Tuner Loyalties
they are in business to make money not do hand outs.. so I see the other side too...
markski
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2001 996TT 3.6L and stock ECU
9.66 seconds @ 147.76 mph 1/4 mile click to view
160 mph @ 9.77 seconds in 1/4 mile click to view
50% OFF ON PORSCHE ECU TUNING BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
2001 996TT 3.6L and stock ECU
9.66 seconds @ 147.76 mph 1/4 mile click to view
160 mph @ 9.77 seconds in 1/4 mile click to view
50% OFF ON PORSCHE ECU TUNING BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
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Craig
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I paid the asking price, was told when it was time to upgrade they would sell and he would help me, etc, however if anything I was blackballed and lost multiple sales when I went with another tuner/route. But hey, life goes on
Christian
Christian
the trick is to find one that is really good but fair... and that's not always the case... they make you feel good by telling you that you saved 500 bucks but they end up getting you someone else...
they are in business to make money not do hand outs.. so I see the other side too...
markski
they are in business to make money not do hand outs.. so I see the other side too...
markski
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My tuner loyalties are with Alex and James at SharkWerks and Todd Zuccone from EVOMS.
Besides Alex and James being just a few miles away, they're honest, talented and won't tell you something just to make a buck. In fact, Alex has told me multiple times "you don't need that and shouldn't waste your money".
Can't go wrong with Alex, James @ SharkWerks and Todd from EVOMS.
Besides Alex and James being just a few miles away, they're honest, talented and won't tell you something just to make a buck. In fact, Alex has told me multiple times "you don't need that and shouldn't waste your money".
Can't go wrong with Alex, James @ SharkWerks and Todd from EVOMS.
Last edited by RiA; Nov 16, 2008 at 08:51 PM.
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With all the mark up these companies have on their products/services, I will never understand the logic in damaging a long term relationship with an individual customer. However, as the original poster indicates, things could be very different if every incident from every forum member was brought to light for all to see. If that were to happen, the "save a penny, lose a dollar" philosophy may have an all new impact on these companies...theres no advertisement, good or bad, like word of mouth.
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Craig....Man your reply was great. I think the bottom line is if you look at every tuner, you will find someone ,somewhere that got screwed by them,the other side of the coin is you will find someone else that would give their first child to that same tuner.I have been researching tuners for my current build and truth be told I have called all the well known guys and i get the same sales pitch.I do think guys like: Proto, EPL, Vivid, FVD, want to do a good job and make some money doing it.Some charge more then they should, some do less then they should and bottom line is how they handle the problems, and there is almost always problems.I am so reluctant to go to a new tuner for the very reason i see here. The closest tuner to me is approx a 8 hour drive, and I am a firm believer to have the car put on a dyno to make sure its safe, reliable and the most power for that given combination.Making the car work is a learning process and takes money, time and dedication and i don't think allot of guys really understand that.I still stand by what i said in a earlier reply some people should not mod the car, and when the project does not meet their expectations are too fast to blame the tuner.
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Why don't we all just list the people who we use and would happily recommend. That way, we are not dissing anyone, and the omitted names will speak for themselves.
Kevin at UMW
Dan at Vivid Racing
Viper Bob at Vortex Racing
Steve Weiner at Rennsport
Europipe
Kevin at UMW
Dan at Vivid Racing
Viper Bob at Vortex Racing
Steve Weiner at Rennsport
Europipe
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I have bought from many tuner/suppliers; Mostly with good luck
1)I/A; knowledgeable but can be high priced and arrogant about it.
2)Sharkey; bends over backwards to make it right, truly a treasure in
our industry
3)EVOMS; good knowledge, innovative marketing, mostly good products,
big personnel changes recently along with new software and it will be interesting to see how/if he continues to prosper.
4)Vivid Racing; I had my issues with Dan and their customer service, but
he rectified it quickly AFTER things got heated on the phone (shouldnt have to go that far before being "taken care of")
5)UMW; Obviously knowledgeable and great products; too much of a perfectionist
perhaps (ultimately conservative) and is always VERY CONCERNED about his minions
saying anything good about anyone else. He has very good customer service habits which also go a long way in this industry.
6) Protomotive; trustworthy, expensive, and also has THE MOST TUNING knowledge
(there are other guys currently "tweaking a few parameters" of a Program and calling themselves programmer/tuners) TODD has forgotten more about tuning than the combined knowledge of these new guys. Some of Protomotive's work could/should
be prettier but regardless, they stand behind there product. He built and tuned VR
Alex's car (212 mph in TX Mile), Markski's Car, Divexxtremes Car, and the recent
1000+ RWHP, RobMD99's car. Some of the cool stuff he has done using GT3RS cams/heads, on 996TT's which requires fabbing new pick-up points etc is way above
most tuners comprehension. (He is also where everyone goes when they are stumped)
You could trust your newborn to Todd and Cynthia and that is rare in thus
industry!
Switzer Performance:
Obviously an innovator with great knowledge, I would have to vote him
tuner of the year for what he accomplished in a SHORT TIME period with
David's 997TT; full weight 9 second 997TT == HOLY **** MAN!!!
If you have seen Switzer's fab work, it is second to NO ONE.
(It may not be known that Protomotive was some of the brains behind this Switzer build)
The above are only my opinions and you know how much opinions are worth
.
Neil Orton: Orton Performance; Has owed me over $5,000 for more than
2 years...so no, I would not currently recommend him
Marty
1)I/A; knowledgeable but can be high priced and arrogant about it.
2)Sharkey; bends over backwards to make it right, truly a treasure in
our industry
3)EVOMS; good knowledge, innovative marketing, mostly good products,
big personnel changes recently along with new software and it will be interesting to see how/if he continues to prosper.
