Ard Tuning's Response

[MattyXXL]

Aside from the Jack-assery from us (not saying that there arent valid claims Im referring "Puerto Rician" comments and such)and the Blatant lies from Lucky, I can sympathize with him a little.. Just a little..

its not easy starting a company from scratch, Luckily for him he already had a reputation in the community. I don't think he was expecting it to take off the way it did and I feel he was in over his head and got really greedy.

Now he has to watch his Rep go down the shitter.

The customer service was great at the beginning, but last time I contacted it was less than a generic answer, she might as well have shot me a middle finger.

The majority of his responses are pure shit and they really make me question his ability to understand the bin files or even the human race in general, does he really think we are that stupid?

But like he said every one tunes differently no two tuners are alike in what they adjust Are there special parameters you see that nobody else can?

but not to add to the bull shit I will tell my story in the ARD review thread like Alain suggested.

With that said, I'm not going to bash the guy and say don't buy his shit publicly (I do tell friends who ask my opinion not to waste their money). But I will step back again and eagerly await another response.

[lookforjoe]

Aside from the Jack-assery from us (not saying that there arent valid claims Im referring "Puerto Rician" comments and such)and the Blatant lies from Lucky, I can sympathize with him a little.. Just a little..

but not to add to the bull shit I will tell my story in the ARD review thread like Alain suggested.

Where is the ARD Review thread? Can't find one searching on VS or SS? Curious to read some specific reviews.

[MattyXXL]

Where is the ARD Review thread? Can't find one searching on VS or SS? Curious to read some specific reviews.

'?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

[Piston Slapper]

Where is the ARD Review thread? Can't find one searching on VS or SS? Curious to read some specific reviews.

'?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

[Commander Riker]

My ARD experience is that I bought a blue tune... and if I had any questions I could ask. I have, and gotten responses, as well as with the K24 wheel I purchased recently. In many cases posted it sounds like a person has an issue with the tune immediately, and want to send it back without troubleshooting... they get a response, but not the one they want, so immediately stop and say "terrible customer service!" Are you concerned that the .bin file was corrupted while it was in the mail?? However, I do recognize that there are those with laundry lists of replaced parts, have done troubleshooting, and those should be addressed by ARD, IMO.

However for those who have had problems... are they doing any data logging to show ARD where exactly the car is or isn't performing? Simply installing the tune and saying "it doesn't achieve X amount of PSI" is not enough information to solve a problem. Many folks are saying "well how do I know he will actually test it or not!" Well how does ARD know you aren't driving a pile of shit or not? Our cars, are old... whether you like it or not, and probably have a few miles on them. Every Volvo I've owned was 200k+ (the VR is at 213k and far from perfect)

For perspective... let me tell you about the time I modified my first Volvo, the 1998 XC. Immediately I installed a manual boost controller (and a boost gauge), and turned up the boost (12 psi I think). Ran great... at first... but quickly and over the next few weeks I experienced stock intercooler hose failures. One after another they popped, except for the one that liked to collapse, but all had to be replaced. Point of this reference is that the manual boost controller didn't break components in my car. I did. Once you leave a stock configuration and start modifying cars, own up to that responsibility, because it definitely exists.

There are some serious issues here, I'm sure... and I'm not trying to discount that fact. I hope it is resolved for everyone, because everyone should have good boost. ARD definitely has some improvements to make, IMO. I've not been very impressed by some of the email responses posted by other members. Yet after reading some posts, it makes me think that some folks should just buy a goddamn corolla. Twice I've gone the route of building my daily driver... and more then twice it's left me stranded.

[Burn-E]

Where is the ARD Review thread? Can't find one searching on VS or SS? Curious to read some specific reviews.

There's a separate thread that started in the "form" of reviews in Off Forum that turned into the typical VS jackassery and was moved to the Politics forum. It contains links to Swedespeed and T5D5 reviews as well.

