any one out there that has a chuck cow tune on a stock c5 a/4, let me know what you think I'm trying to compare cow's and ecs mail order tunes.. thanks....Also if anyone has tried both, please pm me with your comments do not place them on the board as i do not want to start any conflict. thanks....

 

I can't speak for ECS, But I have to say the Chuck CoW tune turned my car into a new beast, The throttle response is fantastic, It shifts like it should, No CEL at all and best of all Chuck is always available to answer questions.
With my tune my car does things I didn't know was possible.
And he ships over night.... Sent mine on a Monday had it back Thursday and installed.
Bill

 

ECS for me

Highly recommend Chris and the guys at ECS

 

I'll be watching this thread very closely. I'm about half a tick away from pulling the trigger on this. But I'd like to actually ride in a COW-tuned C5Z.

 

Both are top notch

 

I've been a lurker here for a while, gathering info for my LS3 (2010 Camaro)...felt like I needed to chime in here.

Chuck is top notch. He recently tuned my car...it feels like a totally different car now, throttle response is amazing compared to stock. A very noticeable power improvement. $$$ well spent.

I have to say I'm very impressed with Chuck's knowledge and patience/attention to detail to get the car tuned perfectly. This is the guy you want tuning YOUR car.

 

I have a 2001 LS1 Coupe A4.

Sent my PCM to Chuck last week and I re-installed it day before yesterday. Only had time to drive it about 15 miles so far, but it is much more responsive than it has been the past 9 years and if you get on it, it "leaps" into 2nd gear! Can't believe I put this off for so long!!!

My initial reaction is MONEY WELL SPENT and Chuck is very good about communicating even after the work is done. This is the best money I have spent "performance-wise" on this Corvette since I want to keep the drive train close to stock on this one.

JUST DO IT!

 

Simply said:
Chuck is the BEST!

 

Doug @ ECS without a doubt. Give him a call.

(609) 752-0321

Doug understands every aspect of tuning a corvette in to a reliable daily if need be while putting more power in to the car. Understanding all the tables that make a tune worth a **** is what he does best and I wouldn't take my car anywhere else.

 

with the dingo

 

Same here. I'm reading alot of great things on the A4's. I'd like to hear more from the Z06 crowd too.

 

If anybody around me wants a ride in a car tuned by Doug @ ECS, I would be happy to.

Bring a diaper

 

Chris and Doug at ECS are very good friends and they tune exceptionally well. Ive used ECS in the past and have no complaints.

My wife actually scheduled her own tune with Chuck and I was skeptical at first. Once I met Chuck and experienced his tuning knowledge, I was amazed. His shop is amazing, and his technicians treated my car like it was theirs.

I was most impressed by Chucks knowledge. He explained EVERYTHING that he was doing and if you could absorb it all, you could become a TUNER! He doesn't hide anything and doesn't lock the PCM (ECS doesn't lock theirs either)

I installed ARH style headers, VARARAM, home ported TB and a 160 degree thermostat on my wifes 06 C6 Coupe. There was a performance increase but my part throttle performance and Fuel Economy sucked.
I had the car dynoed and was shocked with what the dyno graph showed me. Long Term Fuel Trims were horrible.
It only made 365 HP and 365 ft/lbs Tq. I was expecting at least 380 and more like 390. There was significant knock retard at 5000 - 5500 rpm, the car was pig rich above 5000 rpm and got richer as it climbed in RPM. Fuel economy SUCKED! The best I could muster on the highway was 26 MPG and that was driving like grandma.

Chucks tune had an IMMEDIATE seat of the pants improvement! Throttle response is phenomenal, it has significant more power ( have not had an opportunity to revisit the dyno) and we got 28 MPG on the way home from NY to CT and we were driving it HARD!

It was difficult not to play HARD. When the wife jumped on it entering the highway on ramp, she said "HOLY S&@. " Its difficult to impress her so, there was some significant improvement in performance!!!

