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Old 09-22-2002, 12:10 PM   #1
suprasingle
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Default link vs utec (pros and cons)

i have the chance to get a link for 900.00 but if the utec is much better i will wait.

thanks randy
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Old 09-22-2002, 01:00 PM   #2
SFastWRX
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If the UTEC is as good as it's supposed to be, someone's going to get a chance to buy a used link for less than that.
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Old 09-22-2002, 01:19 PM   #3
Szm426
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i heard that the UTEC is user friendly unlike the link. Is this correct?
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Old 09-22-2002, 02:18 PM   #4
SFastWRX
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The link is easy to use - I just haven't been able to get it to run as smoothly as the stock computer.
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Old 09-22-2002, 05:25 PM   #5
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That's what's supposed to be so good about the UTEC, as it allows your stock computer to run the monotonous chores, such as cold start, hot start, idle, ect... Thus, allowing you to tune the more FUN things, such as timing, fuel, boost, and almost anything else you want.

When I get a REAL job, I'm def. getting the UTEC.

Blue
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Old 09-22-2002, 05:28 PM   #6
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Link UI owns ... I cant see a telnet interface being as easy to use or showing you as much data at one time

Quote:
Originally posted by SFastWRX
The link is easy to use - I just haven't been able to get it to run as smoothly as the stock computer.
I think thats more of the tuner then the link it self. My car runs like a dream
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Old 09-22-2002, 05:50 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally posted by JenisonWRX
I think thats more of the tuner then the link it self. My car runs like a dream
I won't argue with that.
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Old 09-22-2002, 05:57 PM   #8
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the utec pggy backs a/f.. The link doesnt. So in that respect i would say link, but otherwise, the utec does all the worthless stuff like low load driving. So unless you live at one end of a 1/4 mile track and you work at the other end, go utec.
Ajay
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Old 09-22-2002, 06:17 PM   #9
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Either way the AEM (when/IF it already came out for the rex) will own both of them hands down......Im convinced by my friends' self tuning on his dsm and putting 420 WHP and getting those numbers by 3950rpms....with an FP Green....I wont have it any other way....he explained everything to me, and i was blown away at the smoothness that his car runs at.....

We shall see i guess...

P.S. -- That was all done on 93 pump gas....he never used race fuel or nos....no knock no nothing....just smooth unbelievable power....
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Old 09-22-2002, 06:45 PM   #10
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Please explain. The presence of a different board is simply not worth power in and of itself. If you have total control of fueling, boost and timing in the current set-ups, please explain what else this magical AEM device does that allows you to tune for even more power. Maybe it has other doodads and whatsits but as far as the core functions go i doubt it can make more power.
Ajay
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Old 09-22-2002, 07:49 PM   #11
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Screw them both at this point. I think that the Autronic is going to be the way to go!

The AEM is well worth the going street price ($1500-$1600) because the performance that it delivers is killer...TECIII caliber tuning for the price of a link or Autronic.

They are just lagging big time on releasing it.

If the Autronic is all that it is cracked up to be, that is what I am going with.
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Old 09-22-2002, 08:08 PM   #12
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check out the PossumLINK thread at the top of the factory forced induction forum. it may help to quickly make your decision.

jc
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Old 09-22-2002, 08:52 PM   #13
DannyGT
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Quote:
Originally posted by desiwrx02
Please explain. The presence of a different board is simply not worth power in and of itself. If you have total control of fueling, boost and timing in the current set-ups, please explain what else this magical AEM device does that allows you to tune for even more power. Maybe it has other doodads and whatsits but as far as the core functions go i doubt it can make more power.
Ajay
If you see his dyno charts, and what he has done HIMSELF (no pro's helping him) then you too would be amazed and frankly im sold just by see'n what he has accomplished.....First off I havent done meticulous research on each device (Im lazy like that).....But I thought it was cool how he summed it up as saying for 1200 (what he gets it for) you get a high end system like those of motec's/etc etc. with the datalogger abilities of the ecutek.....All i know is im getting it once its available....I have seen its results first hand...its your opinion, so go with whatever you feel is best....but dont knock it until you've tryed it...(or seen it in action) Because AEM has done an amazing job at delivering a highend system for that price.....
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by JenisonWRX
Link UI owns ... I cant see a telnet interface being as easy to use or showing you as much data at one time
The interface to the UTEC is "VT100" (a dumb terminal), not Telnet. I can't imagine why people would pay money for your "services."
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:08 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jon [in CT]
The interface to the UTEC is "VT100" (a dumb terminal), not Telnet. I can't imagine why people would pay money for your "services."
either way, a better interface would be nice but to not have to mess with idle control etc, that seems like a fair tradeoff.
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:19 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally posted by DannyGT
Either way the AEM (when/IF it already came out for the rex) will own both of them hands down......Im convinced by my friends' self tuning on his dsm and putting 420 WHP and getting those numbers by 3950rpms....with an FP Green....I wont have it any other way....he explained everything to me, and i was blown away at the smoothness that his car runs at.....

