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This topic has been beat to death, but there seems to never be enough information to fill the gaping hole in everyone's curiosity. so I decided to write about my experience.
What you should know.
1- I drive a 2011 manual cc sport.
2- this is only my own experience, my own opinions, and my own results. Each car is different as is each car owner. What I like another may dislike and vice versa.
3- keep it civil. Its just my opinion. Very few of you here can say you have personally owned both tunes on the same exact car, so keep that in mind.
The story.
Like many of you, I read for months to no avail trying to discover the differences between the two. However each thread seemed to contradict the other and fling slander in the face of opposition. To the point where the underlying useful information in these threads was overshadowed by fanbois saying what they own and that they like it..
Well, from reading I decided on revo. From what I heard it was more aggressive and from what I heard it was cheaper but the customer service was terrible. while APR has a ton better features, more usable power, and was more refined for daily driving, all while having better customer service. But was less aggressive and therefore slower. (Again from what I heard).
So I got my sowoprep on and headed to my local tuner to get revo (stage2). To my surprise when I got there, there was no file for my specific ecu (as each is different from the last). So I asked the shop owner what I should do and he said go apr. So I did.
APR impressions- the car really opened up. It spiked 21psi but held 18-19psi strong. the best way I can describe it is the car felt completely stock until you stepped on the gas all the way down. At which point it made a ridiculous amount of power. The powerband felt like it was never ending and always building power as opposed to losing it halfway through. I felt like I ran out of street and rpm before i ran out of power.
Now, unfortunately, that same night I got my apr flash drove my friends revo gti. I prefered how revo messed with the throttle responsiveness. The revo doesnt feel stock. You barely oressed on the pedal and it wanted to lurch forward. Its less refined but had this throttle response to it that I loved.
So I went back to the shop and after much headache, went revo 3 weeks later.
REVO impressions.
Revo feels like a completely different car. Traction is a serious issue, much more so than when I had APR. So much in fact that I spun through the tires in 3rd gear at partial throttle. (Mind you, im on 19" with brand new federal 595ss a decent tire by any stretch of imagination). With that said, I peak 22-23lb and stay there.
The comparison.
Apr feels smooth, factory, and refined. It is in no way slow and is an excellent upgrade for anyone. REVO feels brutal, at 20% throttle the car is already boosting. Thats absolutely nothing, think of barely touching the pedal and boosting. This is bad for people trying to stay out of boost to save gas. (Or atleast a little harder to do compared to stock). But good for people that want their car to feel angry and aggressive. REVO is deffinately more aggressive than apr from a butt dyno perspective hands down. but less livable for traffic circumstances. (Although I get 2 hours of traffic daily on MT revo and have mo complaints).
Revo deffinately boosts more and holds the boost strong (23lbs vs 18lbs)... its fast (if you can even hold the power due to the tires losing it that is.)
Power curves are funny on these two. Apr feels like it builds slower, but keeps building power all the way to redline (and trust me, it feels amazing). Where as revo gives you one solid push the whole way but feels like it dies down earlier.
Think of two marathon runners. One that conserves energy consistently then goes all out at the end of the race, and one that goes 100% from the start and tire's out later. Both are great, but one sounds better to you than the other doesnt it?? Thats the point. Each person will read this and feel a bias towards the one they like. The one that sounds better to you here is the one you should get.
For me? Im keeping revo.
Yes, revo's customer service sucks right now (you have to keep calling sometimes for days) but that is because theyre going through some internal changes ATM.
Yes it is less controllable and more lilely to make my tires and clutch wear prematurely than APR (its hard to keep off the power when its always teasing you at partial throttle).
Yes I need to pay $175 for an SPS (when APR lets you use your cruise control for free). Although, a fully loaded APR ecu is more expensive if not on sale, and the same price as REVO+sps if both are on sale).
And yes, I APR is ALWAYS on sale and has more features. (Revo has 1 sale a year it seems).
But im happy, its all preference. And to me that throttle response means more than switching programs (which ill likely never do). The ecu lockout is BS as dealers can still see and flash over. I not only wanted a faster car, I wanted a more aggressive car. And revo gave me that, apr didnt.
To summarize this in the best way I can possibly describe it.
Both APR and REVO are tigers. Both are of exactly equal speed and strength.
However, one is ready to pounce at any instant (revo)
While the other is relaxed layed waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Theyll both run at dead even speeds, but one gets there faster.
hope you enjoyed!
