COBB Tune Worth the Money?
 

I got the money but is the COBB tuned by MM even worth it?

I was excited about buying it 2 days ago but MM never got back to me and im hearing 3-4 week wait times for the custom tune.
Is it really worth the $700? I got 2 p-mods on my car (gutted cat and exhaust) and im about to install the RB header.

What will i get out of it?

Thanks for any help

I don't know. Is it?
There is a lot to read about it - especially the point that I do NOT respond to PMs here.
Use the e-mail link on my page if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Considering that you paid the MSRP for the accessPORT which is the same price you'll find everywhere else AND it includes 6 months of tuning I'd say it's worth it.

Hey MM,

I sent you an email as-well (ap@mazdamaniac.com?) - You prob just busy i know people flood your inbox.

Trust me i read up on this but its kinda iffy cause people say get it but then i see people selling it and i cant really tell what it does to be honest or how will i benefit from my $700 investment. I mean thats a lot of money.

I'm also not just talking about MM tune im talking about the COBB in general, i always see people selling it so thats why im asking is the whole-thing really worth it?

Again thanks for any help. Thanks for even reading this.

Considering he's paying $500 for the RB header for 5hp. I don't think he'd think the MM tune is worth it.:uhh:

If you're not seeing the benefit then I'd suggest doing more reading. The COBB allows the tuner to control nearly every aspect of the RX8 that the PCM controls. You're able to eliminate emission check engine lights and run midpipes without a CEL, remove the worthless airpump etc.

You can fully tune the fuel table, injector scaling, fan turn on temps, maf calibration and tons of other stuff. You can raise your rev limiter, raise your idle speed etc.

The accessPORT allows your RX8 to be customized to the way you want it and removes the factory BS that is dictated by politics and compromise.

If you have any plans on tuning your car, the accessPORT is the best solition on the market. You don't get any better than using the stock PCM unless you're wanting to spend thousands on a stand alone and hundreds more on a tuner to tune it for you.

Here are the threads you need to check out:

New MazdaManiac BASE Calibrations
Cobb AccessPORT Discussion

First off shaunv74
I didnt pay anywhere near $550 for the RB header i got a great deal on it and paid next nothing for it.

2nd Flashwing
Thank you for your help, BUT i wont be doing any tuning and don't plan on learning how to do so cause thats where MM comes in. Thats why im asking about this stuff, I'm going to order it tonight but i just wanted laymen terms for what it can do and some more information from other people without reading 50 pages of nothing before dropping $700.

$700 may seem like a little to you but its a lot of money for me.

I've built my entire car off of a personal budget so no, $700 isn't chump change for me. My point was that you're getting some major benefits compared to what you can spend that money on.

People spend $300 or more on intakes, $800+ on cat backs and other items which do little to nothing to enhance the performance of the car. The accessPORT not only will give you power increases but also help your motor last longer by helping to control engine temperatures and increasing your oil meter pump output.

It's probably the best $700 you can spend on your RX8.

That's enough information for me to buy it right there. Everything i got on my car was purchased on a deal. I try not to pay full price when there are always sales or deals going on but it is a lot of money. I could have gotten an AP way back but it didn't have the MM tune and thats where its at. I just wanna know how long the turn around time is for MM tune. Ill spend extra to get pushed to the top of the list.

Anyway thanks Flashwing for all your help!

IMHO, with relatively minimal gains of NA, the Racing Beat re-flash service is a bit more on target when it comes to price Vs. Value. Sure, your gains will not be quite as high (we're talking what, 5-10hp?) but you will save yourself a big $400 in the wallet. With regards to gains I've been too brainwashed with friends hi-horsepower turbo cars and gains possible with those platforms (think 400+ awhp wrx...)

With regards to FI that's a no brainer. AP for sure...

As long as your car is one of those that has a MAF calibration curve that matches the RB test vehicle and you don't bring your vehicle in for dealer service.
And/or if you don't want CELs addressed.
Or don't want any customized features.
Or have an auto.
etc.