We shall see i guess...

P.S. -- That was all done on 93 pump gas....he never used race fuel or nos....no knock no nothing....just smooth unbelievable power....
There are many terms in this post that are unknown to me. What is a 'DSM'. 420 wheel HP at less than 4000rpm on pump 93 gas makes me think that whatever it is its a 800 cubic inch tractor motor with 4 or 5 turbo chargers staged sequentially with a dry-ice/alcohol cooled intercooler(s). What is an 'FP green'? And since it all fits into a car (he drives it and it is smooth) I want one too (but whatever it is, as magical as it sounds I probably can't afford it). But enlighten me.....

And I begin to tire of all this ECU stuff. I want one too. But there are so many now I will never be able to decide which one is best for me. And I'm sure no one will ever do a real side by side, dyno based, independent comparison...... Link, Motec, TEC, UTEC, UNichip(s), Autronic, re-programmed subaru ECU........ and I know there's more out there somewhere...
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally posted by tolnep


There are many terms in this post that are unknown to me. What is a 'DSM'. 420 wheel HP at less than 4000rpm on pump 93 gas makes me think that whatever it is its a 800 cubic inch tractor motor with 4 or 5 turbo chargers staged sequentially with a dry-ice/alcohol cooled intercooler(s). What is an 'FP green'? And since it all fits into a car (he drives it and it is smooth) I want one too (but whatever it is, as magical as it sounds I probably can't afford it). But enlighten me.....

And I begin to tire of all this ECU stuff. I want one too. But there are so many now I will never be able to decide which one is best for me. And I'm sure no one will ever do a real side by side, dyno based, independent comparison...... Link, Motec, TEC, UTEC, UNichip(s), Autronic, re-programmed subaru ECU........ and I know there's more out there somewhere...
DSM = diamond star motors, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser, and Mitsubishi Galant VR4

FP green = a really cool garret hybrid for a DSM, made by forced performance

UTEC is neat cause its made specifically for the wrx (like a link) but also made to live along side the stock ecu and compliment it (unichip tries to, but fails). its powerful enough to be used as a standalone ecu, but the stock ecu does quite a few things well and theres no reason to reinvent the wheel as they say.
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:41 PM   #18
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OK. The UTEC sounds better than the UNICHIP, then there is the Autronic... and some people swear by the Link. And some say that if you have the money the TECIII is best. The UTEC hasn't been out a month. It sounds great.... but how about some statistics... and then there is the Autronic (not out yet I think). And then Vishnu is supposed to be coming out with something great too......

And after doing the post, I figured that whatever a DSM was it was probably a Mitsu since the general consensus seems to be that the Mitsu family of engines are the best platform (from Japan I guess) for getting extreme amounts of HP out of. Now if you start with a domestic V8......
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Old 09-22-2002, 09:44 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by tolnep
OK. The UTEC sounds better than the UNICHIP, then there is the Autronic... and some people swear by the Link. And some say that if you have the money the TECIII is best. The UTEC hasn't been out a month. It sounds great.... but how about some statistics... and then there is the Autronic (not out yet I think). And then Vishnu is supposed to be coming out with something great too......
yup, isnt it nice to have so many choices?

better than none, right?
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Old 09-23-2002, 12:40 AM   #20
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I like my Link. It is a piece of cake to use. I got mine w/ no base map (2.5 RS and at the time no one else was running one) and I had it running like stock in just a couple of weeks from scratch, w/ no help from any professionals or anyone for that matter. It runns totaly smooth.
I must say it is great to have choices though. When I got mine all I really had to choose from was Link or Tec.
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Old 09-23-2002, 12:51 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jon [in CT]
The interface to the UTEC is "VT100" (a dumb terminal), not Telnet. I can't imagine why people would pay money for your "services."
your wife pays me very well thank you

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Old 09-23-2002, 07:55 AM   #22
thejean
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Psychology 101

Lesson 1:
1. If you buy a LINK, you'll swear by it.
2. If you buy a UTEC, you'll swear by it.