'?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?203143-Ard-tune-reviews

[Brad850]

Then, from there I'd also charge a rental car fee because I'd need something to drive while this was all going down. Sounds like an agreeable compromise to me.

I get you're frustrated but that's a little crazy.

[Yosser]

Robert, I'm sad that things turned out the way they did - I really am.

I'm not sure of the wisdom of getting involved in this to any further degree, but I can't let this pass:

In my case this is simply not true. The only variables altered were in relation to the boost map.

You'll need a suitable software tool like TunerPro to make the comparison, but knock yourselves out...

Stock: https://www.dropbox.com/s/im15bh78xicz2cs/0261204611_1037357530_SV70R.bin

Blue: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d3nk3vdhebmi5yk/ARD%20Blue%20X70R%20turbo%20manual.bin

[z31jaime]

Have it tested by a third party. Fact of the matter is though as far as a custom tune goes, if it works in any car, it is technically working. Might be a crap tune, not saying it is, but it has been confirmed to work.

I offered to do that, i said i would send it to ANY VS member of his selection to have it tested. That was not acceptable.

How is he going to do that exactly is he going to confirm anything? Does he have a massive garage with a clone of everyone's car to test things in? No. Does plugging it into a computer and comparing the flawedtune.bin on the ECU to the copy he saved when he made flawedtune.bin tell him anything about whether or not the "tune" works properly in an actual vehicle? No.

Not to mention that making up secret policies that add additional costs seems to have become his (or more like his wife's) specialty.

My problem with his company is not the tune or the service... I just want to make that clear. Its like you said the making up secret policies that add additional costs... IF IF IF from day one that $75 per hour testing fee was clear I would have never gotten the tune. because I have to take his word for it.

Others have said a "testing" fee is normal. I can agree with that. BUT most places Make that CLEAR before you get in bed with them. Walk into any car shop and they often have full pages of fees listed on the back of your receipt, so if you have an issue later... they said "it says on your paper work, its $75 for testing." ARD has nothing. They could turn around tomorrow and say........ you know I'm short on my rent........... and the next guy is going to have to pay $150 an hour. And as stated above... he has yet to tell ANYONE exactly what his testing consists of? Is he putting it in a car identical to mine.... or just looking at a computer.

Honestly I could care less if the tune works or not, it was $325, Thats 1 days work for me, its chump change. I've said It before............. 100% could be BOTH my cars have something wrong with them that won't run the tune.... I'LL own that. I just don't like this making up policy now on his part.

Aside from the Jack-assery from us (not saying that there arent valid claims Im referring "Puerto Rician" comments and such)and the Blatant lies from Lucky, I can sympathize with him a little.. Just a little..

its not easy starting a company from scratch, Luckily for him he already had a reputation in the community. I don't think he was expecting it to take off the way it did and I feel he was in over his head and got really greedy.

Now he has to watch his Rep go down the shitter.

The customer service was great at the beginning, but last time I contacted it was less than a generic answer, she might as well have shot me a middle finger.

The majority of his responses are pure stuff and they really make me question his ability to understand the bin files or even the human race in general, does he really think we are that stupid?

But like he said every one tunes differently no two tuners are alike in what they adjust Are there special parameters you see that nobody else can?

but not to add to the bull stuff I will tell my story in the ARD review thread like Alain suggested.

With that said, I'm not going to bash the guy and say don't buy his stuff publicly (I do tell friends who ask my opinion not to waste their money). But I will step back again and eagerly await another response.

#1 my Puerto Rican comment was a sarcastic joke. I apologist to Lucky and anyone else who was offended or upset by it. Sometimes I forget people can't see me LOL when I type stuff.

#2 I agree with everything you said.

[dream3r]

For what it's worth anyone who doesn't think that a non-warranty charge is valid is deluded.

The tunes should speak for themselves.

I'll do a small map pack for anyone interested in finding out what this is all about.

