Just thought I'd start a thread for those who purchased this tuner (for the 5.7 Hemi) to post their thoughts/impressions on it.
+1...Interested in some dyno runs or vids too. As much as I trust each of your butt dynos, would love to see some additional data to support the 30hp/tq claims.
Great review thanks!So I got my inTune last night. The install went pretty smoothly. One bit of advice: remove the starter button and use the key to cycle the ignition on and off (as-required any time you do anything with the tuner). When the tuner first did the copying of the factory tune (and I had the starter button in), it prompted me to cycle the ignition off and on. I tried to do it, but nothing happened. All I had were a bunch of warning lights frozen on the dash. It eventually worked like normal, but I definitely wouldn’t want anyone else to risk the immediate heart stoppage I almost experienced.
My first test was with the 87-octane tune and 10% throttle boost. Test drive impression: you could feel the improved performance when really giving it hell from a stop (on a closed-course, naturally), but there really wasn’t much difference around town. The throttle boost was slightly noticeable, but not like on my old ’10 GC SRT8. That felt like it would put you through the back wall of the garage just pulling in the driveway.
My next test was with the 87-octane tune, 15% throttle boost and raised part-throttle upshifts (I can’t remember the number, but it was the first setting). Test drive impression: you could feel the improved performance when really giving it hell from a stop, and out on the highway, but there still wasn’t much difference around town. I definitely didn’t like the part-throttle upshifts. I also noticed that MDS seemed to kick in a little more. I read somewhere, either in this forum or on the Diablosport forum, that the more active MDS could be related to the part–throttle upshift adjustment. MDS doesn’t really bother me, so I don’t care much about that, but I definitely didn’t like the upshifts.
My final test was with the 91-octane tune, 15% throttle boost and stock upshifts. I had a half-tank of 89, so I filled up with 93. My impression: I now feel better about having dropped almost $400 on the inTune (I was starting to have concerns). You can definitely feel the difference on takeoff, on the highway and around town. CMR is where it’s at though, so I’ll be e-mailing Johan for a custom tune as soon as I get an intake.
Final thought: my first introduction to Diablosport was on my old SRT8 with intake, t-stat, x-pipe and CMR tune from Johan. The truck felt like a rocket, and the tune made a night and day difference. You’ll never get those same results on a ’12 5.7 with a canned tune, but the tuner is still worth it IMO. It is not, however, a cure for the woeful factory transmission programming. It just makes it more bearable, and gives you some added performance to boot.
Final tip: I ordered my inTune from AutoAnything. They’re always running a 10 or 15% off special, and free shipping, so my total price was $381.65 (down from the $449 mrsp). I ordered it on Monday and received it last night.