procal on my '12 and with a slick, it did 11.91 at 115. The car was transformed in how it drove and felt. I ran the tune for over 3 years, no issues. I had it "installed" at a Ford dealer for the purpose of the FRPP warranty. Cost me $60.
I'm going VMP on my new '14 auto, very soon.....
I put the Procal on my '12 and with a slick, it did 11.91 at 115. The car was transformed in how it drove and felt. I ran the tune for over 3 years, no issues. I had it "installed" at a Ford dealer for the purpose of the FRPP warranty. Cost me $60.
I'm going VMP on my new '14 auto, very soon.....
10/23/15, 01:28 PM
#26
Mach 1 Member
It looks like around $700 for the unit and tune. I guess it'll be worth it though! The sluggish throttle response is what I dislike the most about my car's performance. It always feels like there is a bit of a delay.
10/23/15, 02:14 PM
#27
I Have No Life
^ that sluggish delay from Magnuson, is what Nick and JDM addressed with their tunes. I love it.
10/23/15, 04:23 PM
#28
Alright guys. Y'all talked me into it.....I'm placing an order tomorrow for the Steeda CAI/tune power kit. I'll tell my wife I'm buying brakes or something. LOL
Thanks for all the great input. Maybe this will keep me happy for a few weeks.....
Thanks for all the great input. Maybe this will keep me happy for a few weeks.....
10/23/15, 06:16 PM
#29
Bullitt Member
Please let us know what you think. I'm trying to decide on Steeda or Trackcal. ( because.....California)
10/23/15, 06:34 PM
#30
I got all caught up chasing power and forgot how much fun the car was with just a good tune on it. Easy and really rewarding, compared to how I ended up after I decided I needed 600+ horsepower....
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
10/23/15, 08:28 PM
#31
Alright guys. Y'all talked me into it.....I'm placing an order tomorrow for the Steeda CAI/tune power kit. I'll tell my wife I'm buying brakes or something. LOL
Thanks for all the great input. Maybe this will keep me happy for a few weeks.....
Thanks for all the great input. Maybe this will keep me happy for a few weeks.....
TJ
10/23/15, 08:30 PM
#32
Legacy TMS Member
Originally Posted by 5LHO
I got all caught up chasing power and forgot how much fun the car was with just a good tune on it. Easy and really rewarding, compared to how I ended up after I decided I needed 600+ horsepower....
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
10/23/15, 08:30 PM
#33
I got all caught up chasing power and forgot how much fun the car was with just a good tune on it. Easy and really rewarding, compared to how I ended up after I decided I needed 600+ horsepower....
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
Yes, with power comes the added upgrades to the suspension. All that power is no good if you can't control it.
Like I said, glad you are still on the boards & doing well.
Best Regards,
TJ
10/23/15, 08:33 PM
#34
Cobra Member
I got all caught up chasing power and forgot how much fun the car was with just a good tune on it. Easy and really rewarding, compared to how I ended up after I decided I needed 600+ horsepower....
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
It really is about knowing when your enjoying yourself and being able to say enough's enough.
10/24/15, 08:24 AM
#35
I've been building and track racing cars for over 30 years. It's no guarantee but, experience does help, it just didn't here.
I had appropriate rear suspension mods and good tires but, it was one of those things...you see a bit of empty, straight road and decide to give 'er a bit and stuff happens. My mistake in judgment, I own it totally. I self-extricated and walked away with two busted ribs, which has got to be next to a miracle if you're spiritually-minded.
It was a transcendental experience being in the air when she went over and I'll never forget the sounds and how hard the hit the passenger side was when it smoked a 10" tree.
The new car is going to stay tune only for a good bit. The car is amazingly more competent than the '12 was, right from the get go. Tune and traction on the '12 was alot of fun. This should be likewise. My aim now is to tune and traction the '14 into the 11s, like I did with the '12.
Everybody, please play safe....
I had appropriate rear suspension mods and good tires but, it was one of those things...you see a bit of empty, straight road and decide to give 'er a bit and stuff happens. My mistake in judgment, I own it totally. I self-extricated and walked away with two busted ribs, which has got to be next to a miracle if you're spiritually-minded.
It was a transcendental experience being in the air when she went over and I'll never forget the sounds and how hard the hit the passenger side was when it smoked a 10" tree.
The new car is going to stay tune only for a good bit. The car is amazingly more competent than the '12 was, right from the get go. Tune and traction on the '12 was alot of fun. This should be likewise. My aim now is to tune and traction the '14 into the 11s, like I did with the '12.
Everybody, please play safe....
10/25/15, 06:43 PM
#36
Legacy TMS Member
Originally Posted by dmichaels
Still amazed people want more power. I rarely use WOT for more than a few seconds on the street. At the track the car has plenty of power to beat up on almost anything provided brakes and suspension are up to the task (and the driver....)
I'm completely satisfied with oem power. After 2.5 years and 3000+ track miles I still have no desire for more power. More downforce tho please
I'm completely satisfied with oem power. After 2.5 years and 3000+ track miles I still have no desire for more power. More downforce tho please
10/25/15, 08:01 PM
#37
I Have No Life
Originally Posted by kylerohde
Doesn't surprise me (look at how many old guys buy Shelbys then do crap like the Super Snake package and then never track the car). It's all about theoretical performance and being a stoplight/highway on-ramp hero for so many. I'm with you - would much rather have 10k in suspension/brake upgrades than a blower setup.
10/28/15, 10:19 PM
#38
Update - CAI and 93 tune installed
One note - the open CAI has some interesting sounds when on throttle. You can hear it gasping and sucking air in. It'll take a while to get used to that.
I'll update more as I drive on my normal commute.
10/29/15, 05:36 AM
#39
Bullitt Member
Holy **** did this tune wake the car up! I've only taken it for a quick spin around the neighborhood, but it feels like a different car. I'm going to have to get this thing down to a shop and dyno it.
One note - the open CAI has some interesting sounds when on throttle. You can hear it gasping and sucking air in. It'll take a while to get used to that.
I'll update more as I drive on my normal commute.
One note - the open CAI has some interesting sounds when on throttle. You can hear it gasping and sucking air in. It'll take a while to get used to that.
I'll update more as I drive on my normal commute.
