This may be a bit off topic but I just have to post this here. From the latest issue of Grassroots Motorsports, they have an article about the SRT-4. Mopar is offering a kit that boosts HP from 215 to 240 w/ 15 extra torque. It includes 4 larger injectors and a power control module(chip). Retail: 399. So for half the price we pay, they get 4 injectors and a chip and more HP. I don't know what the solution is here, but it makes :smile:

 

>>This may be a bit off topic but I just have to post this here. From the latest issue of Grassroots Motorsports, they have an article about the SRT-4. Mopar is offering a kit that boosts HP from 215 to 240 w/ 15 extra torque. It includes 4 larger injectors and a power control module(chip). Retail: 399. So for half the price we pay, they get 4 injectors and a chip and more HP. I don't know what the solution is here, but it makes :smile:

Ouughhh!
You'd have to pay me to drive a Neon, let alone upgrade it for any amount of money. I just had a Dodge Neon AKA the Anti-MINI while my MINI was being worked on. I think they did that on purpose to make me appreciate what I have in teh MINI, and boy do I ever....
The Dodge was horrible, horrible, horrible to drive. Of all the cars I have driven, owned or rented, this was the second worst car. The very worst was a GMC Jimmy.

If SRT owners could an extra 100 hp for 10$$ I wouldn't care.

 

I think ECU upgrades are overpriced becuase these people pay it. Just wait, I bet it will become more reasonable.... especially after everyone Upgrades from version 1.0 to *NOW*, $$$$$ later, and a few kicks to their own asses!

there are 4 or 5 ECU options in SOCal alone, I spoke to a guy who does all EURO ECU's and he scoffed at the prices I told him... I bet he'll have something real soon, real reasonably priced too.

Patience... Patience.

 

One of my friends did some fuel system work for the Neon turbo upgrade. Mopar makes a 300hp kit also. You may not like the neon but Fast is Fast!!!!

 

Greetings,
No disrespect to our vendors and other tuners but I also think ECU upgrades are way too expensive at $700 + . I would already have the upgrade if it were in the $300 to $400 range. Seems as if part of the problem, and the reason than I haven't jumped yet, is that improvements and different versions keep popping up every month. Claims for the newer versions keep climbing,
I'm willing to bet that more MINIphyles would upgrade because thereare more of us that SRT owners. If Dodge can do it for $399 at their potention volume we should be able to do it for $299 based on a greater volume. I hope some savy tuner hears this and believes in the old addage: Do for the masses and you'll eat with the classes. A repurtable guy could make some serious ECU $$$$.
Who's listening ??
Best Regards,
Ron

 

Jim Conforti of BMW Tuning fame now has the Shark injector available for MCS at both Eurosport
and Turner for $399. You can switch between stock and remapped ECU at will. josh@eurosporthighperformance.com can provide dyno curves for an MCS with pulley and CAI upgrades. Those with MCS no longer have to wait. Unfortunately, there isn't a shark injector for an MC (sob).

 

I'm listening!

I actually was the reason that Powerchip came down from their original price of $840 to $690. I wish I had more pull in the marketing department, but really I don't.

I will be testing the AmD, and hopefully the GIAC soon. The AmD is $499, and the GIAC had been touted in that same range.

We can only hope that the price war won't degrade the quality of research, since as you said it is still a new market. The issue with trying to drop the price straight away is the recovery cost, and in turn, the willingness of a company to invest in the R&D side. I know all about volume making up for it, but I am sharing a bit of what I hear from the developers.

I'll continue to talk with Powerchip and EVOTech about pricing, but I would wait until all of the options are out ther and developed. We don't want to push too hard until the full potential has been reached. I would like to see the 4 position switch and the programs to go with them. I would also like to see what else we can develop in the "stumble" and "yo-yo" realm. That all takes time and money.

I hope that helps. I also entertain any and all suggestions and input.

Randy

 

Randy, I'm confused. You said you want to see the 4 position switch and the maps that go with them. I thought you were working on those? Or are you working on the GIAC one? Or the EVOtech?

