AEM vs Hondata

[TedR719]

Well Im about to take the dive and get a standalone for the hatchback. I will have my fields vtec controller for sale very soon (after the club clash) and a civic type-r intake cam to help me cover some of the cost. My goal is to slowly built the hatch so I can boost the sumofabich. But for now I will get her ready as far as the fuel manegment goes and the internals.

I really wanna lean how to tune the car and I'm thinking of going with the Hondata s200 w/boost, datalogging, rom editor v3, and programmer (http://www.hondata.com/s200.html) or the AEM EMS (http://www.aempower.com/product_ems.asp) both are about $1000

I know there is a handfull of people with Hondata's and a few with the AEM EMS unit. Which one of the two would be more user friendly to tune? I really would like answers to people that has had experience with them. For now I would tune the car for the current setup untill the turbo kit is complete. I know both can get the job done but any good feedback is wanted!

[CSMsi311]

does the Hondata have a automapping feature yet? i was leaning toward AEM before b/c of the automapping feature.

[exciv2000]

yes, hondata does have automapping.

[HONDA GHANDI]

Ted, I have tuned both and I have the Hondata in my own car because I am a dealer. Now that I have enough experience with the two to make a educated decision I would still go with the Hondata. THe tuning program is very straight forward and all teh bullshit things like warmup and coldstart maps are already done by the stock ECU. The idle quality is great. Tunability is even better. The AEM has more options and diversity butI frankly think its unnecesary. Matt and Ihave been working some bugs out of the auto tune fnctions of Hondata and once we get it right it working it will be awesome.

[TedR719]

Nice I didnt know that Hondata was coming out with the auto mapping. Also at least I would have some support to tune it with you guys. So what would you suggest I get? Do I need the full setup or just the basic and bring it to have it tuned?

[Mark_H]

I vote Hondata as well. I do run it in my car and have good succcess with it so far. Talk to myself or Tobi regarding what fuel coponents your going to want to run etc.
Mark

[THRICE]

Hondata has my vote.

[TedR719]

Yeah I will have to get with you guys once I get boosted, I will defintaly get with you for my intercooling piping once I get there.

Do you suggest going all out with the setup or just buy the hondata w/ boost option instead of getting all the other extras, It would save me money but not give me the option of tuning myself...

[THRICE]

Yeah, I think the main selling point of AEM's unit is because you can tune it yourself. The other options is comes with just seem rather pointless. Hondata is great, not to mention Tobi is one of the few people who you can fully trust with your car nowadays. I'm usually all about DIY, but Tobi's the man.

[TedR719]

Yeah I agree with you there, Tobi's help me out so much on the car. I just wanna learn more about how to tune the car and how these systems operate so in case I have to tune her before an event or if I had problems I would not have to go to Denver to get it fixed but on the other hand it will take alot longer to save the money to get the full setup so I might just go with the basic setup and have Tobi or Matt help me tune it if they have time.

[Mark_H]

Originally posted by TedR719
Yeah I agree with you there, Tobi's help me out so much on the car. I just wanna learn more about how to tune the car and how these systems operate so in case I have to tune her before an event or if I had problems I would not have to go to Denver to get it fixed but on the other hand it will take alot longer to save the money to get the full setup so I might just go with the basic setup and have Tobi or Matt help me tune it if they have time.

Yeah just do that. I have the S200 w/ boost and thats it. For the time being I'm going to leave the tuning duties up to Tobi on my car, and Matt too.
Mark

[TedR719]

Thanks

Originally posted by 01ITR#700
Yeah just do that. I have the S200 w/ boost and thats it. For the time being I'm going to leave the tuning duties up to Tobi on my car, and Matt too.
Mark

[allmotor_civic]

Um, I hate not being a conformist, but AEM pretty much rules... It's easily the most tuner friendly device on the planet. I has maps for everything. 2-step, gear specific rev limits, wideband 02, auto-tune (mentioned above), automatic tranny shift control (who'd want that?), VTEC and nitrous engagement control, and multiple platform availibility.
The multiple platform thing is highly important, from the time Hondata came out with the old 4B stuff till it came out with S200 gear, DFI came out with 4 revisions in hardware and hundreds of upgrades in software via Calmap programmer software. Basically what I'm trying to say is that more tuners being able to use it on more platforms (i.e. Toyota Supra, Honda Civic/Acura Integra, etc...) then there is a better chance for software upgrades and new technology rolling back into the consumer market.
Either way Ted, you'll be getting some of the best Stand-Alone availible, let alone for Honda's, plus it's all plug and play...cause I know how much I hate rewiring harnesses.
later,
Dan