Just purchased a RaceChips GTS for my a5 2.0t anyone have any experience with them?

[NitroViper]

I just purchased this https://www.racechip.us/shop/audi/a5...-258lb-ft.html

Does anyone have one of these? is it as good as the youtube videos and stuff say? I hope so because I really didnt have $500 to throw away.

[EvolutionArmory]

Return it and buy a real tune.

[EvolutionArmory]

And in the future, ask these questions before you buy something 😉

[Stazi]

I tried to tell him.....


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[EvolutionArmory]

People just want to hear what they want to hear.

500 bucks gets you a real tune from a real tuning company. Or maybe just a little more than 500.

[S-Liner]

APR runs a special once or twice a year


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[Stazi]

I would go with either the IE or APR tune in the US. Another option is Unitronics, but I would not recommend using a tune from Europe due to vehicle differences and difficulty in getting local support.


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[PedroA4]

My IE tune was $522 to my door during their spring break sale.
I can also say that I went from a chipwerkes piggyback to the IE and it’s a night and day difference.

[19birel]

Most people used Neuspeed's power module which does the same thing and notice a nice power bump albeit with the power delivery not quite as smooth as a flash tune. If the RaceChip is as good you will enjoy it.

Personally I would have waited for a used Neuspeed Power module to pop up in the classifieds for ~$350 or waited for Burger Motorsports to release the JB4 which is more advanced than the others.

You're in slightly uncharted territory but I think you'll be fine, although personally racechip would not be my first choice simply based on the other options.

[A4x]

I would go with either the IE or APR tune in the US. Another option is Unitronics, but I would not recommend using a tune from Europe due to vehicle differences and difficulty in getting local support.

Unitronic is Canadian!

[NitroViper]

Return it and buy a real tune.

Have to love people with this mindset that probably has never tried a piggyback. Look at your signature, Im sorry I dont have money to throw away on all the top options. I asked for peoples opinions that actually have experience with the product. Not your opinion on something you've never tried. The product has a 30 day return warranty to back up its claims and If I dont like it I can return it. You cant do that with a "real tune".... you also cant sell a "real tune" down the road if you want to go a different route...

[Nano909]

Have to love people with this mindset that probably has never tried a piggyback. Look at your signature, Im sorry I dont have money to throw away on all the top options. I asked for peoples opinions that actually have experience with the product. Not your opinion on something you've never tried. The product has a 30 day return warranty to back up its claims and If I dont like it I can return it. You cant do that with a "real tune".... you also cant sell a "real tune" down the road if you want to go a different route...

I mean most of us had this car for years, some of us since they were first sold. The platform is over 10 years old and through many trials and errors, has many proven tunes and upgrades that work. But what do we know.

[NitroViper]

I mean most of us had this car for years, some of us since they were first sold. The platform is over 10 years old and through many trials and errors, has many proven tunes and upgrades that work. But what do we know.

Tell me then, have you had hands on experience with a piggy back tuner? My thread title specifically asks for people with direct experience with this product. You guys realize a piggy back tuner and an ecu tune is basically the same thing? An external device just jumps in-between line of code, compared to replacing code directly into the ECU. Yes a person who can tune can look at fuel trims and other variables to get 1 or 2 extra HP here and there but in reality they do the exact same thing in the end. EXACT same thing. There isnt some magical settings a person can change during a tune that a piggy back controller cant.

[Perry01]

My thread title specifically asks for people with direct experience with this product.

You will not find any.

You guys realize a piggy back tuner and an ecu tune is basically the same thing?

Not even close

[Nano909]

Tell me then, have you had hands on experience with a piggy back tuner? My thread title specifically asks for people with direct experience with this product. You guys realize a piggy back tuner and an ecu tune is basically the same thing? An external device just jumps in-between line of code, compared to replacing code directly into the ECU. Yes a person who can tune can look at fuel trims and other variables to get 1 or 2 extra HP here and there but in reality they do the exact same thing in the end. EXACT same thing. There isnt some magical settings a person can change during a tune that a piggy back controller cant.

Well it seems like you don't have a clue what you're talking about. People don't usually waste or throw money away on here by buying useless junk like a weak piggyback "performance" chip.

[NitroViper]

Actually I do know what I am talking about, I have multiple mechanical certs as well as went to college for computer science. If you think a tuner has more control of what a piggy back controller does then you shouldn't be able to reply on any mechanical post lol. I have tuned cars, have had cars tuned, have used piggybacks.... I was asking for peoples experience with this product and all you armchair mechanics are chiming on on stuff you dont know about. Go ahead and google what a piggyback control can do compared to a manual tune. They adjust the same parameters. There is NO SECRET PARAMETERS a tuner can do for you that a piggy back cant do. I swear some people are so dense...