I know its not a C5 A4 but, if you could see Chucks shop and his transmission rebuild area (yep, he rebuilds and repairs transmissions too) you would appreciate his knowledge on your A4 and what he can do to it thru tuning.

Our C6 runs and performs so much better. I've owned two C5's (98 6 speed coupe, 02 ZO6) and a C6 Z51 6 speed coupe. Ive had quite a few people tune each vehicle and I have to say, Ive been most impressed with Chucks results and professionalism. I need to see what he can do to improve my 02 ZO6. It makes 450 RWHP now!!

My money is on Chuck!

Bill Curlee

 

I'm about to send away the PCM on my dad's car to the guys at ECS. They seem to know what they are doing, plus I have a gift certificate, that certainly helps.

Not knocking Chuck, he seems to be on top of his game as well.

I don't think there has been anyone on the forum that has said anything bad about either of them.

You are in good hands either way.

 

You are in good hands either way.[/QUOTE]


Ive had MANY tuners adjust my PCM. It comes down to who has the BEST after the tune service! If you think your tune isnt correct, Chuck is there for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I had my 98 a4 tuned by chuck. We did the Vararam and a CLB at the same time. His tuning expertise is second to none! After about a half dozen runs and tweaks he was happy with the results. When it came my turn to drive he warned me to be careful on the gas pedal. WOW!!!
It was like a hair trigger. The throttle response was more than I'd expected. Even my wife commented on it. A few of the vette owners at work swore we had put gears in it. Thats how much of a difference there was after the tune!
I eventually wanted to put 3:42's in it and came to the forum here to find out who was happy with this upgrade. I found another gentlemen who had the gear change and tune by one of the other famous vendors here on the forum. He had told me after several trips back to the tuner the car was still a dog out of the hole and was told he needed a stall to make it right.
Well, they didn't get it right and the car ended up at Chucks for a retune, no stall and after COW the car ran awesome.
I decided on more upgades and naturally went to chuck.
I had Baer rotors and Hawk pads, Vararam Power duct, 342:s, a Protorque 2400 stall, a set of 1 3/4 American racing headers, z06 titanium mufflers and a tunnel blanket! Even got a retune for ZERO dollars! All I can say is this guy REALLY know his stuff!
I figured with the gear change and the stall I would lose 2 or 3 mpg but ended up getting even better mileage than before! How's he do that?
Hows the car run? ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!!!! Very streetable, VERY quick! Pulls like a bandit! My money is on the COW!!!!! Its a good drive for me up to chucks place, been up there quite a few times and would not consider taking my car anyplace else. You wont be dissapointed. Chuck is the MAN!

 

I can't speak about ECS as I haven't had any experience with them. I can share my experience with COW , My car had a COW tune done. Chuck spent @ 5 hours and countless runs on the car to get the tune spot on. The car runs fantastic with seamless power while retaining great drivability. Do I think it is worth it , you bet.

Did I mention that I love a good tune ? Nothing like it.

 

Both of them are top notch.

I have ECS's tune and love it.

I've done business with Chuck.

I can't really say who to go to as I like them both!

 

No question Chuck will give you a great tune, with or without mods. And he'll continue to tweak it as you add mods down the road. I highly recommend his tune.

 

I remember many years ago when I had my C5 with the auto tranny and sadly after buying the car I kept kicking myself for not buying a stick shift...I just was not impressed at all. Well let me tell you, after Chuck got done tuning my A4 he convinced me to never buy a manual again. It completely tranformed the car. It held the gears longer, the delay in between shifts was eliminated and the car just had much more power overall...it completely transformed the car to say the least. Plus Chuck and I spent hours driving the car and we did not stop until all the parameters were spot on and I was happy. Also all re-tunes through Chuck are free. Say you want to add headers or other modifications, well your are going to need a re-tune and with Chuck it will be free. Can't go wrong with Chuck IMO.