Supermario.Dave, first off, welcome to the forum. I think your opinion of re-mapping is a little "off course". Re-map Companies such as "Revo" spend vast amounts of time and money to perfect codes, and create new codes for new models. As Zeke and Jon say, you cannot get better value for money tuning. Pound for Pound you will get the best overall engine improvement from a re-map. The companies also offer great aftersales service, and I in particular have had great service from Revo (via Ian @ Powermap), and I dont regret one penny I spent on it. I have been Revo'd for a year and I feel I have already had value for money, everyday extra is a bonus!
Im confused by some of your comments:
1. "years of research,tahst a laugh!" - A great example of "years of research" being true is Revo, who still have not commissioned a full Golf MK5 range due to the model being so new, I hear they are due to launch new codes within the next month or two. The MK5 will have been available on the global market for nearly 2 years then. So the question is...if Revo had instant access to the codes, why wouldnt they sale them from the MK5's day of release?
Also if a company is to survive they need to spend more money researching newer models, and where does this money come from? The re-mapping of older models. They are a business and are entitlted to make a profit.
2."they buy the code or get it on the sly" - Who do they buy it from? Is there some master code maker for all cars that no one seems to know about? Also...even if your crazy X-files theory was correct, and they did buy the codes, they would still have to make back their costs and make a profit, hence the "high" prices.
3."?500 is ridiculous and there seems to be a sort of cartel going on" - I dont see how this can be the case, in fact prices for re-maps can vary for many reasons, some can have differences of over ?300, so how is this a "Cartel".
4."tuners can start from scratch and low and behold they spookily charge the same". See above.
5."?200 for an A2", price is also proportionate to power increase, I doubt very much you will get alot more power from an A2 compared to a 1.8T Golf, thus the price has to be proportionate, in the same way a size 13 trainer will cost more than a size 7. Ultimately you get more for your money. Ironically you have shot your own arguement down in flames by claiming that all Re-mappers charge the same, ?500, but in irony you have found an A2 can be Re-mapped for ?200. Hence your etire line of thought is made a mockery of.
6."its a con,albeit a market driven con" - I fail to see how Re-mapping is a con. It does exactly what you are sold, it tunes your car by a certain amount. People are willing to pay that price for that service, hence there is no con. I think the word you are looking for is "overpriced", and this is entirely your opinion. May I suggest that before you decide to slate the Re-mappers (many of whom frequent this site), that you get your facts straight before making random claims. It sounds to me like you want your car re-maped and cant afford the price youve been quoted, hence you felt the need to slate the idea. Do like the rest of us did, save up, get re-mapped and enjoy....life is too short.
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