Tell me these secret settings? A tuner can only tune a specific engine to its best ability watching its charts. A piggyback has a bunch of safe tunes for that specific motor. That is the ONLY difference.

[bb-tt]

The product has a 30 day return warranty to back up its claims and If I dont like it I can return it. You cant do that with a "real tune"....

uuuuhhhh yes you can, might want to check their return/trial policies

You guys realize a piggy back tuner and an ecu tune is basically the same thing? .

Tricking the ecu into thinking the sensors are reading something they are not is not the same thing as remapping the ECU.

Right now IE tune is on sale for $381, Have not checked gonzo in a while but his tunes used to be under 400. As Nano said most of us have been driving VAG vehicles for years. Hell when I was a kid my dad was the QA mgr at the vw plant so I have been exposed to VW since around 1976 and I will say that the majority of everything i have ever heard about piggy backs is don't waste your money, yes there are a few exceptions but go search 4titude, audiworld, vw vortex and you will see most people who have tried piggy backs are not happy with them. But hey you may be one of the exceptions.

After spending $350 on a piggy back saying i cant throw away $500 on a tune is weak, wait til you save the extra $150 and one of the tuning companies is having a sale which they do almost every 3 to 4 months.

[Stazi]

Piggy back tunes just manipulate sensor outputs to the ECU and don’t have the benefit of closed loop adjustments. Piggy backs will NEVER produce the same amount of power and torque as a full closed loop tune.


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[Nano909]

Actually I do know what I am talking about, I have multiple mechanical certs as well as a degree in computer science. If you think a tuner has more control of what a piggy back controller does then you shouldn't be able to reply on any mechanical post lol. I have tuned cars, have had cars tuned, have used piggybacks.... I was asking for peoples experience with this product and all you armchair mechanics are chiming on on stuff you dont know about. Go ahead and google what a piggyback control can do compared to a manual tune. They adjust the same parameters. There is NO SECRET PARAMETERS a tuner can do for you that a piggy back cant do. I swear some people are so dense...

Tell me these secret settings? A tuner can only tune a specific engine to its best ability watching its charts. A piggyback has a bunch of safe tunes for that specific motor. That is the ONLY difference.

So why aren't the fastest cars in the world using piggybacks instead of custom tuning?

[EvolutionArmory]

I don’t need to have pancreatic cancer to know I don’t want it. Basically all the real reviews for cancer basically say it sucks. I believe them.

My reply is based off of 20 years in the VAG tuning scene. I’ve been involved in this since we had to solder actual chips on ECU’s. But hey, what do I know?

Good luck chump.

[Traptalk]

Oh man

Needed a good laugh today

[EvolutionArmory]

And if you’re so smart, why the fuck are you asking us? 🤣🤣

[bb-tt]

I don’t need to have pancreatic cancer to know I don’t want it. Basically all the real reviews for cancer basically say it sucks. I believe them.

My reply is based off of 20 years in the VAG tuning scene. I’ve been involved in this since we had to solder actual chips on ECU’s. But hey, what do I know?

Good luck chump.

For my next trick i am going to install a CAI (guaranteed 15hp it says so on their website)

[Traptalk]

So what sensors does this thing even plug into our of curiosity ?
Maf and map?
Won’t have the biggest results from those alone

So there is no way for a device like this to really advance timing, adjust n75 duty cycle, control the fuel injectors and hpfp?

Seems like to get any of those kind of results you almost will have to jump into every major sensor in the engine bay. Feel like you’d almost be re wiring the engine if were to not code the ecu

Sounds like it’s just tricking the ecu into taking a few more psi of boost maybe

[Traptalk]

It’s also very discouraging that the product page for an Audi A5 tuner shows a pic of a Benz and Vw wagon lol

[Nano909]

I guess I wasted a lot of money buying a K04 and tuning it when I could have just gotten a sick "race chip" smh.

[Traptalk]

I guess I wasted a lot of money buying a K04 and tuning it when I could have just gotten a sick "race chip" smh.

We have to wait for the before & after dragy data to make those assumptions

[ps2cho]

The first and primary problem is OP can’t afford to lose $500. Probably just sell the Audi and buy a Honda because if you can’t do basic research, nor can throw away $500 on a tune, at bare minimum you can’t afford to do a tune.

What if you have a blown water pump right after the tune? How you gonna pay for it??

It’s beyond me the financial choices people make, even worse when it’s UNINFORMED stupid financial decisions...

