FORD, we want the 345 / 351 tune. Will pay $1500-2000 for the ecu update.

[Ford17]

What would be great I think (or would have been great), is if Ford had some sort of affiliated or endorsed network of secondary dealers for modifications and ECU tunes.

Say one in each state, which would have access to Ford technical and engineering resources for approved upgrades.
Possibly a similar arrangement to the Walkinshaw Performance/HSV set up.

If a customer wanted factory-style improvements, then the work done by such Ford-endorsed workshops would need to be done as per Ford's recommendations and within their set tolerance parameters.
Customers could still choose to go all-out, but on the understanding they would be all on their own.

Warranty would probably still be void, in certain areas at least; but there would at least be peace of mind things are being done correctly.

[stazza]

I want the XR6 Sprint tune in my GS.

[Patty]

Originally Posted by SprintFg

I agree a proper dyne tune will give you more power but the risk of mechanical failure is increased.

The 345/351 tunes were tested on an identical driveline to other Miami cars and ford has provided full warranty. People have said warranty issues is why ford won't do it?? How? Surely a xr8 sprint or gtf is not more likely for warranty issues due to their tunes?

It's tested, ford already warrant this tune.

Going to aftermarket is risk / reward. I'm not sure I'm willing to take the risk, hence the ford option, sure it's only 10-15 kW more but it's full warranty and piece of mind. You cannot have the same confidence in aftermarket tunes, no matter if they make 50rwkw more and the car much faster

Getting this tune is risk/reward as well... I think there have been plenty of arguments on why Ford would never do this.

My question is, why on earth would you pay $2k for an extra 10-15kw?

You could go to a highly reputable tuner who exclusively works on Fords and could give you a basic tune for half of that, or could push it a bit more and get you an extra 50kws.

[lucas2]

Spend the money on a good set of tyres and you'll probably be quicker anyway.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by arronm

Why is everyone always worried about warrenty. It's simple, if you want more power get it tuned. If something breaks just fix it. If your poor and can't afford it, don't get it tuned , simple

Because people who buy new cars are also buying and paying for the warranty, so by voiding this warranty they just wasted a lot of $$ they spend on piece of mind.

Nothing to do with being poor, some people are just a little bit smarter and prefer not to throw money away.

[kazawaki]

I wouldnt give ford one dime,and wont be modifying my Pursuit while in warranty for what that is worth.My money in future will be going to Herrods in one years time,exhaust and flash at least these guys know what they are doing.Even if ford offered it no way would i let some apprentice or some other mechanic on basic wages do any mods to my Ute.

[stazza]

Buy a $100 K&N filter for it and you'll probably pull the same rwkw as a sprint

[arronm]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Because people who buy new cars are also buying and paying for the warranty, so by voiding this warranty they just wasted a lot of $$ they spend on piece of mind.

Nothing to do with being poor, some people are just a little bit smarter and prefer not to throw money away.

Not really. They will still pay for most things just not motor , gearbox, tailshaft and diff etc.

I tune every new car I get. If you get a good tuner the likely hood of issues is low

And of course it's about money. In the end it's always about who pays.

People need to grow some balls

Go hard or go home

[Moose]

Originally Posted by SprintFg

There are plenty of 335 Fpv GT owners or fgx xr8 owners or fpv 315 GS owners that would pay $1500-2000 for a Ecu recalibration to bring up our power to 345kw or 351kw, as long as any remaining warranty on our cars is honoured. These tunes are tested for sprint and GT-f models so I wouldn't see why warranty would be different.

I don't believe this product would degrade a genuine sprint or GT-F as it's essentially just a dealer fitted update, doesn't make our regular GT or xr8 as a genuine GTF or sprint, they would still retain exclusivity, but the overall falcon brand would all be that bit special too. These cars cannot be bought anymore so it would not cannibalise future sales either.

If there is some objection by sprint or GT-F owners, please consider GT r-spec 335kw owners, they are not degraded because the fgx xr8 is the same car or that the xr8 sprint is of superior specification. The GT r spec will still retain its special place in fords stable and respected amongst enthusiasts. R spec owners would likely buy this ecu update also.

Make it a dealer fitted update at service for price premium.

If 1000 fpv/Fgx owners take this up, the is $1,000,000+ Easy revenue for ford with little or no cost, the tunes are already tested/done and it's a 5 minute upload from dealers.. plus 1000+ very very happy owners and a great send off to falcon enthusiasts. Keeps our cars more desirable ahead of the last commodore update to try upstage the falcon.

I'd even suggest to Pass some of this easy revenue to the employees of ford or for a special closing event for Falcons retirement, be legendary.

