Arin@APR

What's the general consensus on this forum and platform when it comes to tuning? Have you tuned your engine and/or transmission? If you did, why did you do it, and if you didn't, what's holding you back?

We've been tuning Porsches for over 20 years at APR. You can see a list of Porsche Models we tune here. It's not all of them, but a good chunk of models. The software we have is also on sale until the end of October right now.

When it comes to some of the other brands we tune, some of the more high end models, like the Audi RS6 and the Audi RS3 are heavily tuned. On the RS3 front it's hard to find one that isn't tuned. We see the same on some Porsche models, but on others it seems some are hesitant.

So, what's your take on tuning?

Vicbastige

My GTS was tuned... in Zuffenhausen. Understanding there are opinions both diverse and strong on this topic, my view is that (aside from tracking) my car already has way, WAY more performance than any public road can handle. There is also the potential (imagined or real) that your warranty could be impacted by a tune. I also prefer natural breasts and a body un-festooned of ink. YMMV.

adm63

For now I am enjoying my Carrera T stock. I am not against tuning, my C63 is tuned and after some headache getting everything worked properly it really woke the car up. The 911 besides the turbo/turbo s is not about big power to me though. I do like knowing that I have the option to get extra power from this motor if I ever feel the need down the road, but I do worry about changing the feel of the power delivery. I had the newer turbo V8 C63 as well and the stock tune of that motor really made it a less enjoyable drive to me with the way the torque came as a big lump then died towards the top end. Very happy I replaced it with my 992.

malba2366

I didn't tune my 991 C2S, and will not tune my 992 Targa GTS because I do not have any need or desire for the car to accelerate faster than it already does. I also enjoy getting the engine into the higher RPMs, which will be harder to do (without risking legal trouble) on public roads with a tune. I did have your tune on a B9 S5 and it was a very good upgrade.

rasetsu

I've flash tuned every turbo charged car I've owned starting with my 2005 STi, 2011 GTI (APR), 2017 718 Cayman S (APR), and 2018 Macan GTS. If/when I get a 992, I'll probably eventually flash tune that as well. My understanding is that manufacturers build in safety nets into their factory tunes to accommodate inconsistency in the availability and usage of fuels but 93 octane is the standard for premium all around me so I have no concerns about unlocking the potential that are engineered into these drivetrains.

3rdpedal

That is a misconception. The GTS engine is not tuned.

adrianp89

I am open to it, but haven't done it. Your tunes seem pretty mild compared to the competition.

Arin@APR

Safety was a top priority on the 992, but I wouldn't say it's mild. We added a ton of sensors to the engine while tuning and were able to squeeze everything out of it that we could safely.

Tobeit

I think he means that all cars are "tuned" by the manufacturer to their spec. It's a play on words and language. Technically, you could argue a 3rd party flash is a detune/retune of the mfg tune....just messing around.

Vicbastige

3rdpedal

My only point is that Porsche developed the 992 GTS engine first. Then shelved that spec and released a detuned version of the same engine as the S/4S, etc. 2+ years later they released the GTS. They simply lifted their own ECU restrictions from the original engine in releasing the GTS. M-Engineering and APR, etc. tunes only re-realize that for S models and then some, albeit by some other means.

991.1 Guy

The biggest reason not to tune in my mind is the usual lack of supporting modifications that need to accompany the simple tune. Just adding more boost by spinning the stock turbos faster and advancing the timing and extending the injector cycle adds heat and stress that will catch up to the stock components very quickly. Unless you want to do it right with after market supporting modifications, you are inviting problems. Especially if you plan to track the car in warm weather the extra heat generated by a tune will diminish the performance gain in short order. I may be wrong but you asked.

Ray K.

Just got my 2021 C2S this year. Enjoying it stock for now but I will tune it eventually. The car doesn't need more power but it's hard not to want it.

Does APR plan to add more features to the 992 tuning product such as program switching, home tuning (going back go stock), exhaust valves 100% open?

rob.james.arias

I have had the APR tune on my 991.2, 992, panamera, and 718. Mild is not an adjective I would use to describe these tunes. In short the power delivery and boost improvements are dollar for dollar the best money you can spend on this platform for performance. I have tuned every vehicle I own(ed) with APR except my current 992 and the only reason I haven’t tuned my current 992 is I just haven’t had a decent enough business week to support the purchase. Great product, great support, amazing value.

tutis

Tuning your Porsche is not a good idea. If you want more power, trade in your car and get a more powerful one. Porsche will always have something more powerful to sell to you

• Manufacturers invest heavily in engine reliability through extensive testing. This includes running engines for hundreds of thousands of hours under various extreme conditions to identify failure points.
• Unlike manufacturers, tuners generally do not conduct such rigorous testing. They often modify fuel mix, turbo boost, and timing advance, which can compromise engine reliability.
  
• Emission standards are another area where manufacturers invest significant resources. Teams of engineers work to ensure engines meet strict emission guidelines for NoX and CO2.
  
• Tuners, on the other hand, usually prioritize performance over emissions. They often make changes to the ECU maps without considering the impact on emission levels.
  
• The notion that manufacturers use marketing ploys to differentiate car models is incorrect. For example, Porsche installs larger, more expensive turbos in higher-end models like the S and GTS for performance and reliability reasons. They wouldn't spend more on turbos if it were all just a tune away from staggering the performance.
  
• It's misleading to think that an ECU mapper, who may have only spent a few hours on engine tuning, would have more expertise than a team of Porsche engineers who have invested thousands of hours in research and development.