I've been driving with the OFT for about two weeks using the off the shelf Stage 2, equal length header, E85 tune. (Mods: Perrin intake and silicone tube).
Let me skip right to what you are here for: Yes, get one. Get one today.
With that out of the way I'll give you the run down of the entire process from ordering to mashing on the throttle for the first time.
Ordering:
Easy, quick, hassle free. I ordered on a Friday and got it on Monday.
Initial thoughts:
It's smaller than you think, but big enough to get the job done, what else do you need? It came with the tablet, a PC connection cable and an OBD2 cable. There was also a sheet of paper with a link to watch a video for install, and a sticker. Bonus.
Install:
I watched the install video, and then saved it as a favorite. I drove around until I hit the empty gas tank light pulled up to the closest station to me that has E85 and watched the video and started the process. (Note: Don't fill up first!!!)
I saved my OEM file, then went to flash a new file. I missed the part where I was supposed to download the flash files I wanted onto my OFT so I had no tuned file to flash. Attempt 1 = Failed.
I went home that night, read a little bit more, then watched another of Shiv's videos on how to download your files into the OFT using OpenFlash Manager.
The next day I drove back and had another attempt! It took about 10-12 minutes from start to finish. Then I filled up with E85 (about 10.4 gallons), crossed my fingers, started up and let it idle for a few minutes (as suggested). Had I downloaded the files first it would have been a very easy process.
Results:
Using Torque and a fast OBD2 bluetooth adapter I tried to lay down my fastest 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. My summer tires were on (245/40 ZIIs) but the weather was in the 40's so there wasn't much in the way of hooking up...at all. On a closed course I ran a 7.0s 0-60 as my best and a 15.8 1/4 as per Torque. Not great, but all the times were close and I thought I had a good baseline. I did 6 runs and noted my best.
I then reflashed, filled up, and drove back to my private race track (about 2 miles away). My first run was a 6.7s 0-60, and a 15.4 1/4 mile (as per torque). I dropped another tenth off of both with a second run and considered that progress considering my previous 6 runs were all 7.0+ 0-60. Totally unscientific, but it was in line with what my butt dyno was telling me.
Now rather than a feel of dying out at 7k, the car pulled from 5-7.4k quickly and as if it wanted to keep going, each gear shift at WOT now put you into an actual powerband that you could feel pull you through the revs. It was addicting.
At this point I was probably running about E60 since I still had 2 gallons of 93 gas in the tank. Now that I'm three tanks into my E85 tune I feel like it's gotten even faster. The torque dip has not vanished, but is much less pronounced and I don't feel the need to downshift, especially cruising on the freeway or putzing around town. Above 4.5-5k the car just roars now compared to stock form.
I let a co-worker, who I auto-x with and is a general car nut, drive my car after each mod so he's been in the seat 5-6 times now. He got back after this drive and I asked if he could feel a difference. He said he could feel a "big difference compared to the stock tune" and had a smile on his face while telling me so.
I'm sold on this tune, and it can only get better as I add the OFT header and add the shorter rear gears. If you don't have an OFT, go get one!
