AEM vs. Apexi - worth the wait?
 

this summer I plan on upgrading my ECU to either the Apexi or AEM. I know many people here have the Apexi, and it sounds like a really cool package. But, if you had the option to wait a bit and pick up the AEM, would you?

Also, I hear the Apexi install is a breeze, will the AEM be as straight forward?

Well, it's more of a personal preference than anything, but my money's where my mouth is. I needed an ECU and I just bought the PFC last week. My reasons (valid or not) were:
* I didn't want to wait for a "projected" date that's been moved several times
* I don't want to be one of the first to install it. Virtually every product goes through several revisions, and I can be assured the PFC has already been refined.
* I like the Commander, some don't. I want to use it to monitor my sensors, and I don't want to carry a laptop all the time to do it.
* Now that the datalogit is out, I can get to all the settings in the PFC, and datalog extra sensors (i.e. wideband) which makes it very competitive with the AEM again.

On the other hand, I nearly went with the AEM because:
* It has integrated N2O control
* Onboard datalogging
* Integrated knock control
* Integrated traction control
* "Digital dash"
* More extra inputs than the datalogit
* And for some, the auto tranny control, but that didn't apply to me

I think the bottom line is that if you're a hard core tuner, the AEM (or TECIII or Haltech) is probably more for you, but if you're just the average Joe, the PFC+datalogit is everything you'll need. If you need more info, there's plenty of discussions in the PFC and AEM forums. HTH

The A'pexi PFC just basically kicks ass. This unit is awesome and now the datalogit just came out for this unit. I have been using the PFC for over a year and I highly recommend this unit.

:withstupi
getting a pfc has been one of the best upgrades that ive done to my car. i highly recommend it as well

i have about 20 hours logged with the aem unit. the software is great. but after spending 20 hours on a integra type r and then another 10 hours on a honda s2000 and could not get either car to idle below 200rpm and after being on the phone with tech support for hours on end..... i have to say it sux. give it time it will rock but in my opinion they released a product that was not finished. and it shows when the car wont idle.

2000rpm or 200???? I have never seen a car idle below 600rpm.

Ya i had the same problem and i think the aem suck to !
I have the pfc more easy to ceal then aem programs .
So my opinion go with PFC!!
Good luck !
DAN

Give the AEM another 1-2 years before getting it. Tuners are just learning it and it will obviously have some bugs - just like the PFC did when it first came out. With datalogit out now the PFC is incrediblely tuneable - much more so than with the annoying commader - although the commander is nice for monitoring systems - go with the PFC

if I was to get teh pfc and not tune it myself, would I need to purchase the commander as well as teh ecu itself? I am sort of low on funds and I need to start upgrading my ecu (pettit only gets me so far, safely) and I was wondering about this since the commander is $300

not to sound stupid, but what is a datalogic?

Well you need some way to interface with the ecu, you can't just will it to work with your mods. If you can get the commander that would be great, but I would spend the money on a datalogit, which will give you much better options.
Then you can tune and see the base map, and do everything the PFC was meant to do. The commander well nice to keep on eye on things, it sucks to enter any data in to make changes to the map, and you can't get access to most of the stuff.
Datalogit does it all!

I was going to wait for the AEM, but the long delays and the fact that the product has yet to be proven kept me away.

For a street driven RX-7 you really can't beat the Power FC, now that Datalogit is out everything is right at your fingertips!!!

Do a search in the power fc forum to find out. :D
It lets you datalog. Duh ;) ;)
And edit your maps from a window laptop interface.
And it does a whole lot more!!!
One of the best things since sliced bread if you ask me. :)

der!
well, color me stupid, I didn't know there was a forum dedicated to this topic. I will browse there... thanks