[SCCThree]

Originally Posted by stevefoster

Forgive my ignorance but can someone please explain how this Protune thing works? Do you first buy a Cobb AP and then buy a Protune? Or, do you purchase the Cobb thru Protune? And how is the Cobb reprogrammed? And finally, what's the ballpark cost? Looking for a birthday present. Thanks,

Steve Foster
'13 DCT

What the others said. Get an accessport then go to a protuner for the dyno tune. I talked to Cobb in Plano,TX today asking about protune cost. They said $600. FYI.

[S6F]

Thanks for the replies and for clearing this up for me.

SteveF

[11LMBiSTT]

Originally Posted by stevefoster

Thanks for the replies and for clearing this up for me.

SteveF

Just hit up Pro Tuning Freaks. No need to spend $600 on a Dyno tune or any other pro tune. PTF price is $250 and they will retune as many times as you need or as you ad different mods at no additional costs but only on one octane level. If you change to race gas or ethanol in the future then that may require additional costs. If you have e85 readily available in your area then I recommend just getting a e40 map to begin with. The Cobb accessport itself runs about $400-$500 for a v2 or $650-$800 for a v3, they both do the same exact thing but the v3 has all the bells and whistles like a color screen and different gauge display options.

I ran e40 with just DCI and it was amazeballs! If you get downpipes and a fmic along with intakes that should net you over 400+hp and 400+tq to the wheels which is just right for the iS/n54 engines IMO.

I really like the ease and convenience of the Cobb accessport. I may switch to JB4 with a flash in the future but I don't really have any reason to unless of course your number/dyno hungry.
The way the pro tune by PTF drives is just perfect!

I just wish I could find someone to tune the DCT box.

[SCCThree]

In defense of Cobb's protune, a lot of that money goes to dyno time. When I had my WRX protuned they made about 15 pulls and spent about 4 hours getting everything they could out of the car. It ran like a bat out of hell.

In fact the first time I brought it in I had just filled up with a full tank of chevron 93 and after about 3 hours they couldn't get anything out of the car because the computer kept pulling the timing. They told me to run it dry then load up with Shell 93 and bring it back for another try for no additional charge. That did the trick, they pulled 30whp/40tq over the OTS tune and with the crappy Chevron out of the tank. Side note, I am now a huge Shell fan.

I have read countless posts about how great PTF and their tunes are and I believe it. I just wanted to say the Cobb guys really do a great protune job and make a LOT of dyno pulls to get ya there.

Bottom line, either way you go you will be happy and $600 is still a lot of money!

Full disclosure: My experience is based on my 2009 WRX and with Cobb in Plano, TX.

[DOMs335D]

Originally Posted by SCCThree

In defense of Cobb's protune, a lot of that money goes to dyno time. When I had my WRX protuned they made about 15 pulls and spent about 4 hours getting everything they could out of the car. It ran like a bat out of hell.

In fact the first time I brought it in I had just filled up with a full tank of chevron 93 and after about 3 hours they couldn't get anything out of the car because the computer kept pulling the timing. They told me to run it dry then load up with Shell 93 and bring it back for another try for no additional charge. That did the trick, they pulled 30whp/40tq over the OTS tune and with the crappy Chevron out of the tank. Side note, I am now a huge Shell fan.

I have read countless posts about how great PTF and their tunes are and I believe it. I just wanted to say the Cobb guys really do a great protune job and make a LOT of dyno pulls to get ya there.

Bottom line, either way you go you will be happy and $600 is still a lot of money!

Full disclosure: My experience is based on my 2009 WRX and with Cobb in Plano, TX.

So is that a fact? I've been searching out Chevron's because they seem like they are the only ones in Canada that offer 94 Octane. Do others have the same issue with their gas? And is Shell the best?

[BMOEW]

Has no one tried a wedge pro tune on their IS?

[SCCThree]

Originally Posted by DOMs335D

So is that a fact? I've been searching out Chevron's because they seem like they are the only ones in Canada that offer 94 Octane. Do others have the same issue with their gas? And is Shell the best?

This is true in my particular case. Most of the serious car people I run into are using Shell. My experience has made me a believer. Problem is that there aren't a whole lot of Shell stations around and their gas is more expensive than most others. Still, I will seek out a Shell station and pay more because I know it's good stuff. FWIW.

[DOMs335D]

I haven't been to a Shell in ages but when I used to go they only had up to 91. I'll have to check them out and see if they got something better now!

[///ADMAN]

I had no choice. I had to run Rebel here back in the day when I needed 100 and/or E85.
Our elevation is too high. 91 is the highest octane offered unless you are near the track.

[SCCThree]

I used to think all the smack talk about one gas vendor over another was BS until this happened to me. So many people had an opinion on the matter but no data to back anything up. Granted, my experience is but one data point but that was enough to convince me.

What I would like to see is a pair of N54s with one on Shell for 30k and another on Chevron (or something else) and then look at the deposits on the intake side.

On another note, question: is there any problem running catted down pipes with no tune? Just curious for the in between dealer trips.

