Apr tuning or revo?

[rhinotron]

Which is honestly better? opinions please!

[A4A4A4]

Honestly, if you drove a car with Revo and a car with APR back to back, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Go with whichever one you can get a better deal on, or which ever dealer is closest.

[a408]

revo is great

[SEXICÄN]

eBay chip!!!

[Quattro]

Honestly, if you drove a car with Revo and a car with APR back to back, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Go with whichever one you can get a better deal on, AND which ever dealer is closest.


fixed and x2

[hercfe]

whichever is closest to you. i could tell a HUGE difference between the two. I have REVO because i like how smooth it was, but APR will always feel a bit stronger at the cost of a big ass torque spike.

[CleverA4Name]

Go with the shop that is nearest to you.

[jimrobbington]

I have REVO and love it. APR is more BT friendly, if you plan on that for the near future, but REVO is working with the 3071R I hear, trying to put something out eventually

[dblock110]

wow this will be a great discussion finally something new to debate about on the forum

[RedS-line]

^haha. OP please SEARCH this topic has been covered and all of your answers lie within....

[jimrobbington]

Go with the shop that is nearest to you.

But wait, that's not what you did! Me either! Haha! Go with the best shop. I have a Uni dealer 2 miles from my house, but I went with REVO because I have never been treated better, and they are about 45 minutes away.

[aaron1085]

whichever is closest to you. i could tell a HUGE difference between the two. I have REVO because i like how smooth it was, but APR will always feel a bit stronger at the cost of a big ass torque spike.

THAT's interesting.... others feel Revo is smoother, but APR hits harder?

[MCT9891]

I hate how giac is so under rated. More people need to get giac. The torque curve is great and hits hard as well. Don't know about revo...

Oh yeah and SEARCH...
I wonder how many "which chip should I get" threads are out there. I say easily over 15

[Shnab]

revo is great. no complaints here

[CleverA4Name]

But wait, that's not what you did! Me either! Haha! Go with the best shop. I have a Uni dealer 2 miles from my house, but I went with REVO because I have never been treated better, and they are about 45 minutes away.

Haha damnit jim!

Go with the best shop nearest you!

[SEXICÄN]

I still think the ebay chip is going to be the best bang for the buck!

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

Are this threads still allowed ???

[PhilyA4]

I came across this a few days ago. Read it through!

http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2670467

Phil....

[bmc333]

NASCAR Chips! Anyone remember that one?

[Sales@RAI]

Unitronic [up]

[QUATTROA4B7]

I love my APR chip because it was easy to get rid of the CEL for my tp, it was easy to reflash for my HPFP, it made my car much faster, and because the guys at RSW are awesome!

[elwigglero]

It really doesn't matter. You can switch between octane level based programs with the cruise control stalk with APR software. REVO requires that a separate selector be purchased that utilizes the OBD2 port to change programs.

[Korrect414]

Just go with whatever dealer is closer.

End of thread

[mallrat]

1/2 dozen of one... 6 of the other.

Which is better?

[Slovak84]

Actually I talked to the guys at AWE, APR and REVO at Waterfest! and after all the discussion went with APR .... I think cause they game me more stickers..... lol J/K

[Azeroth]

I came across this a few days ago. Read it through!

http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2670467

Phil....

you have to take into account that this was back in 2006. i'm more than positive the companies have sured up their software since that time creating a differencefrom those previous results...

OP: i have revo and love it, absolutely no complaints. weird how someone said revo is smoother and apr is more aggresive. iv'e read multiple threads about people who've done both and say apr is smoother and giac and revo or more torquey/aggresive, but i could be totally wrong. if you're thinking about stage 2 then revo, the stage 2 flash offers more performance than the others. if you go BT then i would say apr or unitronic, as both pride themselves on BT tuning. just my $.02

[freeflow]

I hate how giac is so under rated. More people need to get giac. The torque curve is great and hits hard as well. Don't know about revo...

Oh yeah and SEARCH...
I wonder how many "which chip should I get" threads are out there. I say easily over 150



*fixed [>_>] lol

[Goped220]

Here's the deal APR's 3rd gears pulls harder than Revo's 3rd gear. But Revo's 4th gear pulls are than APR's 4th gear. That's my 2 cents.