Hsv in its early days offered the clubsport calibration / headers to regular commodore v8 buyers for a price premium ( I think $2500) it didn't make them club sports. They stopped it as they would cannibalise future hsv sales but ford don't have that problem.

Please reply in this thread if you would take up this option and let's apply some pressure to ford. Also welcome sprint owners or GT-F owners to make any objections if this request is unreasonable, please be mindful of the r-spec limited build and fgx xr8. Also, The money raised by dealers to go towards ford employees or a falcon farewell event.

Many of the fpv owners or fgx xr8 owners would otherwise get a tune from an aftermarket tuner for a similar price and more power, but to have a ford endorsed tune and if the funds went toward the employees or a farewell event, would make it more special and worth the $1500-2000. If ford don't do it, they are just passing this revenue to aftermarket tuners.

Give us the 345 / 351 tune ford.

Unfortunately I don't think the 345/351 tunes will go into the older models prior to the GTF. The ECU is not the same. An upgraded ECU was put into the GTF and FGX models, and I'm not sure if the code would be backwards compatible.

[SprintFg]

Originally Posted by arronm

Not really. They will still pay for most things just not motor , gearbox, tailshaft and diff etc.

I tune every new car I get. If you get a good tuner the likely hood of issues is low

And of course it's about money. In the end it's always about who pays.

People need to grow some balls

Go hard or go home

Mods do bastardise the car a fair bit. of course they will make more power and be faster with a aftermarket tune.

Buying a new car and just tearing up the warranty is not a good idea. What if the car has a genuine factory failed/weak part. The tune acts to makes it fail sooner due to more revs etc Ie a dodgy zf gearbox clutches or supercharger...but because it's tuned the ford factory say no warranty. Why take on the problem?

I will likely tune my car towards end of warranty once I'm confident that I don't have any factory issues with car. But I would tune it tomorrow if ford offered a ecu upgrade and honoured balance of warranty. Easiest money they will ever make, should be available at spare parts for purchase over the counter.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by geobar

The Boss 315/335/345/351 are now proven packages with good after market support.

It's fairly straight forward what you need to do to extract power out of these and what is bullet proof and the limits of engine/transmission/drive/tail shafts/diff/bushes so pick the path you want to take and take it.

I don't think ford offering upgraded tunes will keep you happy, you will hardly feel the difference. I know I wouldn't be happy to spend up to 2k for a minimum result.

Sit down work out what you want from your car and create your own package from the various options you have and go enjoy the car. This is what I'm doing with my XR8 as i'd rather create my own spec. If you select the right parts and tuner warranty will not be an issue. Just don't expect to run 500rwkws with standard driveline then blame Ford for not providing warranty.

I'm just thankful that ford has given us a solid base to start with

George

George has hit the nail on the head.

Initially, I thought the Sprint 8 tune may be a big jump forward, but it does not appear to be. So, I have lost interest in paying $1,800 odd or whatever for the tune and maybe some badges.

Rather, I will spend the remainder of my warranty period of 2 years working what further mods suits my needs, ie driving and thinking about it all.

My car with intercooler and nulon synthetic is plenty fast now, the unhappy owner of a black 2013 GTS will probably be having post traumatic memories of his sinking gut feeling of looking at the rear end of a FGX XR8 pulling away from him yesterday.

And with winter temps and wet conditions with intercooler, my car is already (power wise and traction issues) a one foot in the loopy asylum territory proposition, as it is.

Logic says in 2 years put in a walbro 460 for more revs fuel supply, tune for more revs and power ( and have the 335 OEM tune as an option to load back), diff and suspension upgrade and leave alone.

But every so often a dark thought of injector upgrade, yella terra snout and 58mm pulley kit bubbles up in my thoughts....

As George has said, Ford has given us one hell of a foundation to tinker on.

And what is it about my car being faster than a 2013 GTS when all the testing says that machine at 4.55 secs to 100 should smash my XR8??

[jimt3te50]

Yet to meet the person who drives a tuned one after getting out of a stock one and says "yeah, nah..."

[JC]

Originally Posted by mr_xlr8

From what I have seen in these 351 GTF and FGX models the tune would be a step back over what pro drive flashed into my car in 2011.

Perfectly happy with my GTP as it puts out better IMHO

I wouldn't mind the launch control strategy, but would keep the rest of my 376rwkw tune

[au2000]

Originally Posted by jimt3te50

Yet to meet the person who drives a tuned one after getting out of a stock one and says "yeah, nah..."

Lol just getting the intercooler gave me a shock lol, think my mrs is hating the idea of a tune now!

[DrSnooper]

I have a conservative tune on my Rspec and I wouldn't change it for a GT-F tune, great to drive in traffic but when you get into it, it's scary enough for me.