[dimka18]

The problem in this whole thing is that he thinks changing JUST the boost maps and leaving EVERYTHING else stock is okay. And there is 2 logs on SS to prove it. I would understand if the tune was 50 bucks but for 625 bucks i expect to get a decent tune.

[dimka18]

(QUOTED) Honestly I could care less if the tune works or not, it was $325, Thats 1 days work for me, its chump change. I've said It before............. 100% could be BOTH my cars have something wrong with them that won't run the tune.... I'LL own that. I just don't like this making up policy now on his part.

Show off =) That makes one of us. If i made that money in a day i wouldn't even be fighting with ARD. But i dont so i want my moneys worth.

[jschaefer7406]

The problem in this whole thing is that he thinks changing JUST the boost maps and leaving EVERYTHING else stock is okay. And there is 2 logs on SS to prove it. I would understand if the tune was 50 bucks but for 625 bucks i expect to get a decent tune.

Not only that, but for that kind of money, I had better be able to speak with him personally if there are issues. I understand he's a busy guy and "the only tuner in the building", etc. But to pay $625+ for a tune and be forced to deal with his Wife who has no technical info other than "it can't be the tune, Lucky knows what he's doing"?!?

I think that is the biggest issue for most. I agree that a fee of some kind is reasonable, but also agree that it should be disclosed at the time of sale (as Jaime has said repeatedly). People would likely find any issues easier to deal with if he would speak with them personally and hear them out, rather than making excuses about their car not being up to par .

Joe

[dimka18]

Everytime i get an email back its always his wife. Also got the same song from them "its not the tune". I would pay 75$ extra at this point IF he fixed the damn thing. Already down 600 just to make my car run like crap and slower then it was stock.

[Commander Riker]

The problem in this whole thing is that he thinks changing JUST the boost maps and leaving EVERYTHING else stock is okay. And there is 2 logs on SS to prove it. I would understand if the tune was 50 bucks but for 625 bucks i expect to get a decent tune.

I heard about just the boost maps changing and leaving everything else the same. This was concerning to me. Today, I had a discussion with Robert to address these specifically, because if my tune was just a boost map increase, well I wasn't going to be very happy. He took the time to both show me an explain the differences in my stock tune VS the tune for my car... as well as why those changes were made.

In the images below, you are looking at the tuning modifications that were applied to my ECU and are in my car now.

The GREEN denotes stock values... the RED shows the modifications.

FUEL

IGNITION

BOOST SET POINT

FUEL CUT

So, I feel confident and assured that my tune was setup to address multiple variables that I've applied to my car. If you would like me to list out what all I've done with my car and how or why, please ask away.

If you have a tune from ARD, I'm certain that if you contact Robert to setup a time, he will go over your tune in the way he did with me.

Now... I would like to point out an issue I have with the community. It wasn't too long ago that the options for tuning were fairly limited, and process was very much reverse. Case in point, IPD and their stage 3 tune. I'm not knocking the stage 3 tune from IPD... I have ridden in a car that was setup for it, and it's awesome! But that's just it! You built your car around the tune... IE front mount, 18T specifically, and exhaust. I spoke with the owner of that car recently, and he even suffers from boost spikes from time to time. On the contrast, ARD is building the tune to your car... taking a build list, and tailoring the ECU's specifics to best apply to your setup. Robert has been apart of this community for a long time(much longer then me), and he has worked to bring another tuning option to the community.

If there is anything I can do to help anyone's car... brainstorm... troubleshoot... or if you want to just talk about cars, hit me up. I don't know everything, but I like helping people if I can... and sharing information is what this community should be all about. (admittedly, I can be a smart ass sometimes, but you gotta know it's all in good fun) This is how we work together to fix things. We are turning up old cars... and it's not done without work and effort. To the parts of the community who are just repeating other things that you read elsewhere for whatever reason, you aren't doing anything to help anyone. Especially if you are bitching about something you don't even own. You might as well go to youtube and go blather on in the comments section.