Chigger

I saw this over at the Q5 & Q7 forum.

Does anybody use this Carista App for their B8?

Customizations | Carista OBD2 - Vehicle Diagnostics and Customization

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q5-...e-app-2874000/

Call me cheap, I hate to spend ~$400 bucks on Ross-Tech VAG cable, use it for a few mods and have it sit around in my garage.

StumpJumper

I have both

For the most popular stuff the Carista is good, and doing it on your phone is convenient, it works as advertised and they continue to improve it.

For more advanced or obscure things VCDS is still the go-to.

togatown

Good to know there is an alternative. Can you do the E-brake cycling on it yet? I had heard they were working on that feature.

StumpJumper

that's in the latest beta release, so should be available to everybody soon



the best thing, IMHO, about Carista is that it covers pieces of other brands like BMW and Toyota and while they don't have feature parity the list of features grows every release


I also have their OBD2 port, it works great with my iPhone

thomasjordan

I would assume the VAG cable can do everything the Carista can, but I noticed on the Carista web site this item:

Gauge scales lit even when headlights are off
YES / NO

When my lights are off, the gauge scales are lit if it's bright out, but sometimes they don't light. If I turn the lights to auto, they are always on. Does anybody know if there's a VAG command to this item (and am I interpreting the Carista description correctly?)?

togatown

The VAG cable is still the ultimate service and customization solution, and can do a lot more in the way of logging engine performance, etc, but at $ 345+ it is pricey for some that just want to do a few customization tweaks. Carista is a much more affordable alternative to doing some of those tasks but doesn't have all the functionality.

I'm hoping that Carista has the E-brake function in the next several months when I need to do my rear brakes.
I had originally planned on buying a genuine VAG-com cable and then maybe sell it on one of the forums for like $ 250 used. Still cheaper in the long run than paying 500-700 to have someone do the rear pads/rotors.

dropshadow

I have and use both as well. They each have their strengths, but if you want to move past the basic coding that Carista can do and try the more complicated stuff, the cable is worth it. Personally, I knew I'd be driving Audis for a while, so it made sense to own one.

jsh139

I have Carista and I really like it. It suits my needs.

Chigger

Ordered mine last week, it's coming in today. Can't wait!

I just need the simple things like DRL w/blinkers, some window settings.

snagitseven

Carista is having a 10 day 15% off the OBD Bluetooth module for AW members. Just ordered mine to supplement my VCDS when I want a quick and easy mod tool without my laptop.

See post #377 today:

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/q5-...874000/page10/