Check this Discussion out:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?207875-REVO-vs.-APR-Only-if-you-ve-driven-both.

If I did it again I would run EPL or Autospeed software line

[schizzy]

now if the stage 1 is 241 hp and 292 tq than what do you think the stage 2 will do?

[Weem]

I love my APR chip because it was easy to get rid of the CEL for my tp, it was easy to reflash for my HPFP, it made my car much faster, and because the guys at RSW are awesome!

x2 on all those except RSW cus ive never been there. i also like the apr program switching/lockout features. use them surprisingly often. wouldnt want to have some controller for this

[jimrobbington]

now if the stage 1 is 241 hp and 292 tq than what do you think the stage 2 will do?

Don't forget, every car will ALWAYS be different! But still, I am stage 2 REVO, and I get about 260 hp, 310 tq, but don't forget that you lose quite a bit to the wheels. That horsepower is just over 200 to the wheels, but that completely overcomes stock drivetrain loss, and gives you much more torque. Like I tell everyone else, APR's stage 2 is nothing but a CEL delete, but REVO's stage 2 actually adds power and torque. You do not need the SPS device to switch REVO's settings if your shop is cool. My shop will always change my settings for me for free. If I want to run race gas for a day, I just stop by and they swap it to a 100 oct file. I love REVO, but would be fine with any software, really, as long as I could continue using my shop. It is all about the shop, not the chip.

Then there are more things you can do for stage 2. Add a HPFP, meth, FMIC, and you could easily be running 20 psi on a stock turbo, and be getting much closer to 300 crank hp.

[FLYINGLEGGS]

wow this will be a great discussion finally something new to debate about on the forum

Yep first time discussed...

Anyway, my vote is def APR. Give them a call and ask for Chris Gigon.

[schizzy]

Don't forget, every car will ALWAYS be different! But still, I am stage 2 REVO, and I get about 260 hp, 310 tq, but don't forget that you lose quite a bit to the wheels. That horsepower is just over 200 to the wheels, but that completely overcomes stock drivetrain loss, and gives you much more torque. Like I tell everyone else, APR's stage 2 is nothing but a CEL delete, but REVO's stage 2 actually adds power and torque. You do not need the SPS device to switch REVO's settings if your shop is cool. My shop will always change my settings for me for free. If I want to run race gas for a day, I just stop by and they swap it to a 100 oct file. I love REVO, but would be fine with any software, really, as long as I could continue using my shop. It is all about the shop, not the chip.

Then there are more things you can do for stage 2. Add a HPFP, meth, FMIC, and you could easily be running 20 psi on a stock turbo, and be getting much closer to 300 crank hp.

alright thanks, yea cuz on apr's site teh hp and tq didnt change between stages.. idk which to go with..

[jimrobbington]

Yep, APR stage 2 = Cel Del vs. REVO stage 2 = Cel DEL + 15 hp

[Sal_B7]

Just get a nitrous kit!

[jimrobbington]

No stage 3ers allowed, Sal!

[Sal_B7]

^^ha ha!! Hater!! lol Hows the weather?? lol


P.S. I think i might run nitrous once i get rods and pistons. hmmm...100 shot would be nice! :)

[jimrobbington]

Almost Motorcycle season! I would do meth first before nitrous, that way you could run a constant 100 octane file!

[trevor51590]

Dumb question, but would it be bad/dumb to get REVO stage 2 without having the HFC yet? I don't have one but will be getting one soon...I want software now :)

[Ras_lion]

1/2 dozen of one... 6 of the other.

Which is better?

me likey 1/2 a dozen, sounds more complicated, heheee

[jimrobbington]

Dumb question, but would it be bad/dumb to get REVO stage 2 without having the HFC yet? I don't have one but will be getting one soon...I want software now :)

You cannot go stage 2 without HFC or TP, but that's the beauty of REVO! You pay for stage 1, then just pay the difference to go stage 2. So you pay what, like 500 for stage 1, then when you have HFC in you go back, pay 100 for the stage 2 upgrade. If you have a good shop, they won't even charge you for labor. All they do is hook up a laptop to your car and it downloads itself onto your ECU. I got REVO stage 1 for 400 as a wedding present from my shop! Then if you get a HPFP, you pay an extra like 50 bucks for the 2+ tune

[colt45]

with those two to pic from I would go with APR but when I'm ready to get my chip I'm going with Unitronic.