PS: I am in Texas talking about Shell 93.

[JunkyardDogg]

So i've had my IS for a couple months now. I love it so far. The only thing that bugs me is the turbo lag. I have a 6spd and in between gears when I hit the gas, I get a slight lag and then the big surge of torque. Is this normal and is there any way to get better throttle response?

[moveswiftly]

Originally Posted by JunkyardDogg

So i've had my IS for a couple months now. I love it so far. The only thing that bugs me is the turbo lag. I have a 6spd and in between gears when I hit the gas, I get a slight lag and then the big surge of torque. Is this normal and is there any way to get better throttle response?

Yes, this is normal. I have a slight (half a second lag) then the throttle comes back on.

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by SCCThree

On another note, question: is there any problem running catted down pipes with no tune? Just curious for the in between dealer trips.

No problem per se but you might still pull a CEL catalyst efficiency code. Sometimes this happens a while after the installation and the catalyst degrades.

A tune would be needed to suppress the code if present, and an O2 simulator is needed to achieve readiness.

[JunkyardDogg]

Originally Posted by chesterfan1230

Yes, this is normal. I have a slight (half a second lag) then the throttle comes back on.

Would a tune improve the response?

[ashmostro]

Excessive lag can also be exacerbated by weak OEM DV's... worth looking into. A tune may not help the responsiveness much though it will obviously increase max thrust.

[///ADMAN]

Really? I have no lag - especially with the DCT. However, there is a HUGE lag for the overboost function. I hardly ever push the peddle all the way down just so it won't engage. The car is much quicker at 3/4 or so - then to WOT. I've also found it to respond faster using the paddles to drop into the gear I want instead of letting the ECM figure it out. But, that is the only time I really use the paddles.

As you know, I usually drive in SPORT/SPORT all of the time.

[ashmostro]

I'm using the paddles about 90%of the time. Really helps tame some of the erratic behavior of the transmission logic.

[scoale]

Originally Posted by ///ADMAN

Really? I have no lag - especially with the DCT. However, there is a HUGE lag for the overboost function. I hardly ever push the peddle all the way down just so it won't engage. The car is much quicker at 3/4 or so - then to WOT. I've also found it to respond faster using the paddles to drop into the gear I want instead of letting the ECM figure it out. But, that is the only time I really use the paddles.

As you know, I usually drive in SPORT/SPORT all of the time.

I also experience lag during overboost. In addition, the car is sometimes in too high a gear to accelerate quickly - even when in sport mode. This generally occurs when I want to dart ahead in a 35-45 zone.

[moveswiftly]

Originally Posted by scoale

I also experience lag during overboost. In addition, the car is sometimes in too high a gear to accelerate quickly - even when in sport mode. This generally occurs when I want to dart ahead in a 35-45 zone.

His claim was for 6 Speed. Without powershifting or No-lift-shift, there will be some lag when he gets back to WOT.

[///ADMAN]

Originally Posted by scoale

I also experience lag during overboost. In addition, the car is sometimes in too high a gear to accelerate quickly - even when in sport mode. This generally occurs when I want to dart ahead in a 35-45 zone.

Yeah, I've found that (most of the time) I get great results from double-tapping down - from say 6th to 4th to blow by someone going too slow. It seems like the DCT reacts much better. Plus, the RPMs seem to stay where they should in the sweat spot instead of having to push the ECM into thinking it's time to drop gears or something. IDK

For me, this is the beauty of driving around in SPORT/SPORT all of the time. I can hit the paddles whenever I want without having to reposition the lever.

It seemed to have a lot harder time figuring things out when I was running the JB4-ISO. I think there was an extra lag from the CAN - regardless of what BMS said.

Side Note: Hope to be racing a ///M4-DCT this weekend. Stock vs Stock. I want to see how well the iS does off the line - as I was not very impressed with the overall feel during my extended test drive. Even the new Stingray actually feels faster - even though I know it is not. Well, off the line anyway.

[quietus]

Originally Posted by ///ADMAN

Yeah, I've found that (most of the time) I get great results from double-tapping down - from say 6th to 4th to blow by someone going too slow. It seems like the DCT reacts much better. Plus, the RPMs seem to stay where they should in the sweat spot instead of having to push the ECM into thinking it's time to drop gears or something. IDK

For me, this is the beauty of driving around in SPORT/SPORT all of the time. I can hit the paddles whenever I want without having to reposition the lever.

It seemed to have a lot harder time figuring things out when I was running the JB4-ISO. I think there was an extra lag from the CAN - regardless of what BMS said.

Side Note: Hope to be racing a ///M4-DCT this weekend. Stock vs Stock. I want to see how well the iS does off the line - as I was not very impressed with the overall feel during my extended test drive. Even the new Stingray actually feels faster - even though I know it is not. Well, off the line anyway.

Hey Adman - very interested in how you fare against the M4 stock vs stock so please let us know!

[SCCThree]

Originally Posted by quietus

Hey Adman - very interested in how you fare against the M4 stock vs stock so please let us know!

Same here.