Least expensive way to get an NA tune
 

I'll start by saying I'm a complete noob when it comes to tuning. All I want is a decent canned NA tune to squeeze the most I can out of my car with just intake and exhaust. I'm in a position where money will be very tight for the next few years so I'm trying to see if I can do this without dropping $500-800 for 10hp.

What I've gathered:

EcuTek: Pay for software license, pay for canned tune, pay for cable. Well over $500.

OFT: Pay $400-500 for tablet, access to a whole bunch of free maps.

BRZedit: This one I don't understand. I see that I can buy a lite version for $100. Then another $170 for the Tactrix cable. Then what? Are there "open-sourced" maps available for free that I can just download and flash to my ECU?

RomRaider/EcuFlash: Trying to wrap my head around this one. Seems like EcuFlash is free software, and I can find free/open community-made maps on RomRaider, and I can flash those to my ECU with a Tactrix cable. Am I understanding this correctly?

Just get an OFT.

Very informative. Really helpful lol

Just get an OFT from EBay.

Oft + e85 might be best gain per dollar. My opinion fwiw.

I believe everything except for oft you also need a laptop to flash the car. Idk if that affects your cost.

Ecutek is, as you noted, the most expensive, unless you damage your ECU or engine with another method. I haven't used ecutek myself, but it seems very easy on the consumer side, so it appears you get what you pay for. Quality and safety of the tune are completely dependent on the tuner, so you should choose carefully. Many highly respected professional tuners use ecutek so there's that.

I do have an OFT. Basic setup to get the latest tune files might seem a bit daunting at first, but its not really difficult. OTS tune files are free, and you can see/edit them yourself if you want to. OFT makes flashing very simple and you aren't likely to have issues if you can follow directions. There are definitely compromises in write speed, logging speed etc compared to more powerful hardware, but it's an all-in-one package.

The last two you mentioned are indeed the least costly if you already have a laptop, but the most difficult to wrap your head around and therefore the most risky IMO. If you know what you are doing then I'm sure they work just as well as or better than either the first two solutions.

if money's tight. don't bother with a tune and keep paying the car note.

I do have a laptop and I'm pretty computer-savvy (computer science/programming minor in college) which is why the OFT is kinda my last option right now. Don't need to pay for the convenience of no laptop involved.

Car's paid off. The problem is kids. Lol. Just seeing if there's an affordable way to get a proper tune on my car and get it running the way it was always meant to.

Stock is how it was meant to run. Tune is to make it run the way you want it to run.

Least expensive way to get an NA tune
 

ECUFlash is the free software used with the Tactrix cable. Tactrix is by far the cheapest route. You can flash OEM roms, the OFT canned roms or buy a rom from wayneroms (super cheap). You can edit any of these roms with ECUFlash or RomRaider but can only flash with ECUFlash. The Tactrix cable also works with Toyota Techstream which can be used to adjust all kinds of settings that typically you would need the dealer for. For example, disable DRLs, disable that annoying passenger seatbelt warning, change the keyless entry beeper volume, change auto lock delay and on and on. It can also pair TPMS sensors, key fobs, transponders, etc. The Tactrix also has an SD slot for data logging.

It’s the cheapest and most flexible route. But yeah it’s got a steeper learning curve but really not that bad at all.

Least expensive way to get an NA tune
 

I would suggest downloading ECUFlash and RomRaider and then download an OEM rom and poke around a little within an OEM rom. You don’t need the cable to use the software. The flash part is as simple as opening the rom in ECUFlash and then clicking a button to flash.

One warning though is the OBD2 port on this car is really touchy. You want to use some heavy rubber bands to make sure it’s super snug. The last thing you want is it to disconnect while flashing. I’ve not had this happen while stationary but I’ve had datalogs drop while driving due to the connector not being secure. Rubber bands fixed that and actually now I simply have an OBD2 cable extension into the glove box that seems to have a more secure connection.

Here is a really informative thread on flashing and logging with the Tactrix. Read it 300 times. Hahaha
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62332

Not to be a ass but if you have to ask this question you need to buy a tune. being tech savy does not make you a tuner and this car is one of the hardest to tune. Call delicious tuning they had me running 13,47 NA

For just exhaust and a intake your gains are going to be so minimal you will likely only feel the placebo effect.

Save the money for now so in case something happens to you/your family/your car. you can deal with it and not end up out on the street.

Once you decide to do further mods then worry about the tune.

All that said the intake is doing next to nothing if its anything more then a silicone inlet and a drop in filter I would suggest removing it and selling it and doing the stock route with the above mentioned exceptions of the tube and drop it. Take the left over money from the intake and stick it in an account for emergencies.

If you don't like any of the above answers I provided then go with the OFT.

Save your money for tires and autox and you will really enjoy the car.