There is only one dealer for this tuner in my area and in case I need to go there for service I would rather not say and burn britches. PM me if your curious. Again it wasn't the tuners fault but the shop. This tuner has a handheld switcher though. I could sell that for $100 and pay for the depreciation of an AccessPort right there.
Oh I would never take my car to the dealership again. It was just at the time when I had my first hickup with the ECU I took it to the dealership. Also the ECU is technically covered by the federal emissions warranty but the shop screwed it up not VW. Funny if they were so confident that it was VW's fault I don't know why they didn't suggest putting the stock downpipe on and tow it to the dealership.
The shop quoted me $1500 for a new ECU installed and $850 for used. I went used and then I got a call saying the steering wheel ignition lock went out and that was an additional $650. I was in a bind and needed my car to go to meetings to make money. I feel I got taken advantage of. I actually called another shop that has a big presence and they said they could help source me a used for $200.
That shop is a COBB, APR, and maybe one other dealer. They said about the same thing as you are. While COBB has many great qualities, the OTS tunes are going to make less power than every other tuner. I running a downpipe, intake, R8 coils. I'm going to do a little more research about Stratified tunes and also the custom maps this shop can do for $200 I think on the dyno.
Oh I would never take my car to the dealership again. It was just at the time when I had my first hickup with the ECU I took it to the dealership. Also the ECU is technically covered by the federal emissions warranty but the shop screwed it up not VW. Funny if they were so confident that it was VW's fault I don't know why they didn't suggest putting the stock downpipe on and tow it to the dealership.
The shop quoted me $1500 for a new ECU installed and $850 for used. I went used and then I got a call saying the steering wheel ignition lock went out and that was an additional $650. I was in a bind and needed my car to go to meetings to make money. I feel I got taken advantage of. I actually called another shop that has a big presence and they said they could help source me a used for $200.
That shop is a COBB, APR, and maybe one other dealer. They said about the same thing as you are. While COBB has many great qualities, the OTS tunes are going to make less power than every other tuner. I running a downpipe, intake, R8 coils. I'm going to do a little more research about Stratified tunes and also the custom maps this shop can do for $200 I think on the dyno.