Looking through the Ecklers catalog and ran across the two hand held programmers (Hypertech and Predator). Whats everyones opinion of these? Differences between the two? Are they worth it or better off sticking with a tuner? What does it mean when you can only use one of them once before factory reloading is required? Thanks in advance!

 

They can only be used on one car at a time, they are married to the Vin of the car until you go back to stock. The predator use to cost $75 to unmarry it. I do not know if that is still the case. The HPP3, you just reload it back to stock and it will be reasy for another car.

Also check out the for sale section, they go pretty cheap there. They are like 400 new, you could get one for 1/2 that. Just make sure it is unlocked

 

Stick with the tunner(s) - save your money on those other products (my $0.02)

 

If you don't have a modified engine, then the Predator is worthwhile. They have their own engineering group, electronics group and manufacturing facility. They build the entire unit, even the injection molding of the body and printed circuit boards, in house. Nothing is manufactured in Mexico or China. There is a Dyno on site and their programs are based on the history of thousands of vehicles. They are only available for 2000 and newer Corvettes, however.

I have the Predator and I can tell you it made a pretty big difference, but except for duel cone filters and Magnaflow exhaust, my engine is basically stock. It's nice to have a tuner at your disposal, but it's certainly more convenient for me anyway, to load the stock program back in whenever I take it in for service and then load the trick program back in when I get home. You can do this as many times as you like, as long as it's on the original vehicle. Remember, even something simple like a column lock recall will distroy your trick program. Then it's back to the tuner and more money.

It's true, it's married to the original vehicle and even loading the original program back in won't let you use it on another vehicle. But the diagnostic feature is available to all GM vehicles manufactured after 2000. And you can use that on as many vehicles as you want. This feature alone has more than paid for mine.

To each his own, but IMHO, it's really hard to beat for the money. (Sorry for the long winded reply)

 

Thanks everyone for the valuable input! Nice to be armed with info before making a decision/purchase!