APR TCU upgrade/Downpipes Stage 2 on C7.5 S6/S6

**orlandosk2** · 06-04-2016 03:50 PM

Has anyone done the APR TCU upgrade yet? Is it worth it? How is the launch at 6000RPM?

How are the Downpipes and Stage II? Worth the money from stage 1 to stage 2?

Please include rather or not your drove the car with just stage 1 prior to going to stage 2 or TCU and if the difference was noticeable.

Currently I have the APR stage 1

Anyone have any Quarter Mile and 0-60 times with Stage 1 Vs Stage 2 and with the TCU upgrade on stage 1 and on Stage 2?

**VVG** · 06-04-2016 04:09 PM

I don't know that the TCU upgrade really makes the car any faster, but the subjective driving experience is so much better. The car holds the gears longer --a little more in D and a lot more and S. Manual is also now really manual and doesn't automatically upshift at 5500rpm. I love the TCU upgrade. In fact, just as an experiment, I put the ECU into stock mode and tried driving with the TCU upgrade. It still felt great. Also, with the TCU and ECU upgrades together, throttle lag is almost completely gone. It won't be like the NA engines in the RS5 or R8, but even when you jab the throttle just a little, the car moves without hesitation.

**sonjh81** · 06-05-2016 09:05 AM

I have a stage 2 w/ downpipes. It's much better than stage 1. It's noticeable. btw, I dont have a tcu upgrade yet.

**Avned** · 06-05-2016 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by VVG

I don't know that the TCU upgrade really makes the car any faster, but the subjective driving experience is so much better. The car holds the gears longer --a little more in D and a lot more and S. Manual is also now really manual and doesn't automatically upshift at 5500rpm. I love the TCU upgrade. In fact, just as an experiment, I put the ECU into stock mode and tried driving with the TCU upgrade. It still felt great. Also, with the TCU and ECU upgrades together, throttle lag is almost completely gone. It won't be like the NA engines in the RS5 or R8, but even when you jab the throttle just a little, the car moves without hesitation.

I concur with VVG. The TCU has been a great upgrade for drivability. In addition, which has been a welcome surprise is the mpg improvement. Though, I know most of performance car owners don't really pay attention to efficiency. It's nice when going on an extended trip and pulling great gas mileage. The following picture is what I was able to get with cruise set to 80 with a couple of spirited sprints on the ramps.

**dab** · 06-06-2016 06:35 AM

I don't have downpipes but do have the tcu tune and the car is always is the right gear. It also gets 24 mpg cruising at 90 mph. Haven't tried a 6k launch control, but will be taking it to the drag strip soon.

**def** · 09-08-2016 08:36 PM

Does it make any difference in the shift sound? Would be nice to get those satisfying DSG sounds like the S4....

**gk1** · 09-08-2016 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by def

Does it make any difference in the shift sound? Would be nice to get those satisfying DSG sounds like the S4....

No. The sound isn't a function of the TCU tune. The DSG fart is one of the things I definitely do not miss from the S4.
Also stage I plus street tires wouldn't mix well with a 6k launch. The benefit of the TCU tune is to be able to lower the launch to a more reasonable 3k, 3.5k, 4K. Even on the sticky drag strip, summer performance tires will slip at 4K launch. And 6K plus sticky drag tires is asking for the potential of broken axles. Something's gotta give.

**def** · 09-08-2016 09:08 PM

So even with the more aggressive stage 2 tune and downpipe it doesn't come through? Sucks. From what I can tell in videos there is a bit of a crackle on the downshifts for a bit of character at least.

**wwhan** · 09-08-2016 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by def

So even with the more aggressive stage 2 tune and downpipe it doesn't come through? Sucks. From what I can tell in videos there is a bit of a crackle on the downshifts for a bit of character at least.

The stock 2016 sport exhaust crackles on decel a lot, with the stock tune. Is it louder with the down pipes?

**achan** · 09-09-2016 05:44 AM

Exhaust is going to be louder with APR downpipes, the high flow cat is where the first set of OEM resonators are. I have APR downpipes and suit case resonator delete with non-sport exhaust and it is definitely louder.

**hchan964** · 09-10-2016 06:48 PM

Will the warranty be voided when you do TCU upgrade?

**wwhan** · 09-11-2016 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by achan

Exhaust is going to be louder with APR downpipes, the high flow cat is where the first set of OEM resonators are. I have APR downpipes and suit case resonator delete with non-sport exhaust and it is definitely louder.

It would appear that the AMS downpipes with cats (though more expensive) would be quieter, since they keep the lower part with the resonators. The APR downpipes may flow better though.