[EvolutionArmory]

I can’t believe people think that a box that just manipulates data from 2 sensors will work as good as a reflash that has the ability to modify multiple maps in the ECU. This guy is the picture perfect noob these tuning box guys look for.

[NitroViper]

I can’t believe people think that a box that just manipulates data from 2 sensors will work as good as a reflash that has the ability to modify multiple maps in the ECU. This guy is the picture perfect noob these tuning box guys look for.

You think thats all it does lmao... The ONLY thing extra a manual tune can do is adjust specs out of factory default limits. A piggy back cant do that and that is where the limit is. You are so clueless its comical. And I didn't ask for yours or anyone's help in this post. I asked for experiences with the product if anyone had any. Obviously you haven't so you just decided to be a troll.

I guess I wasted a lot of money buying a K04 and tuning it when I could have just gotten a sick "race chip" smh.

You sound just as uneducated as the user above.

[Nano909]

You sound just as uneducated as the user above.

I can't take it seriously since it's coming from a guy with no brain that thinks a "race chip" is better than a real tune.

Install it and come race me. We'll see what's better.

[NitroViper]

I can't take it seriously since it's coming from a guy with no brain that thinks a "race chip" is better than a real tune.

Install it and come race me. We'll see what's better.

Again, you prove you have no reading comprehension... I never said that or half the things you assumed I was saying. What are you CNN?

[bb-tt]

Guess it is time to get the 🍿 ready

[Nano909]

Again, you prove you have no reading comprehension... I never said that or half the things you assumed I was saying. What are you CNN?

Sick deflect. I wasn't expecting more from you. You made a bad choice by buying an inferior product that you claim to be "the same" as a real tune, man up and admit you're not as smart as you think you are.

[NitroViper]

Sick deflect. I wasn't expecting more from you. You made a bad choice by buying an inferior product that you claim to be "the same" as a real tune, man up and admit you're not as smart as you think you are.

I already stated the differences and the shortcomings of a piggyback. No real reason to continue unless for the sake of an argument. I already know the differences, I know which is better. I bought what I bought and asked for people with similar products for their feedback. All I got was trolled by people that cant fathom of someone buying a piggyback over a manual tune.

This conversation is obviously going nowhere so, have fun with it if you want to continue.

[EvolutionArmory]

Dude, the thing plugs into like 3 sensors. The MAP sensor, the cam sensor and the one other sensor on the manifold. All it’s doing is fooling the OEM ECU. It’s a pile of shit in a 500 dollar box.

And it’s made by a bunch of man bun wearing eurotrash scam artists. Great choice you made👍🏻👍🏻

[S-Liner]

Pedal Responce 2.0t


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[Nano909]

I already stated the differences and the shortcomings of a piggyback. No real reason to continue unless for the sake of an argument. I already know the differences, I know which is better. I bought what I bought and asked for people with similar products for their feedback. All I got was trolled by people that cant fathom of someone buying a piggyback over a manual tune.

This conversation is obviously going nowhere so, have fun with it if you want to continue.

It's fun for me. I get to poke and prod you while you continue to justify your purchase. No member here will agree with you on a piggyback because we all know how trashy it is. This is the equivalent to the "jUsT aS gOoD" guys on the AR15 groups. Get your money back and buy a real tune.

[Iceman502]

Man, I haven't seen members pile on a thread like this in a while. As the OP, you are asking for feedback on a product AFTER you bought it and that is just a flawed way to go about things.

On a basic level, the piggyback chip is functioning as an intermediate controller between the sensors and ECU. A very, very precise level of proportional, integral and derivative control could result in the same output as a manual tune, but do you really want to test that? I mean, no one else on this forum is bragging about the gains they've made with this chip.

If you want to be that guinea pig, then all power to you. But don't ask for input after you have bought the product, adding a footnote about wasting a few hundred bucks on this stuff. As pointed out by previous posters, we all suffer in this club together. Fixes aren't cheap, and mistakes might bankrupt you. Coming from an MAE background, you've got to do more research before you pull the trigger. That's not meant to be condescending as I realize many might read this post as newcomers to the game, but you just need to realize it is imperative to always, ALWAYS do research before you invest any capital.

I'd return the piggyback before you damage ancillary components and incur further financial harm (all of the above valued at approx. $0.02 USD).

[EvolutionArmory]

^^^ Apparently telling him to return it and get his money back makes you a moron. If that makes you a moron, I don’t want to be smart. But after all, I am a college drop out who’s not going to sweat 500 bucks like it’s the end of the world 🤣🤣