[Sal_B7]

Almost Motorcycle season! I would do meth first before nitrous, that way you could run a constant 100 octane file!

Nice man!! Bet you cant wait for that!! Yeah im going to. Once i get my fueling issue taken care of going to install my meth kit. Just to run the 93 file. Need rods for the 100 oct file.

[rayallday]

Almost Motorcycle season! I would do meth first before nitrous, that way you could run a constant 100 octane file!

I cant wait I drove my 636 down the block but turned around cause it was cold :(

[yycools]

Got Revoed today. $100 cheaper than APR, same result. Apparently, if you need to go to dealer for warranty issues, pull the negative on the battery and it'll revert back to stock mode, then have your Revo dealer turn it back on. Poor man's SPS.

[elwigglero]

Yep, APR stage 2 = Cel Del vs. REVO stage 2 = Cel DEL + 15 hp

Is that 15hp a result of a tuning change or is that the result of an exhaust upgrade? A car with Stage 2 APR is more powerful than a car with stage 1 because of the added tp/HFC and exhaust. Are you saying that the REVO stage 2 program actually turns the boost up because of a TP/HFC addition? That doesn't make much sense to me. I'd imagine that 15 hp is a result of the higher flowing turbo-bacck exhaust.

[jimrobbington]

Is that 15hp a result of a tuning change or is that the result of an exhaust upgrade? A car with Stage 2 APR is more powerful than a car with stage 1 because of the added tp/HFC and exhaust. Are you saying that the REVO stage 2 program actually turns the boost up because of a TP/HFC addition? That doesn't make much sense to me. I'd imagine that 15 hp is a result of the higher flowing turbo-bacck exhaust.

I do have a full turbo back exhaust, but most people say you'll be lucky to gain 2-5 hp from a TP/HFC and maybe another 5 from the exhaust. It is a badass exhaust, mind you. I was just judging on my own gains compared to how everyone else with APR says all their stage 2 does is CEL delete. With APR, I believe the software "learns" the new exhaust, whereas with REVO, the technician actually tweaks the air/fuel ratio, boost, and timing all to match with your specific exhaust. REVO feels to me like more of a "custom" tune, and less generic like APR. This is only my OPINION based on facts given by APR users, I have never run APR.

[Chris@RevoUSA]

Dumb question, but would it be bad/dumb to get REVO stage 2 without having the HFC yet? I don't have one but will be getting one soon...I want software now :)

We instruct our dealers not to install software that requires certain pieces of hardware unless the hardware is present. If you are installing it in a few days fine but if you are waiting 6 months before ordering your HFC or test pipe you need to run stage 1. Will you have problems? No, is it dangerous? No, but why intentionally run your car incorrectly. IT is like a thread on the B6 forum the other day that I came across where we spec a certain injector for our stage 2 tuning and people wanted to run different ones that didn't even match our stage 3 tuning so it wasn't like they were even future proofing their setup.

As for some comments above. Yes I agree that they all will make similar power. Sure that is not the best comment for marketing but if I said anything else like some of our competitors then I"d be lying and I'd rather tell the truth then trick you into buying our products. At a given boost level you can only run so much timing and with the same boost and timing you are going to make about the same hp. On one car we may claim 5 more hp then a competitor but then on another application they may claim another, bottom line is they are all making about the same.

Where we have an advantage though is our adjustability built into our software. One file gets you all of the options that others charge for. Any Revo dealer or a friend with an SPS device can make changes to your software. while it is handy to have an SPS device of your own you are not required to buy one with our software to be able to switch to stock. Also with our adjustibility if you want to run more timing you can, if you want to run less boost you can.. or more boost or less timing the choice is yours.

