Hey guys I am considering some mods to the vert but don't want to throw money down a hole. Does anyone have any real seat of the pants resultds from one of these things? My past experience with a hypertech chip in a 5.0 mustang and a 90 L98 were less than impressive. In fact I mostly got more spark knock for my money and NO seat of the pants performance increase that I could tell. This new Hypertech devise claims to change shift points on the A4. Why do I need that when I shift it myself? I pick my own shift points or am I not understanding this thing? It also claims to make it shift harder. Does it? The bottom line is this reprogrammer just seems too easy to provide real gains in performance. I hope lots of people will tell me I'm wrong.

 

I just took one OFF my 2001 Tahoe. Because of experience on a truck 10 years ago, and the fact that my Tahoe was designed for regular gas, I really thought I would benefit. I programmed it and raced a friend with an identical Tahoe - bone stock. We ran dead even (several times). I called Hypertech. They told me to get the full effect, I would need a 160 degree thermostat. I did that. Did not race my friend again, but I can tell you I did not feel a difference. I left it on for a year (putting premium gas in it the whole time). Last week I "de-programmed" it. I really can't tell the difference.

So, on a Corvette already running premium fuel and tuned for performance, I can't believe it would do anything unless you are just using it to change shift points or fiirmness - and even then only if you are adjusting for other changes to the car (like a cam to run more rpm's or something like that).

 

I posted essentially the same topic on the test and tunes forum, looks like I got the answer on this forum. I did a search on Hypertech and found several past threads on this subject and NO ONE said it was worth the money. I guess if you wanted to not have to shift it yourself and wanted the rev limiter a little higher (that would be nice), it would be ok, but for $329 plus the $70 for the thermostat, it is a little pricey. Anyone else feel different?

 

just bought it so I could change my fans for the stat and gears in the future. I also lower the speedo to 110 when I leave town :yesnod: I have no complaints it is hard to feel 10hp IMO.

 

I got it just to change the fan on/off points and tire sizes. Anything else would be gravy. I'm not Mr. Mechanic so putting a relay switch in was much cheaper, but heck it's a car that runs by computer so why not use the technology. I haven't had it long enough to tell a performance difference. I've got a 6 speed anyway. So most likely its just a convience item for me, like the window valet and most othe mods.

 

It's a waste of money, I never got anything out of mine. For the same money or close to it, you can have someone near you dyno tune you're car a see the performance gain. JMHO

 

Curt,
This is about as popular as "what headers are the best?". Anyway, here's my .02. Don't know what you're looking for but dyno before and after hypertech and blackwing gave me 12rwhp (w/160 thermo). Stock was 287 before mods and after was 299, same day runs within 2 hours of each other. I like the way is lets me adjust the shift firmess, redline and shift points as well. Paid $200 of the forum for mine.

later,

 

I got my HPP3 off of Ebay for 200 bucks when I had my 98 Transam. When I had it dynoed it only picked me up 3 additional hp from a 292 to a 295rwhp. That was at the time with a catback exhaust and a Whisper Lid. In my opinion if you are looking for some horsepower out of it, dont expect to see much. What is good about it though is that you can have your fans turn on sooner, set your shift points, gear changes, and readjusting your tire size. IMO save up and get that new Predator or LS1 edit.

 

Junk :U Many members have used this in the past and other than changing rear end ratios etc, they may gain or lose hp... :U

 

Hell I bought mine just to change the rear end ratios only to find out I couldn't. Programmer for 97 only offers 273 and 315 rear ends so hypertech was useless to me. I called and bitched that they should have pointed this out somewhere so I would have known before I bought it, they told me tough break and no we can't give you your money back. Anyone interested in one for a 97 make me an offer.

