[brian60]

A lot of people have been inquiring about wanting a go-to thread regarding the tuners available to us with STs.

This post will be updated as thorough as possible to ensure that all information is accurate regarding each tuner. WORK IN PROGRESS - Don't kill me for errors just let me know If we have to kill or rewrite it for whatever reason I won't cry If any vendors have an issue with this I'll happily revise/remove it

I'll start by saying, there really isn't any one "best" tuner, and for the most part any of the options you choose will get you improvement. The BEST ADVICE I can give about this is to email ALL of them and ask. At the bottom of this post there is a link to another post that outlines the important questions you need to consider/ask.

The only advice I firmly believe is that you should definitely consider running a tune from a tuner instead of running the Cobb OTS tunes, this is just my own opinion, but the OTS tunes are very generic, very lacking in power, and have a lot of reported issues. Plus some tuners offer discounts/free tunes with the AP if you buy from them if you're into that.

In case you're new to all of this:
A "Flash Tune" is a tune you have emailed to you that is just set-up based on a template of some sorts. Some tuners take into account your specific mods for this template and send it to you. Generic version of a tune that usually leaves a little bit of power still on the table.
A "Custom Tune" is a tune you either do in person on a dyno or have emailed to you that is typically configured via datalogs that you send to your tuner and make several revisions to slowly pull out that last 5% of power and really hone your car in exactly how you want it.


Without further ado, here are the tuners (using handheld tuning devices) available to our platform:

Stratified Automotive Controls
Stratified Automotive Controls
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of basic flash tune: $50/Free with purchase of AP3($500)
Price of custom tune: $250
Cost of revisions: $25-50

Common contacts for questions: @[email protected] @[email protected] @Bugasu

Panda Motorsports
https://www.pandamotorworks.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of basic flash tune: N/a custom tunes only
Price of custom tune: $125 stock turbo/$250 big turbo
Cost of revisions: Three (3) free revisions and then it's $45 for revision/retune.

Common contacts for questions: @[email protected]

JST-Performance
https://jst-performance.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of basic flash tune: $100-140 with accessport purchase (Someone want to double check?)
Price of custom tune: $220-270 (lifetime tune)
Cost of revisions: Free with lifetime tune/$75 for fuel upgrade/$95 for normal revisions

Common contacts for questions: @JST Performance

FSWerks
https://www.fswerks.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport and SCT x4
Price of basic tune: $50/$150 if you didn't buy the tuner from them
Cost of revisions: $50

Common contacts for questions: @FSWerks1

Freektune
https://www.freektune.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of basic tune: $75 with purchase of SCT/$100 for OTS plus
Price of custom tune: $170
Cost of revisions: One free with OTS plus/$75/Free with custom tune

Common contacts for questions: @[email protected] @[email protected]

Mountune
mountune Performance Ford Focus, Fiesta & Mustang Parts
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of flash tune: mTune (AP3 included) $790/Normal flash tune with normal AP3 purchase $500
Cost of revisions: Free within program period (45 days from purchase)/$279 outside of program

Ford Racing
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603A-FSTA
Tuning Device: Laptop Installed
Price of flash tune: $795

Unleashed Tuning
Unleashed Tuning- Horsepower is easy, traction is the real problem!
Tuning Device: SCT x4
Price of flash tune: N/a Custom tunes only
Price of custom tune: Free with SCT purchase from them/$150
Cost of revisions: Free for life

Common contacts for questions: @tmcphail

Steeda
https://www.steeda.com/
Tuning Device: SCT x4
Price of flash tune: $99
Price of custom tune: Free with purchase of SCT from them for life/$150 for life
Cost of revisions: Free for life (unless you buy just a single tune)

Common contacts for questions: @[email protected]

Rebel Devil
https://rebeldevil.com
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of flash tune: $60/$499 with purchase of AP3 from them
Price of custom tune: $140
Cost of revisions: $35/Free with custom tune for life

Common contacts for questions: @RebelDevil

Purple Drank Tuning
https://www.pd-tuning.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of custom lifetime tune: $175-300 (must have AP3)
Cost of revisions: Free for life

Livernois Motorsports
https://www.livernoismotorsports.com/
Tuning Device: Custom
Price of custom tune: $599 (Uses their own tuner device)

Tuned by Nishan
https://www.tunedbynishan.com/
Tuning Device: Cobb Accessport
Price of basic flash(base) tune: $50
Price of custom(e)-tune: $250
Cost of revisions: Free with e-tune/$100 for touch-up tune

Before you decide on a tuner, also go and view the list @[email protected] typed up in the other post. These are important questions to ask your tuner: https://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-st-performance/22877-can-t-decide-what-tune-tuner-you-want-go-questions-ask.html

I chose to make this post to better help break down the popular options so people don't have to keep asking "What tuner should I go with?"

