Exhaust or tune for driving enjoyment?

[SloCal]

So my ST is at about 1400 miles now (in 3 weeks- sh*t) and I'm looking at getting either a tune or an exhaust. I know that people say the CObb AP V3 wakes up the car but exhausts in my experience really help someone enjoy the car. So for those of you out there that have one or both can you give me your opinion. Most likely this will be my only mod because it's a lease and I'm a college student with not much money. The AP V3 seems to not make much gains anyway so just looking for opinions. Thanks

 

[15performanceblue]

Go with AP V3 buy it from mountune and run Randys tune over Cobbs OTS tune. Trust me, the car is COMPLETELY different. This was my first mod. The exhaust is a wonderful mod, I ordered my Cobb Catback about a month after my AP. But hands down the AP is the way to go. The power difference is WELLLLLLL worth it, trust me.

 

[SloCal]

What is Randy's tune? Is it a custom tune from mountune that costs more? Also why buy from mountune and not direct?

 

[rodmoe]

What is Randy's tune? Is it a custom tune from mountune that costs more? Also why buy from mountune and not direct?

Randy is Randy Robles who now works at Mountune and his custom remote tuning is included or at least was I have not check of late. with the AP pruchase and all the Cobb OTS tune are included too so it is a great deal as he will (for a limited time) tune your car for you with all the mods you have install for something like 45 day after purchase. Randy is well regarded in the Tuning circles from what I have seen and heard.. I like working with him while i was stockish .. lol

 

[SloCal]

I just looked on their website and it looks like Randy's is a pro tune that is 150$ more. Can anyone confirm/explain?

 

[dyn085]

Idk, a lot of members running the Mountune tune seem to need to use a higher octane than the map to combat knock. Ymmv.

 

[rodmoe]

I just looked on their website and it looks like Randy's is a pro tune that is 150$ more. Can anyone confirm/explain?

like i said it was a while ago but i thought it was included and I was very happy with the tuning on 91 and 93 and E30 we were playing with no issues what at all from what I have heard or experienced on the FiST

 

[CanadianGuy]

I just looked on their website and it looks like Randy's is a pro tune that is 150$ more. Can anyone confirm/explain?

Reading the text it states "If you've gone well beyond our program revision period, decided you want to explore the different fuel types that we support" [MENTION=1367]Randy@mountune[/MENTION] would be in a better position to explain. I also not sure if this is applicable to the MP215 or just their Cobb Access tuner (not Mountune branded )

 

[me32]

Tune for sure.

 

[SloCal]

What do you guys think of the revo stage 1? Haven't heard much but has bigger gains

 

[Hijinx]

Tune.

 

[rexdriver85]

I went for the AP3 as my first mod with about 2000 miles on the car and now I'm at 7000 and it's still the only thing I've done.

It really does wake up the car with power you can feel. Plus you can now monitor live data and also data log for future tunes and self tuning. [MENTION=930]dyn085[/MENTION] has posted and enormous amount of good information here that you should check out.

An exhaust would just be for sound if that's all you will be doing (cat back). If that's okay with you than go for it. I think spending money on something you can feel and you can also basically future proof the car with is much better in my opinion. I do understand it's a lease though.

Why make extra noise without the power to back it up? Haha. Good luck!

 

[Cruz'nFiST]

Go with the Accessport, you will not regret it. The horsepower gain is minimal but the torque is where the fun is. I've had mine for half a year and it's been the best bang for your buck I've ever experienced. Like others have said and I agree, it feels like car has woken up / come alive. You won't regret it.

 

[Original J-Pat]

Yea AP same financial situation as you definitely get AP contact ModBargains you get a discounted forum price and also for exhaust you could go straight pipes probably will cost a few hundred but loudest u can go if thats what you were looking for

 

[frankiefiesta]

Honestly, if it will be your only mod, the best bang for you buck is Cobb stage 1. You get the AP and the rear motor mount which is sloppy from the factory. That's what I would recommend

 

[Mike V]

Tune. Easy choice.

 

[Brick]

I asked a similar question when I first joined the forums.

Accessport vs new Wheels and sticky tires.

Bang for buck, accessport first.

 

[wrongwheeldrive]

Don't underestimate the monitors on the A/P. I use 6 monitors and I look at them all the time. Operating temps, Current gear (surprisingly I use this one all the time), speed, and of course BOOST! Plus it comes with a dinky shift light which is kinda cool.

 

[Joker328]

In addition to the general "waking up the car" sensation everyone refers to but probably doesn't mean anything to you unless you've experienced it, one of the things I like most about the AP3 tunes is the improved throttle response/mapping (I am not an expert so I don't know if those are the correct terms). Stock, the throttle feels pretty much like I expect it to feel in the mid/high range, but it feels slightly mushy and "non-linear" in the low range. With the tune, I feel like there is better correlation between throttle pressure and "butt dyno" throughout the entire range if that makes any sense. It's another intangible, I know, but hard to go back now that I've experienced it.

 

[doubletap]

Don't underestimate the monitors on the A/P. I use 6 monitors and I look at them all the time. Operating temps, Current gear (surprisingly I use this one all the time), speed, and of course BOOST! Plus it comes with a dinky shift light which is kinda cool.

Wait what? I had no idea. I learned something new today!

Just to add. If you decide you didn't like the FiST since you're leasing. The AP is so much easier to sell.