I have a stock '17 GTI Sport. I don't like the stock DSG tune and almost always use the paddles. I'm looking at getting a DSG tune and am comparing APR, Unitronic, and Eurodyne. APR is the only one with a dealer close (1.5 hrs away), and I think I can do Unitronic or Eurodyne at home. Can anyone give input? I saw some older posts comparing APR with others and many people recommended Eurodyne over APR because APR still rushed to 6th, but then I also read some posts saying that APR may have adjusted that issue. Can anyone confirm? I don't race my car, just want better performance as my daily driver (hold gears longer, quick to downshift, etc). Also, I'm considering a stage 1 tune, but likely won't do it. I'll likely stay stock and just do DSG tune. Thanks.
I don't have comparative information, but I can share my experience.
I have the APR TCU tune. I use the manual mode, paddles, virtually all of the time. I occasionally use the S mode. Almost never the D mode.
If I were to drive in the automated mode most of the time, I'd use the S mode. The tune takes care of the annoying stock S mode where every gear is to redline. Response time is quick, and it downshifts in the 2.5k rpm range, so you're mostly in the gear you'd want. In D mode, the upshifts are still aggressive to keep the RPMs down. Not as much as stock, but not much different.
Also, in the D and S modes, all of these tunes display the gear; which is much better than the stock U.S. spec (which seems to be "don't tell me anything, just let me press and point.").
For the manual mode, which I prefer, there are two settings that make it worthwhile. I'm sure you can have these settings addressed with any of the available TCU tunes.
a. Kickdown switch: Off. In the stock tune, when you press the go pedal past the detent, it automatically downshifts. I prefer to have it stay in the gear I've chosen.
b. Auto upshift at redline: Off. In the stock tune, the tranny will upshift at redline. I prefer to have it consistently stay in the gear I've chosen. If I hit redline, I'll get the fuel cut-off, so I need to pay attention to that. Nevertheless, I still prefer to know it will always be in the gear I've chosen.
Of course, in the manual mode, if you slow down and eventually stop, it will lower the gear automatically if you don't do anything with the paddles. No change there from stock.
For the manual mode, with any of the tuner options, you can also set a launch mode RPM.
And, with any of the options, left footed braking is enabled, which is another good reason for the TCU tune.
Finally, I think all of them increase clamping pressure, which is helpful should you decide to do an ECU tune or JB1/JB4 setup.
I'm fine with the APR TCU tune; don't have a reason to change it at this time. Even though you don't plan to do an ECU tune right now, it might be good to consider which path you'd take should you eventually do one, and use the TCU tune from the same company.
Best on your decision. Looking forward to your take on the TCU tune.