Please comment any missed options/information and I'll update accordingly.
I want this post to show no bias towards any options because let's be totally honest, EVERY protuner will give you safe power and can work with you to get you more specifically what you want if you choose. That's the bottom line, if you like a customer service from one company or want to deal with a very specific person then there you go. If not, pick one that looks nice and pull the trigger. They'll take care of you.

 

[brian60]

Tear into it with suggestions/personal info about experiences you'd like to note/etc. Suggestions, I hate this take it down, this is great, etc. is all appreciated! I'll add more as I have time.

I'm sure I'm missing some people or have some prices incorrect. Just hit me and I'll update whatever.
@poletrain hit it buddy


Future additions I want to add when I have time:

Key notes of each option


Vendors feel free to PM me if you want something changed and you don't wanna post it or something.

 

[[email protected]]

Great post, as metioned I am a contact for help with or to answer questions for Freektune. You can private message me here or email me directly at [email protected]

 

[elyk864]

When did the Moderator thing happen or am I just stupid and missed it.

 

[brian60]

When did the Moderator thing happen or am I just stupid and missed it.

Was a today thing actually

 

[TS13FST]

Great list. Hopefully will eliminate a common n00b thread topic.

Suggested additions:
Rebel Devil tuning
FRPP tune

Suggested edits:
Might save some confusion if you create a separate Mountune AP and mTune section. AP offers custom tunes and is full featured. MTune has some limitations and can only run MP or MR tunes. Additional tune prices are different between the two options.

 

[elyk864]

Was a today thing actually

Ok, so I'm stupid. Whew, well at least most of the time.

 

[brian60]

Great list. Hopefully will eliminate a common n00b thread topic.

Suggested additions:
Rebel Devil tuning
FRPP tune

Suggested edits:
Might save some confusion if you create a separate Mountune AP and mTune section. AP offers custom tunes and is full featured. MTune has some limitations and can only run MP or MR tunes. Additional tune prices are different between the two options.

Added those two, I'll have to think of how I want to separate the Mountune. I knew adding Mountune would prove tricky since they are unique in how they operate this

 

[ClarkRU]

Great write up, glad someone made the effort

 

[isomorphZeta]

This is good stuff - thanks for putting this together!

 

[poletrain]

I love it so far. I just talked to my roommate with the WRX who tunes about things that we should really looking for to determine who's most aggressive or least aggressive. He said post data logs and sort through data to determine what's what. I have no problem helping (or heading it completely) in reading through logs with my roommate to give a consensus to give Brian a break if he gets swamped. Aside from price, I'm really looking for empirical data to prove one tuner against another and what one prefers. If someone wants super aggressive or someone who's more concerned with a hands off longevity approach or in between or just most popular, whatever.

He said the following are significant things should be logged. We need to be consistent with what gear is recorded too. 3rd will probably be best, 4th gear is best for dyno (from what I've read), but I'm not about to redline 4th gear on the street. 3rd, while still illegal, is more doable.

O2 sensor AFR correction
Timing advance
Boost
Wastegate Duty Cycle
Intake Temps (and your intercooler size)
Feedback knock and under what conditions/how often. I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, knock is most damaging at WOT compared to at low events with lugging where things are moving slower.
Actual AFR
RPM (hopefully obviously)
Not logged, but rough altitude would be beneficial.
And fuel too

 

[poletrain]

Was a today thing actually

I was actually just looking at your post count today compared to mods and was asking myself when this was going to happen haha

 

[BCE22]

As someone completely new to tuning this is absolutely an amazing thread!!! I can't thank you enough. Sticky it already!!!!!!!!!:in love:

 

[[email protected]]

Right now, SCT has up to $50 off via rebate with the purchase of a SCT device. Offer is good through December 15th, 2017.

Win - Win!

TJ

 

[brian60]

Right now, SCT has up to $50 off via rebate with the purchase of a SCT device. Offer is good through December 15th, 2017.

Win - Win!

TJ

TJ, forgot to ask, but could you double check my pricing in your section? I wasn't totally sure I was understanding properly and don't want to confuse anyone.

 

[HPFocus]

Focus rules


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[[email protected]]

Steeda
https://www.steeda.com/
Tuning Device: SCT x4
Price of flash tune: N/a Custom tunes only (Double check requested here)
Price of custom tune: Free with purchase of SCT from them/$150
Cost of revisions: Free for life

Common contacts for questions: @[email protected]

Yes, with the purchase of a Steeda tuner - it comes with tunes for life for free. For a single tune, we charge $99.00 & for tunes for life (if you already have a unit) then we charge $150.00.

Hope that helps!

Best Regards,

TJ

 

[brian60]

Yes, with the purchase of a Steeda tuner - it comes with tunes for life free. For a single tune, we charge $99.00 & for tunes for life (if you already have a unit) then we charge $150.00.

Hope that helps!

Best Regards,

TJ

Okay, awesome. Is that latest revision accurate I just made?

 

[rspec2014]

Great thread... definitely look forward to researching...

 

[zerocoolxx]

Dizzy tuning?