Unichip?!?

[damronjr]

Just a dumb question here, but if I have the opportunity and ability to get a Unichip for the S/C tuned for about $775 should I do it? I know it can be gotten cheaper ($650 from neverenoughauto.com), but this is an opportunity where I can get it and not have to throw down cash I don't have. Just wondering what thoughts are out there on this. I don't need the speech on debt either, I'm 27yo and have plenty, I know.

[Mavrik]

Well how much would one from neverenoughauto be out the door with the tune you need? If its cheaper and you can wait... uh don't spend $775.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Well how much would one from neverenoughauto be out the door with the tune you need? If its cheaper and you can wait... uh don't spend $775.Well, see, that's just it, I don't know if either is tuned or if it's just the Chip with the S/C harness and I would still have to get it tuned from either place. Brad's is $650 on his, site, the other place is $913 with 15% off, so about $775.

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

I bought mine from Brad on the goup buy. The S/C kit from Unichip comes with the Unichip, the harness and the module for the s/c.I went with the S/C kit so I got the extra module and all that stuff... but I got it tuned for just the CAI, and cat-back. You can tune the module from the Unichip factory however you want. Thats all I have for now and figured I might as well use the chip while I wait for the supercharger.I just didnt want to buy the "turbo" module later at a stupid price.write up on my newly installed Unichip in a seperate post... that is what I am just about to do.

[Mavrik]

I would think that when you buy a new unichip it comes tuned... at least thats what I have heard. I bought mine used and had to get it re-tuned.If it comes tuned then go with that, if it doesn't then get the other one. Because by the time you factor in shipping and the cost of tuning... its probably going to work out to be pretty close in price. I'd call brad and find out.

[AKLGT]

when you order the unichip, you give them a list of what you have on the car and they will tune it from the factory. only if you need a custom tune do you need to spend an extra $150+ (depending on the local tuner). don't pay more for the same damn thing! buy it from Brad for less and then use the money you saved to have it custom tuned. i'm sure there's someone within 2 hr drive that is a Unichip tuner.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »when you order the unichip, you give them a list of what you have on the car and they will tune it from the factory. only if you need a custom tune do you need to spend an extra $150+ (depending on the local tuner). don't pay more for the same damn thing! buy it from Brad for less and then use the money you saved to have it custom tuned. i'm sure there's someone within 2 hr drive that is a Unichip tuner. Prob is I won't be spending cash if I get it where I was going to and I don't have any $$$ saved up, so tuning won't be an option if it doesn't come pre-tuned. I know I can get it less through brad, and if I had the money I would get it through him, but I was going to use credit through another place (military exchange, still have my card and can order it online even though I can't go to the store right down the street ) to get it.

[AKLGT]

right. i got that part. Brad takes credit cards and most tune shops do too. the chip comes with the factory tune to whatever specs you request. it's that simple. however, with all the mods you have, i would recommend getting a custom map made if you want to get the most out of them. let's put it like this: I have a Cobb Accessport (AP) that is similar to the Unichip (engine management). It came with basic off the shelf maps from Cobb. They work OK. I then ordered some better maps from a tuner in NH that does a lot of custom work: etune. I gave him a list of the mods I had, the car, engine, year, etc and he sent me a BETTER map to install on the AP. After loading that map onto my car, it was like going from stage 1 (stock with just engine management) to stage 2 (uppipe, downpipe) to stage 2.5 (MUCH BETTER than the lame shelf maps!). I have now reflashed my car (you cannot do this with the Unichip which is too bad) back to Cobb Stage 1 from my protuned TDC stage 2 maps. boring, choppy, and the car actually DIES at idle once in awhile! and that's in my automatic!!! I'll be reflashing the car BACK to my TDC maps since I had no problems mechanically. the downside is it's much more powerful so I'm going to have to be careful I don't plow into the back of another truck!so the shelf maps from the manufacturer will be OK and I'm sure you'll get some gains from them, however I would strongly recommend you find yourself a GOOD REPUTABLE Unichip tuner that can maybe tweak the maps on your car. You've put a lot of time, effort, money, and LOVE into it, so why not complete the package? again, a Unichip tuner would have to be a pretty sizeable shop, so if they do work and live in the real world they take Visa or MasterCard.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »right. i got that part. Brad takes credit cards and most tune shops do too. the chip comes with the factory tune to whatever specs you request. it's that simple. however, with all the mods you have, i would recommend getting a custom map made if you want to get the most out of them. let's put it like this: I have a Cobb Accessport (AP) that is similar to the Unichip (engine management). It came with basic off the shelf maps from Cobb. They work OK. I then ordered some better maps from a tuner in NH that does a lot of custom work: etune. I gave him a list of the mods I had, the car, engine, year, etc and he sent me a BETTER map to install on the AP. After loading that map onto my car, it was like going from stage 1 (stock with just engine management) to stage 2 (uppipe, downpipe) to stage 2.5 (MUCH BETTER than the lame shelf maps!). I have now reflashed my car (you cannot do this with the Unichip which is too bad) back to Cobb Stage 1 from my protuned TDC stage 2 maps. boring, choppy, and the car actually DIES at idle once in awhile! and that's in my automatic!!! I'll be reflashing the car BACK to my TDC maps since I had no problems mechanically. the downside is it's much more powerful so I'm going to have to be careful I don't plow into the back of another truck!so the shelf maps from the manufacturer will be OK and I'm sure you'll get some gains from them, however I would strongly recommend you find yourself a GOOD REPUTABLE Unichip tuner that can maybe tweak the maps on your car. You've put a lot of time, effort, money, and LOVE into it, so why not complete the package? again, a Unichip tuner would have to be a pretty sizeable shop, so if they do work and live in the real world they take Visa or MasterCard. Thanks, but it's a Navy Exchange card only for use at the Exchange! Basically I can use it or not, but it's a means to a goal I wouldn't be able to accomplish for a long time otherwise. I see what you mean about the mapping. I guess then it's tuned for STOCK with no mods, that's what you mean, right? To add the I/H/E/WI, etc... I would have to send it elsewhere to get mapped for that, right?

