Chip Vs. Programmer

stacy's stang · 11-16-2004, 07:40 PM

Ok, I want to get my husband a programmer for his '04 mach 1 for christmas. So I need your help on where to get this and which one is the best. He only has a few mods so I don't know how customized I have to get with the choice. He put in a new shift kit and magnapak catbacks. We've tried to minimize his changes because of the warranty, which is why I want the programmer vs the chip. Any suggestions?

xxxBlakexxx · 11-16-2004, 10:49 PM

Stacy:

What a great wife!

You have quite a few options. The two that I would recomend are the Diablo Preditor and the SCT Hand-held "Flash" Tuner. These are the most capable and the most popular.

SCT:
Arguably designed for the more serious owner. Better customer support. Can store upto 3 custom programs, which allows the user to have separate tunes for things like nitrous and different octane fuel. When you want to make program changes for even simple things like gears, you have to mail it back to an SCT dealer or have them email a tune to you. The additional tunes cost about $75.00. This is a use and forget device. There is no owner intervention with the unit.

Diablo:
Can only have one custom tune. Allows for the owner to interface with the unit. More fun to use. Gives the owner options to change some elements of the tune by himself. Critics of the unit believe that Diablo overstates the adjustments that can be made. In relaity, they are not much, but they are there. Unit looks prettier than the SCT and has a nicer screen.

They both cost about $400. For the SCT, I would buy at www.modulardepot.com. Some of the guys who would be programming the device have some of the fastest Mustangs on the planet. This is a device that can really grow with the user if he ever gets into serious mods.

SCT also has a new X-Calibrator that sell for $375. It is not much different except that it can download the tune in less than a minute instead of taking four minutes. This is a nice feature for those that switch programs all the time.

Stacey, I have had a Diablo Chip, Superchips Tuner, SCT Tuner, and soon I will be getting an SCT 4 Position Chip. The first two I returned and got refunded. I am trading my current SCT tuner for the 4 position chip. The reason is that the chip will allow me to switch back and forth between n/a and nitrous on the fly w/o having to download a new program. I simply only have to change a dial. You see, sometimes your goals changes as the car grows with you.

Based on you original question, it seems like the Diablo pred. might be the best fit for him.

stacy's stang · 11-17-2004, 08:12 PM

Cool! So where do I get the Diablo? Diablo.com? I have tons of catalogs, but am so brain dead tonight I don't feel like thumbing thru them. I'm going to a swap meet in Moultrie GA this weekend. Last year they had tons of stuff new and used, but of course I wasn't looking for programmers then. I guess if there's no dealer there I'll come back and order it on-line.
Thanks for the advice!!!

xxxBlakexxx · 11-17-2004, 11:10 PM

Stacy: This si where I would go:

http://www.partshopper.com/fordmustang/items.asp?CartId={C1DB25C6-70B4-4A76-AD71-CEVEREST822D8C5BAD3}&Mc=DIABLO

I would buy only new and from a dealer if you get one of these. Diablo has stated publically that they DO NOT support these units for upgrades if you did not buy from a dealer.

Randy@ART · 11-18-2004, 07:36 AM

Hi Stacy, I would be hesitant to buy any programmer used. If there is a Diablo dealer there....it's cool! I personally would suggest going to <http://www.diablosport.com/OurDealers.php> and doing a search for a dealer near you. This way if there is a problem it will be easier to have the unit replaced.

Regards,

11-16-2004, 07:40 PM	#1
stacy's stang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 57	Re: Chip Vs. Programmer Ok, I want to get my husband a programmer for his '04 mach 1 for christmas. So I need your help on where to get this and which one is the best. He only has a few mods so I don't know how customized I have to get with the choice. He put in a new shift kit and magnapak catbacks. We've tried to minimize his changes because of the warranty, which is why I want the programmer vs the chip. Any suggestions? __________________ 03 Black GT Convertible, Bassani mufflers, cobra rims, K&N air filter, Boss graphics

