CAI and Tune, REALLY?
03-04-2009, 08:43 PM
#22
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location:
Posts: 1,606
Just watch some videos on Youtube. I'm no expert on S197 GT's but I have beaten them with my car. Then I saw videos of one's that had octane and transmission tunes (and usually gears) that would blow my doors off bigtime. For $650 it seems like money well spent. I was pleased at how I did against stock ones. The videos showed me to stay away from tuned ones until I have a little more in my arsenal. Look for vids that show in car footage from 0-120mph, you'll see and hear the difference...
Last edited by Baddog; 03-04-2009 at 08:46 PM.
03-04-2009, 08:58 PM
#23
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The High Country
Posts: 3,547
Just watch some videos on Youtube. I'm no expert on S197 GT's but I have beaten them with my car. Then I saw videos of one's that had octane and transmission tunes (and usually gears) that would blow my doors off bigtime. For $650 it seems like money well spent. I was pleased at how I did against stock ones. The videos showed me to stay away from tuned ones until I have a little more in my arsenal. Look for vids that show in car footage from 0-120mph, you'll see and hear the difference...
I'm thinking for us 3.31 guys, a set of gears might be the best bang for the buck.
03-04-2009, 09:06 PM
#24
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location:
Posts: 1,606
I'd agree...although what's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. 4.10's turn your car into something great, in my car not so much...but yes gears + intake and tune FTW.
Last edited by Baddog; 03-04-2009 at 09:10 PM.
03-05-2009, 07:38 AM
#25
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The High Country
Posts: 3,547
It's a trade off no matter what you do. Back when gas was approaching $5 a gallon, folks were crying at the pumps when they had to pay for higher octane. The gears will hurt your fuel economy if you are concerned about that for a long haul daily driver, but allow for useage of 87 octane. Gears may actually help mpgs in a stop and go city commute. If I threw all concerns out the window, I'd have both.
03-05-2009, 12:41 PM
#27
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 290
The CAI and tuner will completely revamp your car. Even if you plan on going F.I. later you will need a tuner for that and most will give a discount if you already have your own. The power/torque/throttle response is felt throughout the power band.
What I noticed most was the change in drivability, the car feels far more refined. My best decription of what the CAI/Tuner did for my s197: it made her better to drive. Period.
Steeda CAI w/. Xcal2 from Brenspeed
What I noticed most was the change in drivability, the car feels far more refined. My best decription of what the CAI/Tuner did for my s197: it made her better to drive. Period.
Steeda CAI w/. Xcal2 from Brenspeed
03-06-2009, 11:53 AM
#30
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 72
Just received my CAI & tuner from Brenspeed yesterday (I went with the Steeda CAI). Unfortunately I have to wait till tomorrow to install. I contacted them while I was on the road earlier this week and their customer service was everything you could hope for. I talked with them late Tuesday afternoon and they got my information so they could load the tunes and ship it out on Wednesday. I got back from my business trip last night (Thursday) and saw the package waiting for me in the house. I dealt with Dave and he went above and beyond anything that I would expect. I will post what my impressions are after the install. The only thing that sucks is it's supposed to rain all weekend up here in the Chicago area so I don't expect to be able to do a WOT test until Monday when the weather is supposed to improve. Next mod is definitely gears, the 3.31's have gotta go. I do travel a fair amount (lots of highway time) so I'm debating on whether to go with the 4.10's or go with the 3.90's. Any suggestions?