GIAC stage 1 to start

[usjwes85]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a 14 S5 and I am looking to get a little more out of it. I did the search and read a bunch of the reviews on going stage 1 vs going full on stage 2 but I think I want to just start with 1. My local dealer is offering 10% of of the tune vs the $1300 for APR so I was thinking of going for GIAC to start. I know I can get the pulley and go from there later too. I was wondering if anyone knows the cost of the upgrade to stage 2 with them? I know with APR if you buy the pulley the tune is free and I can get the pulley installed on my end but I am not sure if that means the tune then isn't free or how it works with GIAC. Anyone with insight I would greatly appreciate it. I would plan on upgrading to stage 2 but not just yet. The dealer also talked with me about the DSG tune but I think I am going to stay away from that for now. Any thoughts?

Thanks for any advise!

[doug97gxe]

most if not all the Tuners Stage 2 is pulley + Stage 2 tune ... you are paying for both in the Stage 2 package .. so when you upgrade from Stage 1 you're upgrade price is for Stage 2 package not the tune only.. don't think of the pulley as free.. its a package .. I know EPL allows you to separate the two but i'm not sure about the other tuners

[usjwes85]

Thanks for the repy, That is kind of what I meant but didn't say it correctly. If I bought the APR pulley the tune file is included with the price no? I know pulley install would be a separate matter though. So if and when I am ready to go to stage 2, if I go with the GIAC pulley I assume they will sell them together as "stage 2" with the pulley and the tune togehter? One last questions. If I am planing on getting possibly the APR intake in the future would it make more sense to maybe go with that tune then instead to keep it all under 1 brand of tuner?

[LordMagnet]

Thanks for the repy, That is kind of what I meant but didn't say it correctly. If I bought the APR pulley the tune file is included with the price no? I know pulley install would be a separate matter though. So if and when I am ready to go to stage 2, if I go with the GIAC pulley I assume they will sell them together as "stage 2" with the pulley and the tune togehter? One last questions. If I am planing on getting possibly the APR intake in the future would it make more sense to maybe go with that tune then instead to keep it all under 1 brand of tuner?

If you buy the APR pulley the tune is included free only under the condition you already have the stage 1 tune. If not, you'll have to pay stage 1 price + pulley if you want stage 2.

I don't know a lot about GIAC other than people on here seem to be happy with their tunes. A visit to their website shows they use the AWE pulley kit. A visit to AWE shows going stock to stage 2 @ $1,849 and stage 1 to stage 2 @ $895. Both packages include pulley + tune:

"The AWE Tuning Stage 2 Performance Pulley suite is available as:

AWE Tuning Stage 2 Performance Pulley Kit - Includes AWE Tuning 3.0T Performance Pulley (Pulley, Belt, Related Hardware, no tool) and G.I.A.C. Stage 2 Performance Software, as well as a handheld switcher.
AWE Tuning Stage 2 Upgrade - Includes AWE Tuning 3.0T Performance Pulley (Pulley, Belt, Related Hardware, no tool) and G.I.A.C. Stage 2 Performance Software for those who already have G.I.A.C. 3.0T Stage 1 Performance Software. Does not include handheld switcher.
AWE Tuning 3.0T Pulley Removal Tool – Just the tool itself. Pulley and Software not included.
G.I.A.C. DSG DL501 S-Tronic Software – A highly recommended addition for all S-Tronic equipped cars.

The Fully Loaded Stage 2 Software

[blah blah]

Software cannot be purchased separately from the Performance Pulley."

You don't need to match intake and tune brands, any will work. I love APR's tune, but I had no need for all that carbon fiber on their intake and a bigger hole in my wallet.

[mopaNi]

What do you mean dealer? Performance shop? Surely Audi doesn't sell tunes right?

[usjwes85]

Thank you. I didn't realize it was from AWE!

Edit: By dealer I meant a dealer for the tune, like when you go onto a tuners website and it says "dealer" locator. Didn't mean to confuse with terminology. In my town there is only one vendor or dealer for either APR or GIAC and it is the same one.