Highly agree 👍

 

I’d get it anyways you’d love it. If not Mike from Soler will return all your money no questions asked. One of the best vendors I ever delt with. Mike would definitely take care of you. You won’t regret it. I promise👍

 

I have to ask a dumb question. Using your fictitious example, if you want 35% throttle you have two options. Install a throttle controller and depress the gas peddle 25% OR just depress the gas peddle 35%. What am I missing?

 

had to ask, when you redid the test in sport, same rpm??

 

That's what I thought for two years before I finally bought the Soler TC. Figured I can just mash the gas pedal like everyone says and get the same results. Nope, it's hard to explain the difference unless you experience it yourself. And for the record, I was extremely skeptical. I can tell you I won't be returning or selling mine until I get rid of the car. Can't imagine driving now without it - feels incredibly lethargic and so "ordinary" on the OEM setting.

 

OP here. I've been considering getting a Solar Controller, in spite of what I said earlier, and have a question about it but first I would like to address a couple of the posts above. The concept of the controller reminds me of a small steering wheel that I had in a street legal VW dune buggy. The wheel was a little smaller than a C7 wheel. With it, the car would turn quicker with less input. I loved it and dreaded the day I would have to revert to a regular steering wheel. The small wheel didn't make the car turn sharper or more but it made it much quicker. This was around 1970 when steering wheels were hula hoops. A bigger wheel might be better for more leverage when you are driving train, for example, but unnecessary for easy turning smallish sports cars. That experience helps me understand the concept of the Controller.

Now for my question. How does the Artificial Intelligence setting work? I've read lots of reviews of the controller but none of them mentioned the AI setting. Also, the controller seems real simple and I don't see how it would be capable of AI learning or anticipating.

 

While your premise is basically correct, your conclusion is not necessarily correct. GM's OEM throttle mapping is NOT linear, which is the primary reason many have issues with it. Soler enables drivers to select MORE linear modes which, IMO, make the car drive like it should have from the factory. (For most of us Sport 5 provides the most linear throttle response.) Soler also offers differently non-linear mappings that drivers may want for certain circumstances. One example is the Lock mode/feature. It locks-out throttle input, rendering the car largely undriveable. While not marketed as an anti-theft device, since it COULD be defeated if a thief knew what to look for, had the right tools, and time to remove the Controller, at least some of us see it as another valuable tool in the anti-theft toolbox.

Again, I'd say your premise is basically correct, but it's an overly simplistic explanation of what Soler does. Quicker throttle response is, of course, possible, but Soler does more than simply accelerate throttle response. As I explained above, (at least some of us) prefer throttle response that's more linear than GM's OEM mapping. This requires making some parts of the curve (e.g., off the line, where GM retarded things to make it "easier" for some to drive) quicker and leaving other parts of the curve alone (or less modified), where re-mapping isn't required. The result is a nicely linear throttle response that was notably absent when I bought my car, causing it to "stumble" in certain conditions.

I can't speak to your AI mode question, as I haven't used that capability. According to Soler documentation, however, it allows to the Controller to "learn driving habits and automatically adapt." @Mike@SolerEngr is the best source of info and is usually very good about answering inquiries like this...

 

You guys are looking at the wrong thing here. It's not the ECU, a throttle controller will not solve this. What you're looking at is the transmission being caught with it's pants down and trying to find it's way down the gears. Had it happen to me as well some times. We don't have a DCT or a ZF, just a regular old transmission that will bog down the car when it has to quickly downshift like 3+ gears. It doesn't always happen which is the behavior you're seeing, it's just that in some rare instances you will catch it by surprise and it will struggle to get you into the right gear.

 

You don't even need to remove the gas pedal. I did when I got the first generation controller. When I upgraded to the bluetooth model, I just reached back there and unplugged and reinstalled the new one.

 

I'm sure that I have experienced that but I think the transition from 4cyl to 8cyl is a more common culprit for me. The lag I'm complaining about occurs when I am going about 25 and therefore the car is probably already in second or third gear. Also, I got a Range last week and haven't had the problem since it's been installed even though I've tested it in the same scenario.

I agree the Soler device wouldn't solve this problem but it has merits and seems to be a good value.

 

With all due respect, this theory is applicable to neither M7 cars nor off-the-line stumble many experience with stock throttle mapping. Moreover, while I don't own an A8, I know A8 owners who disagree because a throttle controller solved the issues they experienced with GM's stock throttle mapping.

 

I ordered a Soler Throttle Controller even though I am still skeptical that I will appreciate it. For almost 60 years I have been pushing a little harder and further to accelerate faster/sooner so I don't know what the big deal is but I will give it a try. Part of my willingness to give it a try is I know I have been wrong before, beleive it or knot. :-) Another reason is the 30 day return policy.

The theft prevention mode could be a huge benefit. I live in a low risk area but I may use that feature occasionally.

 

Word of advice: try it on a middle setting first. I'd bet you'll love it. Took me a little time to get used to it with my clutch release and launch but now I can't imagine not having it.

 

@DugT Looking forward to your review as I shared much of your thoughts.

 

For many of us, Sport 5 provides the most linear response, but experiment to see what you like. If you're not happy, resale values tend to be pretty strong, so you should recoup most of your investment with little difficulty.

 

I got a Soler Controller and installed it. Installing was more difficult than I thought it would be, partly because it is a tight area and I'm not small or limber. It was easy enough to detach the cable but I was having trouble getting the Soler cable on so I attempted to remove the pedal. It was easy to get the pedals bolt out but I couldn't get the pedal to budge and gave up. I tried again to install the Soler cable and finally got it on. I was trying to feel where to stick it because I couldn't see and there was no woman to help me. Eventually I got a bright flashlight and that helped a lot.

I set the controller to Sport 5 and drove the car. Acceleration is much more spunky, as I imagined it would be, but it was more easily managed than I thought it would be. It makes the car feel like a much faster car, even though I know it isn't faster, just quicker to respond to the accelerator. It makes the car feel as fast as it looks. I think the controller is an excellent value, especially compared to the price of an even faster car.

I don't get a lot of opportunities to accelerate fast because I only do spirited acceleration on freeway on ramps and when passing cars. I think that accelerating out of turns for me is too gradual to take advantage of the controller. So, I could live without the controller but it makes driving my Corvette even more fun, at least occasionally.

4cyl to 8cyl lag plus downshift lag was a problem. The Range solved my problem of the occasional big 4cyl to 8cyl lag when stomping on the accelerator. Now that the 4cyl to 8cyl lag is gone, I only feel occasionally downshift lag but it is relatively brief and the throttle controller hustles the car up to speed fast enough with or without downshift lag.

I live at 6000' elevation (Tahoe) so my acceleration is slower because of reduced oxygen so the controller might be even more useful me. So, maybe Sport 7 up here feels like Sport 5 at sea level. I tried Sport 7 briefly and it was sportier than 5 but still manageable. It will be interesting to see which setting I settle on after a few weeks.

Was Ludicrous mode inspired by Ludicrous Speed in the Spaceballs movie? For another movie reference, the modes, or at least Ludicrous could go to 11 in the spirit of the movie Spinal Tap.

Thanks everyone for encouraging me to get a Range and a Soler throttle controller!