Race Chip GTS Black Review

[Kamauxx]

This isn't my review but it was posted elsewhere by a really excited user named PaulStingerGT so I had to share it here.


I was waiting for the Race Chip to be released and I ordered it on the 15th of March. I had some delays in getting my order but Tim Gruber from day one has been outstanding and I will probably give a longer full review of the whole ordeal but all I can say is BUY IT!

If you thought you couldn't love your Stinger any more you are wrong. Install this in 15 minutes (10 of them just waiting per instructions). If you enjoy driving your Stinger "Normal" or if you DO NOT enjoy pulling up to a light and telling someone in a Mustang GT or SRT8 (forget about a regular BMW 335i or G37 too slow) nice car! Is it fast? And they look at you like you are an idiot in a Kia but when the light changes and they are left behind and they try as hard as they can and you walk them they get mad! Then you probably don't want this.

Keeping in mind I have the AWD and it's been rather chilly and rainy in GA lately so it's not exactly fair but what is fair considering they are mostly V8's. But when conditions are right the Stinger on paper is a little slower until the RACE CHIP. Don't waste your time or money with the lower levels get the GTS Black. If you are afraid when you press the accelerator that your KIA will blow up do not get this because it will scare you.

If you are scared of anything of the unknown just stop thinking about it and asking dumb questions about things like tuning and the reputable companies themselves. You may be stupid but don't show it. Do some research on these products, the companies, their reputations, please ask questions to the more informed posters and the manufactures and tuners/installers but stop with the "how does it work" , "it's just snake oil", I'm not going to directly quote some of them not to hurt their feelings and realize people go to forums for various reasons but please read and educate and experience things instead of wasting peoples time with stupid questions. Whoever said there is no such thing as a stupid question is wrong. Anyway I do not have 0-60 times, 1/4 mile, any dyno, or have not even used my torque app set up to compare before and after because I don't need it. What I need is something I can feel and you can feel this. Not just a "seat of the pants" dyno either.

It cracks me up all these people spending $400 for an intake and $1600 for an exhaust (do I wish my Stinger sounded more like my BMW X3 M40i in sport plus mode yes but it probably never will) that's $2000 and your car is much noisier and you get maybe 30hp and 30 pound ft lb and if you have a problem how are you going to take it off every time you visit the dealer. There is one guy out there taking off his whole exhaust to get 400 hp and it sounds like shit. Do not get me wrong I appreciate these risk takers on any new platform who push the envelope and show how far you can go before it breaks. I have modified many cars but always after I had many choices available to me and got much feedback from the early adopters.
Then you learn the week link in the car itself. If you are thinking about this spend the $800 and you will love it. If you don't love it you can sell it here or other forum for probably $600. When I have time I will post some hard numbers for people who really need them but for those who just need some encouragement order it today. Do not get the lower levels. If $200 or $300 more makes or breaks you, you probably shouldn't own a $40,000 to $50,000 car.
If you really can't afford it wait and save for the GTS Black. Also I do not work for Race Chip and I paid for mine. I did receive the $100 Forum discount after I placed my order which shows what a great company they are. Can I or anyone guarantee you will not ever have a problem with your car? No, but Race Chip is a first Rate Company and KIA makes a great product. I have had 5 Kia's and driven the shit out of all of them and never had major problem and minor things were fixed without any issues under warranty. When I mean driving the shit I mean maintaining the vehicle always but literally pushing the car whether driving my 2012 or 13 optima SX 155mph to top speed ( couldn't believe it )or pulling a trailer in my Soul ! or Sorento SX while driving to high rpm's all day.

I will try to update after vacation on true results.

 

[Rufus]

Thanks for posting!

 

[iclicku]

When it comes to reviews, I find it hard to take it seriously when there isn't empirical data to back up claims. I know that stuff is hard to set up get right and I don't expect every customer to do this for everyone's benefit.
It's great to see RC is providing a tangible benefit to the consumer. But the placebo effect is a real thing and I can't help but think it could be a factor without numbers.

 

[Rufus]

The feeling of increased torque has this effect often. The dyno charts for RC products show monster torque increases down low where most people will feel it...It actually looks like the increases are more pronounced under peak than at peak.

 

[iclicku]

The feeling of increased torque has this effect often. The dyno charts for RC products show monster torque increases down low where most people will feel it...It actually looks like the increases are more pronounced under peak than at peak.

As a product manager I would probably focus on the torque numbers as well since that's what we feel in our "butt" dyno.

 

[xot1]

This isn't my review but it was posted elsewhere by a really excited user named PaulStingerGT so I had to share it here.


I was waiting for the Race Chip to be released and I ordered it on the 15th of March. I had some delays in getting my order but Tim Gruber from day one has been outstanding and I will probably give a longer full review of the whole ordeal but all I can say is BUY IT!

If you thought you couldn't love your Stinger any more you are wrong. Install this in 15 minutes (10 of them just waiting per instructions). If you enjoy driving your Stinger "Normal" or if you DO NOT enjoy pulling up to a light and telling someone in a Mustang GT or SRT8 (forget about a regular BMW 335i or G37 too slow) nice car! Is it fast? And they look at you like you are an idiot in a Kia but when the light changes and they are left behind and they try as hard as they can and you walk them they get mad! Then you probably don't want this.