We have applications for HFC, test pipes and fuel pumps (saw a post earlier that seemed to contradict that). We have done some tuning with the ATP GT3071R on A4 applications but are currently limited by available fueling so the project is on hold. We can do similar numbers to those running GT28 based kits but as they are limited by fuel so are we and people expect more with a GT30, someone comes up with the hardware we'll have tuning done shortly after.

I agree with the previous comments of go with who is local. If you have more then one shop local that sell several brands try them all and chose them for yourself. While everyone is entitled to an opinion when it comes to software they mean nothing. Just today I have read that our software is too soft and that our software is too aggressive, those are two opposite things but people feel our software is both. You can't decide unless you try it for yourself.

[jimrobbington]

On another note, REVO is so customer minded, they once gave me an entire new software program for free on my Jetta. My ECU committed suicide, to no fault of the software, and REVO tuned the new ECU for free for my troubles. They didn't have to, but they did. Also, if I were to add a FMIC, they would tweak the software for free, etc...Part of that is my awesome shop, but part is REVO too.

[davis449]

ou cannot go stage 2 without HFC or TP, but that's the beauty of REVO! You pay for stage 1, then just pay the difference to go stage 2. So you pay what, like 500 for stage 1, then when you have HFC in you go back, pay 100 for the stage 2 upgrade. If you have a good shop, they won't even charge you for labor. All they do is hook up a laptop to your car and it downloads itself onto your ECU. I got REVO stage 1 for 400 as a wedding present from my shop! Then if you get a HPFP, you pay an extra like 50 bucks for the 2+ tune
APR will upgrade you for free as well. Most of the time the "upgrade fee" you are paying is not going to the tuner (who ever it may be), it's a shop charge for labor.


On another note, REVO is so customer minded, they once gave me an entire new software program for free on my Jetta. My ECU committed suicide, to no fault of the software, and REVO tuned the new ECU for free for my troubles. They didn't have to, but they did. Also, if I were to add a FMIC, they would tweak the software for free, etc...Part of that is my awesome shop, but part is REVO too.
I got news for you...APR would do this as well.

[jimrobbington]

We instruct our dealers not to install software that requires certain pieces of hardware unless the hardware is present. If you are installing it in a few days fine but if you are waiting 6 months before ordering your HFC or test pipe you need to run stage 1. Will you have problems? No, is it dangerous? No, but why intentionally run your car incorrectly. IT is like a thread on the B6 forum the other day that I came across where we spec a certain injector for our stage 2 tuning and people wanted to run different ones that didn't even match our stage 3 tuning so it wasn't like they were even future proofing their setup.

As for some comments above. Yes I agree that they all will make similar power. Sure that is not the best comment for marketing but if I said anything else like some of our competitors then I"d be lying and I'd rather tell the truth then trick you into buying our products. At a given boost level you can only run so much timing and with the same boost and timing you are going to make about the same hp. On one car we may claim 5 more hp then a competitor but then on another application they may claim another, bottom line is they are all making about the same.

Where we have an advantage though is our adjustability built into our software. One file gets you all of the options that others charge for. Any Revo dealer or a friend with an SPS device can make changes to your software. while it is handy to have an SPS device of your own you are not required to buy one with our software to be able to switch to stock. Also with our adjustibility if you want to run more timing you can, if you want to run less boost you can.. or more boost or less timing the choice is yours.

We have applications for HFC, test pipes and fuel pumps (saw a post earlier that seemed to contradict that). We have done some tuning with the ATP GT3071R on A4 applications but are currently limited by available fueling so the project is on hold. We can do similar numbers to those running GT28 based kits but as they are limited by fuel so are we and people expect more with a GT30, someone comes up with the hardware we'll have tuning done shortly after.

I agree with the previous comments of go with who is local. If you have more then one shop local that sell several brands try them all and chose them for yourself. While everyone is entitled to an opinion when it comes to software they mean nothing. Just today I have read that our software is too soft and that our software is too aggressive, those are two opposite things but people feel our software is both. You can't decide unless you try it for yourself.

So, Chris, what you are saying is you can put a complete BT kit together through REVO, but it will not function near full potential? REVO is not working on their own solution for fueling, but waiting for someone else's solution? Are ther any successful REVO stage 3 users out there for the B7 platform? I had read previously that there was no complete kit for REVO, so there was no point in going BT yet. Any numbers put down on dyno yet?