 

>>Greetings,
>>No disrespect to our vendors and other tuners but I also think ECU upgrades are way too expensive at $700 + . I would already have the upgrade if it were in the $300 to $400 range. Seems as if part of the problem, and the reason than I haven't jumped yet, is that improvements and different versions keep popping up every month. Claims for the newer versions keep climbing,
>>I'm willing to bet that more MINIphyles would upgrade because thereare more of us that SRT owners. If Dodge can do it for $399 at their potention volume we should be able to do it for $299 based on a greater volume. I hope some savy tuner hears this and believes in the old addage: Do for the masses and you'll eat with the classes. A repurtable guy could make some serious ECU $$$$.
>>Who's listening ??
>>Best Regards,
>>Ron
>>

Well said Ron...I agree with you 100%. Wish I had the know how to do the ECU upgrading and you bet I would be selling it for alot less then what some are selling it for now. You would think that the marketing people that are able to do the ECU upgrade would want the price lowered so more people could afford it. The cheaper it is the more the would sell and the more money they would make. After all its just a computer program. Nothing to manufactor. I just don't get it even with Randy's explaination.

 

We already have the two posistion switch and the four posistion switch will be coming. The programs are what need to be developed - and that will require Jesse from Powerchip to fly out here and rent the track, do some laps with the real time ECU analysis wired up to the car while we use 100 octane race fuel, then check it all out on the dyno as well. That costs money.

For what it's worth, here are some other prices for programming:

Powerchip Group

Porsche Boxster S $990
BMW M5 $990
MINI (Webb Motorsports version) $690

EVOTech

Mercedes C43 $1995
Mercedes E320 $1595
MINI $720


I know it seems expensive, but it really is all relative.

Randy

 

Randy has been quite proactive on this front!

Actually, when we last chatted a week or so ago, you (Randy) had made mention that EVOTech was making some inroads with an upgrade. You were provided some promising information, but had not heard back from them on some questions that you had.

Anything further?

 

Randy,

Any chance you are going to test the Shark injector that is currently being sold by Turner and Eurosport?

 

>>The Dodge was horrible, horrible, horrible to drive. Of all the cars I have driven, owned or rented, this was the second worst car. The very worst was a GMC Jimmy.


You hit the nail on the head. Before we got the MINI, my girlfriend drove a neon. I own a 97 GMC Jimmy, and I personally HATE IT! It is by far the WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED!! I'm 2 for 2 in your book MG-BGT!!

FrogGuts

_________________

 

You may not like the neon but Fast is Fast!!!!

Yep, fast is fast, cheap is cheap, fast and cheap is crap.

 

I'd be curious as to what ECU prices are for the VW models like a Jetta or GTI, since they are in similar pirce ranges. Or for the WRX or EVO 8.

A car like an M5 is close to 3 times as much as an MCS...

 

>>You may not like the neon but Fast is Fast!!!!
>>
>>Yep, fast is fast, cheap is cheap, fast and cheap is crap.


Carefull there, the MINI is a cheap cheap ride also.

 

I'm surprised no one has noted the irony of the MINI having a Dodge Neon engine.

 

>>I'd be curious as to what ECU prices are for the VW models like a Jetta or GTI, since they are in similar pirce ranges. Or for the WRX or EVO 8.
>>
>>A car like an M5 is close to 3 times as much as an MCS...

The WRX and EVO are a relative comparison, but the VW is not - it isn't price range, but rather production numbers that the development cost can be spread over that somewhat determines price. Neither EVOTech or Powerchip make ECU upgrades for the WRX or EVO 8, or I would post them.

I will be testing the Shark injector. I have some preliminary data now, but I did not do the testing, so I'll refrain until I have.

Randy

 

>>I'd be curious as to what ECU prices are for the VW models like a Jetta or GTI, since they are in similar pirce ranges. Or for the WRX or EVO 8.
>>
>>A car like an M5 is close to 3 times as much as an MCS...

You peeked my curiousity. I went to http://www.powerchipgroup.com and found:

VW GTi VR6 $490
Dodge Neon SRT-4 $490
Audi A3 1.8T $490

MINI Cooper $490
MINI Cooper S $690

And the difference in the MC price and MCS price is because of development costs spread over projected numbers!? I was under the impression there were more MCS owners modding!?

 

>>MINI Cooper $490
>>MINI Cooper S $690
>>
>>And the difference in the MC price and MCS price is because of development costs spread over projected numbers!? I was under the impression there were more MCS owners modding!?


Good point. That one doesn't add up!

 

I have a Cooper and two BMW's, an 87 and a 98 and both BMW's are chipped. We had the same situation with BMW chips at first - real expensive, then drifting down. They are still high because BMW people will pay the price. Domestic and Japanese car chips are less expensive, sometimes from the same suppliers....simply because the market is different for those cars.

 

thanks for looking up those other car's prices 6f7. My roommate has an Audi A4 1.8t and he just bought a chip for 300 something that gives him some VERY substantial gains. So hopefully, these prices will drift downwards, and I am anxiously awaiting what the feedback on the shark is.