TheWyvern

Hey guys,

As most of you know the Cobb Accessport v2 for our 8s are made of unobtainium. I have watched eBay where I live for a while now, the buying forums here, and I've checked Jeff's website and there's nothing out there. The threads here on the club forums seem littered with little on alternative tuners and what is out there paints an unreliable picture compared to the glowing praise Cobb and MM's tunes have gotten. What is the outlook in 2020? Has anyone tried an alternative like the VersaTune recently? How feature complete are they when compared to the now erased Cobb tuners?

Thanks everyone as always.

XDragon8

Yep. Agree with all this. I too have checked out everything I could find as options tuning our cars in the year of the Corona! It looks like we have the choice of ME or VT only. Of course we have the BT dongles paired with Torque for monitoring PCM sensors and ability to clear codes but cannot change things at all such as fan temp activation points.
VT appears to be the new kid on the block but its look and functionality seem impressive. If we are to believe the seller then all the bugs are sorted.
ME has been around for years and seems tried and proven. But limited bells and whistles in its presentation to user.
I'm in the boat of looking for ease of functionality to continue enjoying my car with modifying simple parameters that we all know about. Not looking to be a master of fuel tables and other things that don't pretend to understand so wouldn't touch anyway.
I'm leaning towards VT but am waiting for user reviews too. Chuck them on here people, the good bad and ugly.
If you could include initial set up experiences and ease of dealing with sellers that would be most helpful also. Back to work now, there goes my break time!

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

so you didn’t bother scanning and reading the various threads on the first page of this Engine Tuning Software forum area?

XDragon8

Prepared to take half a flame! Read it all ages ago but agree there is not much developing that seems to be going on recently from op.
At this crazy time it's understandable. But end of last year the VT thing looked to going somewhere.
I guess we will know more in time.

TheWyvern

I have, hence the part about the "unreliable picture". I believe someone already laid out the rules of quarantine to you in a previous post. Every flame has to come with something useful.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

It’s not a flame, but rather common sense. If somebody doesn’t point out the obvious fail that you clearly lack discernment for then how will you ever see it for yourself?

However, if you need to get your hand burned to fully understand that’s what touching the hot stove results in then keep it up.

the Cobb is no guarantee of reliability, which is why they’re disappearing since the repair service ended for them.

I don’t even get why or how you came to that conclusion other than it’s what newbs do.

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TheWyvern

Search the threads on series I engine tuning or use Google with a site filter and search for tuners. The Cobb's have gotten consistent praise even if it was from when they were more widely available. The VersaTuner threads have people complaining about bugs and other reliability issues.

How about being additive, Team? What tuner do you use if any? Have you had a good experience with it?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

you’re not a child to be spoon fed, try again ...


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-eng...ning-forum-63/


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TheWyvern

First page dates stop at 2019 and half aren't even on tuners other than the two aforementioned ones. Next page drops at 2016, 2 years before the discontinuation. Want to point out the threads you're seeing? To be clear we're not talking ECU swaps here.

McTinkerson

The equivalent of the Accessport is now VersaTuner. I have been running the software on my ECU for close to a year now with absolutely zero issues. There are some capabilities not yet available but they weren't available on the Accessport either.

Every thread started by Steve@VersaTune is excellent and the support from them is very good. Buy VersaTuner, you will not be disappointed. Then sign up for HP Academy courses or else you'll get yourself in trouble really quickly.

TheWyvern

Thanks I appreciate the recommendation. I saw some threads from 2018 saying there was a rough patch there but I did see more positive things as of late and your post is good news as well. With VersaTuner you can up the OMP activity as well correct?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

wait, is Sir Newbalot asking for “alternatives” or for a “hand-held only device”?

XDragon8

Thanks McTinkerson. Can you give your view on VT ease or otherwise of install. Also is the User Interface smooth enough to use?

Team do you have any experience with either VT or ME? I don't and that's why I read lots! I'm also not into throwing $$ away!

TheWyvern

test your reading comprehension and find out?

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

nice try, but that one’s on you ...