[Chris@RevoUSA]

So, Chris, what you are saying is you can put a complete BT kit together through REVO, but it will not function near full potential? REVO is not working on their own solution for fueling, but waiting for someone else's solution? Are ther any successful REVO stage 3 users out there for the B7 platform? I had read previously that there was no complete kit for REVO, so there was no point in going BT yet. Any numbers put down on dyno yet?

We do not do hardware at this time only software. Currently there is no off the shelf solution for an intake fuel pump that has been installed in a B7 that we have tried to tune so they run out of fuel on the low pressure side. Until someone provides us with a car with this needed hardware we cannot tune it.

We have several B7 A4s that are running our beta tuning with GT3071Rs around the world, unfortunately they are not making the post of the turbo they are using and we are being blamed for this, but again we can only tune what we have been provide and no customer or dealer has provided us a car that we can tune.

The only testing I have witnessed in person was on a maha which gives crank numbers and we were in the 360-370 crank hp range which was when the vehicle was running out of fuel so we did not want to push it any further. Even at that range we would not be comfortable releasing the software to the public as one car with a slightly weaker fuel system may not be able to keep up and then we get blamed. So until there is a fuel solution that we can tune for we cannot complete the tuning.

Unfortunately we have a lot of people demanding we tune it but no one stepping up and giving us a car with the hardware to tune.

[Chris@RevoUSA]

APR will upgrade you for free as well. Most of the time the "upgrade fee" you are paying is not going to the tuner (who ever it may be), it's a shop charge for labor.



Just to clarify this.

Our stage 1 is 499 retail, stage 2 is 549 and stage 2+ is 599. So you would pay 50 to upgrade from stage 1 to stage 2 and 50 to upgrade from stage 2 to stage 2+ or 100 to upgrade from stage 1 to stage 2+

I believe APR sells their stage 1 for 599 but stage 2 and 2+ are also 599 so the price to upgrade from one to the next is free.

So bottom line is that for stage 1 we are 100 less and for stage 2+ we are the same, sometimes our competitor attempts to make this appear that we charge more since we charge for upgrades but the final price is actually exactly the same.

Labor from every tuner is up to the shop itself as we cannot dictate what they charge for their time. So we all have some dealers who charge nothing and some that charge a small fee.

[jimrobbington]

Didn't mean to grill you, I am just very interested. I would love to go BT some day, but would also like to stick with REVO.

[Chris@RevoUSA]

Didn't mean to grill you, I am just very interested. I would love to go BT some day, but would also like to stick with REVO.

Didn't take it as such.. we want to be able to offer it as much as people want it. We have seen claims of existing fuel solutions but no one has produced anything substantial yet showing there are options. We have enough preliminary work done on the A4s and carry over tuning from the transverse cars that once there is fuel we'll have a tune very soon after.

[davis449]

Just to clarify this.

Our stage 1 is 499 retail, stage 2 is 549 and stage 2+ is 599. So you would pay 50 to upgrade from stage 1 to stage 2 and 50 to upgrade from stage 2 to stage 2+ or 100 to upgrade from stage 1 to stage 2+

I believe APR sells their stage 1 for 599 but stage 2 and 2+ are also 599 so the price to upgrade from one to the next is free.

So bottom line is that for stage 1 we are 100 less and for stage 2+ we are the same, sometimes our competitor attempts to make this appear that we charge more since we charge for upgrades but the final price is actually exactly the same.

Labor from every tuner is up to the shop itself as we cannot dictate what they charge for their time. So we all have some dealers who charge nothing and some that charge a small fee.
Good response, Chris. Thanks for clearing that up.[up]

[aaron1085]

it'd just be nice to switch programs on the cruise control stalk much like the APR programming...REVO, any input?

[Decayd]

Just got my tuning done by APR yesterday, and I am very happy about it. The power gains are definitely noticeable, yet very smooth. Actually come the think of it, it is smoother than the car was at stock.
Great job APR and Thanks!

By the way, the shop told me that they hadn't done an A4 in about 2 months and that there was a new version of the software they had to download. Does APR release notes on what the different software versions do?