[Troystg]

As my warranty starts to dwindle down I am starting to research tunes. This will be a running list of tuners and their tuning options for the last generation of Tregs in the US. Please feel free to add others you know of but try to maintain the same format so numbers can be compared easily. If you have a better format (text only) please feel free to recompile the data to the new format and repost.

Below is based on the CNRB engine, no additional hardware or deletes. Feel free to add other engine types and with HW and deletes to a seperate file to make this a reference thread.

APR
Stock 221 HP 406 FT-LBS
Stage 1 300 HP 455 FT-LBS GAIN +61 HP +49 FT-LBS


Unitronic
Stock 240 HP 406 LB-FT
Stage 1 288 HP 511 LB-FT GAIN +48 HP +105 LB-FT


Malone(Tunezilla)
Stock 240 BHP 406 LB-FT
Stage 1 270 BHP 475 LB-FT GAIN +30 BHP +69 LB-FT
Stage 2 305 BHP 490 LB-FT GAIN +65 BHP +84 LB-FT

 

[TurboABA]

Values alone are not enough... you need dyno curves to see how\where these gains are if you want to make the best decision for your optimal gains based on your situation..... but that's only my opinion.

 

[MMMZON]

Agreed 101%, numbers are just numbers, usually peak ones, which speaks nothing of the new curve and behavior of the car with the tune

 

[Troystg]

Please, feel free to put a dyno on this forum..... Otherwise these are the numbers posted by the vendors. Do you have something constructive to add for the common person who can only look at "numbers"?

 

[MMMZON]

We can discuss the update process, which affects such a person. Maybe share personal "feelings" of what the car feels like once tuned. Apart from that, we'd need dyno to really compare numbers

 

[Troystg]

We can discuss the update process, which affects such a person. Maybe share personal "feelings" of what the car feels like once tuned. Apart from that, we'd need dyno to really compare numbers

All three of the above are reputable vendors, chances are those results are after dyno tuning. I don't think they would "guess" when their reputation is at stake.

 

[TurboABA]

I'm not sure I understand your posts....
You asked for which of these we would choose, and the only data point you're looking at is peak numbers.
A few of us have told you that peak numbers don't tell the whole story.

Would you like us to tell you that Malone claims the most TQ and the Unitronic claims the most HP?

Without relevant information, we are just looking at values. Looking at just numbers, I'd pick Unitronic based on significantly more TQ than the others.

Read about AUC in order to understand why just a number, doesn't tell you a whole lot.

Understanding a Dyno Graph. Peak Numbers Aren’t the Whole Story…

Dyno graphs can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Regardless, they are most helpful when used the right way. Here's how to read one the right way.

blog.edgeautosport.com

 

[volkswagens-for-life]

Apr and uni are great with tuning gas powered Volkswagen and Audi but they shouldn't touch a tdi.

There are better options for tdi tuning

Dyno numbers don't mean squat it's all about performance on the road

Manufacturers lie about dyno all the time. That's why they always have small lettering that says something to the affect 'capable of x numbers' etc

 

[MMMZON]

Manufacturers lie about dyno all the time. That's why they always have small lettering that says something to the affect 'capable of x numbers' etc

Yep, numbers are nice, but at the end of the day it is a very much personal issue as to how one perceives the new power curve after the tune. I am not gunning for just raw power, I do not plan to race, but getting more torque and smoother switching between gears is the thing for me.

 

[volkswagens-for-life]

Yep, numbers are nice, but at the end of the day it is a very much personal issue as to how one perceives the new power curve after the tune. I am not gunning for just raw power, I do not plan to race, but getting more torque and smoother switching between gears is the thing for me.

Exactly. Hell I would rather have 100 horsepower less but have a faster 0 to 60, faster 1/4 mile, and tow better. Raw horsepower numbers just simply do not matter.

 

[MMMZON]

LOL, that is the thing for some people. Burn rubber from get go, smoke, noise, etc. That gets old very quickly. I'm in the same bucket @volkswagens-for-life, better towing and smoother ride with better acceleration is all I ask from a tune.

 

[Troystg]

This post was started to get a running list of tuners and what their claims are (in numbers). That's it. It was not started to debate dynos or testing procedures. The only opinion requested was which one you would choose. Please feel free to pick your favorite option in the poll or suggest another.

 

[TurboABA]

Voted for Other

 

[Troystg]

Voted for Other

Which other would you like added? Only restriction is it has to be publicly available and repeatable.

 

[volkswagens-for-life]

There are many different reasons to choose many different tuners. You haven't specified what your goal is. If inflated peak horsepower numbers are your game then just look up every tuner around and make your decision. For the rest of us there's a lot more to it than that and we can't give you an accurate input without knowing what your goal is. there is absolutely a horsepower cap based on stock turbo, fuel injectors, injection pump, exhaust system etc. Every single tuner on the market is probably capable of maxing out the stock system, but again that means nothing. There's a lot more to building a car than just peak numbers.

 

[ToolmanJohn]

I voted for Unitronic, but I don't have a tune (yet). My vote is based upon availability (three TDI capable shops in my state that do tunes using them). If others Club Touareg members voted for OTHER, it would be great to know what OTHER is. I think the three in the poll are three of the four I have heard of. I have heard of Unitronic, Malone, APR, and also Kerma?? If there are indeed OTHER (not remote independents who are inaccessible) it would be nice to know what the others are. Please share.

 

[zambony]

I went with Malone stage 2 and I am pleased I went with it. If you want to delete the DPF, you can upgrade later for 250+100$. I don’t think the other tuner offer that option.

The claim HP is almost irrelevant. You'll max out the turbo anyway; whatever what are the HP claim.

 

[TurboABA]

@ToolmanJohn
My vague vote and post was made that way on purpose.... to coincide with this vague topic\discussion which is only intended to compare vendors claims.....

Also, since the "other" category is "winning", I will jump to the conclusion that other users have picked up on the irony\sarcasm involved.

 

[Troystg]

@ToolmanJohn
My vague vote and post was made that way on purpose.... to coincide with this vague topic\discussion which is only intended to compare vendors claims.....

Also, since the "other" category is "winning", I will jump to the conclusion that other users have picked up on the irony\sarcasm involved.

This post was made to DISCUSS vendors so new customers could make an informed decision when buying a tune. The others category was intended for additional inputs to the discussion. Voting other and not adding an alternate product shows one's ability for thought.

 

[tdimark69]

do not go with jrauto tuning....absolute crap and crooks