i've been wanting to purchase a tuner for a while now and have read countless threads on this forum as well as others. i have narrowed it down to xcalibrator and predator. i'm leaning towards xcalibrator, but is it worth it to wait for xcalibrator 2?

 

I was told that there will be Xcal-3 this Fall.























Just kidding . Just go for it!
YOMAN!

 

I suppose the Xcalibrator 2 is worth waiting for, just as long as you have the Xcalibrator to keep you company while you wait.

 

Personally, I would say it is indeed worth waiting for. I like you am between the Predator and Xcalibrator2.

I am looking at it for its data logging capabilities rather then performance programs. Any program that can be loaded into the Xcalibrator2 can basically be had in other devices including the Predator. A program is a program, of course it depends on who is writing the program, but the fact remains they load into the vehicle computer the same way.

The only thing that sets a side a program is the individual writing the program and not the device (4-bank). The question is WHAT can the device do for you AFTER the program has been loaded into the vehicle computer AND what can it do in real time when it’s most helpful?

Since many handhelds can now communicate with you about OBDII codes it is the data logging capabilities as well as how and when they get communicated to the user that will set one product aside from another.

I say wait for the Xcalibrator2 and see if it will be priced to be competitive and if not you will have the Predator to chose which has yet to be topped for its data logging capabilities as well as pricing. Predators can be had for $400 with custom tunes, so we shall see if SCT is serious about market share…

 

lol YOMAN. i know i can wait and wait and there will always be another upgrade.

i agree jpdadeo, i wish i had the funds for that, but i'm in college right now and money is rather tight. i'm aware or at least i read from mike troyer that if i can upgrade to x2 if i was to purchase x1 for a small fee. i just don't know how much that small fee will be... i see that the x2 is going to be a lot like the diablosport. it looks to have similar features, and if it wasn't for all these post raving about mike troyer's tuning skills, i would have went with the diablo already. it appears that the diablo is a superior unit to the xcalibrator, but mike is a superior tuner to all others and all he tunes is sct products...

01 xlt sport, are you planning on waiting for x2? please let me know why and why you are going with xcalibrator(1 or 2).

thanks anymore input would be appreciated

 

I ordered the X1 from Mike's stage 2 kit last week after having the same concerns you have #LT. I have been waiting for over a year and a half to upgrade my truck. I really want the datalogging but after talking to Mike decided the upgrade from the X1 would be worth it to get my truck where I want it now.

I will ultimately upgrade to the X2 when it is released.

 

Yes, for the moment I plan on waiting for the Xcalibrator2. Price will be what wins me over to the x2 over the Predator. Currently there is only one hand held device that can upload a custom tune, communicate any OBDII codes to the user and data log live as well as record it for later diagnostics. That device is the Predator.

I know SCT has a pro-racer package but it’s a little pricy and you need a laptop to use it, thus not a user friendly device that is plug and play.

The Xcalibrator1 is nothing more then a device to upload tunes into the vehicle PCM. My understanding is it is a 4-bank programmer which is like the Predator and the SCT Micro Tuner except the Xcalibrator1 can be used on CAN equipped vehicles which the Micro Tuner can not.

I am not sure, at least there is no mention in the web write up, that the SCT Micro Tuner can even read OBDII codes. I thought I read before it could, but from the advertisement I did not read that.

So, taking out the SCT pro-racer package it leaves, to my knowledge, one device that can upload a 4-bank program to the vehicle PCM, can read OBDII codes, AND data log Ford enhanced sensors real time as well as log them for later diagnostics on your PC. That would be the Predator which can be bought for $400 which includes a custom tune.

The Predator is one hand held device so it is user friendly. The Xcalibrator2 will have the same capabilities as a Predator and in addition hold 3 custom tunes and allow you to data log with 2 external devices as well (I believe a laptop is needed for external devices).

So, it sounds like the Xcalibrator2 will be a competitive device selling against the Predator. So if the Predator retails for $400 I would hope the Xcalibrator2 will be in the ballpark of that price. I could see it selling for $450 maybe $475 tops with the 3 custom tunes included and ALL cabling for plug and play like the Predator.

Any higher then $475 and I honestly feel they will lose out sells to the Predator, at least in my case they would. However, I would note I am in the wait and see mode to see just what the Xcalibrator2 has to offer…

(EDIT)
It appears the Xcalibrator2 does not have the ability to read OBDII codes. That could be a big disadvantage against the Predator. Well, if that is the case I can’t see the price being more then $425 give or take $10, not without the OBDII code reading…

 

does the diablo predator not cost more? for the unit itself, i found it for 399, then you must pay another 120 for custom tunes. i found this on their site under custom tunes...

4) Is there a charge for Custom Tuning?
Yes, we will invoice you a one-time fee of $120. The service you are paying for is 'Building a Custom Tune' and we will modify that tune until you are happy with it.

A Custom Tune is usually completed within two days after we receive your Original Tune or request for changes (more info below).

am i misunderstanding something? is the 399 charge already included with custom tunes, or just tunes out of the factory that can be downloaded?

please clear this up for me, i'm still pretty new to this.

like you i will probably wait for x2, unless someone can convince me not to. mainly i want to go with the x2 over predator is because i want mike troyer's tunes. i still want to learn about predator before i make a final decision. thanks

 

From my understanding, at least if you buy a Predator from Sal (supporting vendor quoted below) you pay $399 and also receive one FREE custom tune. However it is always good to double check and contact him personally and insure that is indeed the case.

That quote is from:
Sal Mennella
Power Surge Performance

He is a supporting vendor here at F150

Here is a link to the Predator on his website: Predator

Now, in all fairness Mike Troyer sells the SCT Micro Tuner and it comes with 3 custom programs for a list price of $425. So I think it would be fair to say that most these programmers, at least when bought through the supporting vendors of F150, have the custom programs included in the price.

I see you state that the Predator cost $399 plus another $120 for a custom tune as well from another website. VERY IMPORTANT, if you make a decision to buy a product CHECK to see if any of the supporting vendors of F150 sells that product. I feel very confident you will ALWAYS get a better price and overall deal with our vendors, not to mention excellent customer services…


EDIT:
I should have mentioned that if you purchased a Predator from another supplier and then went to Sal at Power Surge Performance for a tune he would charge something like $100 or so for that tune.

 

thanks for the info, i'm 95% sure i'm going with the xcalibrator. i just wish someone knew the price it would cost to upgrade to the x2, if it's too much to upgrade then i will wait untill it comes out, but if it's not that much then i will go ahead and purchase the xcalibrator and upgrade to x2 when it releases.