Keeping in mind I have the AWD and it's been rather chilly and rainy in GA lately so it's not exactly fair but what is fair considering they are mostly V8's. But when conditions are right the Stinger on paper is a little slower until the RACE CHIP. Don't waste your time or money with the lower levels get the GTS Black. If you are afraid when you press the accelerator that your KIA will blow up do not get this because it will scare you.

If you are scared of anything of the unknown just stop thinking about it and asking dumb questions about things like tuning and the reputable companies themselves. You may be stupid but don't show it. Do some research on these products, the companies, their reputations, please ask questions to the more informed posters and the manufactures and tuners/installers but stop with the "how does it work" , "it's just snake oil", I'm not going to directly quote some of them not to hurt their feelings and realize people go to forums for various reasons but please read and educate and experience things instead of wasting peoples time with stupid questions. Whoever said there is no such thing as a stupid question is wrong. Anyway I do not have 0-60 times, 1/4 mile, any dyno, or have not even used my torque app set up to compare before and after because I don't need it. What I need is something I can feel and you can feel this. Not just a "seat of the pants" dyno either.

It cracks me up all these people spending $400 for an intake and $1600 for an exhaust (do I wish my Stinger sounded more like my BMW X3 M40i in sport plus mode yes but it probably never will) that's $2000 and your car is much noisier and you get maybe 30hp and 30 pound ft lb and if you have a problem how are you going to take it off every time you visit the dealer. There is one guy out there taking off his whole exhaust to get 400 hp and it sounds like shit. Do not get me wrong I appreciate these risk takers on any new platform who push the envelope and show how far you can go before it breaks. I have modified many cars but always after I had many choices available to me and got much feedback from the early adopters.
Then you learn the week link in the car itself. If you are thinking about this spend the $800 and you will love it. If you don't love it you can sell it here or other forum for probably $600. When I have time I will post some hard numbers for people who really need them but for those who just need some encouragement order it today. Do not get the lower levels. If $200 or $300 more makes or breaks you, you probably shouldn't own a $40,000 to $50,000 car.
If you really can't afford it wait and save for the GTS Black. Also I do not work for Race Chip and I paid for mine. I did receive the $100 Forum discount after I placed my order which shows what a great company they are. Can I or anyone guarantee you will not ever have a problem with your car? No, but Race Chip is a first Rate Company and KIA makes a great product. I have had 5 Kia's and driven the shit out of all of them and never had major problem and minor things were fixed without any issues under warranty. When I mean driving the shit I mean maintaining the vehicle always but literally pushing the car whether driving my 2012 or 13 optima SX 155mph to top speed ( couldn't believe it )or pulling a trailer in my Soul ! or Sorento SX while driving to high rpm's all day.

I will try to update after vacation on true results.

Sorry but how is that a review?

 

[Duce_13]

When it comes to reviews, I find it hard to take it seriously when there isn't empirical data to back up claims. I know that stuff is hard to set up get right and I don't expect every customer to do this for everyone's benefit.
It's great to see RC is providing a tangible benefit to the consumer. But the placebo effect is a real thing and I can't help but think it could be a factor without numbers.

I dont believe it is a placebo effect. But i hope to have the car dynoed soon. Im still waiting on a part to come in, so i can have it installed at the same time and spend less time away from my car.

 

[iclicku]

I dont believe it is a placebo effect. But i hope to have the car dynoed soon. Im still waiting on a part to come in, so i can have it installed at the same time and spend less time away from my car.

Oh I'm not implying that RC is solely relying on placebo to sell their product either.
I like to look at things objectively in order to come to my own conclusion on whether or not I want to buy something like a piggyback tune.

 

[Kazz]

It's WAY too early for objective information about options truly hits the market by which to make decisions. But we can enjoy the early-adopters doing the heavy lifting when it comes to testing new products.

 

[iclicku]

It's WAY too early for objective information about options truly hits the market by which to make decisions. But we can enjoy the early-adopters doing the heavy lifting when it comes to testing new products.

Yep. That's why I'm resisting as long as I can from buying one of these tunes. It's really hard to resist just buying it right now for me.

 

[Kazz]

Yep. That's why I'm resisting as long as I can from buying one of these tunes. It's really hard to resist just buying it right now for me.

I just have to keep telling myself that more will be revealed and that the prices will be the same when that time comes around! LOL

 

[Duce_13]

Oh I'm not implying that RC is solely relying on placebo to sell their product either.
I like to look at things objectively in order to come to my own conclusion on whether or not I want to buy something like a piggyback tune.

Same here but i decided to give it a try since they have the 30 day return policy. Im sure it will take 6 months to a year before initial reviews are completed. However the money was burning a hole in my pocket like when i was 15.

