Superchips Performance Tuner

Hi all,
If you haven't used one of these before I can attest to their worthiness. I was such a skeptic I held off buying one for my last truck for 8 years, Finally I got the urge to test one and wow!. It woke up my old Dakota V8.

Anyways, I wasn't too happy to learn that there isnt a performance flashpaq tuner avail for the 05-10 Tacoma's.

Superchips is working on one but requires a donor vehicle from the Florida area. Here's whats posted on the website:

Vehicles Wanted For Testing:
If you live in the Central Florida area, and are an owner of (or know someone who is an owner of) one of the vehicles listed below, we would appreciate your support in developing our next Superchips application. In our relentless effort to provide the best developed electronic performance products in the world, we need to have vehicles at our facility for testing.

What Is In It For You
A FREE programmer shipped (at not cost to you) to your home when it becomes available. We will also provide you a rental car if needed while we have your vehicle as a thank you for helping us out.

Standard of Care
Your vehicle will receive the utmost care while in Superchips possession. We keep vehicles inside at night under lock and key. The building has an alarm and is monitored 24 hours a day. We will fuel your vehicle when we return your vehicle or before you pick it up.

Testing Procedures
We test our products for daily driving. We will perform actual road tests as well as test on our state of the art dynamometer.

Length of Testing
We test our products for daily driving. We will perform actual road tests as well as test on our state of the art dynamometer.

Rental Vehicle
Superchips will provide you an alternate means of transportation. We typically rent from Enterprise and they require that you be at least 21 years of age. Superchips will pay for the rental and damage insurance. All we need from you is a copy of your drivers license.

Condition of Your Vehicle
The condition of your vehicle is very important. Does it run fine, no check engine lights, no burning oil etc? We can only test vehicles that are in good condition. Does the vehicle have any scratches, dents or damage prior to us testing it? We wll make note of its condition before we begin testing it to ensure your vehicle is properly cared for. Does your car or truck have engine modifications, different tires, etc.?

If you know someone in the area who may be willing to do this let them know! The sooner they get vehicles the sooner we can upload fuel saving and performance tunes to our trucks.

Thanks.

 

There is the only thing you need if your looking for a tuner: http://www.urdusa.com/product_info.php?products_id=1260518754&osCsid=5hibd9t16a65dji134hfvkn2q6

 

that is correct

 

Holy shit. $1500!?

Don't Superchips run around $300?

 

THAT is correct. And there is no permanently installed hardware so you can return it to stock at any time.

 

APR X-1 especially made for the 1GR-FE Motor...

I can tell you that its more than worth the money...the throttle response alone is worth the money...

wouldn't you like a tuner that calibrates the tunes on its own...it self learns all the performance parts for you...yes you can tweak the tune to make it more solid...

 

Is anyone actually running that system? Is it remotely worth the price tag?

 

there are tons of guys running the APR X-1 system...its an awesome tuner unit...worth every penny IMHO...

there are a few guys here on TW.com that are running the X-1 including myself...but way to many skeptics here...I suggest you go to XR-Underground.com and troll some of the X-1 threads there...they are geared more for performance products and everyone running the x-1 there can attest to its capabilities and more...

 

Please post the dyno sheets when you are done with these tests. The only vehicles I have seen these actually make good power gains (ON THE DYNO! NOT YOUR BUTTDYNO) are diesel trucks. Other than that they are not worth the time and money invested.

 

this tuner unit is made by APR specifically for the 1GR-FE motor...all you have to do is install the x-1, run a couple of data logs and email the data log to APR or Gadget from URD...they will look over the data log and tweak the tune if necessary for you...

there are a few gurus out there that have been playing with the x-1 tuner unit since it was released...

people should stop knocking a product if they have never heard of it or even tried it out 1st hand...yes dyno # help put people minds at ease but you can run the truck on a dynojet in las vegas and run it on the exact same dynojet in california, florida, texas, etc...and its almost guaranteed to show you different #'s...because there are way to many perimeters to take into account like elevation, humidity, air temps, etc...so dyno #'s are really only a baseline to look at for yourself...you can't really compare 1 dyno chart against another unless both dyno runs came from the exact same dyno the exact same day...

 

another thing I don't like about superchips is that every time you add another performance part you need to ship the superchip back to the manufacturer pay them to change the tune and get it shipped back hoping that the tune is solid...

this is not the case with the APR X-1 tuner...all you do is run a few data logs with your laptop attach to the x-1...then email the data logs to APR and/or Gadget from URD...they look over the data log to make sure no knock and the tune is solid...they may tweak the tune a little to make sure its at its optimal performance and just email you the new calibrated file...simple as that and guess what its all free for tune adjustments and feedback without having to remove anything...

another good thing about the x-1 over the superchip is that if you were to run the trd s/c instead of paying toyota to flash your ecu you can just flash the x-1...if you ever decide to sell the taco and part out the truck you can reflash the x-1 back to stock, remove x-1, trd s/c, and part the truck out...with the toyota flash on your OEM ecu once its flashed for the trd s/c you CANNOT reflash back to stock settings meaning you either leave the trd s/c in the truck when you sell it or you buy a whole new OEM ECU which is 4x the cost of the x-1...

you guys ever heard the term you pay for what you get...

