hypertech?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
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From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Do you have any mods? If so a dyno tune would benefit you better than a programmer and most likely cost you less.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: Newhall CA
Also, if you're not gonna run different programs for different fuels/combinations, etc., then a one-time dyno-tune will net better results and be more cost effective than DIY tuning.
DIY tuning can be done reasonably well using a G-Tech, but nothing beats a dyno-tune by someone who is very experienced.
- Colby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Have a dyno tune --or if you are a tinkerer then buy a full tuner and do it yourself--HP Tuners or EFILIVE--A handheld can only change maybe 8-10 items and has generic pre programed timing & fuel curves
I see you are in Calif---The hypertech's best engine tune is set up for 93 octane gas and here we only have 91--so it's useless as it pings badly--Cost of a handheld is arounf $450 these days but you can get a full tuner for around $700 and have the ability to change ALL 450 tables
Dyno tunes vary but usually run from $ 3-500--A good way to go if you don't plan any more mods or if you aren't interested in tinkering and learning it yourself---Just have them do some part-throttle tuning as well rather than just set the WOT parameters
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Actually, if you have an A4 (you didn't fill your Profile out, so there's no way to tell model year or transmission) the Hypertech can be very cost-effective if you can find a used one for $120-$150. The C5 Parts section usually has a few for sale. Just make absolutely sure that the prior car was returned back to stock with it, before you buy it otherwise it will not work on your car as it will store only one VIN at a time. When you move into serious modding and are finished with it, you should be able can resell it for about what you paid for it. The Hypertech will change shift firmness, mph shift points, fan settings, rev limiter and a few other things. I don't think the power programing part is worth much, but the other stuff is useful. A dyno tune will cost between $400-500 and won't do much more than the Hypertech that you will be able to feel, on a stock car, so might as well go the cheaper direction until you start serious modding at which time a dyno tune can really help you out. 
Ed
Ed
