9100 vs 1715: Driver impressions after 200 miles.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Simpsonville, SC
9100 vs 1715: Driver impressions after 200 miles.
A while back I posted a question regarding whether the 9100 was a significant improvement over the 1715 (which I already had). . . basically was it worth it to upgrade? Based on all the positive responses in this forum, I purchased a used 9100 (and email kit) from the F150online.com classified and ordered custom programming from Troyer Performance. I also promised to provide my feedback to the forum at that time. Sorry for the delay due to my job travelling, but here are my initial impressions.
First, here is my truck configuration:
'03 F150 S'crew, 4.6L V8 2WD Auto
Computer Code: CFS3
Iceman Intake with AFE filter
Muffler-back replaced with 3" SI/SO Magnaflow and 3" mandrel-bent exhaust pipe
For the 3 tunes, I ordered from Troyer:
87 Oct Performance
93 Oct Tow
93 Oct Performance
I have installed the 93 Oct Performance and driven about 200 miles.
1) I don't have access to a dyno or 1/4 mile times. The "seat-of-the-pants" dyno "feels" like the truck is running stronger with the 9100 than the 1715. Acceleration both from a dead stop and from normal speeds feels much improved. WOT accelleration seems *much* more aggressive with 9100 than 1715. Throttle response seems better, both stepping on and removing foot from accellerator pedal. Truck is just more "driveable" now. IMO, worth the extra $$$ for 9100 compared to 1715 but this is a personal decision for everyone what is the dollar value of driving enjoyment.
2) Truck seems to shift at higher RPM now than with stock 1715 settings, especially at aggressive accelleration throttle. Upshifts are very firm, but not hard. I would call them more "noticeable" than the 1715. (I specified "Firm" on my Troyer questionaire, as opposed to "Hard" or "Stock".
3) Exhaust note seems smoother (may be my imagination). Truck sounds deeper, smoother, and maybe a little quieter. Still muscular (I have Magnaflow SI/SO), but not as "raspy" as before.
4) E-mail kit works flawlessly with programs emailed from Troyer. Download from PC to 9100 is a snap. Loading from 9100 to F150 is identical to 1715 method.
5) I purchased the 9100 second hand from another F150online'er. I asked him to assure me the turner was not VIN locked, but he seemed to think that since I would need to get 3 new "custom" programs from Troyer that this would not be needed. To make a long story short, the tuner did not work when I tried it at first because, guess what? It was VIN locked. BEWARE: If you purchase a used 9100, the original owner must first return his truck to stock in order to un-lock the tuner even though you are installing all new programming.
6) Troyer customer service was excellent. Basically, they said what they would do and then did what they said. In today's business world, this simple ethic seems to be lost on many companies. Also, even though I only purchased the programming from Troyer and not the tuner, they answered my phone questions about my VIN lock error code and agreed to un-lock the VIN lock for me. Then, they only charged me for the shipping of the tuner. Company treats its customers fairly based on my personal experience.
7) Only negative right now is truck seems to downshift very hard when downshifting through 30mph range. I have emailed Troyer about this to see if this can be modified (just today, so no response yet).
I will update with MPG and other impressions as I get more miles on the 9100. However, I must admit I am having a little trouble keeping my foot off of it since it's kind of fun to punch it these days so the MPG numbers might not be so good.
Thanks for all earlier help with my decision to buy the 9100 compared to the 1715. I hope my information here will help others in the same way that I have learned so much from reading all the other posts in this forum.
First, here is my truck configuration:
'03 F150 S'crew, 4.6L V8 2WD Auto
Computer Code: CFS3
Iceman Intake with AFE filter
Muffler-back replaced with 3" SI/SO Magnaflow and 3" mandrel-bent exhaust pipe
For the 3 tunes, I ordered from Troyer:
87 Oct Performance
93 Oct Tow
93 Oct Performance
I have installed the 93 Oct Performance and driven about 200 miles.