 

How does it compare with the supercharger system? Obviously the SC is a much higher price tag but what are the trade-offs with something like this vs the SC? That unit boasts some pretty impressive HP and torque gains so I'm wondering why people would spend $3,500 more for a supercharger rather than install this unit?

 

The APR unit comes with new cam sprockets and a different thermostat too it looks like. So comparing that kit to the superchips unit isn't something that should be done. The APR unit looks like the real deal for sure. I'd really like to see some dyno graphs from real world users. Looks like a great product.

 

Because the gains aren't even close I bet. A SC unit probably adds closer to 80hp

 

1st off there are 3 s/c kits out for the tacoma ('05-'08)...TRD S/C, URD MK1 and URD MK2...I believe trd has come out with a different fit kit for the '09-'10 and toyota also chanced the ECU pin configuration...Because toyota redesigned the ECU Pin they are the only ones with that setup...so you either splice wires or just say no thanks...

trying to compare X-1 vs S/C is really hard to do...seeing as the S/C makes way more HP/TQ because of how many more air is being forced into the engine...you have to look at the x-1 strictly as a tuner unit. it allows you to change spark angle, timing, increase redline from 5500 to 6200rpms...

the x-1 is a self learning tuner unit...something I have definitely not seen in other tuner units out there...once installed the x-1 will automatically adjust its tune for the performance products that you have installed...by doing data logs you can adjust your tune for what necessary for you...APR and Gadget from URD can make custom tunes for you if you running larger injectors, larger fuel pumps, smaller pulleys for s/c, 7th injectors, and even introducing NOS into the system...

the x-1 definitely improves the throttle response for n/a...

alot of guys who have a s/c have learned that pairing their s/c up with the x-1 makes the truck even more of a beast...

by no means am I a guru for the x-1 cause I'm still learning a lot about it...but I assure you that there are tons of guys out there already running the x-1 and can would agree with me on the benefits of having 1...

 

Makes sense. Obviously the SC creates more power but also comes with a much heftier price tag. I would love to see the results of a supercharger paired with this kit if the system actually lives up to it's claims. Can't imagine it'd do much for the off-roader but it'd be a quick 1/4 mile.

 

Good info, T0LL. Thanks

 

I have been in the "car scene" for a long time. I owned a Turbo Honda before my tacoma which was basetuned/street-tuned by myself then fine-tuned by a friend of mine and an excellent tuner, well known in the Supra and Nissan/Drifting community, Dan Willie from Batlground Motorsports here in Atlanta. GA. I understand how environmental conditions can affect results. However regardless of where you live, your % increase of the baseline comparison to the "modded" results are what matters. From my experience modding cars over the years, the gains you make from those chips aren't worth the money spent unless you have a vehicle with forced induction. Your money is better spent on something else...especially in a Naturally apsirated pickup truck such as the Tacoma.

Question: What makes a dyno "state of the art"?

Good luck with the testing though. Please post the dyno comparisons from your "state of the art" dyno when you're done I'm interested to see the baseline to modded comparisons.

 

Not quite sure why there seems to be a Superchips vs. APR discussion here as, IMO, they are two different markets. The Superchips sells for about $400 and goes to the person looking for a bit more performance without having to mechanically modify the truck or tap into wiring. A quick-n-dirty mod if you will.

The APR sells for $1500 and requires the intake cam gear to be changed to function at it's fullest. The cam gear is not terribly difficult, but can deter quite a few modders. Also the APR DOES NOT work on the 09+'s yet, unless you want to manually tap into all the proper ECU lines.

Again, two different markets, two different results. Personally I would consider saving my pennys for the APR, but so far I haven't even heard a good rumor for it supporting an 09 anytime soon.

For the OP, I also had a Superchips on an 02 Dakota 4.7. Was definitely worth the $300. After I bought the Superchips , Butt-dyno registered a good result, BUT THEN I tested the performance tune using a G-Tech, yes, almost real data!! Result was .3 in the 1/4 mile time. Note that the G-Tech also showed that my air intake was actually costing me a tenth in the 1/4, so the air intake was gone and the Superchips stayed.

In the absence of the APR, I would consider an Superchips if it existed and the results showed that it would help for the type of driving I do.