4)Vivid Racing; I had my issues with Dan and their customer service, but
he rectified it quickly AFTER things got heated on the phone (shouldnt have to go that far before being "taken care of")
5)UMW; Obviously knowledgeable and great products; too much of a perfectionist
perhaps (ultimately conservative) and is always VERY CONCERNED about his minions
saying anything good about anyone else. He has very good customer service habits which also go a long way in this industry.
6) Protomotive; trustworthy, expensive, and also has THE MOST TUNING knowledge
(there are other guys currently "tweaking a few parameters" of a Program and calling themselves programmer/tuners) TODD has forgotten more about tuning than the combined knowledge of these new guys. Some of Protomotive's work could/should
be prettier but regardless, they stand behind there product. He built and tuned VR
Alex's car (212 mph in TX Mile), Markski's Car, Divexxtremes Car, and the recent
1000+ RWHP, RobMD99's car. Some of the cool stuff he has done using GT3RS cams/heads, on 996TT's which requires fabbing new pick-up points etc is way above
most tuners comprehension. (He is also where everyone goes when they are stumped)
You could trust your newborn to Todd and Cynthia and that is rare in thus
industry!
Switzer Performance:
Obviously an innovator with great knowledge, I would have to vote him
tuner of the year for what he accomplished in a SHORT TIME period with
David's 997TT; full weight 9 second 997TT == HOLY **** MAN!!!
If you have seen Switzer's fab work, it is second to NO ONE.
(It may not be known that Protomotive was some of the brains behind this Switzer build)
The above are only my opinions and you know how much opinions are worth
.Neil Orton: Orton Performance; Has owed me over $5,000 for more than
2 years...so no, I would not currently recommend him
Marty
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Because no ones list will be the same, and the same guys that may do good by one may completely screw someone else.
I think a subforum for tuner rating would be helpful. Make a sticky for every tuner where people can rate the service they received. Rating things like- meeting time table for completetion, customer service, end product etc.
That way if someone is looking what tuner to choose or avoid, they can go there. But problems related to specific cars can be kept in the other various subforums.
The thing is that the tuners pay to be here. We do not, so it's in the best interest of the forum owner to have as many paying sponsors as possible so it cant turn into a bash fest or no one will stick around. But at the same time, they cant get away with lying and stealing.
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Because no ones list will be the same, and the same guys that may do good by one may completely screw someone else.
I think a subforum for tuner rating would be helpful. Make a sticky for every tuner where people can rate the service they received. Rating things like- meeting time table for completetion, customer service, end product etc.
That way if someone is looking what tuner to choose or avoid, they can go there. But problems related to specific cars can be kept in the other various subforums.
The thing is that the tuners pay to be here. We do not, so it's in the best interest of the forum owner to have as many paying sponsors as possible so it cant turn into a bash fest or no one will stick around. But at the same time, they cant get away with lying and stealing.
I think a subforum for tuner rating would be helpful. Make a sticky for every tuner where people can rate the service they received. Rating things like- meeting time table for completetion, customer service, end product etc.
That way if someone is looking what tuner to choose or avoid, they can go there. But problems related to specific cars can be kept in the other various subforums.
The thing is that the tuners pay to be here. We do not, so it's in the best interest of the forum owner to have as many paying sponsors as possible so it cant turn into a bash fest or no one will stick around. But at the same time, they cant get away with lying and stealing.
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good idea, but would you do a thread with a rating poll for each tuner? you really cannot do one thread for all, so basically, you would have on thread per tuner and have a 5 rating scale of excellent to poor, with all who polled having to be visible? The only issue I see here is with those that if anonymous may post in a thread which they should not since they never had work done, so there has to be some accountability for whomever posts on a poll.
Exactly, a seperate thread for each tuner so it doesnt turn into a melee.
This way the people that are looking for the service get opinions from people who have USED said tuner and not a bunch of riff raff from outside parties who try to bash every tuner but their own.
I only like the poll idea if the names of the customers can be revealed so other tuners/and fanboys of other tuners cant give them a bad rating and hide behind the poll. Otherwise, customers can use a specified list of criteria and give ratings based on those services and just post the information in the thread.
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The following if very safe, sound advise from CRAIG;
My advice to the newbe: Purchase a simple, straight-forward, proven bolt on package providing reliable mid-level power, and stop. My happiest moments with my 996TT were when I had a great mid-power set-up. It was reliable and fun. Everything went to sh*t when I pursued more power.
Alot can happen when you go beyond the above ^^^^^.
Think it through carefully!
MK
My advice to the newbe: Purchase a simple, straight-forward, proven bolt on package providing reliable mid-level power, and stop. My happiest moments with my 996TT were when I had a great mid-power set-up. It was reliable and fun. Everything went to sh*t when I pursued more power.
Alot can happen when you go beyond the above ^^^^^.
Think it through carefully!
MK
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The following if very safe, sound advise from CRAIG;
My advice to the newbe: Purchase a simple, straight-forward, proven bolt on package providing reliable mid-level power, and stop. My happiest moments with my 996TT were when I had a great mid-power set-up. It was reliable and fun. Everything went to sh*t when I pursued more power.
Alot can happen when you go beyond the above ^^^^^.
Think it through carefully!
MK
My advice to the newbe: Purchase a simple, straight-forward, proven bolt on package providing reliable mid-level power, and stop. My happiest moments with my 996TT were when I had a great mid-power set-up. It was reliable and fun. Everything went to sh*t when I pursued more power.
Alot can happen when you go beyond the above ^^^^^.
Think it through carefully!
MK
What do you consider mid-level power? low/mid/high 500s?
Edwin