My Jetta is APR'd!!!! and I'm loving it!!

[Creniac]

Put it back to stock mode tonight just to reminisce about the old days (a week ago), only lasted 10 minutes...... put it back to tune real quick!!! ahhhh the difference.

[VW Convert]

so something that can be done via their little computer... why does it cost $1695? i always thought it was an actual chip, hence it cost money to make, but it is just like a computer program... i wonder if i can download it on the internet hahahaha

Let me answer your question with a question. If you spent years learning how to design computer programs, then spent countless hours learning about the complexities of engine management systems and then spent countless hours designing, testing, redesigning and re-testing said program to ensure it is suitable for the purpose, reliable and with no detrimental properties, then spent considerable time and money to put together a network of dealers to sell the program and to provide ongoing support, would you not want to recover your outlay and perhaps even make some profit for your effort?

Computer programs don't appear by magic, they are created and therefore have a cost.

Cheers

George

[sabloke]

The thing that really sucks is that in US you'd only pay less than $700 in our money for the same software...

[guest12345]

Let me answer your question with a question. If you spent years learning how to design computer programs, then spent countless hours learning about the complexities of engine management systems and then spent countless hours designing, testing, redesigning and re-testing said program to ensure it is suitable for the purpose, reliable and with no detrimental properties, then spent considerable time and money to put together a network of dealers to sell the program and to provide ongoing support, would you not want to recover your outlay and perhaps even make some profit for your effort?

Computer programs don't appear by magic, they are created and therefore have a cost.

Cheers

George

I have no problems with companies making a profit, money is what makes the world turn. BUT like sabloke said, it is only $700US in the US. While it is double here!

While $1600 is not "expensive" but eg. APR aren't the only ones with the technology either.

You also have to consider that it is a technology, it is not a tangible item, so dealers in Australia doesn't have to receive "stock", no delivery from the US, hence the price is a bit excessive, when in the US is 1/2 the price.

[Creniac]

Den, good point...... we do pay waaaaaay too much for some things but hey!! what do we do??? deal with it and pay the cash.

[VW Convert]

You also have to consider that it is a technology, it is not a tangible item, so dealers in Australia doesn't have to receive "stock", no delivery from the US, hence the price is a bit excessive, when in the US is 1/2 the price.

And the APR reps in Australia who supply local backup and involvement in product development as detailed on this forum....where do they fit in, or are their services expected as a freebie? An item does not have to be tangible to have a cost.

I have no problems with companies making a profit, money is what makes the world turn. BUT like sabloke said, it is only $700US in the US. While it is double here!

While $1600 is not "expensive" but eg. APR aren't the only ones with the technology either.

So you have other choices, cheaper options may or may not have local support.......the purchaser has the choice.


Cheers

George

[XXX-1.8T]

Someone should buy the US version for $700 and let us know how their car runs

[sabloke]

I'm sorry but don't get it... For $599 in US you get the remap AND support. When APR's rep in Australia sells a map to one of us here I'm pretty sure they don't pay APR US the full price, do they? Talking about local development, what exactly is that? The software is developed by APR for a German engine that is sold worldwide, so I can't really see what the Aussie dealers have to develop down here. Look, I wouldn't mind spending say $900 for it, but since all you get here is one guy's half hour downloading and installing it via the net from US, $1,600 looks quite rich. My 2 cents.

[XXX-1.8T]

mate you dont get it do you!

1. Our fuel is differnt to the US
2. Our weather is differnt as well and changes must be made to the tuning.
3. Our market is small. In the the US there is a population of over 150 million people where a certain % buy VAG cars. Australian market is even smaller so APR, GIAC who ever need to make it worth their while in terms R&D invested into a small market like Australia. Its all about ROI!

If you want to prove me wrong download a US version tune and see how your car runs!

[sabloke]

1. Our fuel is better than theirs. You're right there.
2. How much different is the California or Nevada weather if you like than say South Australia? I doubt it that if you buy the map in Florida you can't drive your VW to New York in the winter.
3. US has a population of 300 million actually. Our market might be smaller but believe it or not the cars imported here are no different to the ones sold in US. Except maybe the bumpers I'm yet to be convinced that APR Oz modifies the software in any way since I don't see why would they have to do it.

I'd love to be able to download APR's software straight form US but we both know that's not going to happen.

[XXX-1.8T]

Dont buy it then.

Why are Ralph Lauren Polo shirts here over $100 and in the US they cost $20? Its all about Demand and Supply. They dont make a US spec shirt do they?

Just so you know and FYI there is a lot of R&D done with APR/Oettinger here in Australia. But it sounds like you have made up your mind. Just dont tune your car or get a Unichip or boost controller and see how your car goes.

[guest12345]

people are over reacting to the comments. I'm sure the Australian dealers do something different to the US, but that doesn't exactly excuse the price tag. The UK who would run exactly the same program as here in Australia (as you used the excuse of fuel being different), and they sell it for 499 pounds (AUD$825). The changes are minimal and when APR developed the program, it would of been for the worldwide audience, as only the US have different fuels, therefore the main office would develop something for the US as well as for the rest of the world (which includes Australia). The europe 499 pounds includes 4 programs instead of just 2 as well.

Using a ralph lauren shirt as an example is quite stupid, when it is a tangible item.

Demand and Supply is total BS to be honest, it doesn't work like that. So you think just because there are more people therefore they can charge less? people in new zealand probably have to pay $4000 by your theory, especially for say Sirocco, as they don't sell them in Australia, and they have to "develop" something just for themselves.

I might still pay up for the tuning, just enquiring why it is so much more in terms of price.

Ps. i'm not saying APR Australia is doing a bad job or anything, just saying what they do is not twice as much as the rest of the world. And from going on APR websites worldwide, prices seem to be much lower.

[guest12345]

a comment more on topic though... just curious for the stage 1 ECU upgrade... here is the scenerio, i actually like driving "normal" on drive just cruising and not revving all the time, would i still be able to do that with the ECU upgrade? from what i've read, they change when the power kicked it, therefore eliminate some of the lag, more torque in the lower range.

I know you can change it back and forth through the cruise control buttons, but ideally i wouldn't want to change it back and forth, as it can't be good for the system.

Basically what i'm trying to figure out is would my D turn into S, and S turn into something even more powerful? just because sometimes i do like crusing without the ride being rough, especially with passengers.

Also does the tuning fix the gear changing of the car? eg. on S, it seems like whenever i go slightly slower, it goes down to gear 1, where normally in a manual, i would just turn on gear 2... once it hits 1, it jumps (hopefully you know what i'm trying to say...)

[kryten2001]

blah blah blah, whine whine whine.

Don't like it? Don't buy it!

Vote with your feet and watch the beauty of market mechanics sort out the local pricing!

Obviously other products are being sourced differently and are run with a very different business model than APRs. If I sold say, 10 tunes a month and I was running a shopfront that paid rent, wages provided support etc, I wouldn't think I was being too rude in expecting $500 profit per tune.

That's a different story than other businesses who are happy to run on lower profit margins and sell the tunes via websites and are single man bands etc.

At the end of the day it really doesn't add up to a hill of beans. All tunes are good, some slightly better than others, some not. Pay the price for whatever you want.

These chip war threads are so childish.

[VW Central]

All tunes are good, some slightly better than others, some not. Pay the price for whatever you want.

These chip war threads are so childish.

Haha, having said that, please enlighten us which tunes are better than others