1) I don't have access to a dyno or 1/4 mile times. The "seat-of-the-pants" dyno "feels" like the truck is running stronger with the 9100 than the 1715. Acceleration both from a dead stop and from normal speeds feels much improved. WOT accelleration seems *much* more aggressive with 9100 than 1715. Throttle response seems better, both stepping on and removing foot from accellerator pedal. Truck is just more "driveable" now. IMO, worth the extra $$$ for 9100 compared to 1715 but this is a personal decision for everyone what is the dollar value of driving enjoyment.
2) Truck seems to shift at higher RPM now than with stock 1715 settings, especially at aggressive accelleration throttle. Upshifts are very firm, but not hard. I would call them more "noticeable" than the 1715. (I specified "Firm" on my Troyer questionaire, as opposed to "Hard" or "Stock".
3) Exhaust note seems smoother (may be my imagination). Truck sounds deeper, smoother, and maybe a little quieter. Still muscular (I have Magnaflow SI/SO), but not as "raspy" as before.
4) E-mail kit works flawlessly with programs emailed from Troyer. Download from PC to 9100 is a snap. Loading from 9100 to F150 is identical to 1715 method.
5) I purchased the 9100 second hand from another F150online'er. I asked him to assure me the turner was not VIN locked, but he seemed to think that since I would need to get 3 new "custom" programs from Troyer that this would not be needed. To make a long story short, the tuner did not work when I tried it at first because, guess what? It was VIN locked. BEWARE: If you purchase a used 9100, the original owner must first return his truck to stock in order to un-lock the tuner even though you are installing all new programming.
6) Troyer customer service was excellent. Basically, they said what they would do and then did what they said. In today's business world, this simple ethic seems to be lost on many companies. Also, even though I only purchased the programming from Troyer and not the tuner, they answered my phone questions about my VIN lock error code and agreed to un-lock the VIN lock for me. Then, they only charged me for the shipping of the tuner. Company treats its customers fairly based on my personal experience.
7) Only negative right now is truck seems to downshift very hard when downshifting through 30mph range. I have emailed Troyer about this to see if this can be modified (just today, so no response yet).
I will update with MPG and other impressions as I get more miles on the 9100. However, I must admit I am having a little trouble keeping my foot off of it since it's kind of fun to punch it these days so the MPG numbers might not be so good.
Thanks for all earlier help with my decision to buy the 9100 compared to the 1715. I hope my information here will help others in the same way that I have learned so much from reading all the other posts in this forum.
but guess that wont happen now!!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi smprince1,
Thanks for your post - that's helpful information for others who may be considering the switch from the "standard" Superchips performance tuning in the 1715 Micro Tuner over to our in-depth custom performance tuning delivered in the 9100 custom Micro Tuner (or the #6600 multi-program custom chip) - the difference between the 2 is always significant, and well worthwhile for anyone who wants more performance.
Hey Unthias,
Don't feel "bad" about having the 1715 - it's a good unit, there are a lot of them out there in use and their owners are generally very happy with them overall. It does a fine job for what it does, and certainly improves the performance of the truck.
It's simply the difference between a good "standard" performance tune versus having the benefit of our in-depth custom tuning - our custom tuning will always do a better job because we spend a lot more time on it, modifying many more areas that aren't in *anyone's* "standard" performance tuning, and we're doing that for each individual vehicle, one at a time, instead of designing a part or tuning to work on *all* vehicles of a similar type or configuration.
Have fun,
Thanks for your post - that's helpful information for others who may be considering the switch from the "standard" Superchips performance tuning in the 1715 Micro Tuner over to our in-depth custom performance tuning delivered in the 9100 custom Micro Tuner (or the #6600 multi-program custom chip) - the difference between the 2 is always significant, and well worthwhile for anyone who wants more performance.
Hey Unthias,
Don't feel "bad" about having the 1715 - it's a good unit, there are a lot of them out there in use and their owners are generally very happy with them overall. It does a fine job for what it does, and certainly improves the performance of the truck.
It's simply the difference between a good "standard" performance tune versus having the benefit of our in-depth custom tuning - our custom tuning will always do a better job because we spend a lot more time on it, modifying many more areas that aren't in *anyone's* "standard" performance tuning, and we're doing that for each individual vehicle, one at a time, instead of designing a part or tuning to work on *all* vehicles of a similar type or configuration.
Have fun,