What you should know.
1- I drive a 2011 manual cc sport.
2- this is only my own experience, my own opinions, and my own results. Each car is different as is each car owner. What I like another may dislike and vice versa.
3- keep it civil. Its just my opinion. Very few of you here can say you have personally owned both tunes on the same exact car, so keep that in mind.
The story.
Like many of you, I read for months to no avail trying to discover the differences between the two. However each thread seemed to contradict the other and fling slander in the face of opposition. To the point where the underlying useful information in these threads was overshadowed by fanbois saying what they own and that they like it..
Well, from reading I decided on revo. From what I heard it was more aggressive and from what I heard it was cheaper but the customer service was terrible. while APR has a ton better features, more usable power, and was more refined for daily driving, all while having better customer service. But was less aggressive and therefore slower. (Again from what I heard).
So I got my sowoprep on and headed to my local tuner to get revo (stage2). To my surprise when I got there, there was no file for my specific ecu (as each is different from the last). So I asked the shop owner what I should do and he said go apr. So I did.
APR impressions- the car really opened up. It spiked 21psi but held 18-19psi strong. the best way I can describe it is the car felt completely stock until you stepped on the gas all the way down. At which point it made a ridiculous amount of power. The powerband felt like it was never ending and always building power as opposed to losing it halfway through. I felt like I ran out of street and rpm before i ran out of power.
Now, unfortunately, that same night I got my apr flash drove my friends revo gti. I prefered how revo messed with the throttle responsiveness. The revo doesnt feel stock. You barely oressed on the pedal and it wanted to lurch forward. Its less refined but had this throttle response to it that I loved.
So I went back to the shop and after much headache, went revo 3 weeks later.
REVO impressions.
Revo feels like a completely different car. Traction is a serious issue, much more so than when I had APR. So much in fact that I spun through the tires in 3rd gear at partial throttle. (Mind you, im on 19" with brand new federal 595ss a decent tire by any stretch of imagination). With that said, I peak 22-23lb and stay there.
The comparison.
Apr feels smooth, factory, and refined. It is in no way slow and is an excellent upgrade for anyone. REVO feels brutal, at 20% throttle the car is already boosting. Thats absolutely nothing, think of barely touching the pedal and boosting. This is bad for people trying to stay out of boost to save gas. (Or atleast a little harder to do compared to stock). But good for people that want their car to feel angry and aggressive. REVO is deffinately more aggressive than apr from a butt dyno perspective hands down. but less livable for traffic circumstances. (Although I get 2 hours of traffic daily on MT revo and have mo complaints).
Revo deffinately boosts more and holds the boost strong (23lbs vs 18lbs)... its fast (if you can even hold the power due to the tires losing it that is.)
Power curves are funny on these two. Apr feels like it builds slower, but keeps building power all the way to redline (and trust me, it feels amazing). Where as revo gives you one solid push the whole way but feels like it dies down earlier.
Think of two marathon runners. One that conserves energy consistently then goes all out at the end of the race, and one that goes 100% from the start and tire's out later. Both are great, but one sounds better to you than the other doesnt it?? Thats the point. Each person will read this and feel a bias towards the one they like. The one that sounds better to you here is the one you should get.
For me? Im keeping revo.
Yes, revo's customer service sucks right now (you have to keep calling sometimes for days) but that is because theyre going through some internal changes ATM.
Yes it is less controllable and more lilely to make my tires and clutch wear prematurely than APR (its hard to keep off the power when its always teasing you at partial throttle).
Yes I need to pay $175 for an SPS (when APR lets you use your cruise control for free). Although, a fully loaded APR ecu is more expensive if not on sale, and the same price as REVO+sps if both are on sale).
And yes, I APR is ALWAYS on sale and has more features. (Revo has 1 sale a year it seems).
But im happy, its all preference. And to me that throttle response means more than switching programs (which ill likely never do). The ecu lockout is BS as dealers can still see and flash over. I not only wanted a faster car, I wanted a more aggressive car. And revo gave me that, apr didnt.
To summarize this in the best way I can possibly describe it.
Both APR and REVO are tigers. Both are of exactly equal speed and strength.
However, one is ready to pounce at any instant (revo)
While the other is relaxed layed waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Theyll both run at dead even speeds, but one gets there faster.
hope you enjoyed!
