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GIAC VS APR Chip?

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apr chip giac
12K views 35 replies 28 participants last post by  modifiedA4  
#1 ·
A friend of mine just got a 04 B5.5 and was considering chipping it. On APR's website I noticed that they say you get 214 hp with the 93 octane chip...what are your opinions on which is a better chip?

TIA
JB
 
#3 ·
Some of the guys at my dealer strongly recommended the APR over GIAC. They say GIAC gives you a little more off the line but doesn't sustain as well at the top end. Also, from what I hear, the GIAC programmer does it for fun on the side and is really a doctor or something, where APR is company dedicated to performance auto, period.

I am planning on APR. Good luck.
 
#4 ·
SpearHeadX said:
Some of the guys at my dealer strongly recommended the APR over GIAC. They say GIAC gives you a little more off the line but doesn't sustain as well at the top end. Also, from what I hear, the GIAC programmer does it for fun on the side and is really a doctor or something, where APR is company dedicated to performance auto, period.

I am planning on APR. Good luck.
Oh this is too funny. Typical salesman BS. No doctor I know of would have the time to do this "on the side".

In any case, both make great chips. I'm going to use GIAC so I can swap my OEM chip out for any dealer visits.


Paul :thumbup:
 
#5 ·
We have many members on CB5 running each chip. Both groups have reported that they are extremely pleased with the selection that they made, and given the choice, would buy the same chip, again. Few members however, have owned and ran both chips. Therefore, an objective response is often difficult to find.

I have an APR chip. The power and torque curves are very strong, and more importantly, very smooth across the entire RPM spectrum. A negative comment that I read from a GIAC owner was that the Torque curve contained a few surge spots.

NUISANCE has ridden in my B5 and commented how he liked APR’s pull (Torque); I was not able to open it up fully. I believe that NUISANCE is running a GIAC chip, so he could provide a decent contrast.

The APR is more expensive but smooth and strong; the GIAC contains (use to at least) a few surge spots, but is also a strong performer.
 
#11 ·
i've had both on my AEB. i couldn't tell you which is better between the two, but i do know they're better than the rest.

i still have both my ECUs; one with GIAC and the other with APR. the only reason the APR stays in the car is because of the switchable programs, and i've got stock, 91 octane, and race programs on it. when i got the GIAC it was only the one program.

IMO, they're the best of what's out there. Hard time picking between them, though...
 
#13 ·
Go with the one that is close to you in case their is any sort of problems.
I have APR DPP which GIAC did not have and is now suppose to offer it im not sure. APR runs specials 2 programs for the price of one and free security lockout. So for me both dealers were the same distance but the DPP from APR and the free 2nd program did it for me :wink:
Now the only problem is the torque steer because it pulls like a race horse.
 
#14 ·
I was out in the Bay Area on business and took my ECU along so I could get it chipped. The decision for me was simple, APR didn't have a program out for my 2001.5 back in October 2001, so I dropped it off at the GIAC dealer.

You can't go wrong with APR or GIAC.
 
#15 ·
quality_sound said:
In any case, both make great chips. I'm going to use GIAC so I can swap my OEM chip out for any dealer visits.
Paul :thumbup:
According to APRs website:
Won't my dealer know that my car is chipped?

Not unless he is specifically looking for it. All APR chips are undetectable to a dealers VAG diagnostic scan tool. The only way they will know that the car is chipped is if the physically open up the ECU itself (which they have no reason to), or drive the car (it makes that big a difference). Likewise, the dealer cannot "flash" reprogram an APR chip, so you need not be worried about losing your precious investment.
From everything i have read thoose are the top 2 like every above said, i would go with whichever one has a dealer close to you. :thumbup:
 
#17 ·
Go with the closest dealer. I chose GIAC since Shine Racing in Walpole, MA is two towns away from where I live.

Power increase is fantastic. Still have a shit-ass :D on my face when I bury the fun pedal.

-Craig
 
#21 ·
vodosoul said:
I just bought an 04 tdi wagon, could someone give me a web site for apr and giac?
don't think APR or GIAC has a TDI program. Try European tuners like Wett.
 
#22 ·
So between APR and Giac, Neuspeed is not even in there? Does anyone have any feedback about that particular chip? I was going headstrong that way, but now I want to check out the APR site. Lemme know if Neuspeed is a good investment or not!
 
#23 ·
SpearHeadX said:
Some of the guys at my dealer strongly recommended the APR over GIAC. They say GIAC gives you a little more off the line but doesn't sustain as well at the top end. Also, from what I hear, the GIAC programmer does it for fun on the side and is really a doctor or something, where APR is company dedicated to performance auto, period.

I am planning on APR. Good luck.
Sorry, funniest post of the night. Granted, Garrett is a certified medical physician, but your post is full of BS.

GIAC is a fly by night software programming company. RIGHT.
 
#24 ·
julianfang said:
SpearHeadX said:
Some of the guys at my dealer strongly recommended the APR over GIAC. They say GIAC gives you a little more off the line but doesn't sustain as well at the top end. Also, from what I hear, the GIAC programmer does it for fun on the side and is really a doctor or something, where APR is company dedicated to performance auto, period.

I am planning on APR. Good luck.
Sorry, funniest post of the night. Granted, Garrett is a certified medical physician, but your post is full of BS.

GIAC is a fly by night software programming company. RIGHT.
Indeed, Garrett actually quit the medical field sometime back and has been 100% chip tuning since. Everyone has a start.

Any which way, both companies are great and a quick search on the forums would have answered this post.
 
#25 ·
Don't be a whiner...

julianfang said:
SpearHeadX said:
Some of the guys at my dealer strongly recommended the APR over GIAC. They say GIAC gives you a little more off the line but doesn't sustain as well at the top end. Also, from what I hear, the GIAC programmer does it for fun on the side and is really a doctor or something, where APR is company dedicated to performance auto, period.

I am planning on APR. Good luck.
Sorry, funniest post of the night. Granted, Garrett is a certified medical physician, but your post is full of BS.

GIAC is a fly by night software programming company. RIGHT.
Glad to hear he is now dedicated, when I first started looking into this, the INSTALLER near me is the one that told me that. He thought it was funny! If he misreprented his product, his bad, not mine. GIAC certainly isn't doing a great job at marketing if their installers don't know the story. Granted, this was 3 years ago...

Everything I've read/heard since still points me to APR over GIAC for smoother sustained power that wins in the end. It's where my money is going.
 
#26 ·
Garrett does DPP now and offers many easily interchangable programs. The surging problem has been eliminated, yet it is still a more "aggressive" chip than APR. Also Garrett offers the Tip Chip and is a better choice if you're planning to go to a big turbo later down the road. It's also cheaper than APR (but def not Wett). I agree that you should go to the closest dealer. No APR or GIAC customer has ever NOT been completely satisfied with their chip.
 
#34 ·
Also Garrett offers the Tip Chip and is a better choice if you're planning to go to a big turbo later down the road.
Although I'm not sure if you're referring to the tip chip or the GIAC ECU reflash but from everything I've heard the tip chip is not going to amount to much if you are going big turbo. Granted, it does help a little. But all it does is raise the line pressure a little bit and shorten the timing cut between shifts and only under full throttle tip shifting. The "superbike like shifting" that they advertise is pretty ambitious if not misleading. If you're going big turbo don't waste your money on it if you think that's all you need. What needs to be replaced is the torque converter as the stock units are not up to the job in the case of a BT or even a strong K04 setup.