11-16-2004, 10:49 PM	#2
xxxBlakexxx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mountaintop, PA Posts: 634	Re: Chip Vs. Programmer Stacy: What a great wife! You have quite a few options. The two that I would recomend are the Diablo Preditor and the SCT Hand-held "Flash" Tuner. These are the most capable and the most popular. SCT: Arguably designed for the more serious owner. Better customer support. Can store upto 3 custom programs, which allows the user to have separate tunes for things like nitrous and different octane fuel. When you want to make program changes for even simple things like gears, you have to mail it back to an SCT dealer or have them email a tune to you. The additional tunes cost about $75.00. This is a use and forget device. There is no owner intervention with the unit. Diablo: Can only have one custom tune. Allows for the owner to interface with the unit. More fun to use. Gives the owner options to change some elements of the tune by himself. Critics of the unit believe that Diablo overstates the adjustments that can be made. In relaity, they are not much, but they are there. Unit looks prettier than the SCT and has a nicer screen. They both cost about $400. For the SCT, I would buy at www.modulardepot.com. Some of the guys who would be programming the device have some of the fastest Mustangs on the planet. This is a device that can really grow with the user if he ever gets into serious mods. SCT also has a new X-Calibrator that sell for $375. It is not much different except that it can download the tune in less than a minute instead of taking four minutes. This is a nice feature for those that switch programs all the time. Stacey, I have had a Diablo Chip, Superchips Tuner, SCT Tuner, and soon I will be getting an SCT 4 Position Chip. The first two I returned and got refunded. I am trading my current SCT tuner for the 4 position chip. The reason is that the chip will allow me to switch back and forth between n/a and nitrous on the fly w/o having to download a new program. I simply only have to change a dial. You see, sometimes your goals changes as the car grows with you. Based on you original question, it seems like the Diablo pred. might be the best fit for him. __________________ "Children should not get cancer, but they do!" Help a child with cancer at www.homeoftheirown.org My Stang: 2000 Mustang GT Vert - Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter; C&L Plenum; BBK 75 mm TB; Steeda Strut Tower Supports; Black "Deep Dish" Bullet Wheels; FRPP 4.10's; Steeda Subframes; SLP Catback & SLP Catted X-Pipe; SCT 4 Position Chip with 3 custom tunes; Steeda CAI; Venom-1000 Nitrous; Roush Stage 3 Body Kit; Bullet Suspension Package (on the way)

11-17-2004, 08:12 PM	#3
stacy's stang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 57	Re: Chip Vs. Programmer Cool! So where do I get the Diablo? Diablo.com? I have tons of catalogs, but am so brain dead tonight I don't feel like thumbing thru them. I'm going to a swap meet in Moultrie GA this weekend. Last year they had tons of stuff new and used, but of course I wasn't looking for programmers then. I guess if there's no dealer there I'll come back and order it on-line. Thanks for the advice!!! __________________ 03 Black GT Convertible, Bassani mufflers, cobra rims, K&N air filter, Boss graphics

11-17-2004, 11:10 PM	#4
xxxBlakexxx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mountaintop, PA Posts: 634	Re: Chip Vs. Programmer Stacy: This si where I would go: http://www.partshopper.com/fordmustang/items.asp?CartId={C1DB25C6-70B4-4A76-AD71-CEVEREST822D8C5BAD3}&Mc=DIABLO I would buy only new and from a dealer if you get one of these. Diablo has stated publically that they DO NOT support these units for upgrades if you did not buy from a dealer. __________________ "Children should not get cancer, but they do!" Help a child with cancer at www.homeoftheirown.org My Stang: 2000 Mustang GT Vert - Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter; C&L Plenum; BBK 75 mm TB; Steeda Strut Tower Supports; Black "Deep Dish" Bullet Wheels; FRPP 4.10's; Steeda Subframes; SLP Catback & SLP Catted X-Pipe; SCT 4 Position Chip with 3 custom tunes; Steeda CAI; Venom-1000 Nitrous; Roush Stage 3 Body Kit; Bullet Suspension Package (on the way)

11-18-2004, 07:36 AM	#5
Randy@ART Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 18	Re: Chip Vs. Programmer Hi Stacy, I would be hesitant to buy any programmer used. If there is a Diablo dealer there....it's cool! I personally would suggest going to <http://www.diablosport.com/OurDealers.php> and doing a search for a dealer near you. This way if there is a problem it will be easier to have the unit replaced. Regards, __________________ Advantage Racing Technologies, LLC

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