[FUHRIUS]

jpcolin: on the subwoofer...I actually don't know how it was done, let me check into it a bit and see what I can find. the previous owner had the work done (and I believe he did the stereo / radar / laser stuff at the same place that the engine / suspension work was done...Germanautotech in Florida, but give me a few days to look at the receipts and I'll get back to you). The steroe wasn't of great importance to me, frankly, but it does sound great. I wouldn't tecommend the blaupunkt removable head that I have, though, as it's a little finicky and non-intutive to operate. I also wouldn't have spent the approx $3k for the stereo / radar / laser stuff either, but to each his own. I figured I paid a small fraction of that as the second owner.

I was really just after a very well-cared for, low mileage, still under warranty, white s...this car was all of that plus the goodies.

perfectlap: here again, I don't think I'd spend $7k for the engine mods...but afer driving 6-10 different s's, I was defenitely llured by the add'l punch and incredible song of this one. Back to the stereo comment, I'd rather listen to the engine than the stereo, and this car sounds great (understanding that beauty is in the eye, or ear, of the beholder)...and some people may think it's too loud. In fact, in my underground parking garage at work, I do set off a few car alarms every once in awhile as I motor through. At speed (like winding up hwy 9 to skyline blvd here in the santa cruz mountains...lots of 30-55mph twisties, it's heaven to my ears).
On the hp, TechArt claims 35-40 add'l hp. I take all such claims with a grain of salt, but techart is a pretty reputable tuner, and even my porsche dealer service guy has said stuff to me like "we're leary of modd'ed cars, but at least it's techart"...and it's reputed to be a mild, not wild tuning. the whole kit is designed to work together, which is a plus too, I think. So, I have not had the car dyno'd on a high-end machine (wind tunnel and all), so I'm not really sure. I think one of thise machines is critical vs. one of these deals where they try to set fans up to blow air at your car... that just can't simulate the way air actually flows over the car and into the motor in real world driving. I also think some of these cheapy dyno guys lie, frankly, so they can sell you something else...like the guy who was trying to talk me into buying a GIAC ecu to replace my techart ecu because he sells GIAC ecu's. (by the way, I had a GIAC chip in my last car, and audi a4 quattro and it did do a hell of a job on that little turbo).
The car pulls noticeable better at the low end, but it's not driving a vette or something. It feels like my buddies carrera...a little more savage than the boxster. Where I think it really helps is at speed, pulling from 35mph plus...the rev limiter is set at stock (or darn close) so it's not like you get add'l rev range, just a little less inhibition throughou the range.
So bottom line is I don't know exactly how much hp it added (I don't even know how much hp this particular car had before the mods...I know an '01 s is supposed to have 250 at the motor...but there are variances between cars).
I do know that I love to drive the car...it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it...just as every boxster puts a smile on the face of the owner who appreciates what the car was designed to do, and does very well...all-around super balanced, easy to drive fast (which means more that somply accelerating fast), etc, etc.

I've got a pdf file of the techart parts / price manual if you want to see that...so far, I'd say thaat the techart stuff seems rock solid...a tad pricey but well-engineered.