Has anyone used AWE Tuning? I just picked up my 02 Turbo, and I know almost nothing about these things! John Hennessey (Viper buddy of mine) pointed me to them, and said they were great. I really like the idea of picking up 180hp for a few grand! It seems like the stuff it takes to get there should be really easy to install too! What do you guys think?

PS. I HATE being a noob!

 

AWE Tuning is a reputable company, with good products and a good crew working there. I have bought a few goodies for my S4 from them. I would definitely either work with AWE Tuning or Imagine Auto for tuning my 996TT. I don't think you will disappointed with the service you would receive from other company.

PS Welcome to the Dallas Turbo club Also, don't forget Ruf since you are local.

www.rufautocentre.com
www.awe-tuning.com
www.imagineauto.com

 

Thanks for the info, man!

 

DAMN!!! RUF is incredibly expensive!!! They want $69,500 for 590hp, when other shops are asking $9,995 to $14,500! X one off the list. That sucks too, since they're so close. I actually broke the shifter in a 2003 that I was test driving, and accidentally ended up RIGHT in front of their store the other day. A couple of the guys were nice enough, but one smartass made it a point to teach me how to properly say Porsche. Just what I want to hear when I've just broken someone's $100k car and I'm pushing it down the street in 100 degree weather. Done with my rant.

 

AWE is a great place to do business with. They do a lot of research on the products, they just don't toss things in a car and assume it works. Their exhausts are worth looking into as well, again, quality stuff, not cobbled together.
Bill

 

Sign me up for 180 H.p. for a few grand, I was not aware that existed,
please tell us more!
Marty Kaye
BTW, if Ruf's price is $69,500, you are getting more than an "ECU flash" and a muffler...,
you are paying for a comprehensive, bulletproof, proven package and I know others offer
packages, but Ruf has a different approach. my $.02.

 

Well, 600hp is 180 more than stock if my calculations are correct. Am I right? $9,995 is a few thousand. Am I right? AWE has a 600hp package for $9,995, right? What part of this are you not understanding? I've heard from several people that AWE was a great company, and I'm certain Ruf is too. You say Ruf has a different approach? Maybe, but $50,000 is a whole hell of a lot of different approach! Who cares how you get there if it's done right, when 2+2 still equals 4! If the power is safe and reliable, I'm in! Woodster, while I have you here, I've got some ocean front property in Arizona that I'd like you to take a look at....

 

There are a few more good tuners you should look into before commiting. Go for one which has good after sales and are willing to welcome you back whole heartedly if anything were to go wrong. Your not just paying for the products but for your aftersales.

Try:
Evo Motorsports www.evoms.com (very good after sales and prooven stuff)
Cargraphic (dont know their website address)
Manthey Racing (dont know their website address)

If I were driving a 996tt, I'd go with either Ruf( they warranty their products and have an excellent repo) or EVOMS. Good luck in your search in the quest for more power.

 

I'm in if he turns you down

 

Carrot,

The Ruf 590HP package includes dropping your motor and shipping it to Germany to be massaged by the Ruf techs over there. You get beefed-up internals as part of the package. Obviously this is a bit of overkill, unless you have serious cash floating around. Their "normal" package (550HP) is anywhere from $25-30k depending whether your car is X50 or not. They also have a 520HP package that is a bit cheaper. These packages include an exhaust, and modified K24/K16 turbos. Ruf is also notoriously underrated in the HP package (in other words, your 550 kit will perform as strong or stronger than other 600+ kits). They also include a warranty.

If you went chip+exhaust from another tuner, you are looking at about $6-8k and you should dip into the low-mid 500HP range (again, assuming you are not X50). If you want to get to 600+, you need bigger turbos (eg K24, K24/16 hybrids, or other exotic turbos like Garret hybrids). The $10k AWE kit includes K24's. Therefore, your real comparison between Ruf and AWE should be $25k vs $10k, inclusive. The Ruf has the advantage of the hybrid turbos (quicker spooling), the warranty, and the local tuner. It is also basically a given fact that you can't go wrong with Ruf. The choice is just whether you decide the higher price of the Ruf package is worth it to you.

Alternately, if you decide to keep your stock turbos, you can get a chip from AWE/Evo/IA/etc and an exhaust to go with it. Ruf only offers turbo upgrade packages, so they are commensurately far more expensive (and can't help you if you want to stick with your stock turbos).

You should really decide how extreme you want to go (remember that the higher HP you go, the law of diminishing returns for your dollar comes into play. You will also need to start buying upgraded clutches, headers, intakes, etc for some of the big dog packages). Once you've decided where you want to end up, then you can compare the competing products from different tuners. In other words, you can't really compare the $70k Ruf package with the $10k AWE Tuning package, as they different animals (despite similar "paper" HP levels).

 

heard great things about A.W.E. as a company. not sure if many people run the k24 600hp kit but i might be wrong. i have read about others claiming the k16/k24 hybrids are much better alternative to k24's, in both how quickly they spool and the power they make. LOTS of people seem to be happy with modifications from EVO Motosports / Imagine Auto. also check out Cargraphic, which i believe works in conjunction with famed porsche-tuner RS-Tuning, and always seems to have great results. i would suggest also looking into PSI-Motorsport, which have had great feedback from what i've read. RUF is awesome and some justify the price with the peace of mind, but it is not for all. if it's not for you, that's ok. there are many other venus for making power. 500+hp very easily. 600-700 is quite common. but also comparing horsepower packages on paper isn't the best. there is lots of feedback on positive experiences with the tuners i mentioned, and there are several more to consider. congrats on your new car, there is tons of modification potential.

 

Ruf is not the only one that has Hybrids. We are part of the GIAC family and also have a hybrid that will work in the same capacity and still make the same power. All of our upper end kits utilize some nature of Hybrid. The 600 level can be done with or without them.

Also keep in mind as you upgrade with someone like us you get a credit for what has been spent as you go up the scale. So in other words you are not buying things twice.

 

Wow! Thanks for all of the info, guys!

 

I recommend ImagineAuto. Stephen and crew are top notch and will discuss all your options to make sure you get exactly what you need. Worth a call IMO.

 

BIG CARROT: I did mine differently (and 996tt is much easier and has more options). I like all of
the options listed, from RUF to IMAGINE AUTO. I did mine piecemeal with some used parts
from rennlist classifieds (ECU, Racing Cats, RSR sway bars, etc.), and some new parts, k-16
hybrid turbos, Billstein Coilovers, Eibach springs, ltwt clutch, flywheel assembly, etc. Including
labor I spent alot more than "a few thousand dollars", as has anybody getting 180 Horsepower.
I am giving a realistic point of view (I hope). $20k is easy to spend quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marty K