You didn't quote the "IMHO" part! lol

-A properly designed intake (with a relatively low turbulence flow/proper ID MAF tube) shouldn't have issues. RB flash is, as far as things are concerned, *universal* enough to cause small variations not to matter, or so I believe. With regards to engine/motor issues; Worst case scenario, ask them to update your ECU if anything feels out of the norm. IMO proper maintenance/close watch will prove more beneficial than purchasing a $700 flashing device that allows you to mask any previous reflashing (with regards to engine life). Racing Beat has a great history with rotaries and tends to be a bit conservative in nature, I trust them as a company who spends much time in R&D

-Deleting a CEL does not justify $400 for me

-Customized features? Racing beat raises redline to 9300 and lowers fan turn on temps, anything more wouldn't justify $400 for myself

-Automatics + Turbos, indeed Accessport proves the way to go; Perhaps scanalyser pro if you are so inclined to tune yourself, then again there is always accesstuner pro for that...

Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this, I'm only a bit educated back from the AP Beta thread and the old RB threads...

Well, then go with racing beat. If you're looking for a one stop source for your tuning needs both now and in the future get the AP. IMHO racing beat's flash is a thing of the past. Don't forget you need to ship your PCM to them to have it flashed.

I was throwing in my .02, OP and I are different people, lol

I agree with i wouldnt pay 700 for 10 horsepower. i prefer buy a body kit or a exhaust or wheels or tires or suspension. iwill consider buy it when i go FI

i bought one. it's not here yet, but i'm hoping mm will use it to tune my car when it does get here.

i'm not sure how long it takes for turn around, but from what i've read, folks who completely follow the directions in the BASE CALIbrations thread receive a first tune within 1 to 3 weeks.

i'm assuming that while you're waiting for mm, you can flash back to stock or over to one of the COBB maps. That is, you don't have to run the base map the whole time. But i'm not sure about that either.

when it comes to this car, i don't look at simply HP/dollar, after all I'm trying to bring out the characteristics of the car that i like best while improving overall performance and longevity. 10-20 good (not spiky) hp for 700 is damn good for this car though.

Tell you what, IMHO, it's well worth it. The only mods I have on my car now are: Short Shifter, exhaust and now MM's basic tune. The tune alone made the world of difference in how my car drives and feels now. Although mine is an '06, it only had 13,500 miles on it when I bought it, so it was still in very good condition. I was amazed..I can't attest to any other tuner as I've gotten mine from MM. I don't see much value in a body kit..it's not going to make my car run better...only look better. Everybody has differing opinions on what's important to them..

my car runs perfect .^ good for you . looks does matter to me .dude

^^ Your avatar makes it look like you're maxing out speed on the RX8. Is that 4th gear top out? or 5th. 137 is my top speed in the 8, but can't remember if that was in 5th or 6th gear. I wouldn't have taken it that high on the redline though :p

I can give you one word of advice. Patience.

The post above makes you come off very impatient. You wonder if something is worth it or not b/c $700 is "a lot of money", but then you say you throw extra money to get bumped to the top of the list. You sort of contradict yourself here and that can only spell out impatience. Be patient with your 8 and you'll get the most out of what you do.

"Fixing" a cel for emmissions can cost WAY over $400 in time and parts. Case in point; I have no cat, no air pump, and will not pass emissions in MD. Fixing these would required aquisition of a cat an putting all that crap back into the car, then taking it all back out, year after year. AP is worth it just for that reason alone.

And for the entertainment value, the ATR+AP is priceless.

So your username, carbonRX8, is derived from the amount of carbon you're RX8 emits?

I thought they actually hook your exhaust up to a measuring tool in MD. Maybe that's just DC?

It emits the same amout of "carbon" either way. Just in the form of unburned hydrocarbons and CO.

I dont know about DC, but most of MD just does the OBDII test (Some counties dont test emmissions at all; i.e., Talbot.) In fact, I just went through it about a month ago and passed with flying colors. They do do the sniff test for cars older than '96 (IIRC). They have the technology, they just dont use it.

Great. Dude. That's why I said "..everybody has differing opinions on what's important to them." Dude. I was not taking a shot at you. Dude.

The Cobb accessport is the only reason my car is running right now. When I bought it, for whatever reason, it didn't have any sort of Engine management. MM got my car running right through the AP.

See this is what i mean.

I just wanted some input from other people. I'm still thinking about getting it but then again the gains are not worth 700...i mean $700 for 10hp i rather get some cosmetic changes cause its not like I'm racing the car were 10hp would really make a difference -- all im saying is i wont benefit much from getting this.

I'm not saying i wont get it, just i rather make my car look more unique than get the AP.

And rotarykillz dont come at me like that, If I'm paying 700 whats another 100 so i don't have to wait 3 weeks to use the product in which it was intended.

All in all I'm glad i started this thread.