Whenever you do a pre-packaged tuner whether it's for NA or FI cars you will get about 95% of your full potential. Depending on the type of the tuning device and the type of vehicle you're tuning you can safely estimate that the tuning device included in the kit is costing around $150-350.00. Obviously this depends on the type of vehicle (Nissan's are more exclusive and therefore more challenging than GM's and Ford's.) Also, if the company is supplying a stand alone ECU then the cost of that tuner could be estimated even higher and around the $1,000+ range.
The $150.00-300.00 is just for the tuning and the delivery method, handheld controller, computer program...whatever. Some tuner's are more expensive and can cost upwards of $600.00 or more but generally with those tuner's you get more than just a pre-set tune. That price range does not include any additional fuel pumps, injectors, wiring, fuel rails etc. for the FI guy's.
If you go into a tuner and say "here, tune my car." You can estimate that you're going to spend between $700.00 or more. Obviously this depends on the tuner's experience with your type of car, the tuning device they choose, and again it will depend on the vehicle being tuned. Some tuner's might take 10-12 hours to nail down the tune...some might take longer, some might be even less.
So basically, what you need to ask is yourself is: "Is the extra 5% of power and performance worth an additional $XXX.XX?" The tune that you will receive with your FI or NA tuner from the manufacturer will be safe, reliable, and give good power. But, it is correct that it will not be tailored to that specific vehicle being tuned so it will leave about 5% of the full potential on the table. It all comes down to how much it's worth to you and how much you're willing to spend.
This is the exact reason that we will be offering the tuner kit. This will be the perfect kit for people who want to do their own tuning and it will save them some money up front so they don't have to worry about spending it again later on.
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