 

It worked for me but I am not a SOTP measurer. Track results is all that count and I was happy with it while I had it. Bought it used sold it used almost a wash.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=89805

 

Dyno results without the HPP III were 296 and with it they were 298. That is within the 1% accuracy limit (+/- 3 HP at 300 Horsepower) of a Dyno Jet so all I can say is it made no difference.
Bill

 

Thanks very much for the honest opinions. It sounds like the car would be faster if I spent the $300 on a wax and detail job :lol: .

 

Ha funny.

I guess my drag strip result was in your eyes either not credible or not relevant.

Glad I could help anyway.

 

It took 2 tenths off my E.T. from playing with shift points and tuning. I'd only recommend it on a A4.

 

No it wasn't that your results weren't credible, it's just that based on the responses to this thread it seems about 10 to 1 against. And I really do appreciate your taking the time to post. Thanks again,
Curt.

 

No problem Curt.

However, I have been on the forum for a long time and find that a lot of times the responses are as you expect, a users perosnal experience. Yet you don't get a full representation because not all users will have seen your post. I go through streaks where I am on the forum 10 hours a day and yet others when I am not on for 10 days.

I usually ask these types of questions not to decide whether to buy or not but rather to get a view of what my expectations might/should/could be and to get a feel for what others have tried with it.

In the hypertech's case, these are always for sale used and can be sold used to the next guy, either because it did not work for someone or because they have moved up to custom tuning. I see the hypertech as very low risk try it kind of thing that you can try for almost no out of pocket because there is a market for it.

Good luck with the mods on your car and maybe we can see you one day a Corvette Challenge near you. Florida would be your closes... http://www.flacorvettechallenge.com

 

 

I will say this...I've read people say it only gave me a 2-4 rhp gain, basically a wash. In fact, that would be about the going rate for increase in horsepower. About $80-100 bucks per horsepower. So in essence, you got what you paid for. Being it cost 4500 to 5000 for a supercharger that may give you 35-50 hp gain. You do the numbers. Just my humble opinion.

 

I have the new III model & have programmed my '02 A4. Here's my real results answer:

Changing the thermostat to run at 160 is a good thing. Heat is the enemy of engines and all things attached...but you don't need a programmer to do this. If you want to change the fans off/on programming however, you do. What's this feature worth? A little bit...$45

I installed the Power performance setting. Can I tell a difference? No. If I did the "blind Pepsi taste test" with the setting on vs. off and I had to tell
you which was which...I couldn't. It's not just not there on my A4. Value of this option? Zero.

You can most certainly feel the shift firmness changes immediately...and you will quickly find your sweet spot. Not too soft...Not too hard kinda' thing. So what's this feature worth? A little bit...$150 maybe.

You can only change axle ratios to 3.15, which after consideration, I would opt to go higher into 3.42 minimum. This programmer can't handle beyond 3.15. So what's this feature worth? In my case nothing.

You change the rev limiter. With all the oil consumption problems seen in prior years models that were "revved too high", seems the risk benefit ratio is steeped to the risky side. Last thing I want is an oil burner and new pistons. Feature worth? Zip.

You change the top speed limiter. In 6 months of ownership, I haven't tested the limit set by GM, and likely never will. What's this worth? Zip.

Lastly, you can change where the auto's shift points occur (only under WOT setting) but unless you're on a track, with measurement tools, and run WOT after WOT, there's no way to assess what you've really done. What's this worth? Maybe somthing nominal if you knew the optimal settings.

Would I take my money back if I offered? Nope. I really like how the car now shifts & feels. I would not want the default squishy setting back. So I paid more than I got out of the device. Attempting to get Springsteen tickets in the front section is gonna cost me $325 a ticket and I need two.

What do the two have in common? I like how they make me feel. IMHO, the best mod going for the money has been my stingers. You enjoy them every time you drive....Hypertech now sits in my trunk cavity & has served it's purpose. But I enjoy a noticeable improvement that has marginally enhanced my driving pleasure.

If you have the right expectations, you will find what you're looking for. If you expect too much, you won't be happy with this one.

Good luck-

:yesnod: :yesnod: