Why are Revo (and others) so expensive?

[Jim 1]

Quick question that i'm itching to know. Just been reading on UK MKIV's that a place is having an open day for a tuner who supplies Revo software and is doing 10% off on this open day.

 

But Revo software is about £460 or over £500 for certain applications - what I wanna know is, is Revo actually a custom map for your car or is it a preset off the shelf jobbie and if so, why the hell is it so expensive?

 

From what i've seen / read you can have a custom remap done by a number of specialists for similar amounts of money - and you can also get equally good 'off the shelf' code for cars like the G60 from folks like SNS for about 1/4 of what Revo charge.

 

So why the high costs? Is there something that i'm missing?

 

This is not intended as a bitch (well ok, it is.. I want more power in my TDI but i'll be damned if i'm going to spend £450 for it) but i'm just confused as to how they can charge so much for essentially uploading a new map and sending you on your way!

[bcstudent 0]

Maybe just 'because they can'. I understand they have to recoup the development costs and all but I agree that it's a bit steep.

[Jim 1]

I agree that yeah, there are development costs but it does very much seem like a 'just because we can' as you say - part of me thinks why not sell it for like £200 and you'll sell a hell of a lot more copies? Or do they feel that a high price is a reflection on the quality or something.

 

Its all very confusing.

[corradophil 3]

Revo plug a laptop into the OBD serial plug located in the dash on MK4s and set it up in about 5 mins. Thats definately the case on fly by wire 1.8t engines. So it is an off the shelf code, not custom, I would assume it would be the same on a TDI.

As for the expense, Revo and their competitors appear to charge roughly the same amount so, I suppose whilst people pay this, which plenty do, why lower it.

 

It certainly makes an already quickish 180bhp Leon Cupra a fair bit faster, if I was keeping my Leon I'd definately get it Revo'd. Have a look on http://www.seatcupra.net there is plenty of discussion on chipping on there.

[h100vw 0]

I know that APR are constantly redoing the code in their chips. When I was in Awesome last week I was talking to Jim as he ran my syncro.

 

Using their dyno they have identified an issue which is created by fitting big bore downpipes to the turbo. The increase in flow and subsequent lowering of back pressure has set off some adaptation/self learning process in the ECU. I don't fully understand it but basically the car detunes itself over time as it thinks it has a problem.

 

APR have programmed around this now and updates are on trial. Jim said this update would probably involve recalling and updating the software in effected cars.

 

Most chips are really off the shelf, unless you have done something unusual to warrant a one off remap. They will provide a healthy increase over std output without compromising reliability.

 

The subject of cost is obviously important. G60s have relatively simple ECUs compared to modern motors. Requiring more time and effort to get safe and repeatable results.

 

The market dictates what people will pay. £100 per 10 HP isn't bad from a process that involves no spanners IMO. What would it cost to do that on a VR6?

 

As long as the public are prepared to pay £500, then that'll be the price. If the whole world stopped buying then APR/REVO etc would have to rethink.

 

On a simlar note. Is Windows XP Home with SP2 worth 160 quid? A lot of money for a CD!!!!!

 

I look at it as buying interlectual property, not worth what you pay on the face of it but looking deeper will highlight more what you are getting.

 

My £2 million worth :mrgreen:

 

Gavin

[samm_cvr6 0]

I have also read a fair bit off SCN, seems that you are paying a bit for the name with Revo, like was said, they have to recoup there R&D as well as advertising costs. I still think I would prefer a custom map tho as every engine will have very sibtle differences that probably won't be accounted for by the off the shelf jobbies. From what I have read, the Revo map is a very good all rounder, best gains are in the mid range so it is very useable power.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

My mate's 1.8T (AGU 150hp) was Revo'd in June and it makes a big difference. He's also fitted a bypass and big bore down-pipe. He's currently got 195hp and 224lb/ft and as you say, it's all midrange.

 

I've also seen a plot of a Revo'd K03S anniversary making 239hp with 279lb/ft but that 279 pounds is at exactly 4500rpm, and by 6000rpm the torque has tailed off to 210 pounds.... the torque curve looks like a rounded hill! You can feel it on the road too, nice big surge at 4500 that gradually tails off as the revs climb.

 

The pricing is steep for 5 mins work I must admit, but if you get a big difference you're not going to complain too much. It's better value than £400 for an AmD remap on the VR, which yields 10-15hp at the most.

[Tempest 0]

Zoran's chips, is all I say, off the shelf, if your engine is still standard, otherwise he'll tailor the code to your needs, and a hell lot cheaper than any of these commercial chips.

 

He's now playing with his chip in his new Ibiza 400 Nm 170 bhp toy.

 

Tempest