rogan01

2012 GT Automatic. Stock. I know a tune + CAI is the best mod bang for buck/hp gain first mod.

What could I expect if I just got an SCT tuner and custom tune (e.g., Brenspeed/Bama) with the stock intake vs a performance CAI? Performance wise and hp wise...

I know I would have to get new tunes if/when I got a Steeda/JLT/C&I CAI for example later on but besides that, would I be able to change shift points, speed limiter, improved throttle, etc...?

Any down sides? Asking this for a reason...

TRexGAWD

You would see a gain with a 93 tune, as well as shift points changed, improved throttle response, etc.. It would feel much better.

Entaille

the performance gains and changes are 90%+ tune. stock intake is absolutely fine.

yes, you'd be able to have all of that modified in a tune.

mapitts

I ran custom tunes on a 2010 F150 all stock. It was a 93 octane tow / haul tune. Day and night difference between the the tune and stock. Like the two posters above me, 90% of the gain is in the tune. The CAI just provides more volume of air to further enhance the tune. I guess that it allows them to tweak it just a little more with a CAI over the stock air box. For some interesting reading on the stock air vs. a CAI in CFM go to C & L Performance's website.

Nuke

It's always better to do a stand-alone tune than a stand-alone CAI; the tune is the bulk of the performance gain. You can always get the CAI later along with an updated tune for the additional (minor) RWHP.

kevinmalec

+1 on 90% of the performance gain is from the custom tune. Also, if you decide to purchase a CAI (from same company you ordered the tuner) in the future, you can order new custom tunes to support the CAI for FREE and have them emailed to you. You can upload the new custom tunes onto your SCT hand held tuner and then upload to your car.

moosestang

Definitely worth it even without a CAI. Just get a tune from americanmuscle.com or brenspeed and then buy the intake later if you want. They will update the tune for free.

AMDanBailer

I agree that a CAI/Tune is definitely the best bank for the buck. However you'll still see huge gains in Power, performance, Acceleration, Shift points, Drive ability etc.. from just the tuner it's self. The CAI is definitely a great mod to free up some air and will pick up power, but you can do it later if you're on a budget. A great benefit from ordering with Bama is our free tunes for life program. When you add your next modification all you have to do is his us up and we'll send you over a revised file within a few hours!

For every Bama Tune we ask you 19 questions about your specific Mustang, including your unique mods and style of driving. This info helps us write custom tunes from the ground-up for your Mustang's mods that will give you the most horsepower that we can safely deliver. We're also constantly developing our tunes! Between our 14 different Project Mustangs and tons of street/track and dyno testing (on our in-house Dynojet 224xLC), we're looking for any minor tweaks to be made that can benefit you guys. We're also part of Fords Technology Transfer Program & Work very closely with Ford to insure that all of our tunes are perfect!

Here's a list of how the three tunes are written!

Street (87-93 octane) - The street tune is designed as a daily driver program that focuses on increasing mid-range power. Automatic vehicles are further enhanced by making adjustments to the transmission's shift points and firmness.

Performance (87-93 octane) - The Performance program is designed to add power at 3000 RPMs and higher, focusing more on the top end horsepower and all out performance driving. Timing, fuel and throttle response settings are slightly more aggressive than the street tune. This is a great track tune but also works well for daily drivers that are looking for a little more "get up and go" than the street tune. The automatic transmission settings are the same as in the street tune.

Race (91 - 93 octane) - The race tune will ensure the largest increase in vehicle performance. Using the highest grade of fuel available in your area is mandatory. This file is designed for "Race Use Only", as the timing, fuel, and throttle response settings are very aggressive. It is so aggressive that we do not recommend it for daily driving as it may cause your vehicle to try to jump out from a stop and easily spin the tires. On automatics, we implement entirely new shift points and firmness settings to further enhance the all-out performance of the vehicle.

This is just the beginning of what Bama has to offer you. Let me know if you ever have any questions or need some assistance! Our Bama Performance tuning specialists are here in the building Monday-Friday from 9AM-5:30PM EST and Saturday 9AM-5:30PM EST. You can hit them up directly at 888.226.9764 and they'll get you squared away!

-Dan

rogan01

Wow! Thanks to all for the great feedback. definitely will help from a $ perspective to do it one at a time. Excellent feedback from AM (as expected)... Free tunes as you mod your car? Can't beat that!

No brainer now and excited to go. Thanks also for the site reference. Have had 5 Mustang GTs since 2004 and never modded or tuned - was afraid of "side effects" and warranty problems (unfounded concerns I am sure) and all had good enough performance for me.

Now with my first automatic, I want to get the most performance/responsiveness out of it and the tune seems like it will do that.

btw - No regrets on the auto yet and have been taking it easy. Miss the manual mostly in situations where I am in 6th gear and need to accelerate quickly to pass or merge. With the manual I would shift to 4th but the auto seems to shift to 5th first then 4th (or 3rd) - not sure - depending on how much I depress the throttle. Will an auto shift directly from 6th to 4th in any cases? If so, how?