Just decide which is the more suitable solution for YOU.

jc
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Old 09-23-2002, 10:38 AM   #23
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So what are you guys with the stand alones doing to measure A/F ? You can't rely on the front O2 sensor because doesnt it poop out when you get to richer mixtures? Last I looked at Autronic prices (earlier this year) a system is going to run about $2500 with the auto tuning feature. Then you need a $1000 wideband to properly use it.
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Old 09-23-2002, 10:47 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally posted by thejean
Psychology 101

Lesson 1:
1. If you buy a LINK, you'll swear by it.
2. If you buy a UTEC, you'll swear by it.

Just decide which is the more suitable solution for YOU.

jc
HOW do I decide. Give me some facts.. Just the facts man.. For me this is what an engine management system should do:

Allow me to upgrade the engine with a better flowing exhaust (uppipe, downpipe, turbo back and muffler), change the turbo, modify the fuel delivery for higher fuel flow necessary for the power upgrade (fuel pump, fuel rails, injectors (and do I need a new fuel pressure regulator?)) and add a better top-mount intercooler (would consider a front mount but I don't want to go through all the mounting issues and I suspect that a top mount is good enough for what I want to do) . Now the goal for all this modification is to add as much street-usable performance as can be done reliably (won't break the engine.. I'll worry about the transmission as a separate issue). I want to be able to drive it daily in various types of normal conditions, I am not after a race-car. It should perform well from off-idle, up-to and above legal speeds and use available pump gas (not sure I want to mess with mixing toulene). It should be as quick and fast as possible without sacrificing normal drivability. Now, after doing the above stuff which engine management system will BEST help me to meet my goals? AND... what is as-good? With dyno sheets as evidence?
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Old 09-23-2002, 11:00 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by tolnep


HOW do I decide. Give me some facts.. Just the facts man.. For me this is what an engine management system should do:

Allow me to upgrade the engine with a better flowing exhaust (uppipe, downpipe, turbo back and muffler), change the turbo, modify the fuel delivery for higher fuel flow necessary for the power upgrade (fuel pump, fuel rails, injectors (and do I need a new fuel pressure regulator?)) and add a better top-mount intercooler (would consider a front mount but I don't want to go through all the mounting issues and I suspect that a top mount is good enough for what I want to do) . Now the goal for all this modification is to add as much street-usable performance as can be done reliably (won't break the engine.. I'll worry about the transmission as a separate issue). I want to be able to drive it daily in various types of normal conditions, I am not after a race-car. It should perform well from off-idle, up-to and above legal speeds and use available pump gas (not sure I want to mess with mixing toulene). It should be as quick and fast as possible without sacrificing normal drivability. Now, after doing the above stuff which engine management system will BEST help me to meet my goals? AND... what is as-good? With dyno sheets as evidence?
Sounds to me like a UTEC will do everything you would like based on your requirements. I think they are even working on low impedance injectors plus and upgrade to a MAP based system. Pretty functional for just about every appliication except race. I mean, look at what Nathan and the guys at TXS are running the UTEC's on. Probably more goodies than most of us will ever have the balls to put on our cars.

As for dyno figures, that won't prove anything because they will depend on how you tune them. Quite frankly, you could probably get an extra 60 or 70 WHP out either setup if you tune to the ragged edge but chances are, you won't want to do that with a daily driver. You're really limited by your mods, not the engine managment system. Possibly a LINK will allow you to tune a little closer to the edge but are you really gonna do that on a daily driver?

If it makes any difference, one of the Subaru Canada Rally cars runs a link and at a recent charity event it ran WOT ALL DAY (10 AM to about 9 PM) at 20 psi in 30+ degree celcius weather with anti-lag running the whole time (also 3" catless exhaust with no muffler). Not one single engine issue. Thing idles like a pig though. If you're going to drive that way you'll probably NEED a link. Otherwise, probably not.

Sorry if i wasn't more help. basically just qualifying my earlier statement.

jc
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