First of all, I did search. The results I found were all saying things like "Get a UTEC or Hydra". Nothing saying why one should be chosen over the other.

What I'm wondering is, since I have yet to see a Hydra in person, if the Hydra is worth upgrading to. I currently have a UTEC and am mostly happy with it. I'm comfortable tuning it myself. However, I'm always looking for something new and different. From what I've heard, everyone seems to be happy with the Hydra. I know it hasn't been out long, but initial results look very good.

I currently have a VF34, STi injectors, and all the other necessities. Future plans are maybe an 18g (but probably nothing bigger) and bigger injectors. Is there any distinct advantage the Hydra has over the UTEC that would make it worth upgrading to?

I appreciate any advice...

disadvantages:
won't pass OBD-II emissions tests.
you have to tune ever aspect, idle, cold start, warm start, everything that the stock ECU controls that you dont have to worry about now.
more money than staying with the utec.


those are the only ones off the top of my head. i'm no expert though. if y'ou are comfortable with tuning EVERYTHING about the ECU then by all means have fun with it :) you'll be rewarded with amazing control over the car and incredible smoothness.

Well, we don't have emissions tests here, so that isn't a problem.

I have dealt with stand alone systems in the past, so I know some of the headaches that come along with them. Those don't worry me.

And, I'm getting a pretty good tax return this year, so I can finally afford to do something to my car...

I had pretty much the same set up as you and then got an 18g with the hydra and it is pretty bad ass. also phil has already worked out most of the kinks, so all you have to do is get it started and then auto tune and you will notice a big difference over the utec. it is smoth as can be and pretty easy to tune.

Later Jeff

is that cosmo from wrxtuners? :)

I say why reinvent the wheel? Don't go standalone until the stock system is inadequate.

exactly, if your happy w/ the utec spend the money else where.

is that cosmo from wrxtuners? :)

I say why reinvent the wheel? Don't go standalone until the stock system is inadequate.

Yeah. Same one. I'm pretty interested in a stand alone just because I want to get away from a piggy back system. I'm happy with the UTEC, but I'm always looking for bigger and better things. Plus, I already have my UTEC sold to a friend, so it won't cost me that much to upgrade. And, Uncle Sam was very good to me on my tax returns, so I'm upgrading everything else I want to upgrade already...

What about the street tuner? It doesn't sound like your system warrants a standalone, but the street tuner would be a step up in control.

What about the street tuner? It doesn't sound like your system warrants a standalone, but the street tuner would be a step up in control.

I'm just not a big fan of the Street Tuner from what I've seen and read. Plus, it's still very new. Even newer than the Hydra. I don't want to get something that hasn't proven itself yet.

Cobb will stand behind it, they always do.

I'm sure they will. I just think the Hydra may be more of what I'm looking for. Plus, I have had numerous discussions with Phil at Element before he left TXS, and I trust him. I'm not saying anything bad about Cobb, I just have never had any experience with them at all.

Plus Element Tuning is close to me...

if your gonna do it go w/ the hydra man. its a nice unit. espically if your near phil, his service is outstanding, and if you have any real problems he will be near by.

is there a noticable power increase from a utec to a hydra?

is there a noticable power increase from a utec to a hydra?

The only thing I think I have seen some people say is that it smooths out the response a bit more. Again, it is a little early for Subura and Hydra around here and I think it will take a little longer for more people actually being able to talk about things like that from direct experience.

offset

That's the main thing I was looking for. The UTEC tends to lag a bit when it crosses over from ECU control to UTEC control, and when it changes from closed loop to open loop fueling.