next »

[BenjiJosef]

Hey guys,

    So, I'm going to Dent Sport Garage on the 16th for a dyno tune. I'm gonna try to make some video and write up a small review. There isn't a whole lot on this site in regards to reviews of tuners or anything, so I figured I'd try to get some info posted about my tiny bit of experience. So, keep your eyes open, I'll have this info up by the 18th.  

-Benji

[idipskoalmint]

Did Fred finish your car?

[BenjiJosef]

Yes sir. Picking it up on Sunday. 

[Photofixer]

WOOT  .. I bet you missed your scooby.    GOOD JOB FRED!  

[BenjiJosef]

All right gentlemen...So, I've been gone for a real long time because as I'm sure you've heard the car didn't work out so well, and to be honest I was so discouraged I wasn't sure I even wanted to share the tale. I know it's been absolutely forever, but I'm ready to drop the ball on my experience at Dent Sport Garage, and the story that ensued, because I promised I would.

Anyways, I went and picked up the car from Fred during a pretty brutal snow storm and drove it home nice and slow. That car ran pretty decently, it was really loud...but that was to be expected. On the drive home I was almost killed by a big rig, but that is another story entirely.  Anyways, I got it home pretty much without a hitch...other than my liscense plate bracket ripping off. Ugh...One thing after another huh?

I didn't drive it too much in the time period between picking it up at Freds and taking the trip out to Dent, because I didn't want to run it without a proper tune. (It had a safe tune on it from Dom, but I learned my lesson) Anyways....I woke up nice and early and met up with Fluty525 at Crossgates and made the trip to DSG. On the way, we got stuck behind this big freakin' "mobile" home on the back of a big rig for what seemed like an hour....but that is besides the point. I was driving the vehicle up a hill, one of many on the Mass Turnpike, and all of a sudden I lost all power. I started freaking out because even with my foot all the way down I was decelerating. I got the car over to the shoulder and Fluty and I jumped out to see if maybe a vac hose blew off or something. I wasn't sure. After checking it all out, everything looked fine...so I asked Fluty to get in the drivers seat and see if he noticed anything funny. He starts driving and everything is fine...Pretty strange. So, we get heading down the road and on the next big hill...BAM...no more power. I'm starting to think that tranny I got is foobared or maybe the motor is eating itself up...because everything is absolutely fine. Maybe the tune is fudged? I don't...all I knew was I needed to get it to DSG so the big boys could take a look at it. Anyways...to make a long story short....We get the beast to DSG and get it up on the dyno.

Matt is the tuner over there and he is a really nice guy. This post box is freaking out sio I will continue this on another post because I can;t see what I am typing.

[BenjiJosef]

Anyways....Matt is a great guy and told me all about his past tuning experiences and work with subarus. I really like him and would work with him again in the future. He was very professional and a very stand up guy. He pulls my car into the dyno and starts going at it. After yelling at me about my setup and the tranny. He told me that if I didn't get forged valve bodies for the tranny it was going to explode.  Anyways he pulls the car like 3 times or so...and is making funny faces int he car....I'm starting to get worried. After a 4th pull he gets out of the car with a look of dissapointment on his face.

He tells me that the new forged motor is too loud for the stock knock sensor and the car is automatically dropping into fail safe. So, there is no way for him to tune the car. After some discusiion he reluctantly offered to turn off the knock sensor and put on a nice calm tune with only 10psi. I told him that I was okay with it...as long as he was okay with it...and I promised there would be no liability on him if something happened. So, to make a very long story short....the car is running very very timidly without the knock sensor. 

Anyways....for the real review.

Tuner: Matt - Great guy, and very informative. He helped me as much as he could, and even kind of stuck his neck out to me evene though he didn't have to. I would definitely work with him again. 

Shop Crew: The other guys at the shop were all nice guys, one guy was a little quiet and I even heard him make a kind of smart ass remark when he thought I couldn't hear him....but maybe I deserve it. Anyways...nice guys and a decent plave to do business.

Location: It's not too far away, but when you get there....it is a bitch and a half to find. Their sign is about six inches tall and 12 inches wide. I had to call to find the exact building. If your car is low to the ground...be careful of all the potholes in the area, they are brutal.

Tune: I really can't say how his tune was, because I didn't really get one. All I know is that the "safe" tune he gave me eats gas like it's its job...and I'm a bit upset about that.

Price: I was given a safe tune for an hour of dyno time...I guess it was worth it?

Overall: I can't give it an honest review because I didn't even really get a service. I would say I would probabaly go back just because Matt was such a stand up guy. I would say give them a shot. 

[gebby1029]

Glad to hear the car is back on the road but roughly what did you pay for that hour?

[BenjiJosef]

I'll have to dig up the reciept...like $150.