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

no when you order it, you tell them what you have and it comes programmed to thatif you add something later you can send it and get it retuned.but you (and I when I get the sc) would be best to find a Unichip dealer that can dyno tune it perfect for you.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »no when you order it, you tell them what you have and it comes programmed to thatif you add something later you can send it and get it retuned.but you (and I when I get the sc) would be best to find a Unichip dealer that can dyno tune it perfect for you.Well, in that case I could do that later. If it came ready for the SC and the mods I have, that would be fine, would just have to wait until I had the $$$ to get it dyno-tuned.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »Thanks, but it's a Navy Exchange card only for use at the Exchange! Basically I can use it or not, but it's a means to a goal I wouldn't be able to accomplish for a long time otherwise. I see what you mean about the mapping. I guess then it's tuned for STOCK with no mods, that's what you mean, right? To add the I/H/E/WI, etc... I would have to send it elsewhere to get mapped for that, right?NO! have you not read anything that i posted??? seriously, Jason! you give them a list of what you have. they program the unichip to what you have. THEN get it custom tuned by someone nearby. you don't have to do that RIGHT NOW! you can do that later. but now i see what you are talking about. if you want to use your NEX card, then you have to buy thru the NEX. so you're gonna spend more money for it because if you must have it now, then you pay a lot more for it plus higher interest. Honestly, is it even worth it to buy it now? or wait a month?? that's your perogative on what you want to do, however, when i was in a situation similar to yours a few years back, i ended up paying for it and then some.... and still do. good luck!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by AKLGT »NO! have you not read anything that i posted??? seriously, Jason! you give them a list of what you have. they program the unichip to what you have. THEN get it custom tuned by someone nearby. you don't have to do that RIGHT NOW! you can do that later. but now i see what you are talking about. if you want to use your NEX card, then you have to buy thru the NEX. so you're gonna spend more money for it because if you must have it now, then you pay a lot more for it plus higher interest. Honestly, is it even worth it to buy it now? or wait a month?? that's your perogative on what you want to do, however, when i was in a situation similar to yours a few years back, i ended up paying for it and then some.... and still do. good luck!Yep, got it on the programming/tuning thing now. I don't know what I am going to do. Of course I could wait, but when will I have an extra $650 to go out and buy one. It won't be a month, I will tell you that, more than likely quite a few months IF I could find a way to save some $$$ from all the bills, but I would rather sink all my extra $$$ into the bills were that the case.

[AKLGT]

like i said, i've been there and done that. spent tons of money on mods for the vibe.... lots of money... before that it was my Tundra and now it's my LGT. still, I have to do it in moderation knowing that i have bills to pay and other vehicles to pay for too. if it's not too critical at the moment, then wait on it. if you have to have it, then go for it, but then you know the consequences come time to pay the bill.