Vtuner for RS, any impresions? recomendations?

[nirr]

hello everyone,

i am new to these forum, but i have been reading alot for the past time.

been own a 2014 sonic RS, since may.
after a quick 2500 miles on the car, just ordered an intake, and i am on the hunt for a tune.

seen a-lot of recomendations on the trifecta, but i still very intersting about the Vtuner, as i can reflash the tune back to stock when i needed.

just wanted to know if someone from this forum has it? for how long? any suggestions? recomendations etc'.

my original plan was to get a custum tune at a local tuner, but lack of his knowladge with this specific car sent me online to search, and the idea of the handheld unit you can control on your own was charming.

so any info about the Vtuner, or any proven likes will be appriciate.

thanks for your help in advance..

nir

 

[Larrymer]

Find a local tuner that has experience tuning GM vehicles and boosted vehicles. Start calling shops and asking questions. From what I've seen that's available, this is the far and away the best option.

If you don't plan on doing any more mods, just get trifecta's budget tune and be on your way. You can still flash back to stock with their programming, too.

 

[Swordsmith]

Find a local tuner that has experience tuning GM vehicles and boosted vehicles. Start calling shops and asking questions. From what I've seen that's available, this is the far and away the best option.

If you don't plan on doing any more mods, just get trifecta's budget tune and be on your way. You can still flash back to stock with their programming, too.

I may have misread the OP, I thought he was saying he was willing to accept VTuner, instead of Trifecta, because although Trifecta has select-a-tune that can give him stock on the fly, while VTuner does not, that's ok, as he will just flash back as needed.

Your take makes sense as well.

On your first point, though, I have not seen anyone on this forum touting local tuning. I don't know anything about how much it would cost, how to find a good one, what features they will have versus the nationwide tuners. I get that they will be able to dial in easily... but both Trifecta and VTuner say that they can do the same thing if you hook up live with them while you are on a dyno... and they have a lot more experience with a Sonic than any local guy will. What makes you think that is the best option?

 

[rdss]

VTuner's has a continued reputation of having bad customer service, anyone that has done business with him except one person seems to get the run around once they purchase a product from him. If you're looking for just a tune and maybe some support down the road and a hand held tuner is something that's high on your list it might be for you. Personally I would wait for the Diablosport inTune or Trinity (much more expensive but has a lot more features) to get 1.4t support if it hasn't already and go that route.

 

[laborsmith]

Actually my impression is just the opposite but Brian has been clear he does not like aftermarket short ram intakes. I remember reading that he would no longer tune them. I recall Vince Geglia (Trifecta) stopped trying to tune home made intakes.


Laborsmith

 

[Swordsmith]

I have had VTuner for about 8 months, at this point I am at 36 data logs and am still getting rapid turnaround with answers and help, and have not received any further request for additional payments.

I also like the tuner better than the Trifecta setup; Trifecta sells you a special flash cable which connects you to your laptop, and you use that to flash tunes and to get datalogs, read and clear codes and that is it. The EFI tuner VT sends you is a separate handheld unit, so you don't have to juggle a laptop in the car, and the EFI software included lets you read the datalogs yourself. If I wasn't so ignorant of cars and tuning this would be a great improvement over the Trifecta setup.

 

[Larrymer]

What makes you think that is the best option?

All the BS I read on here about Trifecta and Vtuner having terrible turn around times and the total lack of transparency in what they're doing, mostly. I understand that they don't want to disclose everything about their product because of competition. I personally would like to know what they're doing and why, though. A local place that tunes with HP Tuners can get you set up for probably about the same price as the "full tune" and it's perfectly tailored to your car instead of a "one size fits all" tune.

The reason most people probably don't do this is that going with the others is much easier, and if you're doing the budget tune, cheaper. Dyno time isn't cheap.

 

[nirr]

thank you all for your info.

i think i might not been to clear on my first post.

my initial desire was to go to make a custum tune at a local tuner.
but lack of knolage with this car, made me go and look for a "mail tune"
in my region, the majoraty of the tunes cars are from VAG or japanise..

for the " mail tune" my attention was with the Vtuner, as the hand-held unit from the EFI was looked better option , insted of the trifecta.

i ordered a cold air intaake from CXracing, and after reading alot from here and also from the cruse forum, i understand there some issues with that.

just wanted to get your impressions or any suggestions concern the Vtuner, and that issue aswell.

adittionaly. if someone have differnt proven tunes, it's also can be helpfull.
i noticed the diablosport, will look on that also.

thanks again for your help

nir

 

[nirr]

any help?..

 

[laborsmith]

I was aware of VTuner but because of my long time following Corvette and Camaro forums went with Trifecta when the Sonic came out. VTuner does not have a history tuning either. My Trifecta tune for the Sonic LT was purchased dring one of their sales before the vehicle itself was even assembled. I stayed with Trifecta when I got the RS
for no other reason than I already had the cable so did not need to wait for a sale, which have not occurred for a long time.

That said, if VTuner was willing to work with my ZZP intake (no insert) and I was not already Trifecta, I would seriously consider VTuner for the very reason Swordsmith offered: the EFILive handheld would be easier to handle IN THE CAR than the ultra light netbooks I tend to use.


Laborsmith