Cheap Gti self isolation purchases list

[Mutley75]

Doesn't the fee structure for Carista make it less appealing than OBDEleven Pro which is one off, people get caught up on the credits system and associated one click apps but you don't need to use those at all, you can go into each module and use adaptations then follow instructions as if you're using fill blown VCDS/Vag-com.

It depends. If you want to tinker with the settings forever and a day, get ODB11.  If you want to spend the least amount of money possible to make half a dozen changes and then intend to just leave it alone and never touch it again, get Carista.  Carista was more appealing to me for this reason.  Plus at the time, they offered pay as you go for £9.99 for a month's access should I need to change something back in the future.  They've since withdrawn this but I signed up to the beta programme which is free.  The catch is that there are new features on the beta which you're basically the guinea pig for - so use at your own risk.  That said, the new features are clearly identified and can be ignored, sticking to the tried and tested options at no risk, if you wish.

If you're someone who is going to be tinkering every month or so, or want the ability to use long coding for really advanced customisations then go for ODB11.

[monsta]

Fair enough, I already have OBDEleven and Carista didn't exist when I got it, just wondered what the appeal with an annual fee was!

[Lordie]

So if you sign up to the beta can you now use the features for free unlimited or is it on a time limit where you're on the beta for 1 month or 1 year etc?

Bit confused why anyone would pay when you can just sign up to the beta for free I must be missing something?

[Mutley75]

So if you sign up to the beta can you now use the features for free unlimited or is it on a time limit where you're on the beta for 1 month or 1 year etc?

Bit confused why anyone would pay when you can just sign up to the beta for free I must be missing something?

First off, you have to apply to the developers to participate in their beta programme.  This is conditional on you downloading a full diagnostic from your car and agreeing to upload it to their severs.  They then provide you with 90 days access to the beta.  There is a precondition that you test the new features for them and provide feedback - but there is no fixed requirement to do so.  I haven't and I was granted a second 90 day extension to the first beta.

Obviously if you choose to test changing an option which is still in beta testing and it messes up the ECU on your car requiring a factory reset or a trip to the dealer, than that's the trade-off and the risk you take.  But as I have said, beta options are shown in yellow, so if you simply avoid using those and stick to the tried and tested customisations there shouldn't be an issue - and it costs you nothing beyond whatever you originally paid for the Carista dongle.

I experimented with different percentage volumes of the sound akuator but eventually settled on turning it off entirely. I also enabled Scandinavian rear DRLs, setting the lane change indicators to blink 4 times instead of 3 and a few other tweaks I've documented elsewhere on here in my Carista thread.  I still have time left on the beta but there isn't anything else I particularly want to change.  Once it expires, I'll just leave alone.  In six months time if I have something I feel compelled to change, I will then request another beta extension or decide whether the item I want to change is worth an additional fee.

If you're someone who will be changing options weekly or even monthly then it will likely be more cost-effective to use ODB11.  On the other hand, if you're like me and just wanted to make a few tweaks spending the least amount of money possible, then I paid £15 for the dongle and haven't paid a penny since. I've made all the changes I am interested in so it's job done.  So for me, it wasn't worth £45 or whatever ODB11 costs these days but it may be for others.  Horses for courses.

[Lordie]

Awesome! Thank you very much for the reply 

Will weigh up the options and prices of the Carista vs OBD11 and consider getting one

[Talk-torque]

Yes, when Carista was first introduced it was relatively cheap. As they have gained market position, they have successively increased both the cost of the device and the subscription terms. Understandable I suppose. If you know what you want to change, and you don’t need continual access, it’s still the best deal imho, and has the further advantage, for some, in that it is fully functional on iPhone. As I understand it, OBD11 still has restricted capability on iOS.

Carista did everything I wanted to do using simple button pushes - no long coding required.

[mistac]

So if you sign up to the beta can you now use the features for free unlimited or is it on a time limit where you're on the beta for 1 month or 1 year etc?

Bit confused why anyone would pay when you can just sign up to the beta for free I must be missing something?

First off, you have to apply to the developers to participate in their beta programme.  This is conditional on you downloading a full diagnostic from your car and agreeing to upload it to their severs.  They then provide you with 90 days access to the beta.  There is a precondition that you test the new features for them and provide feedback - but there is no fixed requirement to do so.  I haven't and I was granted a second 90 day extension to the first beta.

Obviously if you choose to test changing an option which is still in beta testing and it messes up the ECU on your car requiring a factory reset or a trip to the dealer, than that's the trade-off and the risk you take.  But as I have said, beta options are shown in yellow, so if you simply avoid using those and stick to the tried and tested customisations there shouldn't be an issue - and it costs you nothing beyond whatever you originally paid for the Carista dongle.

I experimented with different percentage volumes of the sound akuator but eventually settled on turning it off entirely. I also enabled Scandinavian rear DRLs, setting the lane change indicators to blink 4 times instead of 3 and a few other tweaks I've documented elsewhere on here in my Carista thread.  I still have time left on the beta but there isn't anything else I particularly want to change.  Once it expires, I'll just leave alone.  In six months time if I have something I feel compelled to change, I will then request another beta extension or decide whether the item I want to change is worth an additional fee.

If you're someone who will be changing options weekly or even monthly then it will likely be more cost-effective to use ODB11.  On the other hand, if you're like me and just wanted to make a few tweaks spending the least amount of money possible, then I paid £15 for the dongle and haven't paid a penny since. I've made all the changes I am interested in so it's job done.  So for me, it wasn't worth £45 or whatever ODB11 costs these days but it may be for others.  Horses for courses.

Great post - My carista licence/1 month trial has now expired - can I apply for beta status now and be given that as a new trial or should I have done that whilst the free 1 month trial was up and running?

[Mutley75]

You can apply for the beta at any time.

[Mutley75]

Bought my USB battery meter - £9.99 from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01F4RNAK0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems to work - reports I have 11.5V at present.  The Polo (still used a couple of times a week) is reporting 12V so appears to be accurate.  According to the instructions, I should start thinking about charging it when it gets nearer 10V, but at least I can keep an eye on it now.

Hopefully some restrictions will be lifted next week and we'll be able to visit parents, perhaps.  Mine live 50 miles away so that would be a decent workout for the battery.

[Snoopy]

My experience is at ~ 11.5v most VWs normally will go into survival mode and start turning control systems off and turning off non essential communications and nodes. This results with all sorts of fault codes coming up if you scan it. It will still start and run and the codes will clear themselfs over time  as they are non critical and so clear after so many non fault cycles. I prefer to not let them drop below 12v to get to that point now.  i have ran a car on the drive for an hour to help top the battery back up but now just stick my spare ctek charger on which ever one of the two outside needs it for the day once they start to drop abit. Not something somone in a terrace or town could do due to wiring across paths but i would just sit in it and run it for an hour once every couple weeks if mine. I just use a cheap £3 multimeter i got from maplin years ago to measure the battery. I could use one of my fluke ones but it reads the same so. I am thinking of getting some of the ctek battery monitors though to make it easier.