Reviews: All Products

I have been working with Lex @ Stratified on my car for around a year, first with the initial tune and then a few follow up tunes for additional mods. (As a side note, for any readers out there, take advantage of the touch up tunes after your main tune. It's cheap and very worth it.)

Our first round of tuning landed my car +25HP/+40TQ (272WHP/342WTQ) over the Cobb Stage 1 91 octane with the following bolt-ons: Sure 3" Full Aeros, CS Test Pipe, 3" Catback, SU TMIC, ITV-22s and Autotech internals. This was validated on an AWD Dyno Dynamics dyno. This tuning time had its challenges on my end: I was changing parts, I had boost leaks, I had a faulty MAF sensor and my car seems to be more sensitive then other cars tuned in my area, not to mention the high SoCal summer temps weren't helping. Lex@Stratified stayed patient, coached me along and hung in with me like a champ and kept the car safe until we got the car to a good place. Lex always gave me good information, advice and coaching and I learned a TON along the way about the car and motor.

For the second round, I installed a water/meth injection system running a 50/50 mix with a D07 injector. After Stratified's top up tune, my car is now at 295WHP/345WTQ. Yup, you read that right, Stratified got my car +48WHP/+40WTQ since we started on the tune together. You tell me where you will see those kind of gains for _$300 elsewhere. That's money well spent. I am EXTREMELY happy with my car now. So much so, that I actually stopped messing with my car and I have just enjoyed it for the last 5 months. If you got to know my insatiable urge to tinker like Lex got to learn, you would know that is a huge compliment to Stratified.

Consider this for a second. A Mazdaspeed tuner has access to hundreds of knobs to tune our cars from fueling to timing to boost levels to wastegate controls and much more. There are relationships among these controls that are unlike other cars out there. Mazdaspeeds need Mazdaspeed motor specific knowledgeable tuners. Don't kid yourself into thinking that your local dyno tuner is going to have the know how on this platform just because he has tuned Evos and STIs in the past. I have read the horror stories where other tuners have caused Mazdaspeed engine failure due to overly aggressive low end timing or by running the cars too rich or too lean.

Stratified understands how to push the platform but won't sacrifice reliability or longevity for overly aggressive performance. Stratified is looking at the big picture and how the engine will do in all conditions, from winter to summer. You end up with a safe tune that considers the car's overall drivability so you don't end up with a car that is too temperamental and hard to daily drive.

I made Lex work for me and I didn't give him and easy time, but I couldn't ask for anything more from a tuner, e-tuner or otherwise. I thank him for his hard work and dedication to my car and this process.

Finally, you get out of an e-tune what you put in. If you engage the process, provide good consistent logs and stay committed to the process, you will end up with the best tune possible on your car. If you just take a few crappy logs, you aren't consistent with your logs or don't have the time/care to put into it, your tune won't be as good as it could be. So, make sure you have a place to take good logs and the time to take logs and interact with Stratified.

I've worked with Alex on tuning my car for quite a while and recently completed my tuning. As frustrating as it is doing e-tunes over the Internet, Alex made the experience all that it can be. I am very happy with the service and the way the car performs. We had a couple of problems during tuning that were out of our hands and Alex took the time to do what needed to be done to make sure my car was safe and that I was satisfied. Over all I am very happy with the experience. Zoom-zoom

i Had a previous 98 tune from Richtune and i wanted to get E85 tune but then i read all these awesome reviews about Stratified and made up my mind to go ahead with it . all i can say is Alex is one of the best tuner i have come across.

After three weeks E85 tune was done and i couldn't be happier. Car feels great and aggressive n throws me back on my seat when i floor the pedal. Boost thru entire rev range. Car feels totally different and exactly the way i wanted.
il definitely be coming back for 98 tune with WMI.
Being Overseas i just loved the whole etuning process lol Alex was very straight forward, supportive and helpful, answered lot of questions straight away because he is full of knowledge. He knows what hes doing. i strongly recommend Stratified to all my friends

Stratified is the way to go hands down.

The tuning experience was awesome and best bang for the buck modification hands down. It magnifies the potential of all your mods. On top of that, it is very easing to know that Stratified custom tunes the Mazdaspeed platform on a day to day basis so their experience versus the cost of the tuning is invaluable. The whole experience was great and exciting; waiting for new maps, learning about tuning and your own vehicle, how one thing affects another, it all adds up really.

I would definitely recommend Stratified for anyone's Mazdaspeed custom tune. Their service and knowledge is great.

They're also based out of Canada as well ;)

The unknown of being in Australia is completely removed and Alex is honest and true to his word and super, super thorough. Most would have taken the “close enough is good enough” route... but not Stratified. The pride Alex takes in his work is unprecedented IMO and I cannot express how impressed and satisfied I am

The car feels amazing and although there is probably more to extract from the tune, to the letter of what I requested, Alex delivered in spades. A wonderfully smooth tune without pushing the extreme limits, super responsive and an increase in drivability (and it can still scare the crap out of the ladies... and some guys!)

Super performer, great value for money and customer service is noticeably in the forefront

I'll will be purchasing an upgraded TMIC at the end of the year, (will be nice and hot in AUS by then) and will be looking for a retune for pump gas and e85

If you have been thinking about a custom tune, and have reservations, please I cannot endorse Stratified enough. Not only do they listen to what you want, they are consummate professionals and I am proud to wear the “Stratified Tuned” Badge of honour

Tuning experience went really well! Mike who tuned me did an awesome job. He was very helpful and guided me through issues we came across with my car. Best money ive spent on my car so far. Im very satisfied with my tune and I recommend Stratified Automotive to anyone whos looking for a tune!