If I am sticking to NA, what would be the most affordable (but still good) choice for an engine management system?

 

My money would be, and is on, UTEC.

 

If you have a Unichip tuner in the area consider it as well.

 

Hell, I don't know of ANY tuners in my area. Probably shoulda thought about that one. I'll make a post in the regional forums, but just in case, anyone know of a tuner around Woodland Hills/Calabasas/Westlake?

 

You can find where to buy the unichip here http://www.unichip.us/where_to_buy.asp

and if it says "Unichip Custom Tuner" next to their name then you know they also tune the unichip, and if they tune the unichip they also likely tune other ems'

 

if you are staying NA and just need to get your AF correct then I'd say emanage blue. its cheap and most tuner shops know how to use it correctly. if you plan on going FI in the future I'd say UTEC.

 

The emanage is cheaper and could still use with FI but you have to consider that you will either have to splice into your stock wiring to hook it up or buy a 300.00 harness patch to do your splicing on while the Unichip and Utec come with plug and play harness/plugs

 

^^^ true, but I've seen emanage blues go for $100 by themselves and $150 w/the harness on the classifieds. plus its easy to turn around and sell since its universal.

 

Well if you are talking used then look for used Unichips and Utecs we had a guys come in with a Unichip he picked up for 400.00

 

Wow. Well if I were going FI, it wouldn't be for a LONG time. Years. So, emanage blue sounds great. Who wants to sell me one w/ the harness? :-P
(I should really look for ones going for $150?? That cheap?)

 

I plaqn on staying N/A for awhile as well and ordering the UTEC this Sept. Just from the research I've done on the UTEc it seems like the best buy. I've heard of people having problems with the E-Manage but don't recall what. I also don't think the E-Manage is giving the same large gains as the UTEC is. I'll have to do more research on the E-Manage but I'm sold on the UTEC.

 

Tell me, can either the eManage Blue or the UTEC make it so when you hit the rev-limiter, it bounces instead of cuts power? And can they both raise rev limit?

 

No

and

Only the Utec

 

I'm telling you... Invest the money and get the UTEC. MRC has a nice package deal: Turbo XS UTEC with Tuner (Bosch sensor) and Remote Switch $1439.00 / $1295.10 (Sale Price): http://www.racemrc.com/utec.html That is what I'll be ordering in Sept.

 

...that is way too expensive. I know, I know, it would future-proof if I want FI at some point. But thats 1.2k without even tuning.
Can the Unichip change rev-limit?

I figured out that there is a Unichip dealer in LA, about 30-40 minutes away from me. So I could do that..

 

do you intend to tune this yourself or bring it somewhere?

 

Bring it somewhere.

 

then use what is locally supported

 

Best answer so far.
People remember that the EMS dos NOT give you power, the tune does! so no matter what ems is, just get a good tunner.