 

[ballistic]

i'm busting in here because i want to chime in on this placebo affect. sal and i were talking about this a few weeks ago. don't listen to people telling you the piggyback chip gives a placebo affect. this is a bad rumor going around started by companies that don't offer piggyback tunes. i've been using tunes for a long long time and i've had plenty of piggybacks as well as full on dyno tunes.

piggybacks are well capable of making your car much faster. i've taken a full second off 1/4 mile times with a piggyback tune and a few basic boltons. i see it on facebook all the time where companies are saying it's only a placebo affect. don't believe that hype.

one thing i am not fully aware of are the changes with ecu technology over the past couple of years since i have not used piggyback tunes in awhile. i think in some cases its possible for the ecu to eventually detune the car back to stock almost like homeostasis in the human body. i have never seen it happen but i hear people talking about it. i'm on the fence whether or not i want to believe it. but you know what they say. seeing is believing. so i will reserve judgement on that until i actually see it happen.

one important thing to keep in mind. if these piggyback tunes only provided a placebo affect or a temporary affect, how long do you think they would stay in business? youtube and forums would be jampacked with people complaining.

 

[iclicku]

i'm busting in here because i want to chime in on this placebo affect. sal and i were talking about this a few weeks ago. don't listen to people telling you the piggyback chip gives a placebo affect. this is a bad rumor going around started by companies that don't offer piggyback tunes. i've been using tunes for a long long time and i've had plenty of piggybacks as well as full on dyno tunes.

piggybacks are well capable of making your car much faster. i've taken a full second off 1/4 mile times with a piggyback tune and a few basic boltons. i see it on facebook all the time where companies are saying it's only a placebo affect. don't believe that hype.

one thing i am not fully aware of are the changes with ecu technology over the past couple of years since i have not used piggyback tunes in awhile. i think in some cases its possible for the ecu to eventually detune the car back to stock almost like homeostasis in the human body. i have never seen it happen but i hear people talking about it. i'm on the fence whether or not i want to believe it. but you know what they say. seeing is believing. so i will reserve judgement on that until i actually see it happen.

one important thing to keep in mind. if these piggyback tunes only provided a placebo affect or a temporary affect, how long do you think they would stay in business? youtube and forums would be jampacked with people complaining.

I agree with what you're saying. I was more implying how placebo is a real thing in the realm of medicine. Didn't make that clear in my argument.

 

[Kazz]

Most, if not all, current and reputable "piggyback" tuners have overcome the shortcomings in previous designs that allowed the car to correct for what the chip was doing, essentially reverting the car to stock. I've not seen that issue in a long time. But yes, it was happening years back.

 

[RaceChip]

Well, we are selling our products for 10 years now, have 100 employees and sell more than 100,000 products per year. Think for yourself whether this would be possible selling a placebo.

And yes, we are not investing all our development time in just getting the maximum power.
What do you want? a) Maximum driving pleasure or b) just a higher hp number at 6000 rpm on a slip of paper?
Honestly, our customers love both Faster acceleration from 0 and smooth & strong power delivery during the whole rpm range - AND a significant increase in hp compared to stock. The RaceChip dyno results show it in black and white.

 

[ihatecats78]

Well, we are selling our products for 10 years now, have 100 employees and sell more than 100,000 products per year. Think for yourself whether this would be possible selling a placebo.

And yes, we are not investing all our development time in just getting the maximum power.
What do you want? a) Maximum driving pleasure or b) just a higher hp number at 6000 rpm on a slip of paper?
Honestly, our customers love both Faster acceleration from 0 and smooth & strong power delivery during the whole rpm range - AND a significant increase in hp compared to stock. The RaceChip dyno results show it in black and white.

Out of curiosity, what device and setting was used to achieve the linked dyno results? i.e. was that a GTS Black on map 7? I'm interested to see what a dyno for map 5 (or sport for those who purchase the GTS with app) would look like.

 

[RaceChip]

Out of curiosity, what device and setting was used to achieve the linked dyno results? i.e. was that a GTS Black on map 7? I'm interested to see what a dyno for map 5 (or sport for those who purchase the GTS with app) would look like.

Yes it was in map 7.

Illustration of Race Mode (map 7 in this example):

Illustration of Sport mode (mapping 5 in this example):

These are NOT Kia Stinger charts. It was a BMW 730d.
That was just an example.

 

[ihatecats78]

Yes it was in map 7.

Illustration of Race Mode (map 7 in this example):

Illustration of Sport mode (mapping 5 in this example):

These are NOT Kia Stinger charts. It was a BMW 730d.
That was just an example.

Awesome.. Thank you for the reply!

 

[I Stung U]

Yes it was in map 7.

Illustration of Race Mode (map 7 in this example):

Illustration of Sport mode (mapping 5 in this example):

These are NOT Kia Stinger charts. It was a BMW 730d.
That was just an example.

but, I seen some guy dyno his stinger with RC and I didn't like the curves, the torque was sharp UP, but then it dived sooner then stock and sooner than JB4 so I wonder why it can't hold the torque a bit longer and slowly die down like stock... JB4 curve is very similar to stock, but just higher numbers, so better curve. I'm on the fence about trying the RC, but it would be lower model, because I don't need too much more. Car is fast and cool stock.. if i go for one, would be lower models just for that that little extra sometimes.. don't want to over work the car, which is a fact you are the more you punish it.