I've decided a custom map has to be better than a generic one
If only that was the case.. a "custom" map written by someone who hasn't got a clue can be much, much worse. But I guess we then get into the custom vs generic map debate in which I struggle to understand exactly what the buying public means by each label.
To me "generic" means written in a car park and increasing a few maps by x%. Custom means a properly developed map written for a particular car. But then if you use the same map as a baseline for another car, that technically makes it "generic" by the definition of the word.
To me, generic means throwing a map at a car and sending it away, often without any testing and almost definitely without any development. Often the people applying these maps don't even know what they're applying, they just buy a file from somewhere and flash it on to a car. Custom means written for the particular modifications on that vehicle, for that vehicle. We don't fall in to either category but offer different developed stages of tune for different levels of modifications, and then a custom option on top. But as some of our customers here will testify, everything can be changed, tweaked and altered to suit.. so I guess that makes it custom again 
So in summary while I can't agree with your statement entirely, I can understand where you're coming from. I think the key thing is going to reputable tuner rather than A. N. Other Tuning Co. In your case R-Tech have a good reputation and Nick is a nice guy but unfortunately there are many places offering "custom" tuning at x price who aren't quite as good.
Generic vs Custom is a pretty poinless argument, as Ben has said above its more a case of good vs bad. Theres a place not far from me that offers 'custom' remaps for £150, takes 20mins, rarely reads the original data and just flashes something onto the ECU that has the same/similar hardware and software numbers. Gets his software from a national 'mobile' ecu remapping outfit for £20-£30 a file and claims higher power figures than is possibly achievable. Claims they are not generic but custom as each file is made individually, whoch in a way can be deemed as custom.
But just because its custom makes no difference to the fact it is poor quality software. I recently had a car in tuned by this outfit and it was having an issue with poor power delivery and drivability, odd kickdowns on the auto box etc... I will post what I found a bit later....
This one shows the changes made in a boost map, the highlighted area is all that was altered, anywhere there is a zero means that these cells or 'load sites' were kept standard
the 'injection at part throttle' map was even worse, same principal as the boost map, anything with a zero means no change to that load site.
and then there is the boost limiter map, this should allow some boost at lower rpm and throttle, increasing at peak torque but decreasing at later rpm. think the problem here is clear....
its clear to anyone with a bit of common sense and understanding of numbers that by looking at the first image why the car was sluggish until 50% throttle and would then violently kick down 2 gears and accelerate like crazy, then go into limp mode at 4000rpm with a fault code logged for overboost
